University of California

Wearable ultrasound patch monitors blood pressure deep inside body

A new wearable ultrasound patch that non-invasively monitors blood pressure in arteries deep beneath the skin could help people detect cardiovascular problems earlier on and with greater precision. In tests, the patch performed as well as some clinical methods to measure blood pressure.

Robots can now pick up any object after inspecting it

Humans have long been masters of dexterity, a skill that can largely be credited to the help of our eyes. Robots, meanwhile, are still catching up.

Stretchy wires for the future

Scientists have teamed up to create stretchable, flexible wires that conduct current and change colors to indicate they're about to reach the breaking point. Future uses could be wearable electronics, biomedical devices and soft robots.

Dual-layer solar cell sets record

Materials scientists have developed a highly efficient thin-film solar cell that generates more energy from sunlight than typical solar panels, thanks to its double-layer design.

Building up stretchable electronics to be multipurpose as smartphones

By stacking and connecting layers of stretchable circuits on top of one another, engineers have developed an approach to build soft, pliable "3D stretchable electronics" that can pack a lot of functions while staying thin and small in size.

Blue Current

Blue Current is a US-based early stage startup that is working on hybrid solid electrolytes for Li-ion batteries. They claim their electrolyte has an ionic conductivity >10{^-4} S/cm at room temperature and a transference number close to unity.

Imprint Energy, Inc.

Imprint Energy is a start-up based in Alameda, California. Their main product is ZincPoly™, with zinc and metal oxide electrodes and a non-flammable, non-toxic solid-state gel electrolyte. This battery chemistry can be screen printed

A new battle of the currents takes center stage

This coming November 14-15 at the Santa Clara Convention Center, leading players in the battery and energy storage industry will compete to capture the audience's attention over what technology is set to dominate in the coming decade.

Soft multifunctional robots get really small

Robots could be safely deployed in difficult-to-access environments, such as in delicate surgical procedures in the human body.

AI device identifies objects at the speed of light

A team of electrical and computer engineers has created a physical artificial neural network -- a device modeled on how the human brain works -- that can analyze large volumes of data and identify objects at the actual speed of light. The device was created using a 3D printer.

Biosensor chip wirelessly detects disease

Researchers have developed a chip that can detect a type of genetic mutation known as a single nucleotide polymorphism and wirelessly send the results in real time to a smartphone, computer, or other electronic device. The chip is at least 1,000 times more sensitive at detecting an SNP than current technology.

Researchers develop graphene-enhanced biophotovoltaic technology

Existing photovoltaic technology is not fully capable of realizing the promise of sustainable solar energy. Commercial and emerging photovoltaic technologies require energy-intensive extracting and manufacturing processes and often require metals like tin that generate social conflict and environmental harm with their mining. Slave and child labor, along with rampant environmental destruction and pollution are widespread in the tin mining industry, which in some places is even controlled by militias to fund wars.

Diesel doesn't float this boat

Marine research could soon be possible without the risk of polluting either the air or the ocean. It's thanks to a new ship design and feasibility study.

3D Bioprinting - An Update from Q2 2018

The past 3 months has been busy for 3D bioprinting companies, with numerous publications emerging from academia and announcements from industry. This article will highlight the advancements made in 3D bioprinting in the last 3 months since the publication of the 2018 update of IDTechEx's market research report on the topic: 3D Bioprinting 2018 - 2028: Technologies, Markets, Forecasts.

Uber urges drivers to go electric

Studies have found that when shared and electric mobility are properly combined, along with automation, we can shrink the number of vehicles on the road and reduce transportation's climate footprint. That's why Uber has launched the EV Champions Initiative, a pilot program for driver-partners to deliver at least 5 million EV rides over the next year.

CRISPR reduces autism symptoms in mice

Scientists have used CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to lessen some autism symptoms in mice with a form of fragile X syndrome, the most common known single-gene cause of autism spectrum disorder.

Tracking cancer-cell development with "drinkable" electronic sensors

Thanks to an unorthodox approach being proposed by researchers, patients may soon be able to track their illness simply by drinking a solution containing millions of tiny electronic sensors disguised as bacteria.

Heliotrope Technologies

Heliotrope Technologies is a smart glass technology start-up. This company is commercialising an exciting third generation electrochromic technology, which holds high promise.

Campus delivery robots

A UC Berkeley startup called Kiwi thinks they've cracked a way to efficiently use robots to deliver food to your door. The company plans to expand outside of Berkeley later this year.

New machine learning approach could accelerate bioengineering

Scientists have developed a way to use machine learning to dramatically accelerate the design of microbes that produce biofuel.