Cyanobacteria, commonly known as blue-green algae, are found almost everywhere in the world—from hot springs to arctic ice to antioxidant smoothies. Understanding photoprotection in unique light-harvesting structure called the phycobilisomes could inspire new biomimetic strategies for engineering plants to improve food security, or even in creating new kinds of adaptable energy technologies.

Engineers have developed a battery-free electronic sticker that attaches to everyday objects like a drinking cup and monitors vitamin C levels from a person’s fingertip sweat. The technology could make personal nutrition monitoring as effortless as holding a cup of coffee.

Kennesaw State University researcher Ordene Edwards is exploring how to help engineering students see the value in their studies and help improve their performance with the aid of a five-year, $700,000 National Science Foundation grant.

Lehigh University PhD student Saskia Putri is partnering with Siemens through a two-semester fellowship to develop microgrid technologies that improve the reliability and resilience of data center energy systems. Working under the guidance of civil and environmental engineering professor Farrah Moazeni, Putri is modeling and testing real-time control systems designed to stabilize power for energy-intensive operations such as AI training. The collaboration, part of Lehigh’s Center for Advancing Community Electrification Solutions (ACES), aims to bridge academic innovation and industrial application in next-generation energy infrastructure.

Researchers at The University of Texas at Arlington are pursuing a potential breakthrough that could help soldiers recover from devastating blast injuries. Zui Pan, professor of graduate nursing at UT Arlington, is leading the 20-month study exploring how zinc might protect and regenerate muscle tissue damaged by trauma.