A new lab robot is an example of how clever robotics might speed research and open new fields of study. Stanford News reports on a team of bioengineering scientists that have created a robot with excellent "hand-eye coordination" that can visually inspect active flies and carry out behavioral experiments.
Stanford physicists have extended the distance they can demonstrate quantum communications. Stanford News reports on progress using photons to communicate between two electrons through more than a mile of fiber optic cable, an important step toward proving the practicality of quantum networks.
A new microscope could provide unique insights into treating immune disorders and cancer. Stanford News reports on a collaboration of pediatric immunology and electrical engineering researchers which has developed a microscope that can rapidly measure the mechanical properties of cells at the nanometer scale.
A new microscope could provide unique insights into treating muscular degenerative diseases. Stanford News reports on a collaboration of scientists in bioengineering, biology and applied physics which has developed a microscope that can visualize and measure the force-generating contractions of these patients' individual motor units.
New optogenetic tools for watching brain nerves send signals in real time will make it easier to study brain functions and help develop therapies for brain diseases. Stanford News reports on two scientists who have worked together to create tools to observe the glowing trails of light spreading between connected nerves.
The HHMI Investigator Program is an impactful program that funds research at over 70 academic centers. Stanford now has 22 researchers in the program.
Foundations often choose a mission to provide far-reaching benefits to humanity by making grants that enable cutting-edge research possible. This research, when translated to real-world solutions, creates the exponential "impact" of improving our lives for the future. Let's look at one example.
Solar cells may be a solution to global energy needs. Stanford News reports on a collaboration of mechanical engineering and physics researchers achieving an innovative crystalline solar cell with a variable band gap that can be set by stretching the lattice. This variable semiconductor could lead to solar cells that absorb more energy from the sun by being sensitive to a broader spectrum of light.