Phys.org – Engineering

A new, patent-pending underwater robot developed at Purdue University’s College of Engineering could improve ocean research, underwater infrastructure inspection and search-and-rescue efforts by adapting to mission needs in real time, acting as a drifter, a […]

Propeller-powered underwater vehicles have long helped scientists explore and monitor aquatic environments. But they’re limited by their own mechanics: Spinning blades can snag on vegetation, stir up sediment and startle the wildlife they’re often sent […]

Ground settlement, the downward movement of the ground surface or soil, is caused by changes in underlying soil or rock. With continuing development of underground spaces in urban areas, the frequency of ground surface settlement […]

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 […]

The U.S. is ready to build more nuclear reactors, but a dwindling network of research reactors capable of testing new nuclear fuels for commercial use presents a major bottleneck. With a long record of success […]

Cable tray systems are essential for supporting electrical and communication cables in buildings, but their failure during earthquakes can disrupt critical services and pose serious safety risks. Researchers have now validated Japan’s seismic design guidelines […]

Researchers at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and the University of Bordeaux in France have demonstrated a new way to send information through the atmosphere without correcting for the distortions that normally disrupt optical […]

Merchant ships, coastal infrastructure and maritime facilities are often built with iron and steel, which can corrode over time despite their strength, eventually to the point of failure. With lives and goods on the line, […]

Wind farms have received criticism 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 […]

Cement is one of the most consumed materials globally, second only to water. However, the world’s enormous appetite for cement also has an environmental cost: Its production generates more than a billion metric tons of […]