Meal deal
Being able to extend the shelf life of packaged food by just one day
could substantially reduce the seven million tonnes of food which are
discarded in the UK every year.
Against the grain
A single grain of salt can form on key components within a jet engine potentially accelerating corrosion.
Back pain breakthrough
Lower back pain affects 80 per cent of the population at some point in their lives, costing billions to the NHS and the wider economy through sickness leave.
Low carb material
EPSRC-sponsored researchers are tackling how to reduce the demand for carbon emission intensive materials.
Tooth technology
EPSRC-sponsored researchers at University of Leeds have created
a ‘non-invasive’ dental treatment which could help the 31% of adults
affected by tooth decay.
Printing buildings
EPSRC-sponsored engineers at Loughborough University have developed an innovative 3D printing technique to create customised panels for large-scale buildings.
Safety by design
A software tool which protects the functionality and security of computer systems has been developed by EPSRC sponsored researchers at University of Oxford.
Pipeline power
Award-winning technology developed by Syrinix, a company set up to
commercialise EPSRC-sponsored research at the University of East
Anglia, has developed ‘listening’ technology that can help reduce treated water lost every day in the UK.
Flight of the Demon
In 2011, Demon, an unmanned aircraft developed through EPSRC’s
Strategic Partnership with BAE Systems, became the first aircraft in
the world to fly without the use of flaps - and into the Guinness Book
of World Records.
The wonder stuff
Wonder material graphene, the strongest, thinnest material there
is, has a host of amazing potential applications – from flexible
electronics to superlight aircraft.
Crest of a wave
Aquamarine Power, a hydro-electric wave energy company set up to
commercialise EPSRC-funded research, has installed two unique
Oyster wave energy converters at its offshore Orkney site.
Follow the sun
Cheap solar power might soon be possible thanks to a new type
of flexible, organic solar panel developed by an EPSRC-sponsored
research team at the University of Warwick and Molecular Solar
Ltd.
Pipe dreams
OXEMS, a company created to commercialise EPSRC-funded
research, has developed a unique sensor device to detect
underground assets such as water pipes, sewers and cabling without
the need for excavation.
The sky's the limit
The European Space Agency’s Galileo satellite navigation system
is being launched with technology developed by British satellite
manufacturers Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd.
Whisky a no-no
In an industry with an export value to the UK of £2 billion, counterfeit
whisky bootlegging is a serious and expensive problem.
Airport scanner detects deadly baggage cargo
An award-winning airport baggage scanner, developed by
Rapiscan Systems and the University of Manchester, has been
successfully tested at Manchester Airport.
Light at the end of the tunnel
LED lighting technology has the potential to slash electricity consumption by 15 per cent – reducing carbon emissions by an estimated 23 million tonnes.
Keeping mum
An ultra-low-cost scanner that can be plugged into any computer to show images of an unborn baby has been developed by EPSRC-sponsored engineers at Newcastle University.
Deep impact
EPSRC-sponsored research at Cranfield University has led to world-record depths in subsea welding technologies used to repair and maintain vital offshore gas and oil pipelines, oil rigs and tidal energy systems.
Centres of attention
1,300: The number of new doctoral level manufacturing engineers
thanks to a 10-year EPSRC investment programme in 15 dedicated
Innovative Manufacturing Research Centres (IMRCs).
Car diets
Research at the EPSRC-funded Loughborough University Innovative
Manufacturing Research Centre has helped replace copper wiring
used in cars with printed flexible circuits.
Billion dollar breakthrough
EPSRC-sponsored chemists from the University of Bristol have perfected a much quicker way to create synthetic prostaglandins.
The pulling power of the PhD
A major independent survey of leading research-intensive employers
closely links PhD-holders with increased company performance and
a host of other benefits.
The midas touch
EPSRC-sponsored scientists at the University of Southampton have
discovered how to change the colour of the world’s most precious
metal, gold.
Light work
Over 1.6 billion people – one fifth of the world’s population – lack
access to electricity via a grid, and pay high prices for fuels such as
kerosene to serve their basic needs.
Size matters
Of all clothes currently bought online, up to 60 per cent are estimated
to be returned to the retailer.
New adventures in plastic
The current generation of plastics is no longer sustainable because
of the oil they use and the waste they leave.
Greenwich sewer project cleans up
The annual cost of pipe failures in the United Kingdom is estimated
at £150 million.
Innovative Manufacturing and Construction Research Centre - Working with industry
Case studies showcasing some of the exciting research projects undertaken by the Innovative Manufacturing and Construction Research Centre (IMCRC).
X-ray vision takes centre stage at unique new UK facility
Prehistoric marine monsters, human tissue, aircraftwings and even fossilised crocodile dung are yielding their innermost secrets to a unique new X-ray Imaging Centre.
3D printing closer to commercial reality - 3D chocolate heaven
3D printing technology that can create full-scale consumer products – even in chocolate – is one
step closer to commercial reality thanks to research sponsored by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
Tiny flying machines will revolutionise surveillance work
Tiny aerial vehicles are being developed with innovative flapping wings based on those of real-life insects.
Could new technology help earlier diagnosis of heart disease?
Could new sound synchronisation technology hold the key to earlier diagnosis of heart disease?
MyCare – the ‘card’ that could save your life
It looks like a credit card…it slips into a wallet or purse…but it could mean the difference between life and death in a medical emergency.
‘Hearing dummies’ software paves the way for tailor-made hearing aids
New software ‘hearing dummies’ are part of cutting-edge research that promises to revolutionise the diagnosis and treatment of hearing impairments.
Bioengineering: Helping humans repair themselves
Tissue Regenix, a spin-out company specialising in human tissue regeneration products, believes its cutting-edge technology could revolutionise medicine.
Expanding blast-proof curtain will reduce impact of bomb explosions
A new type of blast-proof curtain is being developed to provide better protection from the effects of bomb explosions.
Sky’s the limit for UK satellite company
In 1985, supported by an EPSRC grant, a team of gifted aerospace researchers from the University of Surrey formed a company, Surrey Satellite Technology Limited. It is now a world leader in its field, and has launched over 30 space missions.
How the bones of our ancestors could help treat modern back pain
The unlikely combination of old human bones and the latest computer modelling techniques are being used to develop new ways of treating chronic back pain. It is the first time old bones have been used in this way.
Click-track software lets drummers set their own pace
New software has been developed that gives drummers the freedom to speed up or slow down the pace of the music with any pre-programmed material following their lead.
Tsunami generator will help protect against future catastrophe
A unique wave-generating machine that mimics the activity of real-life tsunamis with unprecedented realism has been developed and built with EPSRC funding.
Lightening the load for British soldiers with solar power systems
A revolutionary type of personal power pack is being developed that could help our troops when they are engaged on the battlefield.
Compostable plastics have a sweet ending
Food packaging and other disposable plastic items could soon be composted at home along with organic waste thanks to a new sugar-based polymer.
How computers could help humans make better decisions in life
Day to day indecision could soon be a thing of the past for all of us. A prototype computer game has been developed to help improve decision-making skills in all aspects of our lives.
Music on prescription could help treat emotional and physical pain
Research into how music conveys emotion could benefit the treatment of depression and the management of physical pain.
New technology will make election voting more efficient
Time-consuming manual vote-counts and ballot boxes could soon be consigned to the history books, thanks to innovative new secure voting technology.
New spinal implant to help people with paraplegia
Engineers have developed a new type of microchip muscle stimulator implant that will enable people with paraplegia to exercise their paralysed leg muscles.
Unravelling the genetic code
Understanding how to manipulate tangles of DNA could help us create new treatments for diseases, so mathematicians are working with biologists to explain how our genetic code becomes knotted.
Taking decisions, not risks
Risks are an unavoidable part of modern life, but mathematicians and statisticians have developed a variety of methods to help mitigate its effects.
Stats in your genes
Sequencing the human genome was a fantastic achievement, but it was only the beginning. Now, statisticians are coming up with new methods to sift through large amounts of a genetic data and identify the differences in DNA that can lead to diseases.
Smarter phones for all
The amount of information we can transmit though the air is limited by the laws of physics, but the mathematics of signal processing lets us squeeze more data into the same amount of space.
Scans on the brain
Brain scans play a vital role in the treatment of many serious medical conditions, but decoding the signals inside our minds would not be possible without a variety of mathematical techniques.
Preserving Britain's coastlines
Much of the UK’s coastline is undergoing erosion, placing homes, businesses and other important coastal sites at risk.
Networking for the future
Mathematical network theory lets us create models of our communication and transport networks, revealing new patterns and insights that will improve network capacity, reliability, and efficiency.
Modelling an epidemic emergency
Epidemics can threaten the lives of both humans and animals, so it is essential that we react swiftly to any outbreaks. Mathematicians play a key role in assessing the risks of disease transmission and modelling the effects of vaccination programmes.
Keeping hearts pumping
Blood-related diseases can seriously harm patients’ quality of life and even lead to death.
Go with the industrial flow
Mathematical models of fluid flow can help to improve manufacturing efficiency and reduce costs, while also enabling new applications of fluids within industry.
Fighting infections with symmetry
Many viruses have a symmetrical structure made from basic building blocks, and biologists have struggled to explain some of the more detailed shapes.
Faster Formula One
Every second counts in the fast-paced world of Formula One, so race teams use advanced mathematics to squeeze the best performance out of their cars.
Danger: rogue waves
Rogue waves appear without warning, towering high over ships and oil rigs. Traditional mathematical models couldn’t predict the occurrence of these dangerous waves, but the latest techniques let oceanographers make accurate forecasts.
Building the digital society
Computers and networks stuffed with ever-increasing amounts of data are transforming our society, creating a digital world with its own rules and behaviours.
An energy evolution
As oil supplies become harder and more expensive to reach, it’s essential that we maximise the yield from available reservoirs in any way possible.
Advancing the digital arts
The computer animation industry relies on a steady stream of mathematics to produce the fantastic images found on our cinema and television screens.