News

December 18, 2018

Possible biomarker for multiple sclerosis identified

A biomarker for multiple sclerosis has been identified in humans by researchers at Purdue University and the Indiana University School of Medicine. Although just in preliminary testing, initial tests in humans have found that the substance acrolein — a waste product normally excreted by the body ( shown here in green) can accumulate in some people and cause neurological problems by damaging the myelin (damaged myelin shown in red), which surrounds the nerve cell like insulation on a copper wire.

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December 17, 2018

Energy for the future: Purdue NSF-funded engineering center works on energy technology to inject billions of dollars into the U.S. economy

Purdue University’s NSF-funded CISTAR’s award-winning researchers and industry partners are working to convert light hydrocarbons from shale gas deposits into chemicals and transportation fuels. The research, part of Purdue’s efforts to continue and amplify its impact on energy research and technology, could inject up to $20 billion annually into the U.S. economy.

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December 13, 2018

Soybean oil driving Purdue technology to improve roadways

Environmental Concrete Products is a startup based on a Purdue innovation, with funding for the Indiana Soybean Alliance, which uses engineering sealant technology derived from soybeans to protect and prolong the life of new and existing concrete to make a smoother ride for travelers and save costs for road upkeep and repairs.

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December 11, 2018

New models sense human trust in smart machines

New “classification models” sense how well humans trust intelligent machines they collaborate with, a step toward improving the quality of interactions and teamwork. The long-term goal of the overall field of research is to design intelligent machines capable of changing their behavior to enhance human trust in them.

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December 6, 2018

Yin and yang: Opposites in nature, fluoride and lithium, compete for higher-energy batteries

The chemical element that makes up most of today’s batteries, lithium, may soon be challenged by its polar opposite on the periodic table: fluoride. Yes, the same stuff in toothpaste. The two elements would be in competition for helping electronics last longer on a charge, such as electric cars that need to travel more miles than is possible with lithium-ion batteries on the market. Researchers are one step closer to equipping fluoride-based batteries for battle with improvements that allow the technology to operate at room temperature. Up until this point, fluoride had been limited to building high-temperature batteries that are impractical for our electronic devices.

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