A cockroach no bigger than a large paper clip scurries across the floor of Abhishek Dutta’s lab at the University of Connecticut. Some scientists might be shocked to see such a notorious visitor occupying their research space. But not Dutta. He watches intently as the roach moves left, and then right, then left again, as it traverses the cool tile floor. His interest is well-founded, for he is the one initiating the tiny creature&rsquo...

UConn researchers have created a biodegradable composite made of silk fibres that can be used to repair broken load-bearing bones without the complications sometimes presented by other materials. Repairing major load-bearing bones such as those in the leg can be a long and uncomfortable process. To facilitate repair, doctors may install a metal plate to support the bone as it fuses and heals. Yet that can be problematic.

A portable holographic field microscope developed by UConn optical engineers could provide medical professionals with a fast and reliable new tool for the identification of diseased cells and other biological specimens. The device, featured in a recent paper published by Applied Optics, uses the latest in digital camera sensor technology, advanced optical engineering, computational algorithms, and statistical analysis to provide rapid automa...

A suite of materials developed in the lab of UConn researcher Luyi Sun can change their appearance and quickly revert to their original state, just like the squid and jellyfish that inspired them. The research was published recently in Nature Communications. The materials, which are stretchable, thin, and slightly squishy, have potential applications in smart windows, display optics, and encryption technology.