Media Watch
Battery scientist shares honest review after one year of driving Tesla Model Y — here's what she had to say
The Cool Down -
Battery scientist Jill Pestana's Tesla Model Y has somehow improved itself during the first year she has owned it, as the expert shared in a glowing review on TikTok. … Pestana is a battery engineer who obtained her Master of Science in materials science and engineering at the University of California, Irvine, according to her LinkedIn profile. Read More
Irvine Connect shuttle system is picking up steam, but can an Irvine-wide transit network work?
The Orange County Register -
“There is no congestion in Irvine,” said Michael McNally, a longtime civil and environmental engineering professor at UC Irvine and a researcher at the university’s Institute of Transportation Studies. … “Drive on the city streets, even in the peak hours, traffic is flowing fast at the speed limit.” That’s one of several reasons why UCI professor Michael Hyland, also with the institute, said he’s “generally skeptical of a kind of robust, high-quality transit network in Irvine.” Read More
Like Texas, California faces major dangers when extreme floods come
Los Angeles Times -
“Those risks exist here,” said Brett Sanders, a UC Irvine professor whose research focuses on flooding. “We have a lot of the same possibility of flash flooding. We have hilly topography. We have streams that can spread out and catch you by surprise with water.” … In a 2022 study, researchers, including UC Irvine’s Sanders, estimated that up to 874,000 people and $108 billion in property could be affected by a 100-year flood in the Los Angeles Basin, revealing larger risks than previously estimated by federal emergency management officials. Read More
Human urine can turn into this useful material. See what is it and how do scientists make this science wonder happen
Economic Times -
According to co-author David Kisailus from the University of California, Irvine, the process solves two problems. It removes urine from wastewater, helping the environment. It also creates a useful material. Hydroxyapatite made this way can be used in bone and dental implants. It may also serve other industries. These include archaeological restoration, biodegradable plastic alternatives, and construction materials. Read More
Scientists transform pee into material fit for medical implants
Live Science -
Scientists have developed a method that can transform human urine into the hard mineral in bones and tooth enamel. … "This process achieves two goals at the same time," study co-author David Kisailus, a professor of materials science and engineering at the University of California, Irvine, said in a statement. "On the one hand, it helps remove human urine from wastewater streams, mitigating environmental pollution and the buildup of unwanted nutrients; and on the other hand, it produces a material that can be commercially marketed for use in a variety of settings.". Read More
State officials consult public on SoCalGas project to test hydrogen-energy at UC Irvine
The Orange County Register -
The public had a chance to weigh in on a potential hydrogen-blending pilot project on UC Irvine’s campus at hearings held on Tuesday, July 1 …. UC Irvine calls the project a major step toward bringing clean energy to all of California. … Graduate students from UCI’s Clean Energy Institute who spoke at the hearing said hydrogen blending can lower emissions of existing gas lines without major infrastructure changes to make a difference now. They said the project can allow researchers to study the performance and safety of hydrogen to eventually scale it across California. Read More
Engineered yeast turns human urine in wastewater into dental and bone implants
Genetic Library Project -
“This process achieves two goals at the same time,” said co-author David Kisailus, UC Irvine professor of materials science and engineering. “On the one hand, it helps remove human urine from wastewater streams, mitigating environmental pollution and the buildup of unwanted nutrients; and on the other hand, it produces a material that can be commercially marketed for use in a variety of settings.” Read More
Peeing our way to more dental implant material
DrBicuspid -
Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have developed a system designed to transform human urine into hydroxyapatite (HAp), a material used in dental implants, according to a university press release dated June 17. … “We are currently developing strategies to leverage his yeast platform with our 3D printing and structural knowledge to make multifunctional architected materials,” David Kisailus said. Read More
Squid-Inspired Camouflage May Help Soldiers Evade Sight and Sensors
The Defense Post -
The University of California, Irvine and the Marine Biological Laboratory have tapped into squid skin to unlock a new frontier in battlefield camouflage. The two are developing a stretchable material that mimics the color-shifting ability of the longfin inshore squid, something that could one day help troops slip past visual and thermal detection. Read More
Researchers Uncover Cell Structures Squids Use To Change Their Appearance
Technology Networks -
“In nature, many animals use Bragg reflectors for structural coloration,” said co-author Alon Gorodetsky, UC Irvine associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering. “A squid’s ability to rapidly and reversibly transition from transparent to colored is remarkable, and we found that cells containing specialized subcellular columnar structures with sinusoidal refractive index distributions enable the squid to achieve such feats.” Read More