Invention Awards

  Researchers have successfully stabilized ferrocene molecules on a flat substrate for the first time, enabling the creation of an electronically controllable sliding molecular machine. Artificial molecular machines , composed of only a few molecules, hold transformative potential across diverse fields, including catalysis, molecular electronics, medicine, and quantum materials. These nanoscale devices function by converting external stimuli, such as electrical signals, into controlled mechanical motion at the molecular level. Ferrocene —a unique drum-shaped molecule featuring an iron (Fe) atom sandwiched between two five-membered carbon rings—is a standout candidate for molecular machinery. Its discovery, which earned the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1973, has positioned it as a foundational molecule in this area of study. The appeal of ferrocene lies in its remarkable property: a change in the electronic state of the Fe ion, from Fe²⁺ to Fe³⁺, induces a 36° rotation of the carbon ...

  A recent Colorado State University study published in the journal Geology demonstrates that climate change can affect the frequency of earthquakes, adding to a small but growing body of evidence showing that climate can alter the seismic cycle. CSU geoscientists analyzed the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in southern Colorado, a range with an active fault along its western edge. Their results indicate that the fault had been held in place under the weight of glaciers during the last ice age, and as the ice melted, slip along the fault increased. This suggests that earthquake activity along a fault could increase as glaciers recede. "Climate change is happening at a rate that is orders of magnitude faster than we see in the geologic record ," said first author Cece Hurtado, who led the study as her master's thesis. "We see this in the rapid mountain glacial retreats in Alaska, the Himalayas and the Alps. In many of these regions, there are also active tectonics, and th...

German quantum physicist Christian Schneider has been awarded an ERC Consolidator Grant Physicist Christian Schneider has been awarded a prestigious Consolidator Grant from the European Research Council (ERC) for his groundbreaking research into two-dimensional materials and their optical properties. Schneider, a professor at the University of Oldenburg in Germany, will receive approximately two million euros in funding over the next five years to support his “Dual Twist” project. This research focuses on a novel class of atomically thin materials and their remarkable properties, which hold significant promise for advancing optical technologies . Together with his team, Schneider will develop experimental set-ups specially designed to study the unique properties of the materials under investigation using light, and pave the way for their application in novel quantum technologies. ERC Consolidator Grants aim to support excellent scientists conducting innovative research in Europe and h...

  Researchers at the University of Waterloo have introduced a groundbreaking battery technology that significantly improves the charging time for electric vehicles (EVs). Their innovation allows EV batteries to charge from 0% to 80% in just 15 minutes, a drastic improvement over the current industry standard, which typically takes around an hour. This breakthrough not only addresses charging time but also enhances the longevity of batteries. The new battery architecture can handle up to 800 fast-charging cycles at room temperature, a feat not achievable with current lithium-ion batteries. Traditional EV batteries often require heating to charge quickly, which limits their cycle life. The new technology eliminates this limitation, offering a more sustainable solution for frequent users. One of the key challenges for EV adoption is the charging speed, which often causes anxiety among drivers. With this new technology, the concern of “range anxiety” could become a thing of the past...

  Despite having multiple ways to measure developer productivity , tech leaders still struggle to tell a compelling story in the boardroom - but a new comprehensive framework aims to change that. In boardrooms across the tech industry, CTOs and CIOs face a common challenge: effectively communicating and demonstrating IT productivity to leadership. Especially as organizations aim to deploy generative AI and other transformative technologies at a rapid pace, it’s critical to employ a reliable framework to measure engineering productivity. Established frameworks including DORA , SPACE , and DevEx exist for this purpose, but each takes a different approach to defining and measuring productivity, and none of them alone provide a truly comprehensive analysis. “In every board meeting, there’s the inevitable slide where the CTO is talking about productivity, and it always feels unsatisfying,” said Abi Noda, co-founder and CEO of DX, the company that created DX Core 4 . “We heard from CEO...

  Researchers at the Institute of Process Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a new method to monitor inhibitory neural signals in brain tissue dynamically. This approach is called Liquid/Liquid Interfacial Ultramicro Iontronics (L/L UIs). Dynamically monitoring cerebral chloride (Cl–) in the brain is considered a challenging task. To overcome this limitation, researchers eyed tracking Cerebral Chloride, a key substance in neural inhibition. However, under physiological conditions, Cl– is a non-electrochemically active substance and cannot easily undergo redox reactions based on electron transfer. Therefore, researchers deemed it as a non-suitable substance for monitoring inhibitory neural signals . Unlike conventional methods that use electrons , L/L UIs use ions as signal carriers. This method uses an ultra-micropipette with an organogel-filled tip, which forms a liquid-liquid interface with brain tissues. Researchers modified this liquid-liquid surfac...

Scientists in Japan have demonstrated a new method to create hydrogen fuel without emitting greenhouse gases. But key steps to improve its efficiency remain for it to be commercially viable.  he hydrogen fuel tank of a Toyota vehicle on display. Scientists in Japan have demonstrated a new proof-of-concept reactor that can harvest renewable hydrogen fuel from sunlight and water. The new 1,076-square-foot (100 square meters) reactor uses photocatalytic sheets to split apart the oxygen and hydrogen atoms found in water molecules, thus siphoning the hydrogen away to be used as fuel. While the technology remains in its infancy, the scientists behind the research say that, if more efficient photocatalysts can be developed, their breakthrough could enable the production of cheap, sustainable hydrogen fuel to meet various energy needs. They published their findings Dec. 2 in the journal Frontiers in Science . "Sunlight-driven water splitting using photocatalysts is an ideal technology fo...

To advance micro 3D printing and metallization technology to meet the rigorous demands of space applications Stay up to date with everything that is happening in the wonderful world of AM via our LinkedIn community. Horizon Microtechnologies, a micro 3D printing company, has secured funding from the European Space Agency’s (ESA) SPARK program administered by the Center for Satellite Navigation Hesse GmbH, CESAH – fuelling the development of its advanced 3D printing and metallization technology to meet the rigorous demands of space applications . By developing components that can withstand the harsh, unserviceable conditions of space, Horizon is proving that its technology is mature enough to address these engineering challenges. “Receiving ESA Spark funding is a powerful step forward for Horizon,” said Andreas Frölich, CEO of Horizon Microtechnologies. “Space applications demand the highest standards of performance, longevity, and reliability, and this support from ESA through CESAH i...

  Researchers focus on two-state systems as a promising approach for classroom teaching. A team of physics educators from Italy, Hungary, Slovenia, and Germany is pioneering a new approach to teaching quantum physics in schools. Traditional classroom methods have typically emphasized the history and origins of quantum physics, which can often create challenges for learners. The researchers, including physics education specialist Professor Philipp Bitzenbauer from Leipzig University, focus on qubits—two-state systems that are both the simplest and most crucial quantum systems, capable of describing many situations. Mastering the control and manipulation of these qubits is fundamental to advancing modern quantum technologies . According to Bitzenbauer, until now there have been no empirical studies of the effectiveness of these approaches using two-state systems in developing conceptual understanding in learners. There is also a lack of scientific research on the specific advantages...