Oregon State University

Research aims to make artificial intelligence explain itself

Eight computer science professors in Oregon State University's College of Engineering have received a $6.5 million grant from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to make artificial-intelligence-based systems like autonomous vehicles and robots more trustworthy.

Bio-sensing contact lens could someday measure bodily functions

Scientists say the bio-sensing lenses, based on technology that led to the development of smartphones with more vivid displays, also could potentially be used to track drug use or serve as an early detection system for cancer and other serious medical conditions.

Hydronium-ion battery presents opportunity

A new type of battery developed by scientists shows promise for sustainable, high-power energy storage. It's the world's first battery to use only hydronium ions as the charge carrier.

Agility Robotics aims to revolutionize robot mobility

Legged locomotion may revolutionize robot mobility and enable robots to go anywhere people can go.

Wearable revolutionizes whale research, makes them partners in science

A sophisticated new type of "tag" on whales that can record data every second for hours, days and weeks at a time provides a view of whale behavior, biology and travels never before possible.

Advance in intense pulsed light sintering for electronics manufacture

Faster production of advanced, flexible electronics is among the potential benefits of a discovery by researchers.

Glucose-monitoring contact lens would feature transparent sensor

Type 1 diabetes patients may one day be able to monitor their blood glucose levels and even control their insulin infusions via a transparent sensor on a contact lens, a new study suggests.

One-time pollutant may become valued product

Chemists have discovered that one or more organic compounds in a family that traditionally has been known as pollutants could offer an important advance to make cheap, reliable batteries.

New lithium-oxygen battery greatly improves energy efficiency

Lithium-air batteries are considered highly promising technologies for electric cars and portable electronic devices because of their potential for delivering a high energy output in proportion to their weight.

Sintering may create new electronics manufacturing technologies

Engineers have made a fundamental breakthrough in understanding the physics of photonic "sintering," which could lead to many new advances in solar cells, flexible electronics, various types of sensors and other high-tech products printed onto something as simple as a sheet of paper or plastic.

Storage advance may boost solar thermal energy potential

Engineers have identified a new approach for the storage of concentrated solar thermal energy, to reduce its cost and make it more practical for wider use.

Discovery about new battery overturns decades of false assumptions

New findings have overturned a scientific dogma that stood for decades, by showing that potassium can work with graphite in a potassium-ion battery - a discovery that could pose a challenge and sustainable alternative to the widely-used lithium-ion battery.

Wristband to analyse personal chemical exposure

n the air we breathe there are countless airborne chemicals that present known or suspected health hazards.

Quantum dot technology may help light the future

Advances in manufacturing technology for quantum dots"may soon lead to a new generation of LED lighting that produces a more user-friendly white light, while using less toxic materials and low-cost manufacturing processes that take advantage of simple microwave heating. The same technology may also be widely incorporated into improved lighting displays, computer screens, smart phones, televisions and other systems.

Research may lead to 3D-printed Mars rovers

How 3D printers could one day be used to aid in exploring Mars by building Mars rovers with 3D-printed parts.

New type of semiconductor could change face of consumer electronics

Materials first developed more than a decade ago with an eye toward making "transparent" transistors may be about to shake up the field of consumer electronics - and the first uses are not even based on the transparent capability of the materials.

Atmospheric carbon dioxide used for energy storage products

Chemists and engineers have discovered a fascinating new way to take some of the atmospheric carbon dioxide that's causing the greenhouse effect and use it to make an advanced, high-value material for use in energy storage products.

Trees go high-tech: process turns cellulose into energy storage device

Based on a fundamental chemical discovery by scientists, it appears that trees may soon play a major role in making high-tech energy storage devices.

Energy breakthrough uses sun to create solar energy materials

In a recent advance in solar energy, researchers have discovered a way to tap the sun not only as a source of power, but also to directly produce the solar energy materials that make this possible.