A more accurate prediction of near-collisions between satellites with the DelftBlue supercomputer

Even though extremely low, the air resistance at altitude of 600 km does affect the accuracy with which (near-)collisions between satellites can be predicted. Aiming to improve these predictions, Rens van der Zwaard used the DelftBlue supercomputer to determine mission parameters for an experiment involving two nearly identical satellites.

reading time: min

When having your head in the clouds is good science

Geet George crossed the Atlantic, making his way through tropical rain clouds as he went. Hoping to witness their formation, he analysed the data collected by the drones he sent up into kilometres-thick layers of cloud. “It is still important to be in the field and experience the processes we have been trying to simulate on our computers for years.”

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reading time: min

Deep learning for complex networks

From image recognition to medical diagnostics, Machine Learning has a huge impact. Yet Elvin Isufi adds an extra dimension, enabling its analyzing power to complex networks such as recommender systems, and more down-to-earth: water management.

reading time: min

Improving biotech production with real-time testing

reading time: 5 min

From CO2 to plastics and laptops

CO2 conversion by means of electrocatalysis is where renewable energy meets renewable feedstocks meets CO2 emission reduction.

reading time: 10 min

Synthetic data for a clean digital future

The synthetic data of Lydia Chen makes our digital future better and cleaner: more privacy for users, and more utility for organisations.

reading time: 5 min

The magic of catalysis for CO2 conversion

Catalysis is the driving force behind the production of fertiliser, which allowed the world population to triple over the past seven decades. And now, it will be just as essential in tackling the global challenge of CO2 emissions.

reading time: min

Inverse modelling – for improved medical imaging and much more

Hanne Kekkonen specialises in the mathematics used to solve inverse problems. Applications include medical imaging, climate change, the evolution of competing languages, materials science and many more.

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reading time: 6 min

Solving the worldwide bottleneck in nuclear medicine

Radionuclides are essential in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other diseases, because they can detect and destroy specific tumour cells. Yet only a handful of nuclear reactors in the world produce the bulk of these radionuclides. Robin de Kruijff works to solve this medical bottleneck, by developing new ways to produce radionuclides to make sure they become more widely available for medical hospitals and clinics.

reading time: 6 min

Delft researcher streamlines the path to Olympic success

Imagine being able to launch a satellite that would fit in your pocket and send it into space. It wouldn't only be cheap, it would also enable whole swarms of satellites to work together. A swarm would give a much clearer picture of the radiation in space and the atmosphere around planet Earth. Early January 2022 the mini satellite of Alessandra Menicucci’s team was launched with a Falcon 9 rocket in the Transporter-3 mission of SpaceX from Cape Canaveral. The team hopes they will be able to breathe life into one of the world’s smallest satellites in space.

leestijd: 9 min

A geothermal research well on TU Delft's premises

Some ten years ago a group of TU Delft students got the idea of realizing a geothermal well at the university campus. What at first seemed like a wild plan was set into motion when it became clear the campus grounds were in fact an ideal location. Now, for theme leader Phil Vardon things are almost about to get real. After years of measuring, liaising and researching, detailed preparations to make it a reality are in full flow now. “This geothermal source on our campus will become one of the world’s biggest hotspots for research into geothermal energy.”

reading time: 6 min

“We have to close the knowledge gap on ventilation now”

What Professor Philo Bluyssen had been advocating since the beginning of the pandemic, finally happened at the press conference in July 2021. By adding a ventilation icon, the Dutch government
embraced the fact that Covid-19 can also spread by means of aerosols. While it is a victory that ventilation is now the fourth basic measure, we still have a long way to go according to the professor of indoor environment.

reading time: 4, 5 min

Ultimate challenge: to make 7 million buildings energy neutral on time

Contentious. That is an apt description of the Climate Agreement’s requirement of achieving a near-zero energy status in the built environment by 2050. How is this supposed to work for the approximately 7 million existing homes and other buildings? Henk Visscher, Professor of Housing Quality and Process Innovation, advocates an active role for scientists in the much-needed innovation. “We need drivers who can make processes better, easier and less expensive.”

reading time: min

The landslide forecast coming to you from space

Watching time: 12 min

ESP Lab - Lucia Beloqui Larumbe, Power Electronics

Four designers from Delft University of Technology travelled to Lake Victoria, Tanzania and partnered with Sagar Energy Solutions to design a solar-powered fishing lamp for the night fishing industry. This effort aims to put an end to the reliance on dangerous and expensive kerosene lanterns.

Watching time: 12 min

ESP Lab - Peter Palensky, Digital Technologies

Four designers from Delft University of Technology travelled to Lake Victoria, Tanzania and partnered with Sagar Energy Solutions to design a solar-powered fishing lamp for the night fishing industry. This effort aims to put an end to the reliance on dangerous and expensive kerosene lanterns.

Watching time: 12 min

ESP Lab – Miro Zeman, Photovoltaics

Four designers from Delft University of Technology travelled to Lake Victoria, Tanzania and partnered with Sagar Energy Solutions to design a solar-powered fishing lamp for the night fishing industry. This effort aims to put an end to the reliance on dangerous and expensive kerosene lanterns.

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reading time: 4 min

Wheelchair owner and companion next to each other thanks to wheelchair attachment

A standard wheelchair is pushed, but if you walk behind it as an attendant, it’s sometimes difficult to keep contact with the person sitting in it, even though it’s a necessity. There’s probably a technical solution to this kind of problem, but then the right people have to know about it.

reading time: 4 min

Delft research unravels mystery of motion of cilia

The cilia – tiny hairs – inside our body are important to our health. They help move fluids, such as phlegm from our lungs. Eduardo Gutiérrez Prieto, a master’s student in Mechanical Engineering in the Faculty of 3mE at TU Delft, explains through his research how cilia acquire their motion and how multiple of them can synchronize. This insight could lead to the more effective treatment of various illnesses. For example the treatment of smoker’s cough or other diseases of the respiratory system.

reading time: min

Building differently to combat aircraft noise

Aircraft noise around airports is a major problem, and a persistent one. Researcher Martijn Lugten asked himself whether the way we build houses might hold the key to solving this problem.

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reading time: 7 min

The third dimension in tissue culture

After two life-changing moves, Angelo Accardo is now exactly where he wants to be. He is developing engineered nanoscaffolds, in which human tissue can grow as in nature. It opens up a world of applications for neural disease modelling.

reading time: 3, 5 min

The new interior wall: demountable, sustainable and pure

When Bob Geldermans finalised his doctoral thesis in 2020 on demountable partitioning of circular and natural materials, he did not yet know that he would be able to continue his research with a number of like-minded partners. He is now testing and further improving his design concept, which can make a major contribution to sustainability of the building industry.

reading time: 5 min

Sand on the horizon

viewing time: 11 min

How to Print a Dinosaur

A more accurate prediction of near-collisions between satellites with the DelftBlue supercomputer

reading time: min

When having your head in the clouds is good science

Anchoring Power: Ensuring Control and Stability in Offshore Energy Hubs

Energy hub als krachtig concept in de energietransitie

reading time: 8 min

Puzzling over behavioural models for sustainable greenhouse horticulture

reading time: 5 min

Battling the data hunger of Big Tech

reading time: 5 min

Cybersecurity | Story of Team Science | Technische Universiteit Delft

reading time: 4 min

Heating your home with lake water: the 'magic' of aquathermal energy

reading time: min

Protecting vital infrastructure from cyber-attacks with physics-inspired AI

leestijd: 5 min

How do we keep our cities clean and accessible? | TU Delft
Mahnam Saeednia sits on a bench at the train station. Next to her is a package that points a megaphone at her.

reading time: 10 min

Giving freight a voice

reading time: 4 min

Our concrete inheritance: not always desired but definitely important

reading time: 2 min

How to design the train stations of tomorrow

reading time: min

Rethinking transport in cities

reading time: 8 min

Hassle as a limiting factor for using energy when the sun shines

reading time: 10 min

Damping waves with 50,000 rubber grass blades

Solar panels, solar systems, photovoltaics, energy transition

From waves to shadows: Optimizing solar systems by modelling their energy output

Social skills for digital humans

reading time: 3, 5 min

From industrial heat to a social glow(-up)

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Open data is taking off in aviation – thanks to BlueSky
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