awarded a grant from an Office of Naval Research (ONR) entitled "Mechanoresponsive Antifouling Polymers Based on Unveiling Functional Cross-links".
Biofouling costs the U.S. Navy approximately $200 million annually; the adhesion of sea organisms to the hull of a naval vessel (termed marine biofouling) drastically increases the drag force on the vessel. The only moderately successful hull coatings to date are broadly toxic and pollute the water. An Office of Naval Research (ONR) grant recently awarded to Meredith Silberstein entitled "Mechanoresponsive Antifouling Polymers Based on Unveiling Functional Cross-links" supports a force responsivehull coating that naturally repels many organisms and will adapt to any organism that succeeds in attaching by becoming inhospitable to that organism. If successful, this stimuli responsive polymer, which is non-toxic, will be used as a top coat for marine vessels, cutting down fuel consumption, increasing top speed, and reducing maintenance requirements. From a broader materials perspective, the polymer design concept of inducing a material property change by mechanically breaking weak reversible cross-links will be useful for formulating options for other adaptive material applications, such as sensing and camouflage, based on mechanical stimuli.
A Cornell-lead research team derived the age of Selam, a “moonlet” orbiting the asteroid Dinkinesh in the main asteroid belt, based only on the pair’s dynamics. Read more about Novel calculations peg age of ‘baby’ asteroid
“Science Guy” Bill Nye ’77 recalled the state of mechanical engineering when he was a student, and looked ahead to the field’s future at “Sibley 150,” a celebration of 150 years of mechanical... Read more about Slide rules, sundials and comedy: Bill Nye hails scientific solutions
Erickson, who assumed the directorship in 2019, will serve a two-year term that begins on July 1, 2024. Read more about David Erickson reappointed director of the Sibley School
