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(0:49) - Nanostructured Shields: 

MIT, CalTech, and ETH Zurich researchers have developed a new lightweight material capable of providing more stopping power than kevlar on a per mass basis. Furthermore, they were able to use the Buckingham-pi theorem - an analytical method used to measure how much material a meteor can excavate from a planet - to create a framework for assessing the impact absorption effectiveness of new nanostructured materials. 

(10:55) - Balloon Detection of Venus Earthquakes: 

Much of what we know about the inner workings of planet earth comes from our analysis of seismic activity but it's not that easy to do the same on other planets with inhospitable surface conditions like Venus. So how can we work around this problem? According to NASA JPL and some students from CalTech, balloons are the answer! The team was able to prove that weather balloons with barometers (instruments that gauge pressure differences) could detect earthquakes miles away. 

(16:00) - Increasing OLED Efficiency: 

OLED screens are becoming the standard for phones, TVs, and monitors; however, about 80% of the light produced by these screens actually ends up trapped inside the devices leading to drastic decreases in overall efficiency. Researchers from University of Michigan have found a way to liberate ~20% of the trapped light by making some modifications to the electrodes on either side of the light emitters and using an index-matching fluid to prevent light getting trapped by the outer glass layer.

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As always, you can find these and other interesting & impactful engineering articles on Wevolver.com.