Thanks to the GITEWS early warning system developed under the leadership of the GFZ from 2005 to 2008, it is now not only the Indian Ocean that is better prepared for such natural hazards. The Indonesian system has been operated and further developed independently by the Indonesian partners as InaTEWS since 2011. This is also a success story in terms of knowledge and technology transfer. In the meantime, new research approaches promise further improvements.

Dr. Filippo Gavelli from Blue Engineering and Consulting Company (BLUE) and Dr. Qingsheng Wang, a professor with the Department of Chemical Engineering, have led a large-scale experiment testing different coatings on steel beams and examining how they hold up in a fire. 

For their two-year project, “Advancing electric vehicle propulsion: High power rare-earth-free electric motor development,” a research team aims to replace rare earths like neodymium magnets with abundant and environmentally friendly materials such as copper. 

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is dedicated to pursuing pioneering research in frontier areas and to embracing a strong culture of knowledge transfer. By translating research excellence into impactful solutions, the University takes the lead in making a positive impact for societal benefits. The first-of-its-kind multimodal robot for ankle-foot rehabilitation, developed by PolyU, has been recognised as an Honouree in the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 Innovation Awards, reaffirming the effective impact of the University’s PolyImpact philosophy.

For homeowners, moisture buildup can cause the biggest headaches. Mold grows on drywall and wood-based materials, creeping along walls, floors and ceilings. Building materials begin to erode and rot. As insulation becomes damaged, the home’s energy-efficiency decreases. Even human health suffers, as moisture also leads to air-quality issues.

The key to preventing extensive moisture damage is discovering it early, when it can be easily fixed.

Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory are using microwave radar reflection to nondestructively detect and measure the moisture content of materials within walls without removing drywall or cladding. This also expedites moisture identification and enables mold growth to be treated in the early stages.

 

Throughout the United States, more than 100 million buildings tap into electrical energy to keep heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration units functioning. HVAC systems cause most of the peak load demand on the electric grid; one way to alleviate the grid burden is to develop new storage options for heating and cooling.

As a partner in the Department of Energy’s Stor4Build Consortium, Oak Ridge National Laboratory is co-leading research with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy to develop thermal energy storage as a complement to electrical battery storage. 

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, achieved another research record, reporting expenditures totaling $384 million in the 2024 fiscal year and building on last year’s record by approximately $50 million.

At the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, 2024 brought big accomplishments enabled by decades of work as well as advances that are establishing the foundations for future research. From Nobel Prizes to a new exascale computer, the DOE’s Office of Science is leading the way.