Latest news with #3D printing
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
The Elusive Aerospike Engine Is Finally Moving From Theory to Reality
Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: The aerospike engine—which uses air pressure to shape the downward force needed to launch a spacecraft—has been on the cusp of entering mainstream rocketry for decades. Now, a new company called Leap 71 is moving fast, designing a new aerospike engine and 3D printing it for testing all within a few weeks. The successful test this past December paved the way for the company's adoption of a reference design called the Noyron XRA-2E5, which could be tested no later than the end of 2026. For 65 years of human spaceflight, rockets ferrying astronauts to the stars have all had bell-shaped nozzles specifically designed to produce enough thrust to lift massive payloads off the launchpad. But this decades-old design comes with limitations. The biggest one is that bell nozzles only work optimally at certain atmospheric pressures, which is one reason why most rockets actually contain many stages during a mission. If you could improve this inefficiency, rockets could just have one single stage that they use for the entire mission. That would save on payload weight and, of course, money. So, for decades, scientists have wondered whether other geometric designs—ones that could effectively adjust to atmospheric pressure during flight—could one day replace bell-shaped nozzles. The leading contender is an idea known as the aerospike, which relies on atmospheric pressure itself to create the outside wall of a virtual bell. The idea is that as atmospheric pressure changes, the bell itself would change as well. The idea isn't new, as this rocket engine—designed in both toroidal and linear configurations—has been on the precipice of the mainstream ever since NASA strapped one to an SR-71 in the 90s. However, the engine has never proven itself to be adequate replacement for traditional rocket bells. But times have changed, and in 2024, the aerospike had one of its best years in recent memory. In late October, the German aerospace company Polaris Spaceplanes successfully demonstrated a linear aerospike (LAS) engine mid-flight. Now, the company hopes to launch a successor, called the Nova, in 2025. But it was actually a late entry from the Dubai-based computational engineering company Leap 71 that gave a glimpse of what the future research into aerospikes—and aerospace propulsion more broadly—might look like. On December 18, 2024, the company test fired its oxygen-and-kerosene-burning toroidal aerospike rocket for 11 seconds, recording a 1,110 pounds of thrust. And while that's cool in and of itself, it's not as impressive as how it was made. Leap 71 used an in-house AI computation engineering model known as Noyron to design the rocket and then used a 3D-printing technique known as 'Laser Powder Bed Fusion' to create an engine built from an aerospace copper alloy. Building a new rocket engine usually takes several years (at least), but Leap 71 claims that their aerospike engine took only a matter of weeks to design, manufacture, and test. The company even addressed one of the aerospike's biggest design challenges—how to cool the spike itself. 'We were able to extend Noyron's physics to deal with the unique complexity of this engine type,' Leap 71 CEO Josefine Lissner said in a press statement. 'The spike is cooled by intricate cooling channels flooded by cryogenic oxygen, whereas the outside of the chamber is cooled by the kerosene fuel.' In April 2025, the company announced that they're moving forward with an aerospike reference design called the Noyron XRA-2E5, and it hopes to perform first tests on the design by the end of 2026. Aerospike engines have long been waiting for a chance to prove their usefulness, and thanks to AI computational tools and rapid prototyping via 3D printing, that chance may come much sooner than anyone expected. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Times of Oman
7 days ago
- Health
- Times of Oman
University Medical City pioneers advanced spinal surgery techniques
Muscat: The spinal surgery team at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH), part of the University Medical City, has successfully implemented three groundbreaking surgical technologies for treating spinal disorders and deformities – marking a regional first in specialised healthcare services. The integrated use of surgical robotics, 3D printing, and virtual reality within single procedures represents a qualitative leap in medical care, demonstrating the institution's commitment to adopting cutting-edge global medical technologies. These advanced techniques have been applied in complex surgeries including scoliosis correction, spinal canal decompression, and spinal tumor resections. The University Medical City has become the region's first healthcare facility to simultaneously combine all three technologies in individual operations, establishing itself as a regional leader in specialized spinal surgery. Dr. Hamad Al Far'ei, Consultant Orthopedic and Spinal Surgeon, stated: "This achievement marks a transformative development in Oman's spinal surgery capabilities. Our medical team's integration of three advanced technologies into unified procedures has significantly enhanced surgical precision while reducing risks and complications – directly improving treatment outcomes and patient recovery times." The technological integration features Surgical robotics enabling ultra-precise instrument guidance during operations, improving safety outcomes while reducing procedure duration, 3D printing technology creating accurate anatomical models for surgical planning, particularly valuable in complex deformity cases and Virtual reality providing real-time, detailed cross-sectional imaging during operations for enhanced visual guidance This strategic initiative aligns with Oman Vision 2040's healthcare objectives to develop an innovative, quality-driven health system utilizing national expertise. Dr. Siham Salim Al Sinani, CEO of University Medical City, emphasised: "Implementing these advanced technologies strengthens public confidence in government healthcare services while elevating specialised care standards. This reflects our execution of national policies for healthcare development through localising modern medical technologies to deliver services meeting international benchmarks." The achievement underscores Oman's growing capabilities in complex medical interventions while reducing dependence on overseas treatment referrals for spinal conditions. Hospital administrators confirm plans to expand these technologies across additional surgical specialties in coming years.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Researchers make incredible breakthrough that could solve major issue in medical industry: 'Unprecedented'
A breakthrough in tissue modeling could be a game-changer for both patients and the planet, offering a way to reduce the use of lab plastics and other synthetic materials. In 2019, scientists at Carnegie Mellon University developed a technique called FRESH — or freeform reversible embedding of suspended hydrogels — to 3D-print living tissues using collagen. As SciTechDaily explains, collagen is "the most abundant protein in the human body" and provides "essential structure and support to nearly all tissues and organs." In simple terms, the method enables researchers to print soft, delicate materials — including collagen and living cells — within hydrogel without damaging them. This allows for the creation of lab-grown tissue structures that are both biologically accurate and highly functional. Recently, the team used this method to create the first-ever microphysiologic system made entirely from collagen. The researchers hope the lab-built tissue models could one day help treat conditions such as Type 1 diabetes, which happens when the body stops producing insulin in the pancreas. With this method, researchers could grow miniature pancreatic tissues that function like the real thing, offering a new way to study the disease, test treatments, or even develop transplantable tissue that helps patients produce insulin again. "Now, we can build microfluidic systems in the Petri dish entirely out of collagen, cells, and other proteins, with unprecedented structural resolution and fidelity," Adam Feinberg, a professor of biomedical engineering and materials science and engineering at Carnegie Mellon, said in a statement. "Most importantly, these models are fully biologic, which means cells function better." Beyond the medical potential, the innovation could lower the use of plastics in research and modeling. And that has perks for both patients and the planet. Traditional lab research often relies on plastic-based scaffolds, molds, and containers to test cells in the lab. Most of these plastics are single-use and non-recyclable because of contamination, typically ending up in landfills or incinerators. By enabling the construction of fully biological tissue systems, the FRESH method reduces the need for plastic supports. If collagen-based tissue modeling leads to viable transplantable tissue, it could one day help treat — or even cure — conditions such as Type 1 diabetes. This would not only improve patient health but also reduce reliance on long-term plastic-based medical devices, including insulin pumps and synthetic implants. This shift away from plastic materials marks a major improvement for both research and patient care. As the researchers explain, a major limitation of existing tissue models is that they're made from artificial materials that don't mimic natural tissue. This limits their usefulness in drug development and therapy testing. But with new collagen modeling, scientists can conduct more accurate biological testing, improving research accuracy and speed. "Going forward, the question is not, 'Can we build it?'" Feinberg said in a statement. "It's more of, 'What do we build?'" Should the government be able to control how we heat our homes? Definitely Only if it saves money I'm not sure No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
