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From Our Partners: Become a Leader in Your Industry with a Master of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence

2025-04-08 - 2025-04

As artificial intelligence reshapes industries and drives innovation across the globe, the demand for AI specialists is increasing, especially in the Eastside and Seattle area. Still, many professionals struggle to integrate AI into their skill set.

Northwest University is Redefining AI Education

Kirkland’s Northwest University is answering this need with a new Master of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence degree designed to bridge the gap between groundbreaking technology and real-world application.

“There’s a re-skilling revolution underway,” Jenni Cyrek, Assistant Dean of Northwest University’s Creatio Center for Technology, Media, and Design said. “According to the 2025 Future of Jobs report from the World Economic Forum, there’s a massive worldwide increase in demand for employees who are knowledgeable about AI.”

“Employers also need people with skills in analytical thinking, agility, creativity, and influence — reskilling in these important areas can open doors and pave a path for meaningful work that makes a difference in the world,” Cyrek added.

Unlike most AI programs that focus heavily on programming and coding, NU’s approach prioritizes practical application, with an emphasis on a more humanized approach. Students learn to solve complex problems by leveraging AI creatively, ethically, and empathetically, making this program ideal for professionals eager to stay competitive without overemphasizing the technical aspects often associated with AI education.

“The technology breakthroughs powered by AI provide us with astounding opportunities, and also some astounding complexities and challenges, ” Cyrek said. “Now, more than ever before, businesses need employees who are knowledgeable about the functional aspects of AI, and are equipped to consider the ethical impacts of AI, too.”

The MS AAI program at NU opens doors for mid-career professionals looking to enhance their current roles while addressing modern workforce demands. Some of these benefits include:

Streamlining workflows
Designing innovative solutions
Delivering tools and strategies that can be applied immediately
“At Northwest University, we’re building on our 90-year tradition of teaching morality, ethics, and people-centric considerations involved in the big questions of life, ” Cyrek added. “Our new Applied AI program builds on this heritage to support students developing a personalized approach to AI stewardship. AI stewardship encourages AI users and providers alike to engage in responsible management of AI in application, and to think of AI as a resource with risks that can be conscientiously engaged for good.”

Applied Materials CEO Gary Dickerson acquires $6.87 million in stock

2025-04-08 - 2025-04

Gary E. Dickerson, the President and CEO of Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ:AMAT), recently acquired a significant amount of the company’s common stock. According to a recent SEC filing, Dickerson purchased a total of 50,000 shares, with the transactions occurring on April 3, 2025. This insider purchase comes as InvestingPro analysis shows the company trading below its Fair Value, with a solid financial health score of GOOD and a reasonable P/E ratio of 17.

The shares were bought at a weighted average price, ranging from $136.69 to $137.70 per share, amounting to a total investment of approximately $6.87 million. This acquisition increases Dickerson’s total direct ownership to 1,716,058 shares, reflecting his continued confidence in the company’s prospects. Notably, InvestingPro data reveals management has been actively buying back shares, further aligning with this insider confidence.

The purchases include shares acquired under periodic payroll acquisitions through the Employees’ Stock Purchase Plan, exempt under specific SEC rules. This move comes as Applied Materials, with its substantial $107.45B market cap, continues to navigate the dynamic semiconductor industry, where it plays a pivotal role in manufacturing equipment for semiconductor fabrication. For deeper insights into AMAT’s valuation and 17+ additional ProTips, visit InvestingPro.

In other recent news, Applied Materials has announced several significant developments. The company declared a 15% increase in its quarterly cash dividend, marking continued growth in shareholder returns. Alongside this, a new $10 billion share repurchase program was authorized, adding to the existing plan with $7.6 billion remaining. Applied Materials also secured a $2 billion revolving credit facility, replacing a previous $1.5 billion line, providing increased financial flexibility until 2030. Furthermore, the company introduced the SEMVision™ H20 system, an advanced chip defect analysis tool utilizing eBeam technology and AI to enhance defect detection in semiconductor manufacturing.
At the recent Annual Meeting of Shareholders, all ten director nominees were elected, and executive compensation for fiscal year 2024 was approved. Additionally, KPMG LLP was ratified as the independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2025. Analysts from various firms have noted these strategic financial and operational moves. These recent developments underscore Applied Materials’ ongoing efforts to strengthen its financial position and technological capabilities.

How can science benefit from AI?

2025-04-04 - 2025-04

Researchers from chemistry, biology, and medicine are increasingly turning to AI models to develop new hypotheses. However, it is often unclear on which basis the algorithms come to their conclusions and to what extent they can be generalized. A publication by the University of Bonn now warns of misunderstandings in handling artificial intelligence. At the same time, it highlights the conditions under which researchers can most likely have confidence in the models. The study has now been published in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science.

Adaptive machine learning algorithms are incredibly powerful. Nevertheless, they have a disadvantage: How machine learning models arrive at their predictions is often not apparent from the outside.

Suppose you feed artificial intelligence with photos of several thousand cars. If you now present it with a new image, it can usually identify reliably whether the picture also shows a car or not. But why is that? Has it really learned that a car has four wheels, a windshield, and an exhaust? Or is its decision based on criteria that are actually irrelevant – such as the antenna on the roof? If this were the case, it could also classify a radio as a car.

AI models are black boxes

“AI models are black boxes,” highlights Prof. Dr. Jürgen Bajorath. “As a result, one should not blindly trust their results and draw conclusions from them.” The computational chemistry expert heads the AI in Life Sciences department at the Lamarr Institute for Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. He is also in charge of the Life Science Informatics program at the Bonn-Aachen International Center for Information Technology (b-it) at the University of Bonn. In the current publication, he investigated the question of when one can most likely rely on the algorithms. And vice versa: When not.

The concept of “explainability” plays an important role in this context. Metaphorically speaking, this refers to efforts within AI research to drill a peephole into the black box. The algorithm should reveal the criteria that it uses as a basis – the four wheels or the antenna. “Opening the black box currently is a central topic in AI research,” says Bajorath. “ Some AI models are exclusively developed to make the results of others more comprehensible.”

Explainability, however, is only one aspect – the question of which conclusions might be drawn from the decision-making criteria chosen by a model is equally important. If the algorithm indicates that it has based its decision on the antenna, a human being knows immediately that this feature is poorly suited for identifying cars. Despite this, adaptive models are generally used to identify correlations in large data sets that humans might not even notice. We are then like aliens who do not know what makes a car: An alien would be unable to say whether or not an antenna is a good criterion.

Chemical language models suggest new compounds

“There is another question that we always have to ask ourselves when using AI procedures in science,” stresses Bajorath, who is also a member of the Transdisciplinary Research Area (TRA) “Modelling”: “How interpretable are the results?” Chemical language models currently are a hot topic in chemistry and pharmaceutical research. It is possible, for instance, to feed them with many molecules that have a certain biological activity. Based on these input data, the model then learns and ideally suggests a new molecule that also has this activity but a new structure. This is also referred to as generative modeling. However, the model can usually not explain why it comes to this solution. It is often necessary to subsequently apply explainable AI methods.

Nonetheless, Bajorath warns against over-interpreting these explanations, that is, anticipating that features the AI considers important indeed cause the desired activity. “Current AI models understand essentially nothing about chemistry,” he says. “They are purely statistical and correlative in nature and pay attention to any distinguishing features, regardless of whether these features might be chemically or biologically relevant or not.” In spite of this, they may even be right in their assessment – so perhaps the suggested molecule has the desired capabilities. The reasons for this, however, can be completely different from what we would expect based on chemical knowledge or intuition. For evaluating potential causality between features driving predictions and outcomes of corresponding natural processes, experiments are typically required: The researchers must synthesize and test the molecule, as well as other molecules with the structural motif that the AI considers important.

Plausibility checks are important

Such tests are time-consuming and expensive. Bajorath thus warns against over-interpreting the AI results in the search for scientifically plausible causal relationships. In his view, a plausibility check based on a sound scientific rationale is of critical importance: Can the feature suggested by explainable AI actually be responsible for the desired chemical or biological property? Is it worth pursuing the AI’s suggestion? Or is it a likely artifact, a randomly identified correlation such as the car antenna, which is not relevant at all for the actual function?

The scientist emphasizes that the use of adaptive algorithms fundamentally has the potential to substantially advance research in many areas of science. Nevertheless, one must be aware of the strengths of these approaches – and particularly of their weaknesses.

Champion of computer science in Africa to receive inaugural Luiz André Barroso Award

2025-04-02 - 2025-04

ACM, the Association for Computing Machinery, today named Rachid Guerraoui the recipient of the inaugural ACM Luiz André Barroso Award for theoretical and applied contributions to distributed computing and impactful work on promoting computer science in Africa. Guerraoui is a Professor in the School of Computer and Communications Sciences at EPFL, where he is also Director of the Distributed Computing Laboratory.

The ACM Luiz André Barroso Award was established to recognize researchers from historically underrepresented communities who have made fundamental contributions to computer science. The award is named after Luiz André Barroso, a Brazilian computer engineer who pioneered the design of the modern data center. Barroso, who grew up in a diverse community, was a strong supporter of equal opportunity for everyone.

Technical Contributions
Rachid Guerraoui has made groundbreaking contributions that have shaped the landscape of distributed computing. Distributed computing is the process of making multiple computers in different locations work together to solve a common problem. A common thread that runs through Guerraoui’s work is providing principled theoretical and practical foundations for distributed computing mechanisms such as transactional memory, agreement protocols, and asynchronous information dissemination algorithms.

His work on e-Transaction and opacity concepts has provided new insights into managing transactions in concurrent environments. By establishing a theory of Transaction Contention Management and developing STMBench7, he has provided tools and frameworks for understanding and optimizing transaction performance.

Guerraoui proposed effective solutions to distributed agreement problems, which he applied to the realm of cryptocurrency. He demonstrated how to build scalable asynchronous abstractions that can support secure and decentralized digital currencies. Furthermore, his work on asynchronous dissemination protocols has paved the way for fully decentralized publish-subscribe systems, enabling efficient and reliable communication in distributed environments. In recent years, Guerraoui has ventured into the exciting field of Byzantine Machine Learning, which seeks to implement large-scale machine learning algorithms in the presence of machine failures. This work has opened new avenues for research at the intersection of machine learning and distributed computing.

Computing in Africa
Beyond his technical contributions, Guerraoui has also been a passionate advocate for computing education in Africa. Born in Morocco, he has been committed to fostering academic excellence on the African continent. By co-initiating the EPFL’s Excellence in Africa program, for example, Guerraoui has promoted the development of junior faculty and graduate students, providing them with opportunities to excel in their research and careers. The program has benefited researchers from Rwanda, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, and Morocco. His involvement in the creation of the UM6P College of Computing in Morocco has further expanded access to high-quality computer science education in the region.

Additionally, Guerraoui has played a key role in fostering collaboration and exchange among African computer science researchers through the Netys conference, which he also co-initiated and is held in Morocco. Netys is an exchange forum for African computing researchers who cannot easily travel to the US and Europe because of visas and financial issues.

“The ACM Awards Committee has made an excellent choice by selecting Rachid Guerraoui as the inaugural recipient of this new award,” said ACM President Yannis Ioannidis. “In the spirit of Luiz Barroso, Guerraoui’s technical achievements are wide-ranging and highly influential. As evidenced by his numerous Best Paper Awards from several conferences, he is one of the leading figures in distributed computing. And like Barroso, he has been effective in finding ways to broaden participation in the field. Africa has made rapid advances in computing, but increasing the size of a skilled workforce is essential to further growth. Through several initiatives, Guerraoui is making computer science education accessible across the continent.”

“As an international leader in distributed computing, Rachid Guerraoui continues Luiz’s legacy of transformative technical impact,” said Jeff Dean, Google’s Chief Scientist. “During his many years at Google, Luiz pioneered the design of the modern data center. He was also a dedicated mentor to the next generation of computer scientists, and I know he would wholeheartedly endorse Guerraoui’s work in helping educate computing professionals across Africa. Geurraoui is the ideal person to receive this award.”

Biographical Background
Rachid Guerraoui is a Professor in the School of Computer and Communications Sciences at EPFL (the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne), where he is Director of the Distributed Computing Laboratory. He is also head of the Advisory Board of the UM6P (University Mohammed 6 Polytechnic) College of Computing in Morocco. Guerraoui received an MSc in Computer Science from Sorbonne University, and a PhD in Computer Science from Orsay University.

Guerraoui’s many honors include the Dahl-Nygaard Award (2024), a 10-Year Most Influential Paper Award, and best paper awards from several conferences. Guerraoui was named an ACM Fellow in 2012 for contributions to the theory and practice of reliable distributed computing and Professor of College de France in 2018.

Guerraoui will be formally presented with the ACM Luiz André Barroso Award at the annual ACM Awards Banquet, which will be held this year on Saturday, June 14 at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco.

About the ACM Luiz André Barroso Award
The ACM Luiz André Barroso Award celebrates researchers from communities historically underrepresented in computing from across the world who have made fundamental contributions to computer science. Each year ACM honors a preeminent computer scientist with the Luiz André Barroso Award. The award recipient gives a one-hour invited talk at a major ACM conference of their choice. A video of the talk is made available on the ACM website. The award carries a cash prize of $40,000 plus an additional $10,000 cash contribution to an approved charity of the awardee’s choice. Financial support for the Luiz André Barroso Award is provided by Google.

About ACM
ACM, the Association for Computing Machinery, is the world’s largest educational and scientific computing society, uniting computing educators, researchers, and professionals to inspire dialogue, share resources, and address the field’s challenges. ACM strengthens the computing profession’s collective voice through strong leadership, promotion of the highest standards, and recognition of technical excellence. ACM supports the professional growth of its members by providing opportunities for life-long learning, career development, and professional networking.

Could applied science fiction shape a Fitzrovia future?

2025-04-02 - 2025-04

What will our neighbourhood be like in 30 years’ time? How can we help shape a community fit for the next generation of Fitzrovians? These are the questions a new initiative seeks to answer.

“Fitzrovia Futures is a locally run project to facilitate a discussion between the local community and subject specialists in areas that will affect the possible futures for Fitzrovia and we really want to make sure we include a diverse range of perspectives,” says science fiction writer Stephen Oram who is organising the project.

“We are looking for people from the community, such as residents, business owners, local workers, students and young people, to contribute to a half-day workshop,” he says.

Through workshops and storytelling, the project will explore what’s possible, plausible and what’s preferable for Fitzrovia in the 2050s.

The project hopes to explore some practical examples of aspects of a future Fitzrovia, such as threats and opportunities from changes to the retail landscape on Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road that could see these places become centres of entertainment.

Fitzrovia is undergoing an increasing student population and a change from permanent self-contained homes to an increasing number of short-stay, holiday lets.

Is it possible that Fitzrovia will return to being a “village in central London” and how might future technology help that to happen? Or will it lose more of its permanent population, like neighbouring Soho is currently experiencing?

Is there an opportunity for producing locally grown food or locally produced energy? How will climate change affect city centre living and the health of the community?

These fictional futures will then be used in public events to engage the wider community in the discussion.

“The reasoning behind this project is that, often community involvement in future related decisions are around immediate and specific issues,” says Oram.

“By using applied science fiction as a tool in participatory foresight, this project will look at a 30-year horizon through narratives, enabling those who take part to think in everyday terms about what and how they want their local area to become in the future, grounded in the plausibility that the subject specialists bring to the process,” he says.

The workshop which will be held at Fitzrovia Community Centre in late April and will involve each of the community participants describing in five minutes or less what’s important to them about the area and its future.

Following this the subject specialists will each talk for five minutes on their area of specialism and what that might look like in the 2050s.

“We are not expecting predictions, but a few possibilities to spark the imagination,” says Oram.

In the second half of the workshop there will be a semi-structured discussion amongst the 15 attendees about the 2050s, based on what’s been said and heard in the first half.

Following the workshop, the subject specialists will provide “feasibility” feedback on the ideas that will be incorporated into two short (5-minute) near-future stories written by the resident authors — Stephen Oram and Penny Walker.

There will then be a public event as part of the Fitzrovia Fete in August, where the stories will be read, with audience feedback encouraged, and more discussion to follow.

So far, the project involves the Fitzrovia Community Centre, academics from local universities, business people, and professional writers.

“Ideally, this project alongside a previous project in Finsbury Park will provide a template and a proof of concept for similar projects around the UK, all with their own local flavour but within the broad parameters devised through the course of this project. Once established, this methodology can be rolled out in any area of any country,” says Oram.

Fitzrovia Futures workshop will be held from 11:45am to 4:45pm on Thursday 29 April at the Fitzrovia Community Centre. Anyone interested in taking part in the project should contact Stephen Oram at info@nudgethefuture.net no later than 8 April 2025. The Fitzrovia Fete takes place on Sunday 10 August 2025.

Slavens featured on Wisconsin Public Radio show

2025-04-01 - 2025-04

Brooke Slavens, professor, mechanical and biomedical engineering, was a guest on Wisconsin Public Radio’s show “Wisconsin Today,” on April 4 to talk about her studies with users of manual wheelchairs.

More than 90% of wheelchair users opt for manual chairs, using their arms to rotate the wheels about a thousand times a day. Slaven’s research focuses on the impact of those repetitive motions in both adults and children. Her lab is one of the few worldwide investigating the biomechanics of pediatric wheelchair users and imaging their muscles with ultrasound.

“We noticed right away there needed to be more done to uncover better design of [wheelchairs],” she said, “as well as helping individuals who are using wheelchairs to be able to preserve their arms.”

Three UVA Engineering Faculty Named to AIMBE College of Fellows

2025-03-31 - 2025-04

Three faculty members from the University of Virginia’s School of Engineering and Applied Science have been named to the 2025 class of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) College of Fellows. Scott T. Acton, Gustavo Kunde Rohde and Shannon Barker join a select group representing the top two percent of medical and biological engineers nationwide.

“This recognition reflects not just individual achievement, but the strength of our community of scholars working across disciplines to improve human health,” said Jennifer L. West, Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science and Saunders Family Professor of Engineering.

The AIMBE College of Fellows honors individuals who have significantly contributed to the field through research, innovation, teaching and leadership.

Scott T. Acton: Imaging Tools That Push Medical Research Forward

Scott T. Acton, chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Lawrence R. Quarles Professor, is known for his work in biomedical image processing — especially using artificial intelligence to extract insights from medical data.

At UVA, Acton leads the Virginia Image and Video Analysis group, where he and his team develop tools that help researchers and clinicians analyze imaging data from the brain, heart and other systems. Their work has improved how diseases are tracked at the cellular level and supported breakthroughs in research on Alzheimer’s, cancer and cardiovascular disease.

His innovations have shaped how biomedical engineers interact with complex data, making it easier for scientists to draw meaningful conclusions from images that once required painstaking manual analysis.

Acton is also a STEM Advisor to the University of Virginia Provost.

Gustavo Kunde Rohde: Mathematical Modeling to Understand Biology

Gustavo Kunde Rohde, professor of biomedical engineering and electrical and computer engineering, is widely recognized for creating mathematical tools that deepen our understanding of form and function in biology.

Rohde’s development of transport-based nonlinear transforms — tools that reimagine how images and signals are analyzed — has gained traction across the biomedical imaging community. These methods have enabled discoveries in organ and tissue modeling, and advanced research in pathology by providing automated ways to analyze the progression of diseases like cancer.

His influence extends beyond the lab. Rohde has helped shape the direction of the biomedical image analysis field through leadership roles in major conferences, journal editorial boards and international education initiatives. His efforts have played a key role in turning image-based cytometry into a quantitative science in research and clinical settings.

Shannon Barker: Shaping How Engineers Learn to Solve Human Problems

Shannon Barker, associate professor and associate chair for undergraduate programs in biomedical engineering, has been honored for her work transforming engineering education — bringing a human lens to the technical work engineers do.

Barker designs learning experiences that bring empathy and real-world context into the classroom. Her students have worked on humanitarian design problems, such as rebuilding infrastructure for a refugee camp, and examined how biomedical engineering can help improve care for a range of patient populations. She has also led a department-wide undergraduate curriculum redesign that brought faculty together to rethink how and what students learn.

As former director of graduate education for UVA Engineering, Barker helped implement a more holistic Ph.D. admissions process that is still in use today. She also secured funding for graduate fellowships and professional development, supporting students not just academically, but as future innovators and leaders.

Her work has made classrooms more collaborative, faculty more engaged in student outcomes, and programs more responsive to the broader social context of engineering.

Researchers achieve quantum computing milestone, realizing certified randomness

2025-03-26 - 2025-03

In a new paper in Nature, a team of researchers from JPMorganChase, Quantinuum, Argonne National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and The University of Texas at Austin describe a milestone in the field of quantum computing, with potential applications in cryptography, fairness and privacy.

Using a 56-qubit quantum computer, they have for the first time experimentally demonstrated certified randomness, a way of generating random numbers from a quantum computer and then using a classical supercomputer to prove they are truly random and freshly generated. This could pave the way towards the use of quantum computers for a practical task unattainable through classical methods.

Scott Aaronson, Schlumberger Centennial Chair of Computer Science and director of the Quantum Information Center at UT Austin, invented the certified randomness protocol that was demonstrated. He and his former postdoctoral researcher, Shih-Han Hung, provided theoretical and analytical support to the experimentalists on this latest project.

“When I first proposed my certified randomness protocol in 2018, I had no idea how long I’d need to wait to see an experimental demonstration of it,” Aaronson said. “Building upon the original protocol and realizing it is a first step toward using quantum computers to generate certified random bits for actual cryptographic applications.”

Quantum computers have been shown to possess computational power far beyond that offered by even the most powerful classical supercomputers. Last year, a team from Quantinuum and JPMorganChase and another from Google each announced they had performed tasks on their respective quantum computers that would have been impossible with existing supercomputers, a feat known as quantum supremacy. However, converting this power into solving a practical task remained an open challenge.

This challenge has now been addressed by leveraging random circuit sampling (RCS) to generate certified randomness. Randomness is an essential resource for many applications in areas such as cryptography, fairness and privacy.

Classical computers alone cannot generate truly random numbers, so they are typically combined with a hardware random-number generator. But an adversary could commandeer the random-number generator and use it to provide the computer with numbers that are not fully random, allowing the adversary to then crack cryptographic codes. Using the new method described here, even if an adversary had commandeered the quantum computer, it would theoretically be impossible for them to manipulate the output and still be certified as random.

Accessing the 56-qubit Quantinuum System Model H2 trapped-ion quantum computer remotely over the internet, the team generated certifiably random bits. Specifically, they performed a certified-randomness-expansion protocol based on RCS, which outputs more randomness than it takes as input.

The protocol consists of two steps. In the first step, the team repeatedly fed the quantum computer challenges that it had to quickly solve which even the world’s most powerful classical supercomputer can’t quickly solve and which the quantum computer can only solve by picking one of the many possible solutions at random.

In the second step, the randomness was mathematically certified to be genuine using classical supercomputers. In fact, the team showed that randomness could not be mimicked by classical methods. Using classical certification across multiple leadership-scale supercomputers with a combined sustained performance of 1.1 x 1018 floating point operations per second (1.1 ExaFLOPS), the team certified 71,313 bits of entropy.

“This work marks a major milestone in quantum computing, demonstrating a solution to a real-world challenge using a quantum computer beyond the capabilities of classical supercomputers today,” said Marco Pistoia, Head of Global Technology Applied Research and Distinguished Engineer, JPMorganChase. “This development of certified randomness not only shows advancements in quantum hardware, but will be vital to further research, statistical sampling, numerical simulations and cryptography.”

In June 2024, Quantinuum upgraded its System Model H2 quantum computer to 56 trapped-ion qubits and, in partnership with JPMorganChase’s Global Technology Applied Research team, used this system to perform RCS, a task that was originally designed to demonstrate quantum advantage. H2 improved on the existing industry state of the art by a factor of 100 thanks to its high fidelity and all-to-all qubit connectivity, leading to the conclusion that the result could not have been obtained on any existing classical computers. This upgrade, combined with Aaronson’s protocol, led to the breakthrough now described in Nature.

“Today, we celebrate a pivotal milestone that brings quantum computing firmly into the realm of practical, real-world applications,” said Dr. Rajeeb Hazra, President and CEO of Quantinuum. “Our application of certified quantum randomness not only demonstrates the unmatched performance of our trapped-ion technology but sets a new standard for delivering robust quantum security and enabling advanced simulations across industries like finance, manufacturing and beyond. At Quantinuum, we are driving pioneering breakthroughs to redefine industries and unlock the full potential of quantum computing.”

“These results in quantum computing were enabled by the world-leading U.S. Department of Energy computing facilities at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,” said Travis Humble, director of the Quantum Computing User Program and director of the Quantum Science Center, both at ORNL. “Such pioneering efforts push the frontiers of computing and provide valuable insights into the intersection of quantum computing and high-performance computing.

Liquid-crystal platform overcomes optical losses in photonic circuits

2025-03-27 - 2025-03

Photonic circuits, which manipulate light to perform various computational tasks, have become essential tools for a range of advanced technologies—from quantum simulations to artificial intelligence. These circuits offer a promising way to process information with minimal energy loss, especially in fields like quantum computing where complex systems are simulated to test theories of quantum mechanics. However, the growth in circuit size and complexity has historically led to a rise in optical losses, making it challenging to scale these systems for large-scale applications, such as multiphoton quantum experiments or all-optical AI systems.

As reported in Advanced Photonics, researchers at the University of Naples Federico II have now developed a new approach to address this problem. Using a liquid-crystal (LC)-based platform, the team designed an optical processor capable of handling hundreds of optical modes in a compact, two-dimensional setup. This breakthrough offers a solution to a key limitation in traditional photonic circuits, where losses increase as the number of modes grows.

The new system uses a set of three LC metasurfaces, precisely engineered to simulate quantum processes, such as the "quantum walk," which is the quantum-mechanical analogue of the classical random walk. This LC configuration allows the system to handle a large number of optical modes without a significant increase in losses, something that was previously difficult to achieve.

According to corresponding author Filippo Cardano, professor of physics at the University of Naples, “In theory, this circuit can handle as many modes as needed while maintaining constant optical losses, thus representing a significant breakthrough with respect to previous implementations.”

In earlier experiments, Cardano’s team demonstrated the potential of this technology in one-dimensional setups, reaching record-breaking numbers of quantum walk steps. However, expanding this to two-dimensional systems presented new challenges, including the risk of disruptions in the liquid-crystal patterns that would affect light behavior.

To overcome this challenge, the researchers developed a new algorithm that creates smooth patterns, which incorporate isolated vortices that do not significantly impact light propagation. This innovation enabled the system to simulate up to 800 optical modes—much more than could be achieved with the one-dimensional approach.

Cardano notes that this technology is versatile and can be easily customized to suit a wide range of computational and simulation tasks, opening up new possibilities for low-loss circuits that could push the limits of photonic quantum experiments.

Researchers achieve quantum computing milestone, realizing certified randomness

2025-03-26 - 2025-03

Technology developed by MIT engineers makes pesticides stick to plant leaves Massachusetts Institute of Technology

2025-03-25 - 2025-03

Reducing the amount of agricultural sprays used by farmers could decrease polluting runoff, while at the same time cutting farmers’ costs and perhaps enhancing productivity.

Reducing the amount of agricultural sprays used by farmers — including fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides — could cut down the amount of polluting runoff that ends up in the environment while at the same time reducing farmers’ costs and perhaps even enhancing their productivity. A classic win-win-win.

A team of researchers at MIT and a spinoff company they launched has developed a system to do just that. Their technology adds a thin coating around droplets as they are being sprayed onto a field, greatly reducing their tendency to bounce off leaves and end up wasted on the ground. Instead, the coated droplets stick to the leaves as intended.

The research is described today in the journal Soft Matter, in a paper by recent MIT alumni Vishnu Jayaprakash PhD ’22 and Sreedath Panat PhD ’23, graduate student Simon Rufer, and MIT professor of mechanical engineering Kripa Varanasi.

A recent study found that if farmers didn’t use pesticides, they would lose 78 percent of fruit, 54 percent of vegetable, and 32 percent of cereal production. Despite their importance, a lack of technology that monitors and optimizes sprays has forced farmers to rely on personal experience and rules of thumb to decide how to apply these chemicals. As a result, these chemicals tend to be over-sprayed, leading to runoff and chemicals ending up in waterways or building up in the soil.

Pesticides take a significant toll on global health and the environment, the researchers point out. A recent study found that 31 percent of agricultural soils around the world were at high risk from pesticide pollution. And agricultural chemicals are a major expense for farmers: In the U.S., they spend $16 billion a year just on pesticides.

Making spraying more efficient is one of the best ways to make food production more sustainable and economical. Agricultural spraying essentially boils down to mixing chemicals into water and spraying water droplets onto plant leaves, which are often inherently water-repellent. “Over more than a decade of research in my lab at MIT, we have developed fundamental understandings of spraying and the interaction between droplets and plants — studying when they bounce and all the ways we have to make them stick better and enhance coverage,” Varanasi says.

The team had previously found a way to reduce the amount of sprayed liquid that bounces away from the leaves it strikes, which involved using two spray nozzles instead of one and spraying mixtures with opposite electrical charges. But they found that farmers were reluctant to take on the expense and effort of converting their spraying equipment to a two-nozzle system. So, the team looked for a simpler alternative.

They discovered they could achieve the same improvement in droplet retention using a single-nozzle system that can be easily adapted to existing sprayers. Instead of giving the droplets of pesticide an electric charge, they coat each droplet with a vanishingly thin layer of an oily material.

In their new study, they conducted lab experiments with high-speed cameras. When they sprayed droplets with no special treatment onto a water-repelling (hydrophobic) surface similar to that of many plant leaves, the droplets initially spread out into a pancake-like disk, then rebounded back into a ball and bounced away. But when the researchers coated the surface of the droplets with a tiny amount of oil — making up less than 1 percent of the droplet’s liquid — the droplets spread out and then stayed put. The treatment improved the droplets’ “stickiness” by as much as a hundredfold.

“When these droplets are hitting the surface and as they expand, they form this oil ring that essentially pins the droplet to the surface,” Rufer says. The researchers tried a wide variety of conditions, he says, explaining that they conducted hundreds of experiments, “with different impact velocities, different droplet sizes, different angles of inclination, all the things that fully characterize this phenomenon.” Though different oils varied in their effectiveness, all of them were effective. “Regardless of the impact velocity and the oils, we saw that the rebound height was significantly lower,” he says.

The effect works with remarkably small amounts of oil. In their initial tests they used 1 percent oil compared to the water, then they tried a 0.1 percent, and even .01. The improvement in droplets sticking to the surface continued at a 0.1 percent, but began to break down beyond that. “Basically, this oil film acts as a way to trap that droplet on the surface, because oil is very attracted to the surface and sort of holds the water in place,” Rufer says.

In the researchers’ initial tests they used soybean oil for the coating, figuring this would be a familiar material for the farmers they were working with, many of whom were growing soybeans. But it turned out that though they were producing the beans, the oil was not part of their usual supply chain for use on the farm. In further tests, the researchers found that several chemicals that farmers were already routinely using in their spraying, called surfactants and adjuvants, could be used instead, and that some of these provided the same benefits in keeping the droplets stuck on the leaves.

“That way,” Varanasi says, “we’re not introducing a new chemical or changed chemistries into their field, but they’re using things they’ve known for a long time.”

Varanasi and Jayaprakash formed a company called AgZen to commercialize the system. In order to prove how much their coating system improves the amount of spray that stays on the plant, they first had to develop a system to monitor spraying in real time. That system, which they call RealCoverage, has been deployed on farms ranging in size from a few dozen acres to hundreds of thousands of acres, and many different crop types, and has saved farmers 30 to 50 percent on their pesticide expenditures, just by improving the controls on the existing sprays. That system is being deployed to 920,000 acres of crops in 2025, the company says, including some in California, Texas, the Midwest, France and Italy. Adding the cloaking system using new nozzles, the researchers say, should yield at least another doubling of efficiency.

“You could give back a billion dollars to U.S. growers if you just saved 6 percent of their pesticide budget,” says Jayaprakash, lead author of the research paper and CEO of AgZen. “In the lab we got 300 percent of extra product on the plant. So that means we could get orders of magnitude reductions in the amount of pesticides that farmers are spraying.”

Farmers had already been using these surfactant and adjuvant chemicals as a way to enhance spraying effectiveness, but they were mixing it with a water solution. For it to have any effect, they had to use much more of these materials, risking causing burns to the plants. The new coating system reduces the amount of these materials needed, while improving their effectiveness.

In field tests conducted by AgZen, “we doubled the amount of product on kale and soybeans just by changing where the adjuvant was,” from mixed in to being a coating, Jayaprakash says. It’s convenient for farmers because “all they’re doing is changing their nozzle. They’re getting all their existing chemicals to work better, and they’re getting more product on the plant.”

And it’s not just for pesticides. “The really cool thing is this is useful for every chemistry that’s going on the leaf, be it an insecticide, a herbicide, a fungicide, or foliar nutrition,” Varanasi says. This year, they plan to introduce the new spray system on about 30,000 acres of cropland.

Varanasi says that with projected world population growth, “the amount of food production has got to double, and we are limited in so many resources, for example we cannot double the arable land. … This means that every acre we currently farm must become more efficient and able to do more with less.” These improved spraying technologies, for both monitoring the spraying and coating the droplets, Varanasi says, “I think is fundamentally changing agriculture.”

AgZen has recently raised $10 million in venture financing to support rapid commercial deployment of these technologies that can improve the control of chemical inputs into agriculture. “The knowledge we are gathering from every leaf, combined with our expertise in interfacial science and fluid mechanics, is giving us unparalleled insights into how chemicals are used and developed — and it’s clear that we can deliver value across the entire agrochemical supply chain,” Varanasi says “Our mission is to use these technologies to deliver improved outcomes and reduced costs for the ag industry.”

After greening comes darkness….and it really does matter!

2025-03-24 - 2025-03

Many people are familiar with the idea of greening cities, which involves developing and enhancing urban green spaces. But what if we to start talking about darkening cities in a similar way?

Lancaster University Professor of Urban Design Nick Dunn says we would be able to reach important goals in relation to biodiversity, health and well-being of humans and nonhumans, and climate objectives.

Imagine a whole new world of effective shared living where we listen to our natural rhythms instead of fighting against them and we tackle light pollution so we can all see the stars at night.

Ditching urban lighting as we know it and designing buildings to be nocturnal, says Professor Dunn, will be beneficial for ourselves and the planet.

The founding director of Lancaster University’s Dark Design Laboratory, Professor Dunn says light, an often-uninvited by-product of our contemporary lives, is everywhere. Meanwhile darkness appears unwanted, but is essential to our wellbeing, other species, and our planet.

In ‘Dark Futures: When the Lights Go Down’, Professor Dunn, an architect, who also heads up Imagination, the University’s design and architecture research centre, presents a challenging new constraint-free way of thinking about the world in which we create more darkness than light.

“So, what might happen when the lights go down?” asks Professor Dunn. “And how bright should our future be?

“We dream in darkness. Yet light is everywhere, blazing its way through our lives and thoughts. Our world has more artificial light in it than ever before.

“When we consider what futures are possible, they tend to direct us to visions of either a shiny, frictionless world which is light and bright or, at the other end of the spectrum, they are fearsome, shadowy dystopias.

“We urgently need new ways to think of futures to save the planet, other species, and ourselves.”

Reclaiming darkness, says Professor Dunn, will enable ideas for an alternative future, which are neither environmentally catastrophic nor technologically evangelical.

This bold vision questions the outdated view of darkness something to be feared and designed against and, by doing so, proposes a reconnection of humans within the wider world – a true multispecies coexistence that is in tune with our body clocks and nature’s rhythms.

A balanced relationship with light and dark means, adds Professor Dunn, improved human health, flourishing biodiversity, and reduction in energy waste and pollution.

‘Dark Futures’ is part autobiography as it explains the author’s evolving relationship with darkness through childhood and beyond and part meditation on how we can rethink our ideas concerning the dark and, in turn, how this can transform our ecologies and technologies for the better.

“In an unprecedented era of climate emergency, we need to fundamentally rethink what we do, how we do it, and why,” adds Professor Dunn.

“Embracing darkness is about so much more than tackling light pollution. In fact, it runs through everything and is the key to reconnecting with the world around us.

“Common perception holds light and dark in opposition. Light is celebrated and synonymous with goodness, clarity, and wisdom. Darkness, meanwhile, appears unwanted, deep in its association with all that is dangerous, demonic, and oppressive.”

Professor Dunn says we are losing the night due to excessive artificial lighting. For centuries this was a terrestrial problem, but now fast-moving satellites can illuminate parts of the planet that were previously remote enough not be affected.

“As a result, our ancestral links with dark skies, relationships which lasted for millennia are all but extinguished with artificial stars due to replace those in the galaxy,” he says.

“Darkness is progressive. It signifies the very act of being alive as a species that depends on circadian rhythms for survival. Our ability to flourish depends entirely on rethinking our values and restoring our interrelationships with the planet and its other inhabitants. How might dark futures benefit people, places, and the planet?”

Dark Futures: When the Lights Go Down, is published on March 25 with the official launch in Manchester on April 10.

Nick Dunn is the founding Director of the Dark Design Lab, exploring the impacts of nocturnal activity on humans and non-humans. He is also an Ambassador for the Design Council and a Director of DarkSky UK.

New machine learning framework enhances precision and efficiency in metal 3D printing, advancing sustainable manufacturing

2025-03-21 - 2025-03

Researchers at University of Toronto Engineering, led by Professor Yu Zou, are leveraging machine learning to improve additive manufacturing, also commonly known as 3D printing.
In a new paper, published in the journal of Additive Manufacturing, the team introduces a new framework they’ve dubbed the Accurate Inverse process optimization framework in laser Directed Energy Deposition (AIDED).
The new AIDED framework optimizes laser 3D printing to enhance the accuracy and robustness of the finished product. This advancement aims to produce higher quality metal parts for industries, such as aerospace, automotive, nuclear and health care, by predicting how the metal will melt and solidify to find optimal printing conditions.
“The wider adoption of directed energy deposition — a major metal 3D printing technology — is currently hindered by the high cost of finding optimal process parameters through trial and error,” says Xiao Shang, PhD candidate and first author of the new study.
“Our framework quickly identifies the optimal process parameters for various applications based on industry needs.”
Metal additive manufacturing uses a high-powered laser to selectively fuse fine metallic powder, building parts layer by layer from a precise 3D digital model.
Unlike traditional methods, which involve cutting, casting or machining materials, metal additive manufacturing directly creates complex, highly customized components with minimal material waste.
“One major challenge of 3D metal printing is the speed and precision of the manufacturing process,” says Zou. “Variations in printing conditions can lead to inconsistencies in the quality of the final product, making it difficult to meet industry standards for reliability and safety.
“Another major challenge is determining the optimal settings for printing different materials and parts. Each material — whether it’s titanium for aerospace and medical applications or stainless steel for the nuclear reactors — has unique properties that require specific laser power, scanning speed and temperature conditions. Finding the right combination of these parameters across a vast range of process parameters is a complex and time-consuming task.”
These challenges inspired Zou and his lab group to develop their new framework. AIDED operates in a closed-loop system where a genetic algorithm — a method that mimics natural selection to find optimal solutions — first suggests process parameters combinations, which machine learning models then evaluate for printing quality.
The genetic algorithm checks these predictions for optimality, repeating the process until the best parameters are found.
“We have demonstrated that our framework can identify optimal process parameters from customizable objectives in as little as one hour, and it accurately predicts geometries from process parameters,” says Shang. “It is also versatile and can be used with various materials.”
To develop the framework, the researchers conducted numerous experiments to collect their vast datasets. This essential but time-consuming challenge ensured that the datasets covered a wide range of process parameters.
Looking ahead, the team is working to develop an enhanced autonomous, or self-driving, additive manufacturing system that operates with minimal human intervention, similar to how autonomous vehicles drive themselves, says Zou.
“By combining cutting-edge additive manufacturing methods with artificial intelligence, we aim to create a novel closed loop controlled self-driving laser system,” he says.
“This system will be capable of sensing potential defects in real-time, predicting issues before they occur, and automatically adjusting processing parameters to ensure high-quality production. It will be versatile enough to work with different materials and part geometries, making it a game-changer for manufacturing industries.”
In the meantime, the researchers hope AIDED will transform process optimization in industries that use metal 3D printing.
“Industries such as aerospace, biomedical, automotive, nuclear and more would welcome such a low-cost yet accurate solution to facilitate their transition from traditional manufacturing to 3D printing,” says Shang.
“By the year 2030, additive manufacturing is expected to reshape manufacturing across multiple high-precision industries,” adds Zou. “The ability to adaptively correct defects and optimize parameters will accelerate its adoption.”

Rice engineer develops new security protocol to protect miniaturized wireless medical implants from cyberthreats

2025-03-21 - 2025-03

HOUSTON – (March 20, 2025) – A brain implant designed to help control seizures is hijacked. A pacemaker receives fake signals, disrupting its rhythm. A hacker infiltrates an insulin pump, delivering a fatal overdose. While these scenarios sound like scenes from a sci-fi thriller, such cyberhealth threats are of real concern as medical technology moves toward smart, wirelessly connected implants.
Smart bioelectronic implants promise to revolutionize healthcare, giving doctors remote access to monitor and adjust treatments. But as these devices become more advanced, they also become more vulnerable. Just like smartphones and bank accounts, medical implants could be targeted by cybercriminals. And when that happens, the consequences could be life-threatening.
At Rice University, electrical and computer engineer Kaiyuan Yang is working to stay ahead of these threats, developing hacker-resistant implants that protect patients from the dark side of medical innovation.
“As biomedical technology advances, the stakes of security are becoming ever more critical,” said Rice University engineer Kaiyuan Yang, who runs the Secure and Intelligent Micro-Systems (SIMS) Lab. “Imagine a tiny, battery-free medical implant ⎯ no bigger than a grain of rice ⎯ capable of treating diseases without major surgery or medication regimens.
“Such implants, powered wirelessly and connected to the internet through a wearable hub, could make a huge difference for the autonomy and life quality of people living with chronic conditions like epilepsy or treatment-resistant depression, for instance,” said Yang, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at Rice.
Advanced wireless implantable technology could enable doctors to monitor patients’ health and adjust treatment remotely, making the need for on-site testing and treatment obsolete. But Yang warns that with this potential comes a serious risk: Hackers could intercept communications, steal passwords or send fake commands, threatening patient safety.
In recent work presented at the International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) ⎯ the flagship conference of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) ⎯ Yang and his team unveiled a first-of-its-kind authentication protocol for wireless, battery-free, ultraminiaturized implants that ensures these devices remain protected while still allowing emergency access. Known as magnetoelectric datagram transport layer security, or ME-DTLS, the protocol exploits a quirk of wireless power transfer, a technology that allows medical implants to be powered externally without a battery. Normally when the external power source ⎯ or in this case the external hub worn by the patient ⎯ moves slightly out of alignment, the amount of power the implant receives fluctuates.
“Lateral or side-to-side movement causes a signal misalignment that is usually considered a flaw in these systems, but we turned it into a security feature by transmitting binary values to specific movements with full awareness of the patient,” Yang said.
For example, by coding short movements as a “1” and longer movements as a “0,” the protocol enables users to input a secure access pattern just by moving the external hub in a specific way. This pattern-based input acts like a second authentication factor, much like entering a PIN after using a password or drawing a pattern to unlock a phone. The overall user experience with the ME-DTLS two-factor authentication closely resembles the process of logging into bank accounts today. Users enter their login credentials, wait for an SMS with a temporary passcode then input this passcode to log in.
This innovation solves two major problems in medical cybersecurity. First, it protects against stolen passwords by requiring a physical confirmation step that cannot be faked remotely. Second, it ensures emergency responders can access the device without needing preshared credentials. Thus, if a patient is unconscious or unable to provide a password, the implant transmits a temporary authentication signal that can only be detected at close range.
“This ensures that only a nearby authorized device can access the implant,” Yang said. “In emergencies, the implant verifies the responder or doctor by the pattern they draw and gives them access even if there is no internet connection.”
By leveraging an intrinsic feature of wireless power transfer systems, the solution developed by Yang and his team avoids the drawbacks of other security measures for implantable technologies, like the addition of bulky sensors.
The researchers tested the pattern input method with volunteers and found that it correctly recognized the patterns 98.72% of the time, proving their solution is both reliable and easy to use. The team also developed a rapid, low-power method for the implant to send data back out securely and effectively.
“To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to utilize the natural flaw of wireless power transfer to send secure information to the implant and enable secure two-factor authentication in miniaturized implants,” Yang said. “Compared to other medical devices, our design offers the best balance between security, efficiency and reliability.”
For patients, this could mean a future where their medical implants are both secure and accessible when it matters most, offering a simple, intuitive way to ensure that only the right people ⎯ whether a doctor, caregiver or emergency responder ⎯ can control the technology inside their bodies.

Engineering goods exports from India dip in Feb 2025, slipping 8.6 pc y-o-y

2025-03-18 - 2025-03

KOLKATA, Mar 18: After recording positive growth for nine straight months, engineering goods exports registered a dip in the month of February 2025, slipping 8.6 per cent year-on-year to $9.08 billion during this period, according to the EEPC India.
In cumulative terms, engineering goods exports stood at $105.84 billion in April-February period of current financial year 2024-25 as against $98.03 billion in the corresponding period last year thus
registering a positive growth of 7.9 pc, EEPC India chairman Pankaj Chadha said on Tuesday.
The big shift in US trade policy threatened to negatively impact global trade. The move has already resulted in many countries taking a protectionist approach towards trade, he continued.
” All indications suggest that the US could further harden its stand on a tariff which will affect the world adversely. India has been one of the few major countries which have managed to do well on exports
despite various back-to-back challenges,” Chadha maintained.
” The Indian engineering industry has maintained growth momentum for most part of the current financial year surpassing the performance of overall merchandise exports. While the medium and long-term outlook for the sector remains bright, challenges do not seem to be subsiding in the short-term,” he said.
The US has made announcements regarding reciprocal tariffs, likely to take effect from April 2, 2025, adding further concerns for the industry. Reciprocal tariff would be applicable on all products
Chadha said.
“In the light of the above, the engineering sector hopes to continue getting government support and stay competitive globally,” the EEPC India opined. (UNI)

SBU’s Andrew Singer, head of Engineering and Applied Sciences, wants to build on success

2025-03-15 - 2025-03

By Daniel Dunaief
Andrew Singer Photo courtesy of SBU
Andrew Singer, the Dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS) at Stony Brook University, has bigger numbers in mind. For starters, he’d like to see CEAS increase in size, from 5,000 total students, including 3,500 undergraduates, to as many as 10,000 students.
“We are small as an institution compared to other institutions of our reputation in research,” said Singer, referring both to the overall population of the university and to the college he leads.
He believes growth at the CEAS could occur because there is “that much demand for a Stony Brook College of Engineering and Applied Sciences education right now.”
Singer, who joined Stony Brook in July of 2023, believes that state schools like Stony Brook provide an education that create life changing opportunities for people and their families. The lack of available housing on campus at this point is a rate limiting step in increasing the number of students who can attend.
Getting the word out
Singer, who came to Stony Brook after 25 years in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department at the University of Illinois, believes public universities have historically seen themselves as being local and serving the mission of the state, without needing to advertise.
“As public funding diminished, many public institutions realized they needed to tell the world that they were serving this tremendous mission and adding tremendous value to society,” Singer said.
Indeed, the late Chemistry Professor Paul Lauterbur helped invent the MRI machine, which has become such an important diagnostic tool in medicine. Lauterbur, who was a tenured professor at Stony Brook from 1963 to 1985, shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine along with British Physicist Sir Peter Mansfield in 2003.
Singer also wants prospective students to know that John L. Hennessy, the former president of Stanford University and current chairman of Google’s parent company Alphabet, earned his Master’s and PhD degrees from Stony Brook.
“Telling our story not only can help to bring some of the world’s greatest educators and researchers to campus, but can also ensure that the resources needed to continue to build on our successes are available,” said Singer.
Finding funds
Additionally, the CEAS Dean believes professors in the college can diversify their sources of funding.
“One of the things I noticed at Stony Brook is that most of the research is funded through grants from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Energy,” he said. “That concentration of funding makes you vulnerable to changes in the funding cycle.”
Additionally, competition for funding from those agencies is extremely high. Singer has been urging faculty at CEAS to seek funding from industrial sponsors.
“At the end of the day, what’s important is the scholarship you create,” he said.
Singer appreciates how his colleagues at Stony Brook are pursuing funds for larger interdepartmental funds.

Vice President for Research Kevin Gardner has “strong experience in building these larger portfolios of funding for faculty research,” Singer said. Gardner and Singer talk “often about ways we can continue to develop opportunities for faculty to go after new funding and present ideas to industry.”
Gardner described Springer as a “rock star” who has “great ideas” and is “super brilliant with tons of positive energy. He can move things and already has been moving things in a positive direction for CEAS.”
Gardner believes engineering could and should be twice the size it is and suggested that Springer is “the guy who will get us there.”
Opportunities for growth
Singer appreciates the depth and breadth of faculty interests at the CEAS. “Our faculty are brilliant researchers, working at the forefront of many areas of importance to society, from information and energy systems, to human health and disease prevention, to clean water and security,” he said. “With nine departments in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, it is difficult to find an area of science and engineering where our faculty are not having impact.”
Singer sees opportunities for growth in areas including artificial intelligence.
The university launched the AI Innovation Institute (AI3) in September of last year, which will expand the Institute for AI-driven Discovery and Innovation, which was established in 2018 from a department-level institute within the CEAS to the university-wide AI3, reporting to Provost Carl Lejuez. Steve Skiena, distinguished professor in the department of Computer Science, is serving as the interim director of AI3 while the university has been searching for an inaugural director.
The provost appreciates the efforts Singer has been making on behalf of the CEAS and the university. Singer is “good at thinking about the big things we need to focus on,” Lejuez said in an interview. Singer has “brought a leadership style that is consistent with the culture we’ve been trying to create over the past few years. We are partners with faculty, staff and students. We are including them not just at the end of decisions.”
Singer is also continuing to pursue his own scientific studies. His research interests include signal processing and communication systems. He has worked on underwater acoustics, where he studied underwater communication for the subsea industry. He has also worked in wireless communications for cellular and radio applications and in fiber optic communication systems.
Singer has two graduate students at Stony Brook and several students who are completing their work at Illinois. His students are working in areas related to audio signal processing, such as improving the performance of hearing aids and devices like noise-cancelling headphones, as well as in underwater acoustics.
Singer has had two companies emerge from research in his lab. He would like to continue to engage in innovation and entrepreneurship and help grow the entrepreneurial ecosystem at Stony Brook.
Quantum work
CEAS has invested in areas related to quantum communication.
In August 2024, Stony Brook was chosen to lead a project in the National Quantum Virtual Laboratory program. Funded by the National Science Foundation and led by Principal Investigator Eden Figueroa, Stony Brook Presidential Innovation Endowed Professor, the team is designing and implementing a 10-node quantum network connecting labs at Stony Brook, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Columbia University and Yale University.

Spinning, twisted light could power next-generation electronics

2025-03-13 - 2025-03

Researchers have advanced a decades-old challenge in the field of organic semiconductors, opening new possibilities for the future of electronics.
The researchers, led by the University of Cambridge and the Eindhoven University of Technology, have created an organic semiconductor that forces electrons to move in a spiral pattern, which could improve the efficiency of OLED displays in television and smartphone screens, or power next-generation computing technologies such as spintronics and quantum computing.
The semiconductor they developed emits circularly polarised light—meaning the light carries information about the ‘handedness’ of electrons. The internal structure of most inorganic semiconductors, like silicon, is symmetrical, meaning electrons move through them without any preferred direction.
However, in nature, molecules often have a chiral (left- or right-handed) structure: like human hands, chiral molecules are mirror images of one another. Chirality plays an important role in biological processes like DNA formation, but it is a difficult phenomenon to harness and control in electronics.
But by using molecular design tricks inspired by nature, the researchers were able to create a chiral semiconductor by nudging stacks of semiconducting molecules to form ordered right-handed or left-handed spiral columns. Their results are reported in the journal Science.
One promising application for chiral semiconductors is in display technology. Current displays often waste a significant amount of energy due to the way screens filter light. The chiral semiconductor developed by the researchers naturally emits light in a way that could reduce these losses, making screens brighter and more energy-efficient.
“When I started working with organic semiconductors, many people doubted their potential, but now they dominate display technology,” said Professor Sir Richard Friend from Cambridge’s Cavendish Laboratory, who co-led the research. “Unlike rigid inorganic semiconductors, molecular materials offer incredible flexibility—allowing us to design entirely new structures, like chiral LEDs. It’s like working with a Lego set with every kind of shape you can imagine, rather than just rectangular bricks.”
The semiconductor is based on a material called triazatruxene (TAT) that self-assembles into a helical stack, allowing electrons to spiral along its structure, like the thread of a screw.
“When excited by blue or ultraviolet light, self-assembled TAT emits bright green light with strong circular polarisation—an effect that has been difficult to achieve in semiconductors until now,” said co-first author Marco Preuss, from the Eindhoven University of Technology. “The structure of TAT allows electrons to move efficiently while affecting how light is emitted.”
By modifying OLED fabrication techniques, the researchers successfully incorporated TAT into working circularly polarised OLEDs (CP-OLEDs). These devices showed record-breaking efficiency, brightness, and polarisation levels, making them the best of their kind.
“We’ve essentially reworked the standard recipe for making OLEDs like we have in our smartphones, allowing us to trap a chiral structure within a stable, non-crystallising matrix,” said co-first author Rituparno Chowdhury, from Cambridge’s Cavendish Laboratory. “This provides a practical way to create circularly polarised LEDs, something that has long eluded the field.”
The work is part of a decades-long collaboration between Friend’s research group and the group of Professor Bert Meijer from the Eindhoven University of Technology. “This is a real breakthrough in making a chiral semiconductor,” said Meijer. “By carefully designing the molecular structure, we’ve coupled the chirality of the structure to the motion of the electrons and that’s never been done at this level before.”
The chiral semiconductors represent a step forward in the world of organic semiconductors, which now support an industry worth over $60 billion. Beyond displays, this development also has implications for quantum computing and spintronics—a field of research that uses the spin, or inherent angular momentum, of electrons to store and process information, potentially leading to faster and more secure computing systems.
The research was supported in part by the European Union’s Marie Curie Training Network and the European Research Council. Richard Friend is a Fellow of St John’s College, Cambridge. Rituparno Chowdhury is a member of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge.

Rowing Science: Practical Application of Variability Analysis

2025-03-12 - 2025-03

Did you know that improving rowing technique consistency is a critical component of rower progression? Variations in key indicators, such as timing, angles, and force-power metrics, continuously decreased, while others, like the force curve and rowing factors, exhibited non-linear improvements. These changes were likely achieved through proper and regular coaching, an essential aspect of rower development.
Rowing technique and its consistency were studied during the career progression of a young rower. Both the magnitude and variation of biomechanical indicators were analyzed in a junior rower over six years, from the second to the seventh year of their rowing career. The athlete began rowing at the age of 12, became a National Junior Champion in their second season, earned medals at the Junior World Championships in their fifth and sixth seasons, and successfully transitioned to the U23 category in their seventh season. Each year, the sculler performed a standard BioRow test in a single, and the average values of all samples are presented here.
The variation in timing indicators decreased significantly: stroke rate (duration of the stroke cycle) variation reduced by 43%, and drive time variation dropped by 56%, indicating substantial improvements in timing consistency throughout the rower’s development.
Interestingly, the total oar angle magnitude peaked at an Olympic target level (108°) very early - during the 2nd season. It then dropped sharply to 103° in the 3rd season before gradually increasing to 106°. The consistency of oar angles continuously improved, with variation decreasing from 1.2% to 0.5%.
The average force magnitude dramatically increased by more than 50%, reaching the Olympic target level by the seventh season. Force consistency improved, with its variation reducing nearly by half. Work per Stroke WpS increased by 59% compared to its initial value, while WpS variation more than halved, dropping from 6.8% to 2.7%, which is significant improvement in consistency.
Indicators of the force curve showed more complex development. Both the catch force gradient and the position of peak force were highest in the second and seventh years, indicating slower force application during the drive while remaining within the target zone. Midway through this period, the rower exhibited a more “front-loaded” technique. Force curve consistency improved significantly in the 6th and 7th years from 10-15% to 4–6%.
To continue validating the new analysis method, it would be interesting to correlate and compare average values of indicators calculated using the new and standard methods:
Atyp: Values obtained with the standard BioRow method, based on typical (averaged) patterns of each variable during a sample.
Astr: Indicators calculated for each stroke cycle and then averaged over the sample.
Timing indicators, oar angles, and RSF exhibited the highest correlations (r=0.98–1.00), with ratios close to 100%, which means they were the most valid and reliable. Stroke rate and oar angles had ratios slightly above 100%, indicating that average indicators calculated for each stroke cycle (Astr) were slightly higher than those obtained from typical patterns (Atyp).
Force and power indicators showed the highest discrepancies between the methods, with correlations of r=0.47–0.85 and ratios of 106–111%. This discrepancy might result from the smoothing method or an underlying mathematical regularity.

Medical Infusion Bags Can Release Microplastics, Study Shows

2025-03-12 - 2025-03

Microplastics have been found almost everywhere that scientists have looked for them. Now, according to research published in the ACS partner journal Environment & Health, these bits of plastic — from 1 to 62 micrometers long — are present in the filtered solutions used for medical intravenous (IV) infusions. The researchers estimate that thousands of plastic particles could be delivered directly to a person’s bloodstream from a single 8.4-ounce (250-milliliter) bag of infusion fluid.
In clinical settings, IV infusions are packaged in individual plastic pouches and deliver water, electrolytes, nutrients or medicine to patients. The base of these infusions is a saline solution that contains filtered water and enough salt to match the content of human blood. Research from the 1970s suggests IV fluid bags can contain solid particles, but few scientists have followed up on what those particles are made of. Liwu Zhang, Ventsislav Kolev Valev and colleagues suspected that these particles could be microplastics that, upon infusion, would enter the recipient’s bloodstream and potentially cause negative health effects. So, they set out to analyze the types and amounts of particles in commercial IV fluid bags.
The team purchased two different brands of 8.4-ounce bags of IV saline solution. After the contents of each bag dripped into separate glass containers, the liquids were filtered to catch microscopic particles. Then the researchers counted a portion of the individual plastic fragments, using that amount to estimate the total number of microplastics in the entire pouch of IV liquid and to analyze the composition of the particles.
The researchers discovered that both brands of saline contained microplastic particles made from polypropylene — the same material as the bags — which suggests that the bags shed microplastics into the solutions. And they estimated that each bag of infusion fluid could deliver about 7,500 microplastics directly into the bloodstream. This figure rises to about 25,000 particles to treat dehydration or 52,500 for abdominal surgery, which can require multiple IV bags.
The researchers recommend keeping IV infusion bags away from ultraviolet light and heat to reduce microplastic shedding, and they say that micrometer-level filtration systems could be used to remove the particles during infusion.
While there are no clinical studies to date that have assessed the health risks of microplastics exposure, the researchers say their findings will help “provide a scientific basis for formulating appropriate policies and measures to mitigate the potential threats posed by microplastics to human health.”

Engineering Mastery Powering Classic Legends' Ownership Assurance Programme

2025-03-11 - 2025-03

Classic Legends has set a new benchmark in the mid-capacity premium classic motorcycle segment with the launch of its groundbreaking 'Jawa Yezdi BSA Ownership Assurance Program.' This initiative, aimed at delivering peace of mind to riders across India, introduces a market-leading 4-year/50,000 km standard warranty, with options for extended coverage up to 6 years. In doing so, the OEM has positioned itself as a disruptive force in the industry once again.

But what drives this high degree of trust in their product? It is the state-of-the-art technological capabilities of the plant, coupled with stringent checks and balances at every stage of production, that ensure each motorcycle that rolls off the assembly line is flawless.

A Legacy Of Innovation

The Classic Legends factory, originally established in 1986 as part of Kinetic Engineering, is a testament to both history and innovation. Though the structure remains unchanged, it has undergone five significant renovations to stay at the forefront of manufacturing excellence. Today, it stands as a state-of-the-art facility for Classic Legends, sharpening its focus on quality and precision.

The factory houses three major sections: the powertrain plant, the paint shop, and the assembly line. In the powertrain plant, six variants of engines are produced, powering the three iconic motorcycle brands—Jawa, Yezdi, and BSA.

The machine shop, a critical part of this process, carries out the precise machining of vital performance parts such as the cylinder block, cylinder head, and crankcase, ensuring that each engine meets the highest standards of performance. Meanwhile, the remaining parts are sourced from trusted suppliers, both in semi-finished and finished conditions.

Precision Engineering - The Heart of Manufacturing Excellence

A key component that sets the company apart is the use of advanced tool-setting machines. These machines are digitalized and ensure that every setting is made with an accuracy of just one micron—a level of precision that is hard to achieve. To put this into perspective, the thickness of a human hair is around 25 microns, making the accuracy at Classic Legends an industry leader. This exceptional precision directly enhances engine performance and efficiency, contributing to the reliability and power that the motorcycles are known for.

The data from these precise settings is captured digitally and stored in chips embedded in bar/QR codes, allowing for seamless tracking and integration into the production process. This plant runs three parallel manufacturing lines dedicated to the machining of left-hand and right-hand of crankcase, cylinder heads and cylinder blocks, utilizing cutting-edge machines from Italy. These machines ensure repeatability and reproducibility (R&R) of parts with less than 10% MSA - measurement system analysis—a performance standard that is considered best-in-class globally.

FACULTY OF APPLIED SCIENCES HOST 2025 COMPUTATIONAL AND SYSTEMS BIOLOGY WORKSHOP

2025-03-03 - 2025-03

The Computational and Systems Biology Research Group (CSBRG) at Durban University of Technology (DUT), under the leadership of Professor Saheed Sabiu from the Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Faculty of Applied Sciences, in collaboration with the International Centre for Genetics Engineering & Biotechnology (ICGEB) and the Department of Science Technology and Innovation (DSTI) successfully hosted a Computational and Systems Biology (CSB) Workshop. The three-day event was held at the Faculty of Applied Sciences (FAS) computer lab in Steve Biko campus from Monday, 24 to Wednesday 26 February 2025.
Held under the theme Computational and Systems Biology in the Digital Era, the event brought together postgraduate students, emerging and established researchers in the field of theoretical advances and applications of artificial intelligence and other computational tools in knowledge areas related to biology and medicine. Through combination of practical skills and theoretical knowledge, the event provided participants a foundational appreciation of computational and systems biology workflows and subfields, while availing them the opportunity to interact, network and forge new collaborations on various CSB-based research findings.
The official welcoming remarks of the workshop was enthusiastically delivered by Professor Feroz Swalaha, the Head of Department, Biotechnology and Food Science. In his remarks, Prof Swalaha welcomed the esteemed guests and speakers, industry representatives, students from various campuses and delegates, and appreciated the local organising committee, led by Prof Sabiu for putting together such a forum to discuss and learn about CSB-based findings and applications.
“The theme for this workshop is “Computational Systems Biology in the Digital Era” so over the next two days we will attempt to do just that by having a hands-on workshop, on the computational systems that are used to produce the theoretical models that will mould the solutions for the new frontiers in biotechnology, biopharmaceutics, drug discovery and even novel drug design. We hope that the skills to be learned over these two days will inform many of the decisions of tomorrow regarding innovation in our very vibrant and wide field of biotechnology and more specifically in Computational Systems applied to solve complex biological problems,” said Prof Swalaha.
Thereafter, the event was official declared opened by the representative of the Executive Dean, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Professor Kugen Permaul, who highlighted that, the workshop resonates well with one of the aims of the faculty in fostering an environment where theoretical models and experimental data can interact seamlessly, leading to innovative solutions and advancements in the biological sciences. Prof. Permaul further enjoined participants to take advantage of the workshop to challenge conventional thinking and seek fruitful collaborations. He also thanked the organizers and the attendees, especially the five keynote speakers [Prof. Fidele Tugizimana (University of Johannesburg), Prof. Martin Nyaga (University of the Free State), Prof. Mahmoud E. Soliman (University of KwaZulu-Natal), Prof. Mahloro Hope Serepa-Dlamini (University of Johannesburg), and Prof. Rajshekhar Karpoormath (University of KwaZulu-Natal)] for being part of this important forum.
Anchored by the energetic Dr Charlene Pillay, a Senior Lecturer from the department of Biotechnology and Food Science, and the Chair of the workshop’s logistics committee, the presentations by the five keynote speakers commenced on Day 1 and Dr. Pillay kept the attendees captivated with her overflowing energy while giving an insight on the purpose of the day. “This workshop is designed to introduce you to the fascinating world of computational and systems biology, where we will explore how to model, analyse and understand complex biological systems that is crucial in responding to global health challenges. This will allow you to learn from leading experts in the field, and collaborate with peers on exciting projects. Our goal is to equip you with skills and knowledge to apply computational approaches to your own research or work and explore real-world applications of systems biology,” said Dr Pillay.
Day 1 of the event saw the keynote speakers delving into topics ranging from computational drug discovery and development, bacterial genomics deciphering to appreciation of NGS data sets in proffering solutions in knowledge areas related to biology and medicine. Specifically, the keynote speakers shared their highly insightful findings, leveraging on the application CSB workflows in a way that inspired and motivated the young scholars and postgraduate students in attendance. The sessions for the keynote speakers were brilliantly concluded with panel discussions, offering participant opportunities to engage with the experts and interrogate some of their findings. The sessions, outstandingly anchored by Prof Permaul, had good participation from the delegates with the speakers also responding professionally to their queries.
Another highlight of the event were the presentations by company representatives who graced the occasion as exhibitors and sponsors of the event.
Day two and three of the workshop featured hands-on practical sessions, where the delegates and postgraduate students in attendance were trained on critical aspects of CSB ranging from metabolomics workflow and data processing, construction of new chemical entity scaffolds, density functional theory analysis, ensemble and multiple ligands docking workflows, molecular fingerprinting, to metagenomics data analyses. These sessions were diligently and professionally handled by experts from DUT and other national institutions such as University of Johannesburg, University of South Africa, Stellenbosch University, and ICGEB. Noteworthily, the workshop, which was well-appreciated, had over 105 participants from 15 institutions in attendance.
The workshop came to a wrap with closing remarks by Prof Sabiu, who emphasised the need for knowledge transfer and human capacity development of next generation of scholars, which was the focal point of the event, and enjoined participants to always take advantage of such opportunities when they present themselves. He further acknowledged the local organizing subcommittees led by Dr Charlene Pillay, Ms Priscilla Phillips, Dr Christina Aruwa, Halimat Lukman, and the entire members of the CSBRG for their dedication and hard work that culminated in the success of the programme. “The workshop would not have been a success without all the attendees who stayed throughout the event, and the exclusive support of my Executive Dean and HoD as well as the highly skilled facilitators that proficiently handled the hands-on session of the programme,” said Prof Sabiu.

Tata Technologies Pioneers A New Era In Sustainable Engineering

2025-03-03 - 2025-03

In an era where sustainability and efficiency define success, engineering solution providers must go beyond compliance, embracing agile development, data-driven design, and cross-industry collaboration. The future belongs to those who anticipate trends, integrate cutting-edge technologies, and deliver holistic solutions that balance innovation with cost efficiency. Tata Technologies is at the forefront of this transformation, helping clients design and develop next-generation products for a cleaner, smarter world.
Speaking to Mobility Outlook, Marc Manns, Vehicle Line Director - EE at Tata Technologies, highlighted the growing expectations from customers—demanding end-to-end solutions, integrated thought leadership, and the seamless incorporation of emerging technologies like AI and V2X. To meet these challenges, Tata Technologies is assembling a diverse team of subject matter experts (SMEs) across industries, from automotive and aerospace to heavy equipment, ensuring the transferability of skills and expertise. By maintaining a lean, cost-effective organization and leveraging global talent, the company is redefining engineering excellence in the age of sustainable innovation.
“Our team in India ensures that we bring in the right expertise while maintaining a strategic balance between specialized knowledge and cost efficiency,” he added.
Harnessing AI and Data-Driven Innovation For Smarter Engineering
Tata Technologies is redefining engineering solutions through agile development, data-driven design, and high-performance innovation, all while ensuring regulatory compliance, meeting evolving consumer expectations, and maintaining cost efficiency.
By leveraging AI, IoT, and automation, the company is striking a balance between cost optimisation and customer-centric solutions. One such innovation is its prognostics system, which integrates expertise in connected cars, e-powertrains, and data science to predict potential issues before they arise. This predictive approach not only reduces warranty costs but also prevents costly hardware replacements and dealership interventions, he explained.
A key breakthrough is self-healing technology, where machine learning and software-driven diagnostics identify root causes and enable remote fixes—such as over-the-air ECU updates—eliminating the need for expensive repairs

Think innovation, think Harvard engineering and applied sciences

2025-02-28 - 2025-03

The Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) is an epicenter of innovation, where finding practical solutions to real-world problems is at the heart of every degree program and research lab.
At SEAS, researchers led by Conor Walsh have made and commercialized wearable robots that can help stroke survivors regain mobility and independence. Materials scientist and 3D printing expert Jennifer Lewis and her team have pioneered programmable assembly of functional and living matter, enabling printed electronics, vascularized human tissues and more. Steven Wofsy’s group developed spectroscopic imaging technology to power the world’s most advanced methane-tracking satellite, now orbiting Earth. And Joanna Aizenberg’s team has developed new materials inspired by nature, enhancing buildings with bio-inspired fluidic windows, and creating a building “skin” that can control indoor climate.
Fifteen years ago, Federico Capasso’s lab was seeking to disrupt centuries of lens-making technology and reported their first key insights into metasurface optics, a field that reimagines the reading and manipulation of light. Their breakthrough invention, the metalens, is a perfectly flat, thin lens composed of subwavelength nanostructures that promises to replace or enhance conventional lens-based optics in cameras, sensors and mobile devices today.
SEAS’ culture of innovation existed long before its establishment in 2007 as a standalone Harvard school.
Among inventions associated with SEAS or its predecessors:
Keeping time: George Washington Pierce, who received his Harvard Ph.D. in 1900 and later taught here, is credited with inventing the quartz-crystal Pierce oscillator, which is the timekeeping element of quartz wristwatches. The device was also used to improve radio technology, greatly stabilizing radio transmissions and solving the problem of frequency drift, and it made multiple phone calls over a single line possible.
Wireless comms: Ronold W.P. King joined the Harvard engineering faculty in 1938. He is the designer of the inverted F-antenna, which he originally intended for missile telemetry, but today is the most widely used antenna in wireless communications and mobile phones.
MRI: Physicist Edward Mills Purcell, who got his Ph.D. from Harvard in 1938 and later taught here, shared the 1952 Nobel Prize in Physics for his discovery of nuclear magnetic resonance in liquids and solids. In experiments with Robert Pound, Nicolaas Bloembergen and others, he demonstrated how the spinning nuclei inside atoms could be manipulated with an external magnet and used to read out
chemical information. This fundamental breakthrough is the basis of today’s magnetic resonance imaging, which generates images from inside the body using radiation.
Virtual reality: Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering Ivan Sutherland invented one of the earliest virtual reality headsets in 1968 with graduate student Bob Sproull. Sutherland is widely considered the father of computer graphics and went on to teach and mentor the likes of Edwin Catmull, co-founder of Pixar, and John Warnock, co-founder of Adobe Systems.
Reeldown: During the early 1980s, SEAS atmospheric chemistry professor James Anderson led a groundbreaking project called Reeldown, a high-altitude balloon experiment that measured minute concentrations of ozone-depleting, human-made chemicals in the Earth’s stratosphere. His work led to the U.S. joining the Montreal Protocol, an international treaty banning chlorofluorocarbons.

Research reveals hidden risks from plastic-coated fertilizers in soil

2025-02-27 - 2025-02

University of Missouri-Columbia
Farmers are always looking for smarter ways to boost crop health, and one of the industry’s latest game-changers is polymer-coated, controlled-release fertilizers (PC-CRFs). These high-tech soil enhancers deliver nutrients gradually, ensuring plants get exactly what they need when they need it without the waste of traditional methods.
While PC-CRFs can boost crop efficiency, a new study from University of Missouri researcher Maryam Salehi and collaborators uncovers a downside — microplastic pollution. As the polymer coatings break down in the soil, they release tiny plastic particles into the environment.
“In PC-CRFs, the plant nutrients are enclosed within a microcapsule,” said Salehi, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Mizzou’s College of Engineering. “This microcapsule is designed to slowly release the fertilizers into the farmland over time. The non-biodegradable coatings left over after this process is complete can be considered microplastics.”
For Salehi and colleagues, this raises concerns about the long-term impact of this microplastic pollution to the health of people and animals.
Since previous studies have detected microplastics in farmland, Salehi’s team is focused on two bigger questions: how much is being released, and what kinds of plastics are involved
Until researchers can answer these questions, Salehi suggests farmers use more sustainable alternatives such as biodegradable coatings. But if PC-CRFs must be used, she urges farmers to implement effective stormwater management to prevent these microplastics from running off into nearby water sources.
Salehi said more research is needed to fully understand the consequences of PC-CRFs on the environment.

Research reveals hidden risks from plastic-coated fertilizers in soil

2025-02-27 - 2025-02

Farmers are always looking for smarter ways to boost crop health, and one of the industry’s latest game-changers is polymer-coated, controlled-release fertilizers (PC-CRFs). These high-tech soil enhancers deliver nutrients gradually, ensuring plants get exactly what they need when they need it without the waste of traditional methods.

While PC-CRFs can boost crop efficiency, a new study from University of Missouri researcher Maryam Salehi and collaborators uncovers a downside — microplastic pollution. As the polymer coatings break down in the soil, they release tiny plastic particles into the environment.

“In PC-CRFs, the plant nutrients are enclosed within a microcapsule,” said Salehi, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Mizzou’s College of Engineering. “This microcapsule is designed to slowly release the fertilizers into the farmland over time. The non-biodegradable coatings left over after this process is complete can be considered microplastics.”

For Salehi and colleagues, this raises concerns about the long-term impact of this microplastic pollution to the health of people and animals.

Since previous studies have detected microplastics in farmland, Salehi’s team is focused on two bigger questions: how much is being released, and what kinds of plastics are involved

Until researchers can answer these questions, Salehi suggests farmers use more sustainable alternatives such as biodegradable coatings. But if PC-CRFs must be used, she urges farmers to implement effective stormwater management to prevent these microplastics from running off into nearby water sources.

Salehi said more research is needed to fully understand the consequences of PC-CRFs on the environment.

Robots learn how to move by watching themselves

2025-02-25 - 2025-02

New York, NY—Feb. 25, 2025— By watching their own motions with a camera, robots can teach themselves about the structure of their own bodies and how they move, a new study from researchers at Columbia Engineering now reveals. Equipped with this knowledge, the robots could not only plan their own actions, but also overcome damage to their bodies.
"Like humans learning to dance by watching their mirror reflection, robots now use raw video to build kinematic self-awareness," says study lead author Yuhang Hu, a doctoral student at the Creative Machines Lab at Columbia University, directed by Hod Lipson, James and Sally Scapa Professor of Innovation and chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. "Our goal is a robot that understands its own body, adapts to damage, and learns new skills without constant human programming."
Most robots first learn to move in simulations. Once a robot can move in these virtual environments, it is released into the physical world where it can continue to learn. “The better and more realistic the simulator, the easier it is for the robot to make the leap from simulation into reality,” explains Lipson.
However, creating a good simulator is an arduous process, typically requiring skilled engineers. The researchers taught a robot how to create a simulator of itself simply by watching its own motion through a camera. “This ability not only saves engineering effort, but also allows the simulation to continue and evolve with the robot as it undergoes wear, damage, and adaptation,” Lipson says.
In the new study, the researchers instead developed a way for robots to autonomously model their own 3D shapes using a single regular 2D camera. This breakthrough was driven by three brain-mimicking AI systems known as deep neural networks. These inferred 3D motion from 2D video, enabling the robot to understand and adapt to its own movements. The new system could also identify alterations to the bodies of the robots, such as a bend in an arm, and help them adjust their motions to recover from this simulated damage.
Such adaptability might prove useful in a variety of real-world applications. For example, "imagine a robot vacuum or a personal assistant bot that notices its arm is bent after bumping into furniture," Hu says. "Instead of breaking down or needing repair, it watches itself, adjusts how it moves, and keeps working. This could make home robots more reliable—no constant reprogramming required."
Another scenario might involve a robot arm getting knocked out of alignment at a car factory. "Instead of halting production, it could watch itself, tweak its movements, and get back to welding—cutting downtime and costs," Hu says. "This adaptability could make manufacturing more resilient."
As we hand over more critical functions to robots, from manufacturing to medical care, we need these robots to be more resilient. “We humans cannot afford to constantly baby these robots, repair broken parts and adjust performance. Robots need to learn to take care of themselves, if they are going to become truly useful,” says Lipson. “That’s why self-modelling is so important.”
The ability demonstrated in this study is the latest in a series of projects that the Columbia team has released over the past two decades, where robots are learning to become better at self-modeling using cameras and other sensors.
In 2006, the research team’s robots were able to use observations to only create simple stick-figure-like simulations of themselves. About a decade ago, robots began creating higher fidelity models using multiple cameras. In this study, the robot was able to create a comprehensive kinematic model of itself using just a short video clip from a single regular camera, akin to looking in the mirror. The researchers call this newfound ability “Kinematic Self-Awareness.”
“We humans are intuitively aware of our body; we can imagine ourselves in the future and visualize the consequences of our actions well before we perform those actions in reality,” explains Lipson. “Ultimately, we would like to imbue robots with a similar ability to imagine themselves, because once you can imagine yourself in the future, there is no limit to what you can do.”

Joe Ning (EnvEngr’22; MS’23)

2025-02-13 - 2025-02

2025 Alumni Engagement Medal recipient
Professional Background:
Ning earned both his Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in environmental engineering in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Alongside his academic achievements, he completed a minor in leadership studies and obtained certifications in engineering leadership and water engineering & management, further enhancing his expertise in the field.
During his time at CU, Ning was an active member of several impactful organizations, including the Global Engineering Residential Academic Program, the BOLD Center, the Presidents Leadership Class and the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE). These experiences helped shape his leadership skills, global perspective and dedication to fostering inclusive engineering communities.
Ning is currently applying his knowledge and skills as an environmental design engineer at JVA Consulting Engineers, where he contributes to designing sustainable and innovative environmental solutions.
Contributions to the College of Engineering and Applied Science:
Ning is the first professional advisor in the history of CU SASE, a BOLD Center student organization. He has taken it on with utmost responsibility and care, shaping the role to be a crucial aspect of the CU SASE community. He has worked closely with board members the last three years, working to revise bylaws, help support in conflict mediation and provide guidance on how to continuously improve the club for future generations so that there is a space at CU for young Asians in STEM to celebrate their heritage, professionally develop themselves and become motivated to grow as leaders in their space.
Beyond these weighty responsibilities and impacts Ning makes in his advisor role, he still takes the time to involve himself on the more granular scale. He consistently attends most general chapter meetings and major events to help set up and run the activities. When he is not actively doing a task, he is introducing himself to SASE members and taking the time to sit down, chat and connect. He leads by example as a mentor for the board by not only vocalizing his belief in making the space engaging for young Asian leaders, but also consistently fostering the space through his contributions and actions when he attends meetings and events.
The amount of time, effort and standard of quality Ning dedicates to his role as SASE’s professional advisor is a pure reflection of his generosity, passion and wisdom. The role is something he saw a need for, volunteered to stay in for the past three years and continuously works to improve.

Framework for investigating structure cracking using real engineering data combined with physics constraints

2025-02-21 - 2025-02

Accurate description of the condition of engineering structures is important for ensuring structural safety. Traditional analysis methods based on simplified physical mechanisms cannot accurately characterize the structural condition and neglect the value of the large amount of data generated during the construction process. This paper proposes a data-driven analysis framework that combines physical principles, dimensionality reduction techniques and ensemble learning models to trace back the deep-seated connections between data, achieving multi-factor analysis of structural defects. Using concrete structural cracks in a certain project as an example, the framework considers full life-cycle data, including material, environment, and construction processes, to construct an assessment model. The results show that by establishing a mapping relationship between construction data and structural condition, and integrating cumulative indicators from different construction stages, a reference for describing the structural safety condition can be provided to some extent, along with optimization suggestions, offering an analytical perspective for solving complex structural problems in engineering.

Terabytes of Data in a Millimeter Crystal

2025-02-18 - 2025-02

By making ones and zeroes out of defects the size of an individual atom, researchers can store data in tiny crystals.
From punch card-operated looms in the 1800s to modern cellphones, if an object has an �on� and an �off� state, it can be used to store information.
In a computer laptop, the binary ones and zeroes are transistors either running at low or high voltage. On a compact disc, the one is a spot where a tiny indented �pit� turns to a flat �land� or vice versa, while a zero is when there�s no change.
Historically, the size of the object making the �ones� and �zeroes� has put a limit on the size of the storage device. But now, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (UChicago PME) researchers have explored a technique to make ones and zeroes out of crystal defects, each the size of an individual atom, for classical computer memory applications.
Their research was published today in Nanophotonics.
�Each memory cell is a single missing atom � a single defect,� said UChicago PME Asst. Prof. Tian Zhong. �Now you can pack terabytes of bits within a small cube of material that's only a millimeter in size.�
The innovation is a true example of UChicago PME�s interdisciplinary research, using quantum techniques to revolutionize classical, non-quantum computers and turning research on radiation dosimeters � most commonly known as the devices that store how much radiation hospital workers absorb from X-ray machines � into groundbreaking microelectronic memory storage.
�We found a way to integrate solid-state physics applied to radiation dosimetry with a research group that works strongly in quantum, although our work is not exactly quantum,� said first author Leonardo Fran�a, a postdoctoral researcher in Zhong�s lab. �There is a demand for people who are doing research on quantum systems, but at the same time, there is a demand for improving the storage capacity of classical non-volatile memories. And it's on this interface between quantum and optical data storage where our work is grounded.�
From radiation dosimetry to optical storage
The research got its start during Fran�a�s PhD research at the University of S�o Paulo in Brazil. He was studying radiation dosimeters, the devices that store how much radiation workers in hospitals, synchrotrons and other radiation facilities receive on the job.
�In the hospitals and in particle accelerators, for instance, it�s needed to monitor how much of a radiation dose people are exposed to,� said Fran�a. �There are some materials that have this ability to absorb radiation and store that information for a certain amount of time.�
He soon became fascinated about how through optical techniques � shining a light � he could manipulate and �read� that information.
�When the crystal absorbs sufficient energy, it releases electrons and holes. And these charges are captured by the defects,� Fran�a said. �We can read that information. You can release the electrons, and we can read the inf

Brittany Earle (ChemEngr’15)

2025-02-13 - 2025-02

RAA Brittany Earle headshot
Brittany Earle, 2025 Recent Alumni Award recipient
Engineering Alumni Awards
2025 Recent Alumni Award recipient
Earle is an alumna of the University of Colorado Boulder and a prominent leader in the chemical manufacturing industry. With a remarkable academic career, she graduated summa cum laude and was recognized as the Outstanding Graduate of the College of Engineering and Applied Science. Additionally, she was honored with both the prestigious Goldwater and Boettcher scholarships. Her academic journey was marked by leadership roles, including serving as program manager for the Engineers Without Borders Nepal Chapter, where she worked on global engineering initiatives to increase access to clean water and hygiene education.
Earle serves as the project execution owner of a multimillion-dollar plant improvement project at BASF�s site in Geismar, Louisiana, the company�s largest site in North America and one of the largest globally. She has made her mark in the chemical manufacturing industry as an engineer consistently working to drive sustainable solutions and optimize plant operations.
In the first 10 years of her career, Earle has continued to make a global impact, and her work has set benchmarks for numerous best practices within BASF, especially as it relates to process safety management, risk management and Responsible Care management work processes. She has worked at eight different BASF sites and production plants, both in the U.S. and internationally. Earle has transitioned from technical operational roles to strategic roles, managing significant projects and positively impacting business success. One of her most notable career accomplishments to date has been as commissioning manager of a new $30 million reactor system, an experience in which she applied many of the chemical engineering principles taught at CU Boulder in a fast-paced environment to achieve a safe and successful plant startup on schedule and under budget.
Earle remains dedicated as an active alumna of CU Boulder, and her commitment to giving back to the next generation of engineering students has been evident in her involvement with numerous departments, programs, and advisory boards across the campus over the past decade. As a member of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering�s External Advisory Board since 2018, Earle contributes her industry expertise to guide the department's strategic direction. In this role, she provides insights into curriculum development, mentorship programs, and initiatives that enhance the educational experience for current students. Earle served as the executive committee chair for the EAB from 2021-23, and she co-led the creation of the �Chem-E Buff Chats� program in 2020 to assist graduating seniors in securing jobs after graduation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her dedication to fostering a strong relationship between academia and industry has been pivotal in aligning the department�s objec

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