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Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ researchers developed an artificial intelligence system that automatically estimates the environmental impacts of making different electronic devices. The system takes only a minute to run and achieves estimates with accuracy similar to human experts’.

A team led by researchers at the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ developed a new PCB that performs on par with traditional materials and can be recycled repeatedly with negligible material loss. Researchers used a solvent that transforms a type of vitrimer — a cutting-edge class of polymer — into a jelly-like substance without damage, allowing solid components to be plucked out for reuse or recycling. With these “vPCBsâ€� (vitrimer printed circuit boards), researchers recovered 98% of the vitrimer and 100% of the glass fiber.

Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ researchers introduced the Thermal Earring, a wireless wearable that continuously monitors a user’s earlobe temperature. Potential applications include tracking signs of ovulation, stress, eating and exercise. The smart earring prototype is about the size and weight of a small paperclip and has a 28-day battery life.

Recent honors and grants to Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ individuals and units have come from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, the Marconi Society — and the White House.

Engineers at the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ have developed 3D printed devices that can track and store their use — without using batteries or electronics. Instead, this system uses a method called backscatter, through which a device can share information by reflecting signals that have been transmitted to it with an antenna.

“Interscatter” communication developed by Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ engineers allows power-limited devices such as brain implants, contact lenses, credit cards and smaller wearable electronics to talk to everyday devices such as smartphones and watches.