The promise of engineered osmosis
Water and energy are two resources on which all of modern society depends. As demands for each increase, researchers look to alternative technologies that promise sustainability and reduced environmental impact. Yale researchers Menachem Elimelech, professor of environmental and chemical engineering, and environmental engineering doctoral student Robert McGinnis propose engineered osmosis as the key to addressing not just one resource challenge, but both. They suggest that the solution to these resource challenges may lie in the design of osmotically driven membrane systems, capable of producing freshwater from nonpotable sources, including seawater; producing electrical power from naturally occurring salinity gradients; and generating electricity from low-temperature heat sources such as reject heat from thermal processes and conventional power plants. Their findings are featured on the cover of the December 1 issue of Environmental Science & Technology.
The force of light to drive nanomachines
While the energy of light is well understood, harnessed, and used in many ways, there also exists a light "force" -- the push or pull action that causes something to move. Certainly, the force of light is far too weak for us to feel in everyday life, but we may be able to imagine its effect at the submicrometer scale. Contrary to common belief that photon forces are too weak for practical use, a team of researchers led by Hong Tang, assistant professor of electrical and mechanical engineering, has shown that the force of light can be harnessed to drive nanoscale mechanical devices. Featured in the November 27 issue ofNature, their research shows, for the first time, the direct measurement, quantification, and exploitation of optical force in a silicon photonic circuit, opening the door to a new class of semiconductor devices that are operated by the force of light. Since its appearance in Nature, Tang's research has gained widespread attention, including that of Scientific American, the National Science Foundation, MIT Technology Review, and others.
SEAS launches new website
The School of Engineering & Applied Science is proud to announce the launch of its new website, seas.yale.edu. The new SEAS site features more robust content, showcasing areas of innovative research, and includes an expanded alumni section that features online photo scrapbooks of Yale Engineering over the years. The site also offers RSS feeds for news and events, which allow subscribers to receive automatic updates. We encourage alumni to visit our site to let us know about your experience at Yale and where you are today.
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