The Water Research Foundation (WRF) recently presented Lauren Stadler, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Rice University, with the 2025 Paul L. Busch Award at the Water Environment Federation’s Technical Exhibition and Conference in Chicago. With this $100,000 research prize, Stadler plans to advance wastewater monitoring through the investigation of real-time biosensors that utilize synthetic biology.

A new research study led by Prahalada Rao shows that additive manufacturing and artificial intelligence promise more precision and less waste for much-needed submarine and aircraft components.

AMHERST, Mass. — Stopping early, failing to stop or rolling through—new research from University of Massachusetts Amherst reveals that more awareness of the rules of the road around this crosswalk design is necessary. Published in Transportation Research Record, the study looked at how Massachusetts drivers behave at pedestrian hybrid beacons, a type of crosswalk device increasingly found at mid-block crosswalks where there is not a full traffic signal.

New research shows that composite metal foam (CMF) is incredibly resilient at high temperatures, able to withstand repeated heavy loads even at temperatures of 400 and 600 degrees Celsius. Coupled with the material’s high strength-to-weight ratio, the finding suggests that CMF could be used in applications ranging from automobile engines to aerospace components to nuclear power technologies.

Work engagement is a persistent, positive state of mind that enhances productivity, creativity, and well-being. However, few practical methods exist to foster it. Addressing this gap, researchers from Japan developed WEDiary, a smartphone app that encourages daily positive reflection on work achievements. In a randomized controlled trial involving 600 Japanese workers, the app significantly improved work engagement levels in only 2 weeks, with effects lasting 3 weeks beyond the intervention.