SwRI Senior Research Engineer Dr. Kristin Ulmer is sharing her experience traveling to Turkey in February 2023, just after devastating, powerful earthquakes and aftershocks rocked the region. Thousands died and were injured as buildings and homes collapsed. Ulmer joined a research mission to uncover evidence and information in the aftermath of the magnitude 7.8 quake. As researchers collect data after an earthquake, they can understand how to improve design and construction practices and...

On April 8, SwRI headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, and surrounding areas, will experience a rare total eclipse, the first in this region in centuries. Spectators in the path of totality, stretching from Mexico to Canada, can expect nighttime conditions in the middle of the day. As visitors descend on totality destinations, communities will encounter traffic tie-ups and crowds. If you want to witness this spectacular celestial event in person, now is the time to make eclipse day preparations...

SwRI engineers have developed a comprehensive cybersecurity method for vehicles. The Zero-Trust Architecture for Automotive Networks is high-level security for computerized vehicle systems, using principles proven to safeguard computers, phones and other information technology (IT) equipment. The zero-trust approach is now hitting the road, offering layers of protection against cyberthreats for vehicle electronics, software and sensors. Listen now as SwRI Engineer and Project Leader Maggie...

An SwRI project is advancing clean energy technologies by using the Institute as a test ground. The goal of Project Z is to make SwRI a zero-emissions campus. Thousands of research and development projects across 2 million square feet of offices, labs and facilities consume electricity on the megawatt (MW) scale. The campus is an ideal location to demonstrate and implement emissions-reducing solutions. What develops at SwRI can be expanded nationally and globally as government and commercial...

It was a year of discovering and learning from memorable, informative guests. We heard from the scientists, engineers and tech leaders imagining, creating and testing new innovations. From the mind-bending field of neuromorphic engineering to forming the building blocks of life in a chamber, developing negative-emissions technology, using cameras and algorithms to improve athletic performance and a rare opportunity to view two eclipses – we covered it all and more in 2023. Join us as we...

R&D World Magazine named SwRI’s Wideband Conformal Continuous-Slot Antenna Array a top 100 innovation of 2023, recognizing it as a world-changing, revolutionary technology. The high-performance, high-frequency, direction finding and signal acquisition antenna for naval ships is a compact, powerful new tool enhancing national security and public safety. Hear why the location of this innovative antenna, where it is positioned on a ship’s mast, is also an advantage. Listen now as SwRI...

SwRI is hosting its first Global Decarbonized Mobility Summit, an opportunity for transportation industry members worldwide to convene in one place and discuss sustainable mobility solutions for all types of transportation. The impactful gathering, which is set to be an annual event, will bring together different perspectives and ideas to tackle the global emissions challenge as the industry strives for net zero emissions by 2050. Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions requires a clear action...

In the coming months, people in the U.S. will have a front row seat to two upcoming eclipses. An annular eclipse on October 14, 2023 will cross North, Central and South America. A total eclipse will cross North America on April 8, 2024. While spectators are preparing to view the rare celestial events, scientists are getting ready for unique research opportunities. Our SwRI eclipse expert is organizing teams across the country to capture the total eclipse from ground and air. He’s talking...

From food to transportation, manufacturing operations keep our lives moving. Manufacturers are a vital part of our economy and offer rewarding career opportunities. The Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC) at SwRI supports small to large manufacturers with the tools for success, including training and workforce development. They are changing the perception of manufacturing work, helping companies update processes and integrate new technology, such as robotics and software, into...

The Engine for Automatic Biomechanical Evaluation or ENABLE™ captures and analyzes 3D motion to help athletes achieve peak performance and avoid injury. Beyond sports, it has the potential to be a useful tool for healthcare and military applications. Strategically placed cameras and powerful algorithms drive this portable, user-friendly system, eliminating the need for attached, movement-restricting sensors. Plus, human performance professionals will connect with sports scientists at the...

As you go about your day, you likely encounter microcapsules or microspheres everywhere. From your morning shower shampoo to your nighttime sleep aid, microencapsulation is working to improve your life. SwRI’s microencapsulation experts create custom, controlled-release capsules for a variety of products. Since 1949, SwRI has tailored this tiny technology for a broad spectrum of industries, including food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, agricultural, veterinary medicine, biomedical and...

NASGRO® fracture control software analyzes spacecraft, aircraft, structures and more for fractures and fatigue, wear and tear that could pose a risk if not repaired. With data that includes measurements and material composition, the software calculates how a crack could grow and become catastrophic. NASGRO was initially developed to support NASA’s Space Shuttle Program, but is now used by companies around the world to avert danger. Last month, the Space Foundation inducted NASGRO and its...

April 22 marks Earth Day, an annual call to action to preserve natural resources and protect the planet. On this Earth Day episode, we’re discussing new SwRI technology in development that targets rising greenhouse gas emissions, which cause disruptive changes in Earth’s climate. The transportation sector is a major contributor of carbon emissions. SwRI engineers are developing a potential solution, a membrane that removes and captures carbon dioxide before it escapes into the atmosphere,...

During Women’s History Month, we are celebrating the contributions of inspirational leaders and trailblazers who are positively impacting our communities and world. Today, we highlight two women of SwRI who shine in STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematics, fields in which women are typically underrepresented. Hear about their fascinating work, their journeys in engineering and planetary science and why a woman’s perspective is valuable and necessary in STEM workspaces. Listen...

Scientists study meteorites, fragments of asteroids or comets that fall to Earth. Inside the space rocks, they have found amino acids, the building blocks of life. Amino acids combine to form proteins, which power life on our planet. How did these seeds of life end up in meteorites? Our guest today believes they formed under intense space conditions, particularly in the interstellar cloud. She is part of a team of scientists that re-created the conditions in a chamber using ice, low...

It’s a new year of listening and learning. We’re launching 2023 with the fascinating, emerging field of neuromorphic engineering, the development of biologically inspired technology that emulates the human brain. Neuromorphic systems use spiking neural networks to retain “memories,” like the human brain, making computer processing faster, more accurate and more efficient. Potential applications for neuromorphic technologies are limitless and could cover a range of industries, including...

We’re celebrating our milestone 50th episode with a guest co-host and a discussion on the highlights, and sometimes challenges, of producing 50 conversations. Plus, we’re revisiting the fascinating and inspiring Technology Today topics of 2022, including a conversation with a planetary science pioneer, the possibilities of hydrogen as an energy source, learning about the life and accomplishments of SwRI founder Tom Slick, automated buses and much more. Listen now as Host Lisa Peña and Audio...

SwRI’s Integrally Geared Supercritical CO2 Compander has been named one of the top innovations of 2022, receiving a prestigious R&D 100 Award. Pipeline & Gas Journal also recognized the compander as the “Best Management Advancement Technology” at the R&D 100 Awards Gala held on November 17. Using supercritical carbon dioxide, the revolutionary technology converts heat, like sunlight, into usable energy, while reducing carbon emissions. Our guests tell us what makes the new...

Would you hop on an automated bus for your morning commute? Sensors, software and cameras would safely guide you to your destination, saving time and helping you avoid unpredictable traffic. We’re moving toward this transportation option as SwRI develops technology and systems for connected automated buses. Our engineers are currently working on automated solutions that could ease congestion in busy bus lanes. And we are already seeing the technology deployed on the SwRI San Antonio campus...

Batteries are key to our way of life. They not only power up vehicles and electronics, but also medical devices, aircraft and space technology. They have to be ready for a challenge and they have to be safe. So, what happens when batteries take a beating and fail? The SwRI Energy Storage Technology Center is equipped to answer that question, taking batteries to their limits with crushing, destructive, explosive consequences to make them tougher, more resilient and safer. Listen now as SwRI...

The countdown to launch is on! The CubeSat to Study Solar Particles or CuSP mission is preparing for lift off aboard NASA’s Space Launch System, the most powerful rocket ever built. The six-unit CubeSat is a micro-satellite carrying three instruments designed to measure solar particles and assess space weather. Space scientists want to learn more about conditions in space that can disrupt technology and air travel on Earth. This is SwRI’s first CubeSat mission, but not the last. Listen now...

Thomas Baker Slick, Jr., oil heir, business man, philanthropist, adventurer, author and inventor, impacted the world with his grand ideas and scientific pursuits. As we celebrate SwRI’s 75th anniversary, we remember the legendary and inspiring founder of the Institute who left a legacy of progress and innovation. Slick was known for his global vision and his desire to advance humankind. He was also known for his world travels, art collection and his expeditions in search of the mythical yeti....

A new tool can tell you if that meeting, event or family gathering will put you at risk for contracting COVID-19. The interactive tool, available now as a PDF, analyzes data such as size of the meeting space, ventilation, mask use, community spread, vaccination rates and more. Once the variables are filled in, users receive a low to very high risk assessment for a particular gathering. Our first guests from SwRI’s wholly owned subsidiary Signature Science LLC in Austin tell us how scientists...

The oil and gas that powers our lives moves through a vast network of pipelines underground and underwater. Corrosion and damage can cause pipeline leaks. It is important to detect leaks quickly to protect people and the environment. SwRI experts develop and test cutting-edge leak detection equipment for use on and offshore, and they study the physics of leaks to ensure the technology is up to the task. Through pipeline leak detection, they are keeping our communities safe. Listen now as...