NASA has announced that it will provide significant funding for Boeing and its industry team to develop and flight test a full-scale transonic truss-braced wing (TTBW) demonstrator airplane. According to Boeing, when combined with expected advancements in propulsion systems, materials and systems architecture, a single-aisle airplane with a TTBW configuration could reduce fuel … [Read more...] about NASA to help fund Boeing research into sustainable aircraft design
Technology
New adjustable steering column is one of a kind
Steering-system manufacturer Pailton Engineering has launched a new adjustable steering column that enables its buses to meet the regulatory requirements of each of the different EU member states. The column was designed and manufactured for the new range of VDL Citea buses, which the company said will benefit from its ergonomic design and titling-head mechanism. Thanks … [Read more...] about New adjustable steering column is one of a kind
New wearable ultrasound device can monitor heart function on the go
A team of engineers and doctors at the University of California San Diego has developed a wearable ultrasound device that can assess both the structure and function of the human heart. Crucially, the portable device, which is roughly the size of a postage stamp, can be worn for up to 24 hours and works even during strenuous exercise; issues with heart function often manifest … [Read more...] about New wearable ultrasound device can monitor heart function on the go
Asthma-busting backpack wins kids’ design competition
A 12-year-old girl from Huddersfield has won the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s (IET) national Backpack to the Future competition. Eleanor’s Wood’s Breathe Better Backpack – which was inspired by her mother’s experience with asthma and is aimed at helping the eight million people in the UK who suffer from the condition – features a built-in air filter and fans … [Read more...] about Asthma-busting backpack wins kids’ design competition
New carbon capture technology turns CO2 into methanol cheaply
Scientists at the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have created a new system that captures carbon dioxide more cheaply than existing methods and converts it into one of the world’s most widely used chemicals: methanol. The high cost of commercial carbon capture technology has been a longstanding barrier to its widespread use. The … [Read more...] about New carbon capture technology turns CO2 into methanol cheaply