Cadmium telluride photovoltaics, a solar energy generation technology once considered limited in its potential, is poised for significant growth in the United States, according to a team of scientists analyzed challenges and proposed corresponding research goals in new research published in the peer-reviewed journal Joule.

Concrete contains a diversity of materials that scatter sound waves and make clear imaging difficult to obtain. In Applied Physics Letters, researchers created a high-resolution 3D ultrasonic imaging system for concrete that automatically adapts to different types of structures, sending frequencies into the material and using a vibrometer to capture the outcoming waves. The system can handle a wide range of frequencies, which means that even if ultrasonic waves are scattered by materials in the concrete, those that do make it through are still detected.

Reno, Nev. (January 27, 2206) – DRI’s STEM Education Program was recently awarded a $2.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education. The four-year project will address the need to advance artificial intelligence (AI) and computer science classroom education in grades K-12. To accomplish this, training and resources will be provided to undergraduate preservice educators and those already in the classroom, with a focus on Nevada’s rural communities.

Researchers at the University of Rochester’s Institute of Optics have developed a new process that turns ordinary metal tubes unsinkable—meaning they will stay afloat no matter how long they are forced into water or how heavily they are damaged. The researchers describe their process for creating aluminum tubes with remarkable floating abilities in a study published in Advanced Functional Materials. By etching the interior of aluminum tubes, the researchers create micro- and nano-pits on the surface that turn it superhydrophobic, repelling water and staying dry.