A recent report released by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on sampling activities conducted between 2020 and 2021 has found that 96.6% of sampled foods were compliant with Canadian standards for chemical residues, including veterinary drugs, heavy metals, pesticides, environmental chemicals and mycotoxins. Three commodity groups -- imported fresh produce, domestic eggs and imported dairy products -- had compliance rates lower than 95%, largely due to the use of certain pesticides and veterinary drugs by foreign producers.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many recognized the need to create criteria for a previously undefined product -- the barrier face covering. Here is the story of the effort to create new standards to combat a global threat.
Researchers at NIST have found that moire quantum matter created by stacking and twisting sheets of graphene results in strange properties, such as magnetic fields and zero electrical resistance. A "quantum ruler" is under development to measure the properties and help create a standard for calibrating electronics in the factory rather than off-site.
The Chemistry Laboratory at the Federal Highway Administration's Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center has played a critical role in advancing the understanding of chemical changes in highway materials and developing new testing standards, including the development of the T-FAST test to accurately and quickly detect aggregate quality in road construction. The T-FAST test detects alkali-silica reaction, commonly known as concrete cancer, in which certain aggregates react with cement, leading to gel formation and concrete cracking.
The Civil Aviation Administration of China has issued a type certificate to EHang's autonomous, two-passenger EH216-S electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. The company is now authorized to start trial air taxi operations and has plans to conduct aerial tours of scenic destinations in China.
United Airlines, Boeing and NASA are collaborating on an in-flight research program to measure sustainable aviation fuel's effect on contrails and non-carbon emissions. The project will evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of contrails formed by a 737-10 when it uses SAF and conventional fuel.
Stratolaunch has secured a contract with the US Air Force Research Laboratory to support the inaugural flight test of a hypersonic test vehicle. The test will utilize Stratolaunch's second reusable Talon-A hypersonic test vehicle, TA-3, which will be launched by the Roc aircraft.
The Federal Aviation Administration is reviewing its noise standards so that the agency can provide improved guidance that will better serve community members, pilots, airport planning committees and decision making.
A woman who had worn a prosthetic hand for years and found it painful and difficult to control has a new integrated bionic prosthetic hand that conveys a sense of touch and enables her to do about 80% of what she did prior to amputation, researchers reported in the journal Science Robotics. The prosthesis is directly connected to her muscle, bone and nerves; it contains a controller, a battery unit and a mechatronic coupler; and an electrode implanted in her muscle boosts electric signals from the brain into the prosthesis, where AI algorithms translate the signals into movement.
Imposter syndrome and self-doubt are prevalent in the workplace, particularly among women, with a Moneypenny survey saying that 30% of men and 35% of women report feelings of inadequacy, writes career counselor Caroline Castrillon. However, it's possible to reframe that mindset by identifying what talents you bring to the table, celebrating small victories, avoiding comparisons with other people and changing your inner dialogue, among other strategies, Castrillon writes.
ASTM has developed a roadmap on digitalization of the construction industry, sponsored by the NIST Advanced Manufacturing Technology Roadmap (MFGTech) Program.
