EPFL scientists have shown how to achieve a dramatic increase in the capacity of optical fibers. Instead trying to redesign the fiber itself, they decided to improve multiplexing – a method which allows sharing of a communications channel or medium by combining signals at a common point. The breakthrough could increase the throughput of data… »

While there are many efforts to shift from gasoline onto other fuels or electricity, a group of researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) took a different approach and found a more viable way to create synthetic version of petrol. They managed to improve the first step in the process of creating syngas,… »

EPFL is going to showoff with their new convention center by making power from its colorful glass façade. This is the first architectural integration of dye solar cells technology at this scale, and it’s achieved in partnership with Romande Energie with a goal to develop a large-scale solar park and conduct research and development projects… »

Earlier this year, we reported about a finding which revealed that physical structure of Psaltoda claripennis cicada wings can shred certain types of rod-shaped bacteria. After analyzing the surface, researchers at the Swinburne University of Technology used biomimicry to create a surface with similar properties. This nanosurface could lead to development of a new generation… »

Situated in west Melbourne, the Junction House project required town planning due to the small lot size and its narrow northern frontage site. To overcome these issues, the architects decided to raise both the living areas and the mass of the building up. Aside being cleverly built, the house features various sustainable solutions which make… »

Many important discoveries happened by accident, and researchers at the Washington State University (WSU) had luck when they found out that exposing a crystal to light enables 400-fold increase of its electrical conductivity. The phenomenon, which lasted for days after the light was turned off, could dramatically improve the performance of devices like computer chips…. »

Two years ago we reported about e-volo’s electric multicopter which performed its first manned flight. Although it appeared a bit makeshift, its development involved a lot of engineering. Recently, they unveiled e-volo’s Volocopter VC200 – a prototype two-person rotor aircraft. Improvements in its design are easily noticeable and its performance is much better compared to… »

An international team of researchers has synthesized a new material able to store up to three times more hydrogen compared to most known metal hydrides. The iridium hydride from hydrogen and metallic iridium has an unexpected structure that does not occur in other known hydrides. The new structure could inspire creation of new metal hydrides… »