Search Results - physical+sciences+%3e+environmental+%26+sustainable+solutions

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A plasma-enabled catalytic system for low-temperature, emission-free conversion of methane to hydrogen and chemicals
This technology uses non-equilibrium plasma and special catalysts to convert methane directly into hydrogen and valuable chemicals at low temperatures and pressures, without CO₂ emissions, offering efficient, tunable, and coking-resistant production of clean fuels and chemicals. Background Methane conversion technologies are a critical area of research...
Published: 12/5/2025   |   Inventor(s): Thomas Underwood, Varanasi Sai Subhankar, Charan Nallapareddy
Keywords(s):  
Category(s): Physical sciences > Environmental & sustainable solutions
A robotic system for autonomous detection and classification of microparticles in environmental monitoring applications
This technology is an autonomous robotic system that uses optical scanning, near-infrared spectroscopy, and machine learning to detect, identify, and map microparticles in the environment in real time, enabling efficient and accurate monitoring of microparticles, including microplastics. Background The field of environmental monitoring has become...
Published: 12/5/2025   |   Inventor(s): Christian Claudel, Carlos Baiz, Joseph Shirley, Hassan Iqbal, Kobiny Rex
Keywords(s):  
Category(s): Physical sciences > Environmental & sustainable solutions, Physical sciences > Robotics hardware & devices
Infinite-dimensional integrated digital image correlation (IDIC)
Background Digital image correlation (DIC) methods are common in laboratory experi­ments. Often termed two-dimensional digital image correlation (2D-DIC), the method uses a camera to acquire images of a planar object that is deforming nominally within the specimen surface plane that is being imaged. DIC algorithms typically perform the image registration...
Published: 11/25/2025   |   Inventor(s): Omar Ghattas, Joseph Kirchhoff, Thomas O'Leary-Roseberry, Dingcheng Luo
Keywords(s):  
Category(s): Physical sciences, Physical sciences > Aerospace, Physical sciences > Materials, Software, Software > Modeling and simulation, Software > Image analysis, Software > Research tool, Physical sciences > Environmental & sustainable solutions, Physical sciences > Infrastructure > Defense
Direct electrodeposition of Li from Li ions enhanced by electromagnetism
Background Dr. Thomas C. Underwood and his team have developed a technology by which brine phase Li+ ions are converted directly to Li metals through electromagnetic-enhanced electroreduction, which is available for licensing. Dr. Underwood is an assistant professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at UT Austin with...
Published: 11/25/2025   |   Inventor(s): Wen Song, Thomas Underwood
Keywords(s):  
Category(s): Physical sciences > Energy > Battery or electrochemical, Physical sciences > Environmental & sustainable solutions
Sustainable sequins and paillettes
“In one year, British women purchase 33 million sequined garments and accessories at a cost of £415 million.”* Problem The current products available in the marketplace are derived from non-compostable plastics. Some of the sustainable versions are created from upcycling plastics, but the source of the material is still harmful to...
Published: 11/25/2025   |   Inventor(s): Jessica Ciarla, Nathaniel Lynd, Luisa Gil Fandino, Jennifer Imbrogno
Keywords(s):  
Category(s): Physical sciences > Environmental & sustainable solutions
Functionalized kapok fiber filter for oil and bacteria removal
Problem statement Contaminated water from the produced water industry must be treated prior to discharge, reuse, or recycling. Advanced treatment is often necessary to meet increasingly strict regulations, leading to membrane filtration use in produced water treatment. These membranes are susceptible to different forms of fouling, especially when organics...
Published: 11/25/2025   |   Inventor(s): Manish Kumar, Sophie De Respino
Keywords(s):  
Category(s): Physical sciences > Environmental & sustainable solutions
Atmospheric water irrigation enabled by super moisture absorbent gels
Overview The global population is projected to reach 9.6 billion people by 2025, requiring food production to increase by 70% to meet the demand of the huge population. Water is most limiting natural resource for agricultural production due to the freshwater shortage and enormous need for irrigation. Dry cropland accounts for 84% of the cultivated...
Published: 11/25/2025   |   Inventor(s): Guihua Yu, Fei Zhao, Xingyi Zhou
Keywords(s):  
Category(s): Physical sciences > Materials, Life sciences > Agriculture, Physical sciences > Environmental & sustainable solutions, Physical sciences > Energy > Renewable, green, or transitional energy
Tunable ionization platform
Background Different molecules have different ionization energies. Commercially available photo-ionization detectors (PIDs) emit light to ionize the molecules of interest. However, these PIDs require distinct lamps dependent upon the ionization energy required. In fact there are four types of lamps available, each with a different, fixed ionization...
Published: 11/25/2025   |   Inventor(s): Tanya Hutter, Vinaya Basavarajappa
Keywords(s):  
Category(s): Physical sciences > Testing equipment, Physical sciences > Environmental & sustainable solutions
Novel electrowetting-based microfluidic system for heat pipe applications
Problem statement Currently, heat pipes use a passive wick to pump liquid back from the condenser to the evaporator. The heat transport capacity of these heat pipes is limited by the capillary pressure generated in the internal wick which pumps condensate to the evaporator. Transporting heat over long distances is challenging, since the fluid transport...
Published: 12/11/2023   |   Inventor(s): Vaibhav (VB) Bahadur, Renee Hale
Keywords(s): Heat pipe, Oil & gas midstream
Category(s): Physical sciences > Energy > Oil & gas > Midstream oil & gas, Physical sciences > Environmental & sustainable solutions