Popular Science is reporting on research being done by a team at MIT’s Distributed Robotics Laboratory (DRL) related to a “smart sand” that could shape itself into objects. According to the article, the 3-D mapping process would include having the sand “imbued with a small amount of computing power in each grain.”
The team has demonstrated the process in 2-D, but still must work on shrinking the size of the granules of smart sand.
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The Air Force Office of Scientific Research has awarded a grant to two professors “conducting research that may help improve spacecraft propulsion systems.” A physics professor from Marshall University is working with an aerospace engineer from the University of Michigan “to better understand the erosion process of thrusters used on spacecraft.” Read more here
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Washington State University (WA) recently profiled the state’s second poet laureate, Kathleen Flenniken. For two years, Flenniken will be a spokesperson, supporter, and promoter of poetry in the state of Washington. She is a published author with two engineering degrees who worked for eight years as a civil engineer for Rockwell Hanford.
Read the news announcement for more information on the 2012-2014 Washington state poet laureate.
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