 Academics Admission Tuition and Aid Research Athletics News ENGINEERING Stretchy, bio-inspired synaptic transistor can enhance, weaken device memories Two researchers wearing blue gloves twist a stretchy transistor.  The synaptic transistor is reconfigurable, meaning it can be twisted and bent, yet still remain functional, as researchers Cunjiang Yu (left), Dorothy Quiggle Career Development Associate Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics (ESM), and ESM graduate student Hyunseok Shim demonstrate in this photo. Conventional transistors, on the other hand, are rigid and can break after being bent. Credit: Kelby Hochreither/Penn State. All Rights Reserved.

Robotics and wearable devices might soon get a little smarter with the addition of a stretchy, wearable synaptic transistor developed by Penn State engineers.

Stretchy, bio-inspired synaptic transistor can enhance, weaken device memories

Penn State materials science and engineering researchers used molybdenum disulfide, a 2D material, to create a low-power cryptographic chip less than one nanometer thick. Credit: Kelby Hochreither/Penn State. All Rights Reserved.

Led by Saptarshi Das, Penn State associate professor of engineering science and mechanics, researchers developed a smart hardware platform, or chip, to mitigate energy consumption while adding a layer of security.

Smart chip senses, stores, computes and secures data in one low-power platform

In recent research papers, Huanyu "Larry" Cheng, assistant professor of engineering science and mechanics at Penn State, addresses challenges in the wearable health devices space, such as using materials that can withstand humid environments and integrating self-charging technology. Credit: Kate Myers. All Rights Reserved.

Self-powered sensors are key to more accurate, continuous health monitoring

New research advances wearable medical sensors

Amir Sheikhi, Penn State assistant professor of chemical engineering, found a new process to separate and recycle rare earth elements using plant cellulose, an inexpensive renewable resource found in paper, cotton and pulp, like the paper towel shown here. The vial contains the nanoparticles that are used to separate rare earth elements from old computers and circuit boards. Credit: Kate Myers. All Rights Reserved.

Chemical engineer develops sustainable nanotechnology to selectively recover metals

Salvaging rare earth elements from electronic waste

Brain scans that take place in confined spaces, like the MRI machine pictured, could eventually be a thing of the past if Penn State researchers succeed in developing a new flexible head scanner. Image: ISTOCK/@JOHNNYGREIG

To collect accurate images of a patient’s brain, the patient must be still and confined in a tube-like MRI scanner for a long period of time. To better assess their brain function and behavioral health, however, they should move naturally and freely during a scan. 