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Bacterial pathogens can live on surfaces for days. What if frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs could instantly kill them off? Purdue University engineers have created a laser treatment method that could potentially turn any metal surface into a rapid bacteria killer – just by giving the metal’s surface a different texture. In a study published in the journal Advanced Materials Interfaces, the researchers demonstrated that this technique allows the surface of copper to immediately kill off superbugs such as MRSA. “Copper has been used as an antimicrobial material for centuries. But it typically takes hours for native copper surfaces to kill off bacteria,” said Rahim Rahimi, a Purdue assistant professor of materials engineering.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Purdue University community has such a reputation for being makers that the word is literally a part of the team name. Now a group at the university has organized to produce much-needed medical supplies for Indiana hospitals. And being Purdue engineers and technologists, they couldn't get involved without finding a few ways to improve the products, too. The medical supplies — safety glasses and face shields at first — are expected to be delivered to hospitals in Indiana this week.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Similarly to how a picked lock gives away that someone has broken into a building, the stiffening of a structure surrounding cells in the human body can indicate that cancer is invading other tissue. Monitoring changes to this structure, called the extracellular matrix, would give researchers another way to study the progression of disease. But detecting changes to the extracellular matrix is hard to do without damaging it.

Biomedical engineers at Purdue aim to expand biofeedback – such as temperature and pressure – available to prosthetic users, thus enhancing functionality.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Only a select number of state and local laboratories have permission from U.S. health officials to use diagnostic tests for COVID-19, a coronavirus-caused disease. If the virus is spreading nationwide, most communities do not have access to the necessary tests. Purdue University biomedical engineers have developed a handheld paper device that quickly and accurately detects a different strain of coronavirus, MERS-CoV, even in really small quantities. A clear test result can be read directly from the device itself, making it portable.

Two ECE professors are among the recipients of the 2019 Google Faculty Research Awards. Sunil Bhave is being recognized in the Quantum Computing category for his proposal on “RF MEMS applications in Quantum Computing.” Hong Z. Tan’s proposal, “Tactile Supplements to Speech Perception: A User-Centered Approach,” is among thee recipients in the Speech category. These annual awards are structured as unrestricted gifts to recognize and support the research of world-class faculty members at top universities around the world.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Computer chips use billions of tiny switches, called transistors, to process information. The more transistors on a chip, the faster the computer. A material shaped like a one-dimensional DNA helix might further push the limits on a transistor’s size. The material comes from a rare earth element called tellurium. Researchers found that the material, encapsulated in a nanotube made of boron nitride, helps build a field-effect transistor with a diameter of two nanometers. Transistors on the market are made of bulkier silicon and range between 10 and 20 nanometers in scale.

Researchers at Purdue University have created a technology to address the thickness issue for wearable power generation. Credit: Purdue University Wearable electronics and other Internet of Things (IoT) devices are rapidly growing in popularity, but their need for consistent power can place a high burden on users. One recently proposed solution is to generate electricity using heat from the human body, animals or other ambient sources, but typical emerging devices need to be up to an inch thick to harvest maximum results.

Nanoparticle levitated by light rotates at 300 billion rpm WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A dumbbell-shaped nanoparticle powered just by the force and torque of light has become the world's fastest-spinning object. li-image1 Scientists at Purdue University have created the world's fastest-spinning human-made object and the most sensitive torque detector by suspending a nanoparticle in a vacuum with a laser, and then using a second laser to test its torque sensitivity. (Purdue University image/Jonghoon Ahn) Download image Scientists at Purdue University created the object, which revolves at 300 billion revolutions per minute. Or, put another way, half a million times faster than a dentist's drill. In addition, the silica nanoparticle can serve as the world's most sensitive torque detector, which researchers hope will be used to measure the friction created by quantum effects.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A wearable monitoring device to make treatments easier and more affordable for the millions of people with swallowing disorders is about to be released into the market. Georgia A. Malandraki, an associate professor of speech, language, and hearing sciences in Purdue University’s College of Health and Human Sciences, and Chi Hwan Lee, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering and mechanical engineering in Purdue’s College of Engineering, founded Curasis LLC and serve as an acting chief executive officer and chief technology officer, respectively. They started the company to commercialize their wearable technology and move it as quickly as possible to clinics and people with swallowing difficulties.