A quick recap of AFRL and AFOSR news mentions over the past week.
March 5, 2012
Nanofiber Breakthrough Holds Promise for Medicine and Microprocessors
A new method for creating nanofibers made of proteins, developed by researchers at Polytechnic Institute of New York University (NYU-Poly), promises to greatly improve drug delivery methods for the treatment of cancers, heart disorders and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as aid in the regeneration of human tissue, bone and cartilage.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120229105139.htm
US Tests World’s First Military Fuel Cell Vehicle Fleet
The U.S. Army, Pacific is testing a fleet of 16 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to research efficient, clean and renewable energy sources and reduce the military’s dependence on petroleum products. The military fleet of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles is funded by the Army Tank Automotive Research Development Engineering Center, Office of Naval Research and Air Force Research Laboratories.
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/mar2012/2012-03-01-091.html
March 7, 2012
Influencing Stem Cell Fate: New Screening Method Helps Scientists Identify Key Information Rapidly
Northwestern University scientists have developed a powerful analytical method that they have used to direct stem cell differentiation. Out of millions of possibilities, they rapidly identified the chemical and physical structures that can cue stem cells to become osteocytes, cells found in mature bone.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120306131650.htm
USA Science & Engineering Festival Announces Nifty Fifty Program
The Nifty Fifty, sponsored by AT&T, are a group of science and engineering professionals who will fan out across the Washington, DC area in March/April to inspire students to seek careers in STEM.
http://eon.businesswire.com/news/eon/20120306006176/en/Education/Careers/STEM
Air Camp Returns for Third Year
In just its third year of operations, Air Camp is expanding in summer 2012 to offer three camp sessions in Dayton, Ohio, the birthplace of aviation. Since Air Camp’s inception in 2010, middle school students have traveled from across the U.S. to experience the wonders of flight and the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) of aviation and aeronautics. The University of Dayton campus serves as the host facility for housing and meeting space. From the UD campus, students will explore behind the scenes at the area’s major aviation and history sites, including the Air Force Research Laboratory, the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Dayton History, and the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery.
http://www.udayton.edu/news/articles/2012/03/air_camp_three_session_expansion.php
March 8, 2012
Exotic materials boosts electromagnetism safely
By using exotic man-made materials scientists from Duke University and Boston College believe they can greatly enhance the forces of electromagnetism (EM), one of the four fundamental forces of nature, without harming living beings or damaging electrical equipment.
http://www.domain-b.com/technology/materials/20120307_safely.html
Hypersonic expert receives international accolade
The University of Queensland’s (UQ) Professor in Hypersonic Propulsion, Michael Smart, is part of an international research team, which will be honoured at the International Congress on Aeronautics in Brisbane, Australia, on September 23-28. The Australian-US team will receive the prestigious 2012 International Council on Aeronautics (ICAS) von Karman Award for international Co-operation in Aeronautics. They will present a paper at the conference on the Hypersonics International Flight Research Experimentation (HIFiRE) Program.
http://www.uq.edu.au/news/?article=24488
NASA Introduces the X-56A MUTT
MUTT is one of the Air Force’s newest X-planes, designated X-56A. The 7.5-foot-long aircraft has a 28-foot wingspan and will be powered by two 52-pound thrust JetCat P200-SX turbine engines. It is being built in California under contract to Lockheed Martin Corp., which will conduct the flight experiments for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).
http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2012/03/07/nasa-introduces-the-x-56a-mutt/