New Atlas

3D Printing Audio available

3D-printed bathroom units take shape in a single day

Nick Lavars May 23, 2019

3D printing technology is set to have a real impact on the worlds of building and construction. Adding to the mix of possibilities is a new proof-of-concept bathroom unit, which scientists in Singapore were able to 3D print in its entirety in a single day.

(From right) NTU Associate Professor Wong Teck Neng; Lead Scientist and Associate Professor Tan Ming Jen ...

Medical Audio available

Inflatable weight-loss capsule is activated by a magnet

Ben Coxworth April 24, 2019

For several years now, obese people have been able to lose weight by swallowing capsules that inflate within the stomach, providing a sense of fullness. While such capsules have had to be inflated via a catheter fed down the throat, scientists have now created one that's activated magnetically.

Prof. Louis Phee (left) and Prof. Lawrence Ho, with the prototype EndoPil

Good Thinking Audio available

Portable water-testing device binds and shines

Ben Coxworth April 15, 2019

Ordinarily, when drinking water is being tested for toxic heavy metals, samples have to be sent off to labs. And while there are portable testing systems, they do have some limitations. A new device, however, is claimed to work better – by copying a process that takes place within the human body.

Assoc. Prof. Yong Ken-Tye (left) and PhD student Stephanie Yap, with the water-testing device

Materials

Light-activated wrap designed to fix concrete structures

Ben Coxworth April 8, 2019

Utilizing tape to repair concrete structures may seem like some hillbilly fix-it joke, but in fact that's just what fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) sheets are used for. Now, scientists have developed a better FRP, that halves the number of people and amount of time required for application.

A bare cracked concrete pillar (left), and one reinforced with FasRaP

Urban Transport Audio available

Volvo's first electric driverless bus swings into action in Singapore

Nick Lavars March 5, 2019

Singapore is intent on positioning itself at the vanguard of self-driving technologies. Now it is looking to ramp things up even further, rolling what it claims to be the world’s first full size, autonomous electric bus onto a university campus in partnership with Volvo.

With autonomous truck, car, taxi and shuttle bus trials already underway on the island state, Singapore ...

Medical

Prototype device listens to lungs to check the heart

Ben Coxworth November 29, 2018

One of the key symptoms of congestive heart failure is fluid accumulation in the lungs. Currently, people need to visit a clinic in order to check for such accumulation. Thanks to a new device, however, they may soon be able to perform checks whenever they want, in their own home.

The device takes the form of a stethoscope-like acoustic sensor which is hard-wired to a smartphone

Medical

Patch delivers medication by breaking needles off in the eye

Ben Coxworth November 19, 2018

We've already heard about "microneedle" patches that deliver medication through the skin. Well, scientists at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore have taken the same approach to treating eye diseases. They've developed a patch laden with tiny needles, which get poked into the eyeball.

The eye patch measures 2 by 2 mm in its present form, and contains nine microneedles

3D Printing

Robots collaborate on 3D-printing concrete structures

Ben Coxworth October 2, 2018

Although we've already seen 3D printers that can create full-size concrete structures, the huge size of the devices could make them difficult to install at construction sites. Singaporean scientists are developing an alternative, in the form of mobile robots that work together to do the job.

The NTU team with the two robots and the structure that they built

Science

Natural preservative could keep foods fresh longer than ever

Ben Coxworth August 16, 2018

There may be new hope for people who don't want potentially-harmful preservatives in their food, yet who still want it to have a decent shelf life. Scientists in Singapore have developed a plant-based food preservative, which they claim is actually more effective than its artificial counterparts.

The preservative has been successfully tested on fruit juice and meat samples

Medical

DNA-spiked nanoparticles could help minimize scarring

Ben Coxworth June 4, 2018

Not only are large scars often unsightly, but the stiff scar tissue can also limit a person's range of motion, causing discomfort. And although there are procedures that minimize scarring, it's not always apparent if such measures need to be taken. New nanoparticles could help doctors decide.

Dr. David Yeo (right) uses a microscope to detect NanoFlares which were applied to the skin ...