better technology

(Rice University) Rice University has established a National Corrosion Center where researchers will develop better technology for preventing corrosion -- a problem that is estimated to cost $276 billion a year in the US.

Rice is working closely with NACE International.

A new way to help technologists develop efficient and inexpensive plastic electronic devices, such as plastic solar cells and a new type of transistor has been developed.

As the probe bobs up and down the force required to keep it oscillating at a steady rate changes measurably, which tells the scientists about the nature of the scanned surface.

By using different vibration frequencies, it is possible obtain nanoscale measurements on materials.