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Imagine pulling smartphone out of your pocket, taking a snapshot of an object with its integrated 3D imager, sending it to the 3D printer and within minutes you have reproduced an accurate replica of the original object.

This feat may soon be possible because of a new tiny high-resolution 3D imager developed by researchers at California Institute of Technology.

A team of experimentalists led by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory has demonstrated an energy-efficient desalination technology that uses a porous membrane made of strong, slim graphene—a carbon honeycomb one atom thick. The results are published in the March 23 advance online issue of Nature Nanotechnology

Read more at: http://oakridgetoday.com/2015/03/30/ornl-led-team-demonstrates-desalination-with-graphene-membrane/

The unique distinction of having invented the world’s first superparamagnetic particle of plant material has been accorded to Dr T Theivasanthi, a faculty member of the international research centre of Kalasalingam University.

The Society of Military Engineers (SAME) at Virginia Tech is creating a solar-powered water purification system for export to Sri Lanka.

SAME is the brainchild of sophomore electrical engineering major Michael Sherburne, public relations coordinator for the group. Last year, he saw an opportunity to help while spending eleven weeks in Morocco, Turkey and finally Sri Lanka through Tech’s 21st Century Studies fellowship program.

Read more at: Students create clean drinking water solution in Sri Lanka – Collegiate Times : News.

A new, easy method for cooking rice could reduce calories by as much as 60 percent. Credit: Anoja Megalathan, Institute of Chemistry, College of Chemical Sciences, Sri Lanka

Scientists have developed a new, simple way to cook rice that could cut the number of calories absorbed by the body by more than half, potentially reducing obesity rates, which is especially important in countries where the food is a staple.

The presentation will take place here at the 249th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS).

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2015-03-low-calorie-rice-obesity.html#jCp

Dr. Theivasanthi, a woman research faculty of International Research Center, Kalasalingam University has advanced a step ahead in the innovative field of agricultural nano-bio-fertilizers. She has made an art of science for the development of both plants and cultivating land. She has utilized nanotechnology in such a sense, towards creation of wealth from waste. Enhanced efficiency, nourishing crops in more effective ways, low price, large production within short period, safe to environment and renewable are the salient features of this new fertilizer technology.

Read more at: http://www.pr.com/press-release/601533

Tesla’s Model S is the first zero-emission, zero-gas, full-size electric vehicle on the market. In addition, Tesla will produce battery packs, electric motors, and other powertrain components that will power all-electric, plug-in vehicles (not only Tesla’s, but also other vehicle manufacturers, such as Daimler and Toyota).

Read more at:

Metal Technology (MTI) has successfully 3D printed coupons in a key alloy required for space travel. C-103 is a niobium based alloy containing approximately 10% Hafnium and 1% Titanium. It is widely used in space applications because of its excellent formability, cost, weight, and reliability.

Read more at:  http://www.engineering.com/3DPrinting/3DPrintingArticles/ArticleID/8198/Niobium-Aerospace-Alloy-Successfully-Processed-by-Metal-AM-Makers.aspx

FARNBOROUGH, England, July 17 (Reuters) – The prospect of huge time savings, less waste and more design options have drawn aerospace firms to invest in additive layer manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, though it may be years before parts made this way are common in planes and weapons.

Read more at:  http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/17/airshow-britain-3dprinting-idUSL6N0PS4TV20140717