Xiao recognized with Excellence in Research Award from Environmental Science & Technology journal

Mizzou Engineering’s Feng “Frank” Xiao has been recognized with an Excellence in Review Award from Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T), the premier journal in environmental engineering and science.

Engineering a revolutionary method to measure cardiovascular stiffness

In a discovery that could revolutionize precision heart health care, Mizzou Engineering researchers have developed a way to measure cardiovascular stiffness—or the rigidity of arteries in your heart—based on data already being collected by traditional echocardiograms. “I consider this the most important work I’ve done in my career,” Professor Noah Manring said.

Team develops prototype for 4D printed medical implant that promotes regeneration of soft tissue

A Mizzou Engineering research team has successfully developed a prototype for a personalized medical implant that promotes the regeneration of soft tissue. The key is 4D printing, a 3D printing technique used on smart materials capable of changing function based on specific conditions.

Salim outlines new way to predict laminated glass failure

A Mizzou Engineer has outlined an innovative new way to simulate and predict how laminated glass windows might fail during an explosion. Hani Salim, a professor of civil and environmental engineering, and his team have created a simulation approach that integrates detailed modeling with a relation considering both elasticity and damage.

Study finds correlation between metacognition and effectiveness of virtual instructors in remote classes

Augmented and virtual reality are changing the way universities can offer remote and online courses. These technologies allow for course materials to be presented to students in a more engaging and interactive way. However, right now, there’s a disconnect between the “wow” factor and what students actually learn using these technologies.

Engineering professor outlines challenges, strategies around ‘forever’ chemicals in Nature Water journal

Water treatment systems in the U.S. are more than a century old, allowing contaminants to pollute our drinking water and cause health problems. There are technologies that would help states and cities filter out these chemicals without having to replace entire treatment systems; however there’s no mandate for governments to install them. Short of that, there are non-technical solutions that could help reduce pollution levels. Civil and Environmental Engineering Associate Professor Feng “Frank” Xiao outlined these challenges and strategies in a paper published in a Nature journal, Nature Water. Xiao is specifically looking at ways to treat per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), or 'forever' chemicals, which are found in household and industrial products. These chemicals are ending up in our water and causing various medical conditions.

Mizzou Engineer develops method to break down PFAS left on water treatment filters

In a recent study, Feng “Frank” Xiao and colleagues at the University of Missouri demonstrate an innovative method using thermal induction heating to rapidly break down PFAS left on the surface of two solid materials — granular activated carbon and anion exchange resins — after these materials have been used to filter PFAS from municipal water systems.

Mizzou Engineer outlines system to customize blood supply chain solutions

Blood supply chains can be complicated. On one hand, healthcare providers must make sure they have enough to meet demands, which can be unexpected. On the other hand, roughly 20 million donated platelets are discarded each year because they expire before they’re needed.

Smart material prototype challenges Newton’s laws of motion

For more than 10 years, Guoliang Huang, the Huber and Helen Croft Chair in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, has been investigating the unconventional properties of “metamaterials” — an artificial material that exhibits properties not commonly found in nature as defined by Newton’s laws of motion — in his long-term pursuit of designing an ideal metamaterial. Huang’s goal is to help control the “elastic” energy waves traveling through larger structures — such as an aircraft — without light and small “metastructures.”

Team develops technique using humidity to make 3D printing faster, more efficient

A Mizzou Engineering team has devised a new technique that uses humidity to make 3D printing faster and more efficient when fabricating small, complex structures.