Georgia Institute of Technology
Wireless "smart skin" sensors to provide remote monitoring of infrastructure
April 17, 2013 9:31 am | News | Comments
Major bridge failures in recent years have focused attention on the need to monitor America’s highway bridges and other infrastructure. As thousands of bridges age, improved methods for detecting deterioration could save lives. Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology are developing a novel technology that would facilitate close monitoring of structures for strain, stress, and early formation of cracks.
Big data algorithm used to customize video game difficulty
April 18, 2013 11:07 am | News | Comments
Georgia Institute of Technology researchers have developed a computational model that can...
Bose-Einstein condensates evaluated for communicating among quantum computers
April 11, 2013 5:03 pm | News | Comments
Quantum computers promise to perform certain types of operations much more quickly than...
Surface diffusion plays role in defining the shape of catalytic nanoparticles
April 11, 2013 10:54 am | News | Comments
Controlling the shapes of nanometer-sized catalytic and electrocatalytic particles made from...
Soft matter offers way to study arrangement of ordered materials
May 21, 2013 7:46 am | News | CommentsA fried breakfast food popular in Spain provided the inspiration for the development of doughnut-shaped droplets that may provide scientists with a new approach for studying fundamental issues in physics, mathematics, and materials. The doughnut-shaped droplets, a shape known as toroidal, are formed from two dissimilar liquids using a simple rotating stage and an injection needle.
RNA capable of catalyzing electron transfer on early Earth with iron's help
May 20, 2013 7:42 am | News | CommentsA new study shows how complex biochemical transformations may have been possible under conditions when life began on the early Earth. The study shows that RNA is capable of catalyzing electron transfer under conditions similar to those of the early Earth. Because electron transfer is involved in many biological processes, the study’s findings suggest that complex biochemical transformations may have been possible when life began.
Biomaterial shows promise for Type 1 diabetes treatment
May 8, 2013 3:13 pm | News | CommentsResearchers have made a significant first step with newly engineered biomaterials for cell transplantation that could help lead to a possible cure for Type 1 diabetes, which affects about 3 million Americans. Georgia Institute of Technology engineers and Emory University clinicians have successfully engrafted insulin-producing cells into a diabetic mouse model, reversing diabetic symptoms in the animal in as little as 10 days.
A text message a day keeps the asthma attack away
May 2, 2013 8:01 am | News | CommentsSimply sending children with asthma a text message each day asking about their symptoms and providing knowledge about their condition can lead to improved health outcomes. In a study, pediatric patients who were asked questions about their symptoms and provided information about asthma via SMS text messages showed improved pulmonary function and a better understanding of their condition within four months.
Robots able to reach through clutter with whole-arm tactile sensing
April 30, 2013 9:57 am | News | CommentsWhether reaching for a book out of a cluttered cabinet or pruning a bush in the backyard, a person’s arm frequently makes contact with objects during everyday tasks. Animals do it too, when foraging for food, for example. Much in the same way, robots are now able to intelligently maneuver within clutter, gently making contact with objects while accomplishing a task. This new control method has wide applications.
Piezoelectric taxels convert motion to electronic signals for tactile imaging
April 26, 2013 8:20 am | News | CommentsUsing bundles of vertical zinc oxide nanowires, researchers have fabricated arrays of piezotronic transistors capable of converting mechanical motion directly into electronic controlling signals. The arrays could help give robots a more adaptive sense of touch, provide better security in handwritten signatures, and offer new ways for humans to interact with electronic devices.
Project will improve heat dissipation in 3D microelectronic systems
April 2, 2013 1:15 pm | News | CommentsResearchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology have won a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) contract to develop 3D chip-cooling technology able to handle heat loads as much as ten times greater than systems commonly used today. In addition to higher overall chip heat dissipation demands, the new approach will also have to handle on-chip hot-spots that dissipate considerably more power per unit area than the remainder of the device. Such cooling demands may be needed for future generations of high-performance integrated circuits embedded in a wide range of military equipment.
Acoustic time delay device could reduce size, cost of phased-array systems
April 1, 2013 7:51 am | News | CommentsRadar systems today depend increasingly on phased-array antennas, an advanced design in which extensive grids of solid-state components direct signal beams electronically. Phased-array technology is replacing traditional electromechanical radar antennas because stationary solid-state electronics are faster, more precise, and more reliable than moving mechanical parts. Yet phased-array antennas, which require bulky supporting electronics, can be as large as older systems. To address this issue, a research team from the Georgia Institute of Technology has developed a novel device.
Nanotechnology research study turns brain tumors blue
March 27, 2013 11:46 am | News | CommentsResearchers from Georgia Tech and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta have developed a technique that assists in identifying tumors from normal brain tissue during surgery by staining tumor cells blue. The technique could be critically important for hospitals lacking sophisticated equipment in preserving the maximum amount of normal tissue and brain function during surgery.
Trees used to create recyclable, efficient solar cell
March 26, 2013 8:01 am | News | CommentsSolar cells are just like leaves, capturing the sunlight and turning it into energy. It’s fitting that they can now be made partially from trees. Georgia Institute of Technology and Purdue University researchers have developed efficient solar cells using natural substrates derived from plants such as trees. Just as importantly, by fabricating them on cellulose nanocrystal substrates, the solar cells can be quickly recycled in water at the end of their lifecycle.
"Terradynamics" could help predict how robots move on granular media
March 22, 2013 8:18 am | News | CommentsUsing a combination of theory and experiment, researchers have developed a new approach for understanding and predicting how small-legged robots move on and interact with complex granular materials such as sand. The research could help create and advance the field of "terradynamics"—a name the researchers have given to the science of legged animals and vehicles moving on granular and other complex surfaces.
Computer system predicts NCAA basketball champion
March 21, 2013 8:03 am | News | CommentsWhen Georgia Tech opens the doors to the Georgia Dome next month as the host institution for the 2013 Final Four, expect third-seeded Florida to walk out as the national champion. That's the prediction from Georgia Tech's Logistic Regression/Markov Chain (LRMC) college basketball ranking system, a computerized model that has chosen the men's basketball national champ in three of the last five years.
Neutron scattering technique provides new data on adsorption of ions
February 28, 2013 8:09 am | News | CommentsThe adsorption of ions in microporous materials governs the operation of a diverse range of technologies. Until now, however, researchers attempting to improve the performance of these technologies haven't been able to directly and unambiguously identify how factors such as pore size, pore surface chemistry, and electrolyte properties affect the concentration of ions in these materials as a function of the applied potential. A team of researchers has demonstrated that a technique, known as small angle neutron scattering, can be used to study the effects of ions moving into nanoscale pores.
Adhesion system of fish studied to create bio-inspired adhesive
February 21, 2013 8:18 am | News | CommentsA new study provides details of the structure and tissue properties of the remora fish's unique adhesion system. The researchers plan to use this information to create an engineered reversible adhesive inspired by the remora that could be used to create pain- and residue-free bandages, attach sensors to objects in aquatic or military reconnaissance environments, replace surgical clamps, and help robots climb.
Molecules assemble in water, hint at origins of life
February 20, 2013 11:54 am | News | CommentsRNA bases are thought to have been a part of life from the very beginning. However, RNA don’t form base pairs in water unless they are connected to a polymer backbone, a trait that has baffled scientists for decades. Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have an alternate theory for the origin of RNA. They think the RNA bases may have evolved from a pair of molecules distinct from the bases we have today, and they have demonstrated their theory using self-assembly techniques.
Artificial platelets could treat injured soldiers on the battlefield
February 19, 2013 9:04 am | News | CommentsWhen it comes to healing the terrible wounds of war, success may hinge on the first blood clot—the one that begins forming on the battlefield right after an injury. Researchers exploring the complex stream of cellular signals produced by the body in response to a traumatic injury believe the initial response—formation of a blood clot—may control subsequent healing. Using that information, they're developing new biomaterials, including artificial blood platelets laced with regulatory chemicals that could be included in an injector device the size of an iPhone.
Why cells stick: Phenomenon extends longevity of bonds between cells
February 15, 2013 8:50 am | News | CommentsResearch carried out by scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology and The University of Manchester has revealed new insights into how cells stick to each other and to other bodily structures, an essential function in the formation of tissue structures and organs. It's thought that abnormalities in their ability to do so play an important role in a broad range of disorders, including cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Study: Gases work with particles to promote cloud formation
February 5, 2013 8:02 am | News | CommentsResearchers at Columbia University and the Georgia Institute of Technology have published a study showing, for the first time, that certain volatile organic gases can promote cloud formation in a way never considered before by atmospheric scientists.
Study finds substantial microorganism populations in the troposphere
January 29, 2013 7:57 am | News | CommentsIn what is believed to be the first study of its kind, researchers used genomic techniques to document the presence of significant numbers of living microorganisms—principally bacteria—in the middle and upper troposphere, that section of the atmosphere approximately four to six miles above the Earth's surface.
Aerial platform supports development of lightweight sensors for UAVs
January 17, 2013 7:44 am | News | CommentsA research team at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is developing an airborne testing capability for sensors, communications devices, and other airborne payloads. This aerial test bed, called the GTRI Airborne Unmanned Sensor System (GAUSS), is based on an unmanned aerial vehicle made by Griffon Aerospace and modified by GTRI.
Study quantifies the size of holes antibacterials create in cell walls to kill bacteria
January 10, 2013 2:08 pm | News | CommentsResearch has shown that alternative antimicrobials such as PlyC can effectively kill bacteria. However, fundamental questions remain about how bacteria respond to the holes that these therapeutics make in their cell wall and what size holes bacteria can withstand before breaking apart. Answering those questions could improve the effectiveness of current antibacterial drugs and initiate the development of new ones. Researchers recently conducted a study to try to answer those questions.
Self-assembled monolayers create p-n junctions in graphene films
December 10, 2012 10:43 am | News | CommentsA low-temperature, controllable, and stable method has been developed to dope graphene films using self-assembled monolayers (SAM) that modify the interface of graphene and its support substrate. Using this concept, a team of researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology has created graphene p-n junctions—which are essential to fabricating devices—without damaging the material's lattice structure or significantly reducing electron/hole mobility.
Squirrels inspire researchers to create deceptive robots
December 5, 2012 9:40 am | News | CommentsUsing deceptive behavioral patterns of squirrels and birds, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed robots that are able to deceive each other. The researchers created these deceptive robots by reviewing biological research results on squirrels' behavior after gathering and storing their acorn loot and keeping it safe from others.
Georgia Tech awarded $2.7 million from DARPA
November 30, 2012 7:25 am | News | CommentsA research team at the Georgia Institute of Technology has received a $2.7 million award from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop technology intended to help address the challenges of "big data"—data sets that are both massive and complex.
Georgia Tech collaborates with GE, Ford on alternative fuel vehicle research
November 26, 2012 8:35 am | News | CommentsResearchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology are partnering with GE and Ford Motor Co. to study ways to add greater efficiencies to electric driving and charging performance.
