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UrduIrvine, Calif., Sept. 9, 2021 — The green streak continues! Sierra magazine has named the University of California, Irvine No. 2 overall in its annual “Cool Schools” ranking of sustainability leaders among U.S. and Canadian universities and colleges, marking the 12th time in a row that UCI has placed in the top 10 of the widely acclaimed list.
Tag: Transportation
Riveting Technology Enables Lightweight Magnesium Fasteners for Fuel Efficiency
Rotational Hammer Riveting, developed by PNNL, joins dissimilar materials quickly without preheating rivets. The friction-based riveting enables use of lightweight magnesium rivets and also works on aluminum and speeds manufacturing.
To Reduce Vehicle Pollution, a Single Atom Can Do the Work of Several
A discovery from PNNL and Washington State University could help reduce the amount of expensive material needed to treat vehicle exhaust by making the most of every precious atom.
Green Diesel for the Road Ahead
A new report led by PNNL identifies the top 13 most promising waste- and biomass-derived diesel blendstocks for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, other pollutants, and overall system costs.
Waste to Energy: Biofuel from Kelp Harvesting and Fish
Using existing fish processing plants, kelp and fish waste can be converted to a diesel-like fuel to power generators or fishing boats in remote, coastal Alaska.
Transport in 2050: Safer, cleaner and cost efficient?
A Cornell University-led team has calculated that by the year 2050, vehicle electrification, driverless cars and ride sharing could slash U.S. petroleum consumption by 50% and carbon dioxide emissions by 75% while simultaneously preventing 5,500 premature deaths and saving $58 billion annually.
It’s no drag: New heavy vehicle design increases fuel efficiency
Using wind tunnel measurements and computational fluid dynamics simulations, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) engineers have demonstrated that aerodynamically integrated vehicle shapes decrease body-axis drag in a crosswind, creating large negative front pressures that effectively “pull” the vehicle forward against the wind, much like a sailboat.
This crystal impurity is sheer perfection
Scientists at Berkeley Lab and UC Berkeley have developed a nanoparticle composite that grows into 3D crystals. The new 3D-grown material could speed up production and eliminate errors in the mass manufacturing of nanoscale photonics for smart buildings or actuators for robotics.
Internships Put Futures in Flight
PNNL intern Ki Ahn spent this past year as an undergraduate at PNNL gaining hands-on research experience in clean energy storage technologies for vehicles and aviation. Ahn is enrolling in Stanford University this fall to finish his bachelor’s degree. With plans to major in mechanical engineering or computer science, he wants to explore how future aircraft technologies can be designed to reduce harmful environmental effects.
Efficient Dehumidifier Makes Air Conditioning a Breeze
New energy-efficient dehumidifier technology holds promise to reduce energy consumption in residential A/C systems and increase the range of electric vehicles.
Key to Carbon-Free Cars? Look to the Stars
In a decade-long quest, scientists at Berkeley Lab, the University of Hawaii, and Florida International University uncover new clues to the origins of the universe – and land new chemistry for cleaner combustion engines
CRuSE-ing Toward Community Carsharing in Hood River, Oregon
Access to transportation will be made easier in a semi-rural Oregon town through an electric vehicle carsharing program. PNNL is lending analytics expertise that will inform programs in other rural and semi-rural areas.
On-Site Hydrogen Production Technology Accelerates to Market
SoCalGas recently licensed a PNNL-developed generation system that uses sunlight to convert natural gas and water into hydrogen and capture the carbon dioxide (CO2) to prevent carbon emissions. Hydrogen has many applications, including powering vehicles and homes.
Electric vehicles no environmental savior, could cause power grid problems
As Ford unveils its electric F150, West Virginia University experts note the shift from gasoline-powered engines is not an environmental panacea in the short term, but instead will mean significant and costly upgrades to the nation’s infrastructure. Citing recent events,…
From Curb to Doorstep: Driving Efficiencies for Delivering Goods
In a collaboration between Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the University of Washington’s Urban Freight Lab, a prototype webapp has been developed that combines smart sensors and machine learning to predict parking space availability. The prototype is ready for initial testing to help commercial delivery drivers find open spaces without expending fuel and losing time and patience.
Clingy Copper Ions Contribute to Catalyst Slowdown
PNNL scientists, working with researchers at Washington State University and Tsinghua University, discovered a mechanism behind the decline in performance of an advanced copper-based catalyst. The team’s findings, featured on the cover of the journal ACS Catalysis, could aid the design of catalysts that work better and last longer during the NOx conversion process.
Research paves way for wireless charging of electric vehicles
Researchers at Cornell University are pioneering a new way to wirelessly charge electric vehicles, autonomous forklifts and other mobile machines, while they remain in motion.
New U.S. Carbon Monitor website compares emissions among the 50 states
Irvine, Calif., April 7, 2021 — Following last year’s successful launch of a global carbon monitor website to track and display greenhouse gas emissions from a variety of sources, an international team led by Earth system scientists from the University of California, Irvine is unveiling this week a new data resource focused on the United States.
Rensselaer Experts Available To Discuss Federal Infrastructure Proposal
President Joe Biden is proposing a sweeping $2 trillion infrastructure bill that would fund improvements to transportation, manufacturing, and digital infrastructure, among other projects. Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the country’s first technological research university, are leaders in improving the sustainability, safety, and performance of transportation systems, energy systems, and wireless networks, among other areas. Experts in civil and environmental engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering are available to discuss what impact large-scale infrastructure projects could have on a multitude of systems that impact people across the country.
How Argonne is working to power a clean energy revolution
A growing global population will need energy from a range of sources. Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory have been pioneering solutions for 75 years.
GW Receives Funding to Develop Artificial Intelligence Systems Aimed at Helping People with Health Problems Drive Safely
Samer Hamdar, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at the George Washington University, is partnering with Moment AI to launch a project aimed at developing AI systems that could one day prevent health-induced traffic accidents, including those linked to stress.
IU experts available to comment on nomination of Pete Buttigieg to Biden’s Cabinet
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — President-elect Joe Biden is expected to nominate Pete Buttigieg as his transportation secretary, news sources are reporting. If confirmed by the Senate, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate would be the…
DHS S&T, MTA and MIT Test Virus Mitigation Measures to Protect Riders on Public Transit
DHS S&T, in partnership with the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory, will conduct tests in a real-world environment to determine the most effective measures to reduce the spread of viruses on public transit.
Stronger Cobalt for Fuel Cells
A multi-institutional effort led to the design of a highly active and more durable catalyst made from cobalt, which sets the foundation for fuel cells to power transportation, stationary and backup power, and more.
Face Masks, Open Windows on Buses Reduce Potentially Infectious Particles in the Air
MITRE shares findings from a study to test aerosol dispersion on buses and determine the best methods to control potentially infectious airborne particles such as COVID-19.
The Motivation for Sustainable Aviation Fuels
A new report outlines future research paths that are needed for airlines to reduce carbon emissions and notes that the only way to achieve emission reduction goals is with Sustainable Aviation Fuels.
Shear Force—How Good Materials are Made Better
Materials scientists at PNNL are demonstrating materials with improved properties using solid phase processing.
Alloy-Forming Duo Unites to Amp Up Possibilities for Ethanol
Scientists have developed a novel catalyst that converts pure ethanol into a highly valued class of alcohols that can serve as building blocks for everything from solvents to jet fuel.
Pandemic lockdowns caused steep and lasting carbon dioxide decline
An international team of climate experts, including Earth system scientists at the University of California, Irvine, today released an assessment of carbon dioxide emissions by industry, transportation and other sectors from January through June, showing that this year’s pandemic lockdowns resulted in a 9 percent decline from 2019 levels.
“Better” Copper Means Higher-Efficiency Electric Motors
Researchers at PNNL have increased the conductivity of composite copper wire by 5%. That small percentage can make a big difference in motor efficiency. The laboratory teamed with General Motors to test out the souped-up copper wire for use in vehicle motor components, as part of a cost-shared research project.
Coming Down the Pike: Long-Haul Trucks Powered by Hydrogen Fuel Cells
The Department of Energy has announced several major investments to take hydrogen fuel cells to the next level, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is set to play a leading role in providing the scientific expertise to help realize DOE’s ambitious goals.
Virgin Hyperloop to build Hyperloop Certification Center in West Virginia
Virgin Hyperloop announced Thursday, Oct. 8, that it will locate a certification facility on nearly 800 acres of land spanning Tucker and Grant counties where it will leverage intellectual capital and resources from West Virginia University, Marshall University and from across the state.
Transportation barriers to surgical care may increase the likelihood of emergency surgical intervention
Transportation barriers, such as personal access to a vehicle or public transportation, disproportionally affect minority communities.
Expert Forum Convened to Consider the Future of Economic Activity and Transportation in NJ-NY Metro Region
On September 29, the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University, part of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, convened a full-day virtual symposium to share information and gather input from sector leaders regarding COVID-19…
ORNL, DOE unveil new capabilities for advanced manufacturing recycling and autonomous vehicles
Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Department of Energy officials dedicated the launch of two clean energy research initiatives that focus on the recycling and recovery of advanced manufacturing materials and on connected and autonomous vehicle technologies.
Wichita State joins prestigious national research institute to boost artificial intelligence field
Wichita State University has been named a founding member of a newly formed AI Institute for Foundations of Machine Learning (IFML), established by a $20 million grant from the National Science Foundation.
Study Finds Younger and Older Drivers More Likely to Drive Older, Less Safe Vehicles
A new study found that teen drivers and drivers 65 years and older – two age groups at a higher risk of being involved in an automobile accident – are more likely to be driving vehicles that are less safe, putting them at even higher risk of injury. The findings underscore the need for these groups to prioritize driving the safest vehicle they can afford.
Safe busing during COVID-19: The science behind U-M’s changes
In an effort to design a safe campus bus system for the fall semester in light of COVID-19, University of Michigan researchers simulated how aerosol particles exhaled from passengers sitting in any seat would travel through the vehicle under different conditions.
Battery Breakthrough Gives Boost to Electric Flight and Long-Range Electric Cars
Researchers at Berkeley Lab, in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University, have developed a new battery material that could enable long-range electric vehicles that can drive for hundreds of miles on a single charge, and electric planes called eVTOLs for fast, environmentally friendly commutes.
Steep NYC traffic toll would reduce gridlock, pollution
Cornell University and the City College of New York research shows that by creating steep tolls for cars to enter Manhattan, traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced.
New smart parking software cuts congestion, emissions
New smart parking software developed by Cornell University researchers, which matches drivers with parking garage spots based on travel time and other factors, could reduce congestion and emissions while saving drivers the time of circling to look for available spots.
Woven Light Rail Design wins Gold at JEC World 2020 Innovation Awards
The ‘BRAINSTORM’ project involving researchers at WMG, University of Warwick has won gold at the JEC World 2020 Innovation Awards in the category ‘Railway Vehicles and Infrastructure’
Bike commuting accelerated when bike-share systems rolled into town
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, in cities where bike-share systems have been introduced, bike commuting increased by 20%, according to a new UW study.
Innovative Partner Awarded Contract to develop Very Light Rail trackform
The Coventry Very Light Rail (VLR) project, led by Coventry City Council (CCC) in collaboration with engineers at WMG, University of Warwick will commence Research and Development to design a low cost track form for very light rail
Rutgers Experts Can Discuss Emissions, Climate Change During COVID-19 Crisis
New Brunswick, N.J. (April 13, 2020) – Rutgers University–New Brunswick experts are available for interviews on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on greenhouse gas emissions, climate change and efforts to promote a greener economy and lifestyles. “During the 2007…
Rutgers Expert Available to Discuss Air Quality During COVID-19
New Brunswick, N.J. (April 9, 2020) – Rutgers University–New Brunswick Professor Monica Mazurek is available for interviews on air quality during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are experiencing unusually low levels of gas-phase and particulate air pollutants compared with last year,…
California’s strict air quality regulations help farmers prosper, UCI-led study finds
Irvine, Calif., March 16, 2020 – Farmers in California’s Central Valley are not known for their love of government regulations, but those same growers have seen a boost in the productivity of their high-value crops – and greater earnings – as a result of the Golden State’s strict air pollution controls. For a study published today in Nature Food, researchers at the University of California, Irvine and other institutions conducted a statistical analysis of pollution exposure and yields from 1980 to 2015 on a key sector making up about 38 percent of the state’s total agricultural output: perennial crops such as almonds, grapes, nectarines, peaches, strawberries and walnuts.
DePaul University experts available to discuss coronavirus issues
Faculty experts at DePaul University are available for news media interviews about the COVID-19 pandemic. Scholars who research transportation, supply chain management, the history of pandemics, public health, hospitality and more.
How We Choose: Applying ‘Decision Science’ to Transportation Behaviors
Can scientists understand human behavior enough to figure out what drives the choices you make? In fact, it’s called “decision science,” and it’s something that Anna Spurlock, a behavioral economist with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), specializes in.
Research Brief: What Does The Car You Drive Say About Your Manners?
New UNLV study finds that drivers of flashy cars are less likely to yield for pedestrians.