Portable Diagnostic Device for Bacillus Anthracis Detection in Ultra-Low Resource Environments
BaDx is a stand-alone, diagnostics cartridge used in resource-limited and challenging environments to sense real-world concentrations (>100 spores) of virulent B. anthracis, the bacteria that causes anthrax infection. Resembling a pocket-sized laboratory, BaDx has integrated all diagnosis-necessary lab components into the single-use cartridge including a micro-culture chamber, selective culture media, and lateral-flow assay. For safety, the cartridge also contains a “self-destruct” feature in which the device contents are sterilized post-assay. BaDx is self-sufficient in that it does not require any power or extra equipment to store, operate, or read, and its simplicity means minimal training or skill to use. Watch the video.
GOMA 6.0
Goma 6.0 is an open-source, parallel, and scalable multiphysics software package for modeling and simulation of real-life physical processes, with a basis in computational fluid dynamics for problems with evolving geometry. It solves problems in all branches of mechanics, including fluids, solids, and thermal analysis. Goma 6.0 uses advanced numerical methods, focusing on the low-speed flow regime with coupled phenomena for manufacturing and performance applications. It also provides a flexible software development environment for specialty physics. Goma 6.0 is being used to reduce process-development time, understand fundamental processes, and to educate the next generation of computational mechanics experts. Watch the video.
Triple Harvesting Plastic Scintillators
A new class of plastic scintillator enables efficient detection of illicit special nuclear materials that may be used to construct a nuclear weapon. Triplet-Harvesting Plastic Scintillators exhibit higher light yields and improved timing properties relative to existing materials, which, combined with their low-cost and scalable attributes, satisfy major shortcomings of current alternatives. For the first time, the spectral and timing characteristics of the scintillator can be controlled, allowing the materials to be tailored to applications of interest. These scintillators promise to revolutionize SNM detection in challenging real-world scenarios, such as those encountered in high-background environments, or under active interrogation conditions. Watch the video.