Producing clean water at a lower cost could be on the horizon after researchers from The University of Texas at Austin and Penn State solved a complex problem that has baffled scientists for decades. In partnership with DuPont Water Solutions, the researchers determined that desalination membranes are inconsistent in density and mass distribution, and the inconsistency can hold back their performance.

Texas A&M University researchers have developed a medical device that might help with weight loss while requiring a simpler operative procedure for implantation. The scientists say their centimeter-sized device provides the feeling of fullness by stimulating the endings of the vagus nerve with light. Unlike other devices that require a power cord, their device is wireless and can be controlled externally from a remote radio frequency source.

Using physical therapy combined with a noninvasive method of stimulating nerve cells in the spinal cord, University of Washington researchers helped six Seattle area participants regain some hand and arm mobility. That increased mobility lasted at least three to six months after treatment had ended.

Rutgers University engineers have developed a 3D printable hydrogel, or smart gel, that senses light and changes shape as a result. The engineers incorporated a light-sensing nanomaterial in the hydrogel, turning it into an “artificial muscle” that contracts in response to changes in light. The light-sensing smart gel, combined with the 3D-printed stretchy material, changes color, resulting in a camouflage effect.

An international research team discovered that some corals managed to survive a globally unprecedented heatwave during the 2015-2016 El Niño. Heat stress from that El Niño triggered the third-ever global coral bleaching event, causing mass coral bleaching and mortality on reefs around the world. Until this study, coral recovery from bleaching has only ever been observed after heat stress subsides.

University of Minnesota researchers have created a polymer to deliver DNA and RNA-based therapies for diseases. For the first time in the industry, the researchers were able to see exactly how polymers interact with human cells when delivering medicines into the body. This discovery opens the door for more widespread use of polymers in gene therapies and vaccines.

Some researchers at the University of Illinois believe earphones will be the next significant milestone in wearable devices, and that new hardware, software and apps will all run on this platform. The National Science Foundation-funded team is part of the Coordinated Science Laboratory's Systems and Networking Research Group.

Neuroscientists at Emory University have provided clear visual evidence that the brain's ventral striatum kicks in during decision-making to weigh the costs vs. benefits of making a physical effort. What could be the ultimate impacts of what they've learned?

A new technology would let your body act as the link between your card or smartphone and the reader or scanner, making it possible for you to transmit information just by touching a surface. The work was done by engineers at Purdue University, with support from the U.S. National Science Foundation.

A new technique seamlessly converts ammonia to green hydrogen. The method was developed by researchers at Northwestern University with support from the National Science Foundation and overcomes several roadblocks to hydrogen distribution. It could be an important step toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions from our vehicles and other modes of transportation.