Content for NCSU.Edu

Researchers Discover New Photoactivation Mechanism for Polymer Production

“A team of researchers from North Carolina State University has demonstrated a way to use low-energy, visible light to produce polymer gel objects from pure monomer solutions. The work not only poses a potential solution to current challenges in producing …

Jellyfish-Inspired Soft Robots Can Outswim Their Natural Counterparts

“Engineering researchers at North Carolina State University and Temple University have developed soft robots inspired by jellyfish that can outswim their real-life counterparts. More practically, the new jellyfish-bots highlight a technique that uses pre-stressed polymers to make soft robots more …

‘Breathable’ Electronics Pave the Way for More Functional Wearable Tech

“Engineering researchers have created ultrathin, stretchable electronic material that is gas permeable, allowing the material to “breathe.” The material was designed specifically for use in biomedical or wearable technologies, since the gas permeability allows sweat and volatile organic compounds to …

Pool Fire Testing Moves Composite Metal Foams Closer To Widespread Applications

“North Carolina State University researchers have demonstrated that composite metal foams (CMFs) can pass so-called “simulated pool fire testing” with flying colors, moving the material closer to use in applications such as packaging and transportation of hazardous materials. In addition …

‘Soft Tactile Logic’ Tech Distributes Decision-Making Throughout Stretchable Material

“Inspired by octopuses, researchers have developed a structure that senses, computes and responds without any centralized processing – creating a device that is not quite a robot and not quite a computer, but has characteristics of both. The new technology holds …

Using Wi-Fi Like Sonar to Measure Speed and Distance of Indoor Movement

“Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a technique for measuring speed and distance in indoor environments, which could be used to improve navigation technologies for robots, drones – or pedestrians trying to find their way around an airport. The …

Technique Uses Magnets, Light to Control and Reconfigure Soft Robots

“Researchers from North Carolina State University and Elon University have developed a technique that allows them to remotely control the movement of soft robots, lock them into position for as long as needed and later reconfigure the robots into new …

Researchers Create Multi-Junction Solar Cells from Off-the-Shelf Components

“Multi-junction solar cells are both the most efficient type of solar cell on the market today and the most expensive type of solar cell to produce. In a proof-of-concept paper, researchers from North Carolina State University detail a new approach …

Ultrasound Aligns Living Cells in Bioprinted Tissues

“North Carolina State University researchers have developed a technique to improve the characteristics of engineered tissues by using ultrasound to align living cells during the biofabrication process. “We’ve reached the point where we are able to create medical products …

Nanocrystal ‘Factory’ Could Revolutionize Quantum Dot Manufacturing

“North Carolina State University researchers have developed a microfluidic system for synthesizing perovskite quantum dots across the entire spectrum of visible light. The system drastically reduces manufacturing costs, can be tuned on demand to any color and allows for real-time …