Feature Stories
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 4-Nov-2025 13:11 ET (4-Nov-2025 18:11 GMT/UTC)
Folding the future: Origami helping Rice engineer Novelino transform materials, structures
Rice UniversityWhen Larissa Novelino began her engineering career, she never imagined she’d spend her days folding paper: “I was never the crafty, artistic type,” Novelino said. “My mom still can’t believe I ended up working with origami.” Now an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at Rice University, Novelino has built her research on a surprising foundation: the centuries-old Japanese art of paper folding. But in her lab, origami isn’t about creating cranes and swans — it’s about transforming how we design buildings, materials and machines.
SKLCRCC Director Prof. Charles NG Wang-Wai honored with three international awards
Hong Kong University of Science and TechnologyThe WA researcher on a mission to tackle iron deficiency in children, using algae
Murdoch UniversityMayo Clinic neurosurgeon describes 8 common myths about back pain
Mayo ClinicResearchers highlight the Turkish Hammam’s role in Muslim ritual and community life
University of SharjahChristi Johnson puts physics at the wheel
DOE/Oak Ridge National LaboratoryWhen Christi Johnson finishes clocking an eighth of a mile in 4.7 seconds, she jumps out of the dagger-shaped drag racer while its wheels are still smoking, pulls off her helmet… and the next morning, pulls on her lab coat.
As a technical professional at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Johnson has developed, built and tested hardware and software for innovations including a jet blast deflector, an ultrasonic dryer, a sensor system for driver recognition and waveguide inspection tubes for the world’s largest magnetic fusion device. But Johnson, who works in the Multimodal Sensor Analytics Group, said her scientific career really began when she was a little girl eager for her turn in a fast car.
ETRI successfully demonstrates integrated terrestrial/satellite 6G hyper-space communication
National Research Council of Science & TechnologyElectronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) announced that it has successfully realized a testbed composed of terrestrial and satellite base stations, integrated terminals, and a 6G core, enabling urban air mobility (UAM) to seamlessly connect to both terrestrial and satellite networks in real time while flying between cities.
- Funder
- Ministry of Science and ICT
Smart charging: cheaper for the consumer, better for the grid
Utrecht UniversityGrid congestion - an ‘overloaded’ electricity grid - results in delays to building projects and sustainable initiatives. However, research by energy scientist Nico Brinkel has found that ‘smart charging’ of electric vehicles presents a potential way to deal with the problem. “But then grid operators and car manufacturers should put their shoulders to the wheel.” Brinkel will defend his dissertation at Utrecht University on 5 September 2025.