Erasable semiconductor is programmed with light
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 27-Oct-2026 16:16 ET (27-Oct-2026 20:16 GMT/UTC)
Researchers at Princeton engineering have created a semiconductor with unique properties: it is just a few molecules thick and can repeatedly change its properties in response to light. This is a step toward building more energy-efficient sensors, optoelectronic devices and computing technologies.
Wind farms have received heat in recent years for their potential to harm wildlife, a notable issue in western North America where some farms are located near populations of protected Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos). A new study published in the Journal of Raptor Research titled “Behavioral Responses of Large Soaring Raptors to Audio Deterrents at Commercial Wind-Energy Facilities in the Western USA” found that outfitting turbines with devices that emit warning sounds to approaching raptors can effectively reduce the number of collisions, and therefore deaths, at wind energy sites. For large soaring birds like eagles, hawks, and vultures, this is an especially valuable finding and offers a positive development for a long-standing conservation challenge.
The largest study to date that quantifies and compares medical and illegal use of fentanyl in the United States suggests that illicit use is more than twice as common as medically based use. The analysis also shows the risk of a nonfatal overdose is up to three-fold higher in illicit users compared to patients exposed to fentanyl in a medical setting or through a prescription. Overall, the study found that illicit-source fentanyl exposure is linked to a significantly higher risk of opioid-related harmful outcomes than medical-source exposure.
In partnership with A.J. Tuck Company, scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have developed a new manufacturing approach that could simplify production of critical components for advanced nuclear reactors and other energy and defense applications. The method combines 3D printing and electroforming to produce complex, leak-free hot isostatic pressing (HIP) cans, sealed containers used to form high-performance metal parts from powder materials under high heat and pressure. This approach for making HIP cans could speed up production and reduce reliance on constrained supply chains.
Researchers from the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture and collaborating institutions found that electron beam (eBeam) technology shows promise as a way to improve the safety of poultry products by reducing harmful foodborne pathogens while maintaining meat quality.