News by Subject Technology & Engineering

Even in this digital age, paper is still everywhere. Often, printed materials get used once and are then discarded, creating waste and potentially pollution. Now, scientists report in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces the development of an easy-to-make 'rewritable' paper that can be drawn or printed on over and over again. The messages can last more than half a year, compared to other rewritable papers whose messages fade after a few days or a few months.

A new report by UN University's Canadian-based Institute on Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) experts offers a critical examination of the capacity of Canada's water sector to meet and help others meet water-related Sustainable Development Goals. Examined are Canadian water education and research, investments, and experiences in water technology and governance. Several avenues to elevate Canada's role on the global water stage are recommended.

New research focusing on how brain structure may impact brain activity and ultimately human behavior could one day lead to technology that can be catered to an individual Soldier in a training environment or operational setting.

What happens when something keeps getting smaller and smaller? This is the type of question Empa researcher Johann Michler and his team are investigating. As a by-product of their research completely novel watch springs could soon be used in Swiss timepieces.

At the 2018 Oceans Conference, Chief of Naval Research Rear Adm. David Hahn discussed the goals of the US Navy's Task Force Ocean, a signature program of Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson. TFO is designed to reinvigorate the Navy's commitment to ocean sciences, advancing its tactical advantage through a better knowledge of the ocean environment and its impact on sensors, weapons and operations.

We live in an age of long-range information. Research is turning towards the use of lasers which have several advantages. However, this new technology faces a major problem: clouds. Due to their density, clouds stop the laser beams and scramble the transfer of information. Researchers at UNIGE have devised an ultra-hot laser that creates a temporary hole in the cloud, which lets the laser beam containing the information pass through.

Ground penetrating radar measures the amount of moisture in soil quickly and easily. Researchers' calculations from the data informs agricultural water use and climate models.