What project is “too hard” for you? [VIDEO]

Engineering for high-speed devices

A research team from the University of Delaware has developed cutting-edge technology for photonics devices that could enable faster communications between phones and computers.

A rubber computer eliminates the last hard components from soft robots

A new rubber computer combines the feel of a human hand with the thought process of an electronic computer, replacing the last hard components in soft robots. Now, soft robotics can travel where metals and electronics cannot -- like high-radiation disaster areas, outer-space, and deep underwater -- and turn invisible to the naked eye or even sonar detection.

New approach could boost energy capacity of lithium batteries

Researchers have found a new way to make cathodes for lithium batteries, offering improvements in the amount of power for both a given weight and a given volume.

Metal nanoclusters can be used as semiconductors: Key properties observed for first time

Tiny nanoclusters of metal atoms -- such as gold and silver -- have properties which mean they can be used as semiconductors, a research team has discovered. The finding opens the door to a wide range of potential new applications, from phone displays and flatter screens to wearable technology.

Spintronics: Ultra-short spin waves in an astoundingly simple material

Due to its potential to make computers faster and smartphones more efficient, spintronics is considered a promising concept for the future of electronics. A team of researchers has now successfully generated so-called spin waves much more easily and efficiently than was previously deemed possible.

3D printer threads electronic fibers onto fabrics

The potential for wearable electronics goes far beyond smart watches, but our current options for battery packs and circuit boards don't make for the most comfortable E-socks. One solution, being developed by scientists in China, is to simply print flexible fibers on to transitional textiles or clothes. For example, they printed patterns that can harvest and store electricity onto fabrics.

New cellulose-based material gives three sensors in one

Cellulose soaked in a carefully designed polymer mixture acts as a sensor to measure pressure, temperature and humidity -- at the same time. The measurements are completely independent of each other. The sensor may be highly significant in fields such as robotics, healthcare and security.

New 3-D printing approach makes cell-scale lattice structures

A new way of making scaffolding for biological cultures could make it possible to grow cells that are highly uniform in shape and size, and potentially with certain functions. The new approach uses an extremely fine-scale form of 3-D printing, using an electric field to draw fibers one-tenth the width of a human hair.

CRISPR-chip enables digital detection of DNA without amplification

Researchers have found multiple applications for the CRISPR gene editing technology since it came into use by the scientific community.

Developing new organic materials for electronics

A scientist has new ways of accelerating the development of new organic materials for electronics. The new approaches could have applications in other types of materials science research.

Weekend inspiration: Check out these 5 projects

Organic semiconductors: One transistor for all purposes

In mobiles, fridges, planes -- transistors are everywhere. But they often operate only within a restricted current range. Physicists have now developed an organic transistor that functions perfectly under both low and high currents.

Researchers boost intensity of nanowire LEDs

Nanowire researchers have made ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that, thanks to a special type of shell, produce five times higher light intensity than do comparable LEDs based on a simpler shell design.

True-meaning wearable displays: Self-powered, washable and wearable

When we think about clothes, they are usually formed with textiles and have to be both wearable and washable for daily use; however, smart clothing has had a problem with its power sources and moisture permeability, which causes the devices to malfunction. This problem has now been overcome by a research team, who developed a textile-based wearable display module technology that is washable and does not require an external power source.

Engineers demonstrate metamaterials that can solve equations

Engineers have designed a metamaterial device that can solve integral equations. The device works by encoding parameters into the properties of an incoming electromagnetic wave; once inside, the device's unique structure manipulates the wave in such a way that it exits encoded with the solution to a pre-set integral equation for that arbitrary input.

The best topological conductor yet: Spiraling crystal is the key to exotic discovery

A team of researchers has discovered the strongest topological conductor yet, in the form of thin crystal samples that have a spiral-staircase structure.

Fish-inspired material changes color using nanocolumns

Inspired by the flashing colors of the neon tetra fish, researchers have developed a technique for changing the color of a material by manipulating the orientation of nanostructured columns in the material.

Do you ask this question?

This trick will help you understand circuits

Researchers discover new material to help power electronics

Scientists have discovered a way to simplify how electronic devices use those electrons -- using a material that can serve dual roles in electronics, where historically multiple materials have been necessary.

Advances point the way to smaller, safer batteries

New research advances the design of solid-state batteries, a technology that is inherently safer and more energy-dense than today's lithium-ion batteries, which rely on flammable liquid electrolytes for fast transfer of chemical energy stored in molecular bonds to electricity. By starting with liquid electrolytes and then transforming them into solid polymers inside the electrochemical cell, the researchers take advantage of both liquid and solid properties to overcome key limitations in current battery designs.

Water-resistant electronic skin with self-healing abilities created

Inspired by jellyfish, researchers have created an electronic skin that is transparent, stretchable, touch-sensitive, and repairs itself in both wet and dry conditions. The novel material has wide-ranging uses, from water-resistant touch screens to soft robots aimed at mimicking biological tissues.

Absorbable antibiotic envelope can significantly cut cardiac device infections

A research team has found that using an absorbable, antibiotic-eluting envelope when implanting cardiac devices like pacemakers and defibrillators can cut the rate of major infections by 40 percent.

Research set to shake up space missions

A new study has found a number of 2D materials can not only withstand being sent into space, but potentially thrive in the harsh conditions.

Renewable energy won't make Bitcoin 'green,' but tweaking its mining mechanism might

The cryptocurrency Bitcoin is known for its energy footprint. Now, a researcher suggests that renewable hydropower production cannot supply the large quantities of energy needed to power machinery used to validate Bitcoin transactions.

New technology accelerates the science of deceleration

While it's not a case of reinventing the wheel, researchers are looking at ways to improve standard braking equipment on trains and cars. By mixing carbon fibers into polymer-based brakes, researchers were able to design brakes that are self-lubricating.

Powering devices -- with a desk lamp?

Batteries power most of our devices, and even some cars. But researchers now report in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces a step toward running electronic devices in homes and offices on the light coming from lamps scattered around the room. The team developed special light harvesters, like those used for solar power, optimized to produce energy from ambient indoor lighting.

Movie technology inspires wearable liquid unit that aims to harvest energy

Engineers have created wearable technology to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. The team invented a liquid-metal-inclusion based triboelectric nanogenerator, called LMI-TENG.

How to choose a soldering iron

Ultrathin and ultrafast: Scientists pioneer new technique for two-dimensional material analysis

Using a never-before-seen technique, scientists have found a new way to use some of the world's most powerful X-rays to uncover how atoms move in a single atomic sheet in real time, opening up new possibilities for probing two-dimensional materials.

Controlling thermal conductivity of polymers with light

In a new study, researchers have designed and demonstrated a novel type of polymer demonstrating a switchable thermal conductivity controlled by light. The material has the potential to route the conduction of heat on-demand and enable new, smarter, ways to manage heat.

Mechanized cane measures patients' rehabilitation process without noticing it

Engineers specializing in the design of physical devices to aid users, such as a smart wheelchair, have developed a mechanized cane that can measure patients' rehabilitation process without any impact on them.

The moiré patterns of three layers change the electronic properties of graphene

Combining an atomically thin graphene and a boron nitride layer at a slightly rotated angle changes their electrical properties. Physicists have now shown for the first time the combination with a third layer can result in new material properties also in a three-layer sandwich of carbon and boron nitride. This significantly increases the number of potential synthetic materials.

Ultra-low power chips help make small robots more capable

An ultra-low power hybrid chip inspired by the brain could help give palm-sized robots the ability to collaborate and learn from their experiences. Combined with new generations of low-power motors and sensors, the new application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) -- which operates on milliwatts of power -- could help intelligent swarm robots operate for hours instead of minutes.

Breakthrough could enable cheaper infrared cameras

A breakthrough in quantum dot technology may one day lead to much more cost-effective infrared cameras -- which in turn could enable infrared cameras for common consumer electronics like phones, as well as sensors to help autonomous cars see their surroundings more accurately.

When semiconductors stick together, materials go quantum

Researchers have developed a simple method that could turn ordinary semiconducting materials into quantum machines -- superthin devices marked by extraordinary electronic behavior that could help to revolutionize a number of industries aiming for energy-efficient electronic systems -- and provide a platform for exotic new physics.

Light from an exotic crystal semiconductor could lead to better solar cells

Scientists have found a new way to control light emitted by exotic crystal semiconductors, which could lead to more efficient solar cells and other advances in electronics, according to a new study.

Researchers aim for spintronic applications thanks to great leap forward

Electric currents drive all our electronic devices. The emerging field of spintronics looks to replace electric currents with what are known as spin currents. Researchers have discovered that the magnetic spin Hall effect could lead to low-power, high-speed and high-capacity devices. They have created sample devices which can further research into potential applications.

1 + 1 does not equal 2 for graphene-like 2D materials

Physicists have discovered that when two atomically thin graphene-like materials are placed on top of each other their properties change, and a material with novel hybrid properties emerges, paving the way for design of new materials and nano-devices.

One device, many frequencies: Researchers create a unique, tiny resonator

A new finding could ultimately help improve the army of tiny, vibrating components found in a range of electronics and even create devices that mimic biological processes. Researchers have pioneered a micromechanical device that responds to external signals in an entirely new way.

It can’t be your fault, right?

Scientists study neutron scattering for researching magnetic materials

Physicists have demonstrated for the first time in a comprehensive study how different magnetic materials can be examined using neutron scattering techniques.

Nanoparticles help realize 'spintronic' devices

For the first time researchers have demonstrated a new way to perform functions essential to future computation three orders of magnitude faster than current commercial devices. The team created a nanoscale spintronic semiconductor device that can partially switch between specific magnetic states trillions of times a second (terahertz -- THz), far beyond frequencies of devices at present.

Magnonic devices can replace electronics without much noise

Electronic devices are getting smaller and will soon hit the limits of performance based on electrical currents. Devices based on magnonic currents would transform the industry, though scientists need to better understand how to control them. Engineers have made an important step toward the development of practical magnonic devices by studying, for the first time, the level of noise associated with propagation of magnon current.

12V can break your circuit

More than 15 years ago, I was sitting in the basement of my parents’ house.

A friend and I were soldering LEDs.

The smell of melted solder was surrounding us, and Eminem’s album “The Marshall Matters LP” was pumping from the speakers.

We were really enjoying ourselves.

I didn’t know much electronics.

But I had found a schematic diagram that showed how to build a running light strip with LEDs.

“Russetiden” was only a couple of weeks away.

It is a tradition in Norway where those who are graduating high school celebrate.

Usually by driving around the city in a red car or a bus for 17 days straight.

We had to get the LED strip to work by then!

It was going to attach to the roof inside of our bus to make it look really cool.

In the basement, we tested the circuit with a 9V battery and everything seemed to work just fine.

The day before the festive time, I was going to install the LED strip in the bus.

…but there was one thing I had forgotten to think about:

Power supply.

In the bus, there was only a 12V output.

Since 12V is not THAT much more than 9V, I figure it would probably work.

So, I connected the 12V to the LED strip…

A bright light in all the LEDs lit up, then some smoke came up and it died.

“NOOOOO!”

We had spent several weeks on this, now I had destroyed it in a couple of seconds.

…

What I learned from that was that it is smart to stick with the specified voltage. Even though 12V is just a little bit more than 9V, it was enough to ruin the circuit.

If I only had some basic knowledge about Ohm’s law, resistors and LEDs, I could have avoided it.

Very simple stuff, but when you don’t know it, it can destroy the project you’ve put so much time into.

Do you have a good understanding of how resistors, LEDs, and currents work?

If not, I really recommend checking out the Ohmify membership. You’ll learn the theory that you will actually need, and you’ll get to practice building lots of cool circuits.

For example a robot, a music player, or a kitchen timer. Learn more here:

https://ohmify.com/join/

Keep On Soldering!
Oyvind @ build-electronic-circuits.com

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Organic electronics: Scientists develop a high-performance unipolar n-type thin-film transistor

Researchers report a unipolar n-type transistor with a world-leading electron mobility performance of up to 7.16 cm2 V-1 s-1. This achievement heralds an exciting future for organic electronics, including the development of innovative flexible displays and wearable technologies.