MIGHTR: Speeding Construction of New Nuclear Plants to Help Decarbonize the Economy
Waging a Two-Pronged Campaign Against Climate Change With MIGHTR, MIT PhD student W. Robb Stewart aims to speed construction of new nuclear plants to help…
Civil Engineering
Bigon Rings: Technique Inspired by Lace Making Could Someday Weave Structures in Space
Lauren Dreier was paging through a 19th century book by the German architect Gottfried Semper when she spotted some intriguing patterns inspired by lace. A…
New Smart Cement Invented for Building More Durable Roads and Cities
Incorporating nanomaterials into traditional cement improves water and fracture resistance. Forces of nature have been outsmarting the materials we use to build our infrastructure since…
Scientists Reveal Causes of Concrete and Asphalt Deterioration
Scientists reveal that the deterioration of modern concrete and asphalt structures is due to the presence of trace quantities of organic matter in these structures….
The Uttarakhand Disaster Left More Than 200 People Dead or Missing – It Could Happen Again
Cause, scope determined for deadly winter debris flow in Uttarakhand, India. The Uttarakhand region of India experienced a humanitarian tragedy on February 7, 2021, when…
Innovation Pioneers Score World First for Sustainable Construction With “Game-Changing” Graphene-Enhanced Concrete
First commercial pour of engineered graphene concrete takes place in UK using Manchester technology. A joint venture between graphene specialists at The University of Manchester…
Revolutionary Self-Aware Materials Build the Foundation for Living Structures
New research in Nano Energy introduces revolutionary scalable material that senses and powers itself. From the biggest bridges to the smallest medical implants, sensors are…
Faster Air Exchange in Buildings Is Not Always Beneficial for Coronavirus Levels
Modeling study suggests vigorous ventilation can cause spike in viral concentrations. Vigorous and rapid air exchanges might not always be a good thing when it…
Snakeskin Inspires Safer Buildings
New research shows that it might be a good idea to look for inspiration in nature when designing load-bearing foundations for buildings. Despite human inventiveness…
Carbon Capture & Storage: Stanford and Carnegie Mellon Researchers Reveal Cost of Key Climate Solution
Perhaps the best hope for slowing climate change — capturing and storing carbon dioxide emissions underground — has remained elusive due in part to uncertainty…
Diabolical Ironclad Beetle: Design Secrets of Insect That Can Survive Getting Run Over by a Car
Getting run over by a car is not a near-death experience for the diabolical ironclad beetle. How the beetle survives could inspire the development of…
Deep Underground “Rock-Melting” Forces Explain Quakes on San Andreas Fault
Rock-melting forces occurring much deeper in the Earth than previously understood appear to drive tremors along a notorious segment of California’s San Andreas Fault, according…
‘Cold Tube’ Invented to Beat the Summer Heat More Efficiently Than Air Conditioning
Chilled panels use less energy than conventional A/C and work in open spaces. Many people beat the summer heat by cranking the air conditioning. However,…
“Elastic Cloaking” – New Flexible Material Designed to Protect Buildings, Military Personnel
University of Missouri engineers said their material has both civilian and military applications. Shake, rattle and roll. Even though they are miles from the epicenter…
Rethinking Tsunami Protection: Park-Like Defenses Can Provide a Sustainable Alternative to Towering Seawalls
Careful engineering of low, plant-covered hills along shorelines can mitigate tsunami risks with less disruption of coastal life and lower costs compared to seawalls. In…
Researchers Discover the Secret of Italian Renaissance Domes: Double Helix of Masonry
In a collaborative study in this month’s issue of Engineering Structures, researchers at Princeton University and the University of Bergamo revealed the engineering techniques behind…