Acoustic emission sensor technology used in aerospace could be key to detecting the "subsonic" sound of cracking in people’s joints, an early sign of osteoarthritis. Engineers are investigating these sensors for the development of an OA-tracking skin patch.

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Researchers used to study explosions from the confines of large laboratories, where scientists fire a flat bullet into an explosive charge, all within a thick-walled chamber that contains the blast. Now, they have recreated the flat-plate impact in miniature on a tabletop. Highly sophisticated optical diagnostics show what is happening while the charge is exploding, down to a millionth of a second. The capability will help scientists understand and eliminate hot spot growth, which means safer explosives.

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In mass spectrometry, high-accuracy, high-resolution sample analysis correlates closely with high-performance high voltage. High voltage not only plays a critical role in the ion creation and acceleration phase, but all the way through separation, detection, measurement, and analysis. Performance failure at any phase could jeopardize the entire sample run.

Different tool architectures can be optimized with the right high voltage power supplies and amplifiers. High voltage power supply integration is important to all system elements.

Accuracy and resolution can be significantly improved by correctly matching a high voltage system with the task at hand.

Any thoughts about mass spectrometry and the critical relationship of high voltage? Leave your thoughts below or share them during the webinar. Questions asked during the webinar may be answered live!

If you're interested in learning more about this topic, please join James Morrison of Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. for a free webinar on high voltage power for mass spectrometry.

Webinar Details:

July 28 - Thursday (also available on-demand for 90 days after the live broadcast)

12:00 PM EDT - 1:00 PM EDT

View the Webinar

Magnetotactic bacteria are found in both fresh and salt water, and feature unique organelles that contain nano-sized iron crystals, making the bacteria swim in the direction of the Earth's magnetic field. These little compass needles are valuable to scientists studying layers of sedimentary rock, but the elaborate electromagnetic systems used to observe them have proven problematic. Now, researchers have developed a simple but effective tool for monitoring the bacteria's movement by using a single permanent magnet positioned on top of a series of rotating gears. The beauty of this simple system is that it can be used with any light microscope and it doesn't require a hefty power supply to create the magnetic field.

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With a $100 million investment, physicist Stephen Hawking, SETI pioneer Frank Drake, and billionaire investor Yuri Milner are committing to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Called the "Breakthrough" initiatives, the funding will help to expand SETI's listening power by acquiring more valuable telescope time: specifically, the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia and the Parkes Telescope in New South Wales, Australia. Breakthrough Listen will also use the Automated Planet Finder Telescope at the Lick Observatory to search for optical laser transmissions, which some experts theorize could be a possible communication method for an advanced civilization. A second initiative, Breakthrough Message, seeks the public's insights on how we might use digital messages to introduce humanity to an alien race.

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