Department Features

A new era in space exploration What does it take to create a satellite and send it to space? A lot of work, and until very recently, a decadelong time frame and $100 million or more. That’s all changing, and to say it’s been a radical shift almost understates the...

'Ninja Car' autonomous technology has potential for space exploration Self-driving cars may be in their infancy, but they’re already better drivers than humans in many ways, says Chris Heckman, an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science. They don’t become overconfident, they are always focused and they’re much better...

CU drones target severe storms to improve tornado forecasts. Brian Argrow, professor in aerospace engineering sciences , approached Eric Frew, associate professor of aerospace engineering sciences, about his interest in using unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to study severe storms. “It was fascinating and I knew I was on board,” says...

Everyone knows that no two humans are alike, but Kristi Anseth, the Tisone Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering, is focusing her recent workon making sure biomaterials “know” it also. It’s this kind of thinking that has helped lead Anseth and her group on an odyssey to transform the medical...

Computing speed takes a giant leap forward thanks to a new photonics-based microchip When it came to building a better microchip, Miloš Popovic and his fellow researchers turned to an unusual, but powerful, ally: light. The groundbreaking result, which debuted in 2015 after nearly ten years of development, is the...

Prosthetic limb designer helps clients get back to the business of life. Jacob Segil meets some interesting people in his line of work. Segil, an instructor in the Engineering Plus Program and the Department of Mechanical Engineering, has been collaborating with research groups around the world in recent years to...

CU-Boulder engineers aim to turn America’s dirty water into cleaner air, energy for industry Cleaning up municipal and industrial wastewater can be dirty business, but Zhiyong (Jason) Ren and his colleagues have developed the ultimate presto chango: an innovative treatment method that mitigates carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and creates renewable...

Tourism brings in billions of American dollars for the East African country of Tanzania. It accounted for nearly 13 percent of the country’s economy, totaled nearly $2 billion in 2013, and continues to rise. But a sophisticated and well-funded enemy threatens Tanzania’s tourism: big game poachers. According to a report...

For many teens, cruel digital messages are a disturbing part of their daily social experience. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 15 percent of high school students were cyberbullied in the past year, and more than 55 percent of LGBT students experienced cyberbullying. Unlike face-to-face bullying,...