University of California

Researchers operate lab-grown heart cells by remote control

Researchers have developed a technique that allows them to speed up or slow down human heart cells growing in a dish on command — simply by shining a light on them and varying its intensity. The cells are grown on graphene, which converts light into electricity, providing a more realistic environment than standard plastic or glass laboratory dishes.

3D printer that can create complex biological tissues

A bioengineer has developed a technique that uses a specially adapted 3D printer to build therapeutic biomaterials from multiple materials. The advance could be a step toward on-demand printing of complex artificial tissues for use in transplants and other surgeries.

Why a robot can't yet outjump a flea

When it comes to things that are ultrafast and lightweight, robots can't hold a candle to the fastest-jumping insects and other small-but-powerful creatures. New research could help explain why nature still beats robots, and describes how machines might take the lead.

Transparent robot swims silently underwater

An innovative, eel-like robot developed by engineers and marine biologists can swim silently in salt water without an electric motor. Instead, the robot uses artificial muscles filled with water to propel itself. The foot-long robot, which is connected to an electronics board that remains on the surface, is also virtually transparent.

Smart glass: a rising technology

Smart glass is a family of electrically-active glass technologies capable of darkening at the press of a button to block light and heat entering your building or car (see table below).

BeBop Sensors announces close Of $10M+ series A funding

BeBop Sensors Inc announced the close of its $10 Million+ Series A funding led by San Francisco-based Bullpen Capital, a leader in post-seed funding. With millions of sensors in daily use, BeBop Sensors designs, manufactures, and delivers smart fabric sensors to Fortune 500 companies in the Health, Automotive, IoT, and AR/VR markets.

New technology could wean the battery world off cobalt

Lithium-based batteries use more than 50 percent of all cobalt produced in the world. These batteries are in your cell phone, laptop and maybe even your car. But now, a research team has opened the door to using other metals in lithium-based batteries, and have built cathodes with 50 percent more lithium-storage capacity than conventional materials.

Tiny injectable sensor for long term alcohol monitoring

Engineers have developed a miniature, ultra-low power injectable biosensor that could be used for continuous, long-term alcohol monitoring. The chip is small enough to be implanted in the body just beneath the surface of the skin and is powered wirelessly by a wearable device, such as a smartwatch or patch.

Thin film converts heat from electronics into energy

Engineers have developed a thin-film system that can be applied to sources of waste heat to produce energy at levels unprecedented for this kind of technology.

Deep learning - smartphone microscopes into laboratory-grade devices

Researchers at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering have demonstrated that deep learning can discern and enhance microscopic details in photos taken by smartphones. The technique improves the resolution and color details of smartphone images so much that they approach the quality of images from laboratory-grade microscopes.

Wearable system to monitor stomach activity

A team of researchers has developed a wearable, non-invasive system to monitor electrical activity in the stomach over 24 hours—essentially an electrocardiogram but for the gastro-intestinal tract.

Atomically thin light emitting device for invisible displays

UC Berkeley engineers have built a bright-light emitting device that is millimeters wide and fully transparent when turned off. The light emitting material in this device is a monolayer semiconductor, which is just three atoms thick.

Scientists print all-liquid 3-D structures

Scientists have developed a way to print 3-D structures composed entirely of liquids. Using a modified 3-D printer, they injected threads of water into silicone oil — sculpting tubes made of one liquid within another liquid.

Flexible ultrasound patch

Researchers have developed a stretchable, flexible patch that could make it easier to perform ultrasound imaging on odd-shaped structures, such as engine parts, turbines, reactor pipe elbows and railroad tracks—objects that are difficult to examine using conventional ultrasound equipment.

Research closer to revolutionary battery

The boom in wind energy faces a hurdle — how to effectively and cheaply store energy generated by turbines when the wind is blowing, but energy requirements are low.