EurekAlert! News by Subject: Tech & Engineering

Tech & Engineering

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 10-Jun-2026 15:16 ET (10-Jun-2026 19:16 GMT/UTC)

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

4-Feb-2026

Origami-inspired space structure is compact when launched, expanded in space

University of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering
Peer-Reviewed Publication

High-powered satellites use electromagnetic waveguides to deliver energy from one component to another. Typically, they are made of heavy, inflexible metal tubes with an even heavier flange on either end, neither of which is ideal for space applications.

Journal: Communications Engineering

4-Feb-2026

Pediatric Investigation review highlights the future of newborn screening with next-generation sequencing

Pediatric Investigation
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Routine newborn screening (NBS) has transformed early disease detection. However, traditional biochemical tests limit the range of conditions that can be identified at birth. Next-generation sequencing is being explored as a complementary screening tool. A review published in Pediatric Investigation examines how next-generation sequencing could expand NBS from single-disease assays to genome-enabled, multi-disease screening approaches.

Journal: Pediatric Investigation

4-Feb-2026

Elusive beaked whales off the Louisiana coast may sometimes be diving right to the seafloor, finds new 3D acoustic technology which accurately pinpoints their locations using their echolocation clicks

PLOS
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Elusive beaked whales off the Louisiana coast may sometimes be diving right to the seafloor, finds new 3D acoustic technology which accurately pinpoints their locations using their echolocation clicks

Journal: PLOS One

4-Feb-2026

Breakthrough in human norovirus research: Researchers overcome major obstacle to grow and study the virus

Baylor College of Medicine
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A Baylor College of Medicine team has overcome a major obstacle that limited their ability to continuously grow human norovirus virus, which they require to conduct experiments needed to develop strategies to prevent and treat these serious infections and better understand norovirus biology. The researchers identified factors that restrict viral replication and developed a way to overcome them to optimize long-term viral cultivation.

Journal: Science Advances

4-Feb-2026

Call for papers: 10th anniversary special issue of Big Earth Data

Big Earth Data
Business Announcement

Big Earth Data Journal is calling for papers for a Special Issue on 10th Anniversary Special Issue of Big Earth Data. The journal has published pioneering research that leverages Earth observations, big data analytics, and interdisciplinary collaboration to address global challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, sustainable urbanization, disaster monitoring, etc. To celebrate the journal’s 10th anniversary, we invite submissions to a special issue that reflects on the journal’s decade-long impact, showcases cutting-edge advancements in Big Earth Data research, and defines future directions for the field. This special issue will not only honor the progress made but also encourage the community to tackle emerging challenges and seize opportunities in the next era of data-driven Earth science. Welcome to submit!

Journal: Big Earth Data