A well-known computational problem seeks to find the most efficient route for a traveling salesman to visit clients in a number of cities. Seemingly simple, it’s actually surprisingly complex and much studied, with implications in fields as wide-ranging as manufacturing and air-traffic control. Researchers from the University of Central Florida and Boston University have developed…
‘Back to the Future’ Inspires Solar Nanotech-Powered Clothing
Marty McFly’s self-lacing Nikes in Back to the Future Part II inspired a UCF scientist who has developed filaments that harvest and store the sun’s energy — and can be woven into textiles. The breakthrough would essentially turn jackets and other clothing into wearable, solar-powered batteries that never need to be plugged in. It could…
‘Back to the Future’ Inspires Solar Nanotech-Powered Clothing
Marty McFly’s self-lacing Nikes in Back to the Future Part II inspired a UCF scientist who has developed filaments that harvest and store the sun’s energy — and can be woven into textiles. The breakthrough would essentially turn jackets and other clothing into wearable, solar-powered batteries that never need to be plugged in. It could one day…
‘Breaking Me Softly:’ New Fiber Findings Reported
A finding by a University of Central Florida researcher that unlocks a means of controlling materials at the nanoscale and opens the door to a new generation of manufacturing is featured online in the journal Nature. Using a pair of pliers in each hand and gradually pulling taut a piece of glass fiber coated in plastic,…
New Research Ensures Car LCDs Work in Extreme Cold, Heat
One of UCF’s most prolific inventors has solved a stubborn problem: How to keep the electronic displays in your car working, whether you’re driving in the frigid depths of winter or under the broiling desert sun. LCD screens are everywhere—our smartphones, televisions, laptops and more. Increasingly, they’re now popping up in automobiles, where it’s now…