EurekAlert! News by Subject: Tech & Engineering

Tech & Engineering

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 9-Jun-2026 23:15 ET (10-Jun-2026 03:15 GMT/UTC)

4-Feb-2026

DNA provides a solution to our enormous data storage problem

Arizona State University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

In a pair of new studies, ASU researchers and their colleagues show how DNA, the molecule of life, can be harnessed to faithfully store enormous volumes of data and provide powerful encryption.

Journal: Nature Communications

4-Feb-2026

Tropical peatlands are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions

Hokkaido University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

New research from Hokkaido University suggests that the climate impact of tropical peatlands could be significantly higher than previously thought.

Journal: AGU Advances

4-Feb-2026

Innovation at a crossroads: Virginia Tech scientist calls for balance between research integrity and commercialization

Virginia Tech
Peer-Reviewed Publication

As federal policymakers weigh potential changes to how biomedical research is funded and regulated in the United States, a Virginia Tech scientist highlights the importance of preserving the nation’s ability to turn discovery into life‑saving therapies.

Journal: Nature Biotechnology

4-Feb-2026

A mint idea becomes a game changer for medical devices

Flinders University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

After noticing that eating peppermint leaves from his drink significantly relieved his sore throat, Flinders' Professor Krasimir Vasilev decided to explore whether its bioactivity could be converted into a durable coating using plasma technology. His team created a nanoscale peppermint‑oil coating that protects against infection, inflammation and oxidative stress, while remaining compatible with human tissue and suitable for medical materials.

Journal: Small
Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council, ARC

4-Feb-2026

Human-AI relationships in fiction: A theoretical cultural framework of AI representations

University of Tsukuba
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers at University of Tsukuba examined how artificial intelligence (AI) is represented in fictional media, including films, animation, literature, and games. Their analysis indicates that AI is portrayed not only as a technological tool, but also as a supporter, collaborative companion, and, in some cases, an equal partner. These portrayals highlight the diversity and evolution of imagined human-AI relationships across cultural narratives.

Journal: AI & Society

4-Feb-2026

Unraveling the physics behind Kamchatka's 73-year earthquake cycle

University of Tsukuba
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A research team from University of Tsukuba and collaborating institutions has clarified why M9-class megathrust earthquakes recur off the Kamchatka Peninsula with an unusually short cycle of 73 years. By analyzing the rupture process of the 2025 event, the team demonstrated that this earthquake exhibited complex behavior that cannot be explained by conventional seismic-cycle models.

Journal: Seismica

4-Feb-2026

No brain, no problem: What robots can learn from sea stars

University of Southern California
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Sea stars, creatures whose movement involves the coordination of hundreds of tiny tube feet to navigate complex environments – despite the lack of a central “brain.” Now, researchers at USC Viterbi School of Engineering are uncovering the secret behind this decentralized locomotion. This could revolutionize how we design autonomous robots.

Funder: FEDER Prostem Research Project, Interreg France- Wallonie-Vlaanderen, F.R.S.-FNRS Optopattern Project, FNRN

4-Feb-2026

Three Illinois Tech engineering professors named IEEE fellows

Illinois Institute of Technology
Grant and Award Announcement

Three Illinois Tech faculty members—Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Lin Cai, Professor and Frank Gunsaulus Faculty Fellow in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Boris S. Pervan, and Professor Emeritus of Electrical and Computer Engineering Thomas Wong—have been selected as fellows of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

4-Feb-2026

Scientists develop algae-derived biochar nanoreactor to tackle persistent PFAS pollution

Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers have developed a new algae-based biochar material that shows remarkable ability to break down perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), one of the most persistent and hazardous members of the PFAS chemical family. The new material combines advanced nanotechnology with sustainable biomass resources and may provide a promising strategy for removing difficult contaminants from water.

Journal: Biochar