T3chformation

Researchers at Binghamton University has developed an Stretchable and flexible biobattery which is entirely textile-based. This bacteria-powered bio-batteries could one day be integrated into wearable electronics devices. The team of Binghamton University Electrical and Computer Science Assistant Prof. Seokheun Choi, developed an entirely textile-based biobattery that is enough to produce maximum power similar to that produced by paper-based microbial fuel cells. Additionally, these batteries exhibit stable electricity-generating capability when tested under repeated twisting & stretching  cycles. "This stretchable, twistable power device could establish a standardized platform for textile-based biobatteries and will be potentially integrated into wearable electronics in the future" , Choi said. "We considered a flexible, stretchable, miniaturized biobattery as a truly useful energy technology because of their sustainable, renewable and eco-friendly capabil...

University of Minnesota has 3D printed lifelike artificial organ models that mimic the exact anatomical structure, mechanical properties and look and feel of real organs. These can be used for practice surgeries to enhance surgical results in thousands of patients worldwide. "We are developing next-generation organ models for pre-operative practice. The organ models we are 3D printing are almost a perfect replica in terms of the look and feel of an individual's organ, using our custom-built 3D printers," said lead researcher Michael McAlpine. In the future, researchers hope to use this new method to 3D print lifelike models of more complicated organs, using multiple inks. For instance, if the organ has a tumor or deformity, the surgeons would be able to see that in a patient-specific  model  and test various strategies for removing tumors or correcting complications. They also hope to someday explore applications beyond surgical practice. "If we could repl...

Over the past few years, the building blocks of storage media have become ever smaller. But further miniaturization of the current technology is hindered by fundamental limits of quantum mechanics. " A new approach consists of using so-called spin-crossover molecules as the smallest possible storage unit." Similar to normal hard drives, these special molecules can save information via their magnetic state. To do so, they have to be placed on surfaces without damaging their ability to save the information. Researchers from Kiel University has significantly achieved a new methodology to store data with improved capacity. To do so they successfully placed a new class of spin-crossover molecules onto a surface as well as they have also used interactions which were previously noticed as obstructive to improve the molecule's storage capacity.  The storage capacity of conventional hard drives could therefore theoretically be increased by more than 100-fold, and da...

Credit : Deji Akinwande Researchers with the University of Texas at Austin, recently demonstrated high performance 2-D monolayer "Transistors" mounted on paper substrates  At their presentation, Creating graphene and molybdenum disulfide transistors on a normal paper substrate and how well they worked nearly as well as those based on plastic, They Reported. Here, Paper is used as Electronics base which are still quite rare. Transistors are typically made using a "plastic" or "semiconductor" base. Because Such materials can withstand the manufacturing process and work efficiently once delivered. However These materials cost significantly more than paper. There have been several difficulties preventing the use of paper as a base of "Transistor". Such as Uneven surface, Non-conductive surface which is unable to carry current, it can absorbs water and it burns at normal manufacturing process temperatures. To get around these problems, t...

MIT Engineers have developed a New 3D printing technique that uses a new type of ink material made from genetically programmed living cells.       The cells are engineered to light up in response to a variety of stimuli Thus When mixed with a slurry of hydrogel and nutrients, the cells can be printed, layer by layer to form three-dimensional structures and devices.        The team has then demonstrated its technique by printing a "living tattoo"—a thin, transparent patch patterned with live bacteria cells in the shape of a tree. Each branch of the tree is lined with cells sensitive to a different chemical or molecular compound. When the patch is adhered to skin that has been exposed to the same compounds, corresponding regions of the tree light up in response.          The researchers also engineered bacteria to communicate with each other and they programmed some cells to light up only when they receive a speci...

Here is Introducing MicroTug Developed by biomimetics and dexterous Lab. This 12 gram of micro robot uses "controllable adhesive" surface plate which sticks to the surface only when shear pressure is applied. it is capable of pull the objects 2000 times its own weight. "This is equivalent of a human adult dragging a blue whale around on land" They said . Main goal of the project is to create a robot that can be useful to drag the heavy objects where human can't reach. Here is the video which shows simple working demonstration of Robot  pulling heavy weight. Courtesy