Technology and Engineering

Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Medical Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Biotechnology, Green Tech, Information Science, Nanotech

Get your curcumin delivered by nanoparticles

Maryse de la Giroday Science in Society, Technology and Engineering
Curcumin is a constituent of turmeric (used in cooking and as a remedy in Ayurvedic medicine). It’s been a while since I’ve stumbled across a curcumin story (scientists have been trying to find a way to exploit its therapeutic qualities for years). The latest news comes from Australia, which is a little unexpected as most of the ‘curcumin research stories’ previously on this blog have come from India. A March 5, 2020 news item on…

Continue reading

Congratulations Marshall

Dan Gillis Communication, Education and Outreach, Science in Society, Technology and Engineering
I am extremely excited to share that MSc Computer Science student, Marshall Asch, has been announced as the recipient of this year’s Erin Angus Graduate Engagement Student Award. Marshall has been working in my lab – first as an undergraduate student and recently as a graduate student – for several years. In the time thatContinue reading "Congratulations Marshall"

Continue reading

Living skin with blood vessels can be 3D printed

Maryse de la Giroday Science in Society, Technology and Engineering
This is a big step forward but it’s not for the faint at heart. Scientists have successfully 3D printed human skin with blood vessels and grafted them onto mice. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Yale University researchers worked together on this tissue engineering project. This video features Renseellaer’s Pankaj Kraande discussing the research, Here’s a November 1, 2019 Rensselaer Polytechnic news release (also received via email and it’s on EurekAlert) describing the work in detail, Researchers…

Continue reading

Alan The Tenure Giraffe

Dan Gillis Communication, Education and Outreach, Science in Society, Technology and Engineering
Yesterday I received a very special delivery. His name is Alan, and he’s my Tenure Giraffe. A few questions have probably sprung to mind. What is a Tenure Giraffe? Why am I receiving a Tenure Giraffe now? Why is this Tenure Giraffe named Alan? And where do Tenure Giraffes come from? All great questions. AccordingContinue reading "Alan The Tenure Giraffe"

Continue reading

Winter jacket made with ‘brewed protein’ and enabled by synthetic biology

Maryse de la Giroday Science in Society, Technology and Engineering
It’s called a ‘Moon Parka’, [downloaded from https://sp.spiber.jp/en/tnfsp/mp/] Adele Peters in her October 31, 2019 article for Fast Company describes the technology used to make this jacket, A typical waterproof winter jacket is made with nylon—a material that, like other plastics, is made from petroleum. But a new limited-edition jacket from The North Face Japan uses something called “brewed protein” instead. It’s a material inspired by spider silk that is fermented in giant vats, the…

Continue reading

The physics of Jackson Pollock’s painting technique

Maryse de la Giroday Science in Society, Technology and Engineering
I long ago stumbled across the fascination that Jackson Pollock’s art work exerts over physicists but this work from Brown University adds some colours to the picture (wordplay intended). One: Number 31, 1950. Jackson Pollock (American, 1912–1956). 1950. Oil and enamel paint on canvas, 8′ 10″ x 17′ 5 5/8″ (269.5 x 530.8 cm) Courtesy: Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) [downloaded from: https://www.moma.org/learn/moma_learning/jackson-pollock-one-number-31-1950-1950/] From an October 30, 2019 Brown University news release (also on EurekAlert),…

Continue reading

Therapeutic nanoparticles for COVID-19 (disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2])—don’t hold your breath!

Maryse de la Giroday Science in Society, Technology and Engineering
Last week (specifically, Tuesday, March 3, 2020), someone moved away from me during a class. I’d sneezed. The irony of the situation is that of the two of us, with my lung issues I’d be the one most at risk of getting very ill and/or dying from COVID-19. ([1] Yes, I confirmed that was the reason she’d moved. [2] The therapeutic nanoparticles news item is coming later) Here are the risk factors to take into…

Continue reading

The Evolution Of The Hackathon – Part II

Dan Gillis Communication, Education and Outreach, Science in Society, Technology and Engineering
What do you do when innovation is the goal, but the tool purported to achieve this goal – the hackathon – seems to be more successful at creating solutions in search of a problem? As described in a previous post, hackathons have traditionally been the domain of computer science and software engineering students. Unfortunately, thisContinue reading "The Evolution Of The Hackathon – Part II"

Continue reading