College of Engineering Content

Your Smart TV is Watching What You Watch

Andy Fell — December 18, 2024 - 2:45pm

If you’re thinking of buying a “smart” TV for the holidays, you ought to know that your new device is constantly capturing snapshots of what’s on screen and sending them back to the manufacturer — even if you are using the device as a computer monitor and not watching TV at all. The findings come from a recent study by computer scientists at the University of California, Davis; University College London; and Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, published in Proceedings of the 2024 ACM on Internet Measurement Conference.

51�ԹϺ�� Davis Joins New $285 Million CHIPS Semiconductor Research Institute

Andy Fell — December 09, 2024 - 4:40pm

The University of California, Davis will be part of a new, $285 million nationwide institute dedicated to advancing research and manufacturing of American semiconductors.

The new institute, known as SMART USA (Semiconductor Manufacturing and Advanced Research with Twins USA) will develop, validate and use digital twins to improve domestic semiconductor design, manufacturing, advanced packaging, assembly and test processes.

A Chip to Measure Immunity

Andy Fell — December 04, 2024 - 4:16pm

Every winter, influenza returns with a new variant. People who have previously been infected with or vaccinated against flu may have some protection, but this depends on how well their immune system’s “memory” of the previous virus or vaccine cross-reacts with the new variant. At present, there is no good way to measure this. A new NIH-funded project by researchers at the University of California, Davis and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health aims to solve that problem with a new device to measure this immune system “memory” in the blood.

Eye, Robot: Researchers Give Machines a New Perspective with Active Vision

Andy Fell — November 26, 2024 - 2:46pm

When Iman Soltani worked in the automotive industry, he studied assembly floors and noticed that each automated task had its specific robotic design.

He also noticed that while a robot would need multiple cameras affixed to several locations for the best possible sightline, an operator on the assembly floor would move their head and neck to get the best view as they manipulated components.

Overcoming the Casimir Force, a Fundamental Limitation in Quantum Tech

Andy Fell — November 21, 2024 - 10:09am

Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Jeremy Munday and his lab have demonstrated a method for controlling the Casimir force, a quantum mechanical effect that draws small objects toward each other. The force can be so strong as to tear components inside a device apart.

Assessing the Real Climate Costs of Manufacturing

Andy Fell — October 24, 2024 - 11:42am

Producing materials such as steel, plastics and cement in the United States alone inflicts $79 billion a year in climate-related damage around the world, according to a new study by engineers and economists at the University of California, Davis. Accounting for these costs in market prices could encourage progress toward climate-friendly alternatives.

Video Series Aims at Improving Indoor Air Quality

Andy Fell — October 16, 2024 - 2:29pm

Improving indoor air quality is the goal of a new video series developed by experts at the University of California, Davis in collaboration with the California Department of Public Health. Aimed at building and facility managers, the videos distill the science of air quality into steps building and facility managers can take to remove pollutants, including viruses, from the place we spend most of our time -- indoors.

Laser Purified Silica

Andy Fell — October 14, 2024 - 11:51am

Materials science and engineering researchers at the University of California, Davis, and materials company Homerun Resources, Inc., have developed a groundbreaking one-step laser-pulse technique to purify raw silica sand to over 99.99% purity. The method is the first phase in a collaborative effort to create a pathway to a carbon-neutral process of deriving silicon from silica sand.

Charging, Not Range, is Becoming a Top Concern For Electric Car Drivers

Andy Fell — October 10, 2024 - 9:16am

The Biden administration is using tax credits, regulations and federal investments to shift drivers toward electric vehicles.

New Microscope Offers Faster, High-Resolution Brain Imaging

Andy Fell — August 15, 2024 - 3:33pm

Researchers at 51�ԹϺ�� Davis have developed a new microscope to capture high-speed images of brain cell activity with less harm to brain tissue. The new approach could be used in research with mice to provide a clearer view of how neurons communicate in real time, leading to new insights into brain function and neurological diseases.