A new method of discovering materials using data analytics and electron microscopy has found a new class of extremely hard alloys. Such materials could potentially withstand severe impact from projectiles, thereby providing better protection of soldiers in combat. Researchers from Lehigh University describe the method and findings in an article, “Materials Informatics For the Screening…
Laser-Fabricated Crystals in Glass Are Ferroelectric, Could Power Next-Generation Communication Systems
A team of researchers from Lehigh University, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Lebanon Valley College and Corning Inc. has demonstrated, for the first time, that crystals manufactured by lasers within a glass matrix maintain full ferroelectric functionality. “This includes the ability to uniformly orient and reverse orient the ferroelectric domains with an electric field, despite the fact that…
A Beautiful Wing Design Solution Inspired by Owl Feathers
Many species of owl are able to hunt without being heard by their prey by suppressing the noise of their wings at sound frequencies above 1.6 kilohertz (kHz) — including the range at which human hearing is most sensitive. Owl wing porosity (the quality that allows air to pass resistively through the wings) helps in…
A New Way to Directly Convert Methane to Methanol Using Gold-Palladium Nanoparticles
Liquid methanol is widely used as a feedstock for other chemicals and also has considerable potential as an alternative fuel source. However, converting methane–the primary component of abundant natural gas–into methanol is currently achieved by an indirect process which requires high heat and pressure. Now researchers have discovered a new approach that allows the direct…
Owl-Inspired Wing Design Reduces Wind Turbine Noise By 10 Decibels
Many species of owl are able to hunt in effective silence by suppressing their noise at sound frequencies above 1.6 kilohertz (kHz) – over the range that can be heard by humans. A team of researchers studying the acoustics of owl flight –including Justin W. Jaworski, assistant professor of mechanical engineering and mechanics at Lehigh’s P.C.…