Medical and materials innovations of two women engineers recognized by Sony and Nature
Grant and Award Announcement
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 19-Feb-2026 07:11 ET (19-Feb-2026 12:11 GMT/UTC)
Two of the three recipients of the second-ever Sony Women in Technology Award with Nature are from University of Michigan Engineering. The award "celebrates remarkable women working in science and technology" by providing a $250,000 prize to support their research endeavors.
The widespread presence of microplastics (MPs) in aquatic ecosystems has negative impacts on human and marine life. However, the traditional MP detection methods are time-consuming and limited by detection thresholds. Now, researchers have revealed that electrochemical sensors based on metal oxide electrodes are a suitable alternative for MP detection. They highlight that metal oxides offer superior properties such as high surface area, tunable conductivity, and chemical stability, making them highly sensitive, affordable, and applicable in real-time.
Mass General Brigham’s evaluation of low-field MRI performance lays potential groundwork for this technology to be a lower-cost, accessible option for breast imaging
New research from the University of Waterloo suggests that more than creativity is at play. Behind many great melodies, researchers found something surprisingly powerful: symmetry. Their work shows that advanced algebra can reveal deep musical patterns that are not always obvious by ear or even on a written score.
The findings could help composers better understand what makes melodies work, as the study offers a recipe for generating new melodies that follow specific symmetry rules, opening new creative possibilities for composers and researchers.
The drought-tolerant shrub affectionately known as Old Man Saltbush is mostly used as stock fodder, but can also be added to salads or cooking and has been enoyed by Indigenous Australian for thousands of years. Now, early research suggests it could be a healthy and sustainable alternative many more of us should be eating.