The Future of Wearable Sensors?
Engineers at the University of Maryland (UMD) have for the first time demonstrated that wood can be directly converted into a carbon sponge capable of enduring repeated compression and other extreme mechanical conditions. The new sponge can be used in various applications such as energy storage (e.g., batteries), pollutant treatment, and electronic devices and sensors.
Making Leaps in Quantum Science
UMD engineers have created a photonic chip that takes on the challenge of reliably guiding individual blips of light called photons.

And, UMD researchers have made new measurements of a practically imperceptible effect, known as the Casimir force.
Mitigating Pollutants in Stormwater
UMD engineers were recently awarded a $1.4 million grant by the Department of Defense (DoD) and partners to design a modular stormwater treatment system for DoD sites. Conducted over three years, the research will target for removal three environmental contaminants: polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and copper.
Leaders in Innovation
Each year, the University of Maryland honors exceptional inventions that have the potential to influence science, society, and the free market. Among the nine 2017 Invention of the Year award nominees named across three categories (Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, and Information Sciences), six are led by or include researchers from the A. James Clark School of Engineering.