Utah transportation officials have introduced cutting-edge technology that allows vehicles to communicate with traffic lights and each other, a development set to transform traffic flow, reduce congestion, and prevent accidents. This initiative, part of the “Connect the West” project, is supported by a $20 million federal grant and has already begun showing results.

The first milestone of the initiative was achieved by installing radio transmitters in city buses, enabling them to request extended green lights by a few seconds. This small change has already improved traffic flow on these newly designated “smart streets.” These advancements are just the beginning of a series of high-tech upgrades expected to be implemented on U.S. roads in the near future.

Researchers have developed a groundbreaking electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) sensor that fits on a microchip, enabling the detection of free radicals in food products even at extremely low concentrations. This innovative “EPR on a chip” (ERPoC) sensor, created by teams from Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and the University of Stuttgart, is portable, affordable, and small enough to be tailored to specific industry needs. Initially, it will be used to monitor the quality of olive oil and beer.

“We are designing small, portable, and cost-effective EPR devices by integrating a microchip with permanent magnets, customized for various applications,” says Michele Segantini, a physicist from HZB who is nearing the completion of his PhD under Prof. Klaus Lips. Free radicals, highly reactive molecules that indicate spoilage, are difficult to detect. Traditional methods for detecting these molecules in food products require expensive EPR machines that are large and power-hungry, limiting their use.

Water contamination caused by chemicals used in modern technology is an escalating global issue. A recent study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control found that 98% of people tested had detectable levels of PFAS—long-lasting “forever chemicals”—in their bloodstream. However, a new natural filtration material developed by MIT researchers may offer a solution. Made from silk and cellulose, this innovative filter can remove a range of persistent contaminants, including PFAS and heavy metals, while also boasting antimicrobial properties that prevent filter fouling.

The findings, published in ACS Nano, were led by MIT postdoc Yilin Zhang, civil and environmental engineering professor Benedetto Marelli, and their team. The material’s creation originated from Marelli’s lab, which initially sought to combat counterfeit seeds through silk nanofibrils. Zhang suggested the material’s potential for water filtration, leading to the addition of cellulose to the silk structure, enhancing its performance. This hybrid material has shown promise in lab tests, significantly outperforming traditional filters like activated carbon.

Researchers at Japan’s National Institute of Materials Science (NIMS) have developed a highly flexible alloy made of titanium and nickel that could revolutionize industries by enabling shape-shifting aircraft and ultra-strong artificial muscles. The alloy boasts the strength of steel while remaining as stretchable as rubber when subjected to environmental changes.

Shape-shifting aircraft have long been the stuff of science fiction, primarily due to the challenge of creating a material flexible enough for such transformations yet robust enough to withstand the stresses of flight. Balancing strength and flexibility has been a major obstacle for scientists, as increasing one often comes at the expense of the other. While a shape-shifting aircraft could lead to greater energy efficiency and faster travel, passenger safety remains paramount, requiring materials that do not compromise on durability.