EurekAlert! News by Subject: Tech & Engineering - News by Subject: Tech & Engineering

Tech & Engineering

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 6-Apr-2026 06:16 ET (6-Apr-2026 10:16 GMT/UTC)

From farm to table, 40% of food goes to waste

Case Western Reserve University
Grant and Award Announcement

With a new grant from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, a team of researchers led by Case Western Reserve University is developing advanced nanocomposite materials for sustainable food-packaging designed to help food stay fresh longer while reducing the environmental impact.

The Case Western Reserve-led research will focus on developing environmentally friendly packaging materials from renewable biological resources, including plant-based materials, such as corn, wood and agricultural residues.

The team will design biodegradable films that incorporate natural melanin-based nanoparticles. That material will help protect food from microbes, ultraviolet light and oxidation while maintaining mechanical strength, transparency and effective barrier performance.

Funder: National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Himalayan forests show how elevation and precipitation shape tree growth and forest structure

SciOpen
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A study of forests in Nepal’s Annapurna region reveals how elevation and precipitation shape forest structure in the Central Himalaya. Windward slopes support dense, broad-leaved forests, while drier leeward slopes have open, conifer-dominated stands. Despite these differences, overall forest structural complexity remains similar across tree-line ecotones. Elevation and precipitation were identified as the primary drivers of tree height and forest complexity, with tree height declining steadily at higher elevations and structural complexity remaining stable until near the tree line. The findings highlight the importance of considering both topography and climate in forest conservation and management.

Journal: Forest Ecosystems

Terasaki Principal Investigator Dr. Aliesha O’Raw selected for 2026 ACS BrightEdge Entrepreneurs Program Cohort

Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation
Grant and Award Announcement

Los Angeles, CA — March 17, 2026 — The Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI) is proud to announce that Principal Investigator Dr. Aliesha O’Raw, Co-Founder of OnVagus, has been selected for the 2026 American Cancer Society (ACS) BrightEdge Entrepreneurs (BEE) Program cohort. The BrightEdge Entrepreneurs Program is a competitive program for startups in the cancer diagnostic and therapeutic space, providing mentorship and entrepreneur training alongside early-stage investment support, including a $100,000 SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) backed by ACS’ BrightEdge Investment Fund.

Funder: American Cancer Society

First-of-its-kind implant expected to dramatically improve treatment of significant tissue loss

Technion-Israel Institute of Technology
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Technion researchers have developed a first-of-its-kind, 3D-printed implantable tissue flap designed to treat significant tissue loss. The engineered construct integrates muscle and fat tissues with a hierarchical network of blood vessels and, for the first time, a lymphatic system—enabling improved fluid drainage and more effective tissue function. The study, led by Prof. Shulamit Levenberg and published in Cell Biomaterials, addresses a major limitation of current treatments, which rely on transplanting tissue from the patient’s own body.

Using a specialized bio-ink derived from extracellular matrix components and a custom bioreactor that mimics physiological blood flow, the team created a complex, functional tissue that closely replicates natural anatomy. In rat models, the implant demonstrated rapid integration with host tissue, including stable blood flow, proper oxygen and nutrient delivery, and healthy muscle and fat development.

This breakthrough may pave the way for personalized, lab-grown tissue flaps tailored to individual patients, offering a promising alternative for treating injuries, burns, and tissue loss following tumor removal. The technology is now being tested in larger animal models as a step toward future clinical applications.

Journal: Cell Biomaterials

Two INFORMS members elected to the prestigious National Academy of Engineering

Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences
Grant and Award Announcement

INFORMS proudly celebrates the election of two distinguished members to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), one of the highest professional honors in the field. This year’s honorees—John-Paul Clarke (University of Texas at Austin) and Oleg Gusikhin (Ford Motor Company)—join an elite group of global innovators recognized for their pio

AI model could revolutionize flood forecasting

University of Minnesota
Peer-Reviewed Publication

New paired studies from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities show that machine-learning can improve the prediction of floods. The studies, published in Water Resources Research and the Proceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Data Mining, demonstrate how "knowledge-guided" artificial intelligence can assist forecasters in saving lives and protecting infrastructure as the frequency of extreme weather increases.

Funder: State of Minnesota Weather Ready Extension, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Largest UK study uncovers hidden chemical risks in waste-to-energy residues

University of East London
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The largest UK study of waste-to-energy residues reveals complex chemical compositions and potentially mobile contaminants in air pollution control residues, raising important questions about their long-term environmental management and reuse.

Journal: Waste Management