News Archive - Liezel Labios

Wireless, Battery-free Electronic ‘Stickers’ Gauge Forces Between Touching Objects

Engineers developed electronic “stickers” that measure the force exerted by one object upon another. The force stickers are wireless, run without batteries and fit in tight spaces, making them versatile for a wide range of applications, from surgical robots to smart implants and inventory tracking.

New Energy-storing Material Could Also Be Used To Build Electronic Gadgets

Gadgets and vehicles powered by the very materials they’re built from may soon be possible, thanks to a new structural supercapacitor developed by UC San Diego engineers. The device doubles as structural support and energy storage, potentially adding more energy capacity without adding weight.

Nanoparticles Made From Plant Viruses Could Be Farmers’ New Ally in Pest Control

UC San Diego engineers have devised a new solution to control a major agricultural menace, root-damaging nematodes. Using plant viruses, they created nanoparticles that can deliver pesticides to previously unreachable soil depths. This could potentially minimize environmental toxicity and costs.

3D-Printed ‘Living Material’ Could Clean Up Contaminated Water

A "living material," made of a natural polymer combined with genetically engineered bacteria, could offer a sustainable and eco-friendly solution to clean pollutants from water.

Topography of the Genome Influences Where Cancer Mutations Thrive, Study Shows

Researchers at the University of California San Diego have uncovered a connection between the topography of the human genome and the presence of mutations in human cancer. Certain regions of the genome, which exhibit unique features, act as hotspots for the accumulation of mutations.

Robotic Hand Rotates Objects Using Touch, Not Vision

Inspired by the effortless way humans handle objects without seeing them, a team led by UC San Diego engineers has developed a new approach that enables a robotic hand to rotate objects solely through touch, without relying on vision.

Single-Cell Atlas of the Human Kidney Provides New Resources To Study Kidney Disease

What causes certain individuals who experience a sudden decline in kidney function to develop kidney disease while others recover? A new study co-led by UC San Diego bioengineers could provide insight—at the single-cell level—into the underlying factors contributing to these divergent outcomes.

Four-Legged Robot Traverses Tricky Terrains Thanks to Improved 3D Vision

Researchers led by UC San Diego have developed a new model that trains four-legged robots to see more clearly in 3D. The advance enabled a robot to autonomously cross challenging terrain with ease—including stairs, rocky ground and gap-filled paths—while clearing obstacles in its way.

Super Low-cost Smartphone Attachment Brings Blood Pressure Monitoring to Your Fingertips

UC San Diego engineers have developed a super low-cost 3D-printed attachment that clips over a smartphone's camera and flash to measure blood pressure at the user's fingertip. Researchers say it could help make regular blood pressure monitoring easy, affordable and accessible.

New Research from UC San Diego Sheds Light on the Possible Origins of Life

Researchers at the University of California San Diego have identified the conditions for cell metabolism to emerge on the early Earth, shedding new light on the origins of life itself, along with the fundamental nature of biological carbon fixation.