New Atom-Based Thermometer Measures Temperature More Accurately

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By monitoring how giant Rydberg atoms interact with heat in their environment, Noah Schlossberger and colleagues can measure temperature with remarkable accuracy. Credit: R. Jacobson/NIST

 

Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have created a new thermometer using atoms boosted to such high energy levels that they are 1,000 times larger than normal.

Fast, Agile Robotic Insect Could Aid Mechanical Pollination

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Weighing less than a paperclip, the robotic insect can fly significantly faster than similar bots while completing acrobatic maneuvers like double aerial flips. It can even precisely track a trajectory that spells M-I-T. Photo courtesy of the researchers

With a more efficient method for artificial pollination, farmers in the future could grow fruits and vegetables inside multilevel warehouses, boosting yields while mitigating some of agriculture’s harmful effects on the environment.

National Lab Collaboration Improves Flaw Detection of Nuclear Reactor Components

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Idaho National Laboratory researchers use Oak Ridge National Laboratory software to reduce the X-ray CT scan time and improve image accuracy for 3D-printed parts like the one shown here. Credit: Bill Chuirazzi/INL, U.S. Department of Energy

Idaho National Laboratory (INL) uses a software algorithm that Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) developed to check for flaws in additively manufactured components.

Designing Tiny Filters to Solve Big Problems

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In his lab at MIT, Zachary Smith is designing membranes with tiny pores that can filter tiny molecules based on their size. Here, Smith holds a “membrane coupon,” which is a small piece of polymer that can filter gas molecules selectively.

For many industrial processes, the typical way to separate gases, liquids, or ions is with heat, using slight differences in boiling points to purify mixtures. These thermal processes account for roughly 10% of the energy use in the United States.

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