The chemical element that makes up most of today’s batteries, lithium, may soon be challenged by its polar opposite on the periodic table: fluoride. Yes, the same stuff in toothpaste. The two elements would be in competition for helping electronics last longer on a charge, such as electric cars that need to travel more miles than is possible with lithium-ion batteries on the market. Researchers are one step closer to equipping fluoride-based batteries for battle with improvements that allow the technology to operate at room temperature. Up until this point, fluoride had been limited to building high-temperature batteries that are impractical for our electronic devices.

A new organic plastic allows electronics to function in extreme temperatures without sacrificing performance.

Purdue University’s Riyi Shi, a Purdue professor of neuroscience and biomedical engineering, shows the A World War II chemical weapon antidote can effectively remove acrolein, a neurotoxin produced in the body that is directly correlated with Parkinson’s disease.

New equine technology could help racehorses and show ponies control asthma, inhale optimum levels of oxygen during training and performances.

The reliability of information, whether the information comes from news outlets, social media posts, or government documents, may someday be determined by artificial intelligence, says Purdue computer science assistant professor Dan Goldwasser, who is working on tools that will do just that.

From food and biofuels to cosmetics and detergents, palm oil is found in countless products these days. Demand for the oil has surged in the last decade. But what sounds good for us isn’t good for the forests where oil palms (Elaeis guineensis) are harvested. According to a Purdue University study, deforestation is rising in major oil palm-producing countries. And it’s happening even faster in areas certified as “sustainable.”

Farmers are important allies in U.S. conservation efforts, but there is evidence to suggest those farming on rented land adopt conservation practices at a lower rate.

Three Purdue professors — Jianxin Ma, James Ogg and Nancy Pelaez — have received the distinction of fellow from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the world’s largest general scientific society. The professors are being honored for their efforts toward advancing science applications that are deemed scientifically or socially distinguished.

Technology originally developed in work with NASA to help lunar colonies may soon be heating the food found on many holiday dinner tables. Purdue University-affiliated startup Induction Food Systems has created a technology system to provide on-demand heating options for food and beverage manufacturers.

Bedrich Benes, a professor of
computer graphics technology, and doctoral student Hao Kang collaborated with corporate researchers to develop FlyCam, a touch-screen method to navigate and take pictures with drones.

Gustavo Valencia in Purdue’s School of Electrical and Computer Engineering is creating a software system called the Rabbit Hole that can track audience ratings, commercials’ copyrights, competitors’ investments and more for media agencies to analyze and improve their commercials’ impact.

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) and the Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering at Purdue University on Tuesday (Nov. 27) announced a two-year, $12M contract to continue to provide direct, technical assistance to the state’s Medicaid providers. By promoting and enabling optimal use of modern health information technology, the funding will help address several clinical challenges currently impacting long-term care and the opioid crisis like patient bottlenecks, overprescribing, and unnecessary emergency room visits.