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Category: electronics

Space-based experiments show wax-filled heat sinks keep electronics cooler for longer

An interdisciplinary research team including mechanical science and engineering professor Mickey Clemon from the Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is investigating cooling methods for heat sinks by performing experiments onboard a satellite currently orbiting Earth.

“University-sponsored satellites have a very low success rate of making it into space, so we’re very happy that we made it into space and that our system works,” Clemon said.

The team has published the recent findings from their ongoing study, “Investigating the performance of a heat sink for satellite avionics : From ground-level testing to space-like conditions,” in the International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer.

Displays, imaging and sensing: New blue fluorophore breaks efficiency records in both solids and solutions

A new blue fluorescent molecule set new top emission efficiencies in both solid and liquid states, according to a University of Michigan-led study that could pave the way for applications in technology and medicine.

Able to absorb light and emit it at lower energy levels, called fluorophores glow in OLED displays and help doctors and scientists figure out what’s happening in cells and tissues. They need to be solid in displays and many sensing applications, but liquids are typically preferred for biological uses. Most fluorophores don’t work well in both forms, but this one does.

The study, “Elucidating the molecular structural origin of efficient emission across solid and solution phases of single benzene fluorophores,” is published in the journal Nature Communications.

‘Unlike conventional electronics’: New liquid metal-infused circuit boards can self-heal and work after taking heavy damage

New recyclable electronics could be critical to curbing e-waste, scientists argue, especially because these circuit boards can be repaired or reconfigured by simply applying heat.

New technique tracks blood sugar with light

Diabetes is a very prevalent disease that, unfortunately, still has no treatment. People with diabetes need to monitor their blood glucose levels (BGLs) regularly and administer insulin to keep them in check. In almost all cases, BGL measurements involve drawing blood from a fingertip through a finger prick. Since this procedure is painful, less invasive alternatives that leverage modern electronics are being actively researched worldwide.

New Diamond Magnetometer Paves the Way for GPS-Free Navigation

Fraunhofer IAF presents compact integrated quantum sensor at World of Quantum 2025 The highly integrated vector magnetometer developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF uses nitrogen vacancies (NV) in diamond to detect extremely small magnetic fields with a level of

Ultralow loss optical microresonators pave way for miniaturized, tunable photonic systems

Aston University researchers have developed a new class of optical microresonators, miniature optical devices that strongly confine and enhance light in microscopic dimensions. They are essential components in a wide range of systems, including ultra-precise optical sensors and information processors.

The University researchers discovered that unique optical microresonators can be introduced at the intersection of two optical fibers. These devices have potential applications in communication, computing, sensing and more.

The new ultralow loss optical microresonators can be finely tuned by simply rotating two intersecting optical fibers. Unlike current monolithic microresonators, these devices have a widely tunable free spectral range (FSR) and allow for their .

New nano-based filter for infrared light promises cheap, robust spectrometers

A new filter for infrared light could see scanning and screening technology tumble in price and size. Built on nanotechnology, the new heat-tunable filter promises hand-held, robust technology to replace current desktop infrared spectroscopy setups that are bulky, heavy and cost from $10,000 up to more than $100,000.

Physicists record the most precise neutrino mass measurement ever

The Standard Model of particle physics, our best guide to the building blocks of nature, once claimed neutrinos were massless. But that turned out to be wrong. Neutrinos do have mass—just an incredibly tiny one. So far, though, no experiment has measured that mass directly. That’s where the KATRIN experiment comes in.

KATRIN stands for the Karlsruhe Tritium Neutrino Experiment. It’s based in Germany and stretches nearly 70 meters, or about 230 feet—longer than a Boeing 747. Published in the journal, Science, the experiment uses a radioactive form of hydrogen called tritium, which naturally decays into helium. When this happens, it releases an electron and a neutrino.

By measuring the energy of the electron, scientists can figure out how much energy the neutrino took away. This helps them estimate the neutrino’s mass. The trick is, this has to be done with extreme accuracy. That’s why KATRIN includes one of the world’s most advanced spectrometers, which is 10 meters wide and filters out unwanted particles with precision.