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Patsy DeLacey

@patsyd.bsky.social
177 followers 301 following 41 posts

Science writer covering engineering at UMich 🧪 | Ex gelada monkey researcher | Knitter | Cosmere fan

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Patsy DeLacey @patsyd.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
Corn to jet fuel 🧪 Using the CO2 released during ethanol production to make aviation fuel could reduce carbon intensity by 80% compared to fossil fuels. Read more here about turning ‘waste’ into an asset news.engin.umich.edu/2025/11/from...
news.engin.umich.edu
From waste to asset: Turning ethanol production CO₂ into jet fuel
Manufacturing sustainable aviation fuel with CO₂ byproducts of ethanol production could reduce carbon intensity by more than 80% compared to fossil fuels.
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Patsy DeLacey @patsyd.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
Pretty plasma for pulverizing PFAS! 🧪 Enjoyed writing up this article about how researchers are aiming to harness the self-organizing patterns that plasmas sometimes form when they interact with water to scale up a technology to destroy PFAS in drinking water. news.engin.umich.edu/2025/11/harn...
news.engin.umich.edu
Harnessing intricate, self-organized plasma patterns to destroy PFAS
The first images of plasma-water interactions reveal the electrical forces that could help manipulate patterns to treat larger volumes of drinking water more affordably.
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Patsy DeLacey @patsyd.bsky.social · 17/10/2025
🧪 Like atomic-scale spray painting, plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition can now be used for ScAlN. The technique expands use of the ultra-wide band gap material to complex, 3D structures within next-gen electronic devices. news.engin.umich.edu/2025/10/new-...
news.engin.umich.edu
New process layers uniform ScAlN on 3D surfaces
Scandium aluminum nitride can now be integrated into high-voltage, high-frequency or piezoelectric devices with plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition.
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Patsy DeLacey @patsyd.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
🧪 Using nearly a decade of high-speed footage, an unsupervised machine learning approach distinguished 9 distinct precipitation types, including varieties of rain, snow, and mixed-phases. Results could improve weather forecasting and winter driving safety. news.engin.umich.edu/2025/10/betw...
news.engin.umich.edu
Between rain and snow, machine learning finds 9 precipitation types
Leveraging 1.5M minutes of precipitation data and a nonlinear method to handle complex relationships between variables, the team created a new classification system
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Patsy DeLacey @patsyd.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
Halting slow faults 🧪 When computing systems slow rather than fail outright, these slow faults can be tricky to detect. A new solution adjusts in real time, more efficiently catching and overcoming slow faults. cse.engin.umich.edu/stories/a-ne...
cse.engin.umich.edu
A new tool to manage slow faults
A new library dynamically adjusts to runtime operating slowdowns, reducing performance degradation under varying slow-fault conditions by 65%.
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Patsy DeLacey @patsyd.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
Boundary setting is healthy for AI models too 🧪 Check out how a new communication-collective system speeds up AI and machine learning training across multiple cloud servers 👇 Presented today at NSDI ‘25 cse.engin.umich.edu/stories/perf...
cse.engin.umich.edu
Perfect is the enemy of good for distributed deep learning in the cloud
Leveraging deep learning’s resilience, approximating data lost by allowing some servers to time out speeds up model training while preserving performance.
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Patsy DeLacey @patsyd.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
A new, straightforward way to make a microgel able to release multiple drugs at different times 🧪 che.engin.umich.edu/2025/04/25/a...
che.engin.umich.edu
A simpler way to make microgels for programmable drug release - Chemical Engineering
Dunking a calcium alginate microgel in ion baths helps finely tune drug release profiles without complex equipment, opening up microgel synthesis to more researchers.
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Patsy DeLacey @patsyd.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
AI is WEIRD, but it doesn’t have to be 🧪 cse.engin.umich.edu/stories/ai-w...
cse.engin.umich.edu
AI with, for and by everyone can help maximize its benefits
Involving a wider swatch of people in AI development can help maximize its benefits.
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Patsy DeLacey @patsyd.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
Directing heavy traffic in cloud data centers🚦 🧪 Gigaflow takes a new approach to caching incoming data flows, helping speed up heavy traffic caused by AI and machine learning workloads Full story below 👇 cse.engin.umich.edu/stories/stre...
cse.engin.umich.edu
Streamlining cloud traffic with a Gigaflow Cache
Gigaflow improves virtual switches for programmable SmartNICs, delivering a 51% higher hit rate and 90% lower misses.
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Patsy DeLacey @patsyd.bsky.social · 21/03/2025
Capturing carbon and value from biodiesel wastewater 🧪 Researchers test catalyst stability in an electrochemical method that leverages glycerol’s low redox potential to utilize CO2 while producing valuable chemicals like formate. cee.engin.umich.edu/2025/03/21/b...
cee.engin.umich.edu
Biodiesel wastewater treatment: Capturing carbon and valuable chemicals - Civil and Environmental Engineering
A new experimental design tests catalyst stability in an electrochemical method for treating environmental waste streams while capturing valuable co-products
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Patsy DeLacey @patsyd.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
Cheaper wind turbine reliability testing 🧪 A new simulation makes wind turbine reliability testing more affordable and accessible without sacrificing accuracy, helping prevent system failures like dropping a blade. ioe.engin.umich.edu/2025/03/18/m...
ioe.engin.umich.edu
More efficient wind turbine reliability simulation - Industrial & Operations Engineering
A University of Michigan-led team developed a method to make virtual testing of wind turbine components more affordable and reliable.
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Patsy DeLacey @patsyd.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
AI for social scientists 🧪 Natural language processing (NLP) can help social scientists keep up with the fast pace of digital communication, extracting the human behaviors that underlie social media posts, text messages or zoom transcripts. cse.engin.umich.edu/stories/how-...
cse.engin.umich.edu
How AI tools can help us understand human behavior
Natural language processing tools can help social scientists process larger and longer-term text datasets to keep up with fast-paced digital communication.
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Patsy DeLacey @patsyd.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
A time-based fingerprint exposes an internet censorship evasion tactic 🧪 cse.engin.umich.edu/stories/coun...
cse.engin.umich.edu
Countering a flaw in anti-censorship tools to improve global internet freedom
A time-based fingerprint can expose obfuscation proxies, prompting the need for new techniques to protect information access
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Patsy DeLacey @patsyd.bsky.social · 12/03/2025
AC units balance the grid 🧪 Residential AC units in Austin, Texas balanced electricity supply and demand without sacrificing comfort. Using small distributed energy sources rather than power plant output to grid balance can improve stability and help integrate wind and solar. myumi.ch/E8xNJ
myumi.ch
Home AC units can balance the electrical grid without impacting comfort
A real-world frequency regulation experiment demonstrates that managing AC units can help actively balance electricity supply and demand.
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Patsy DeLacey @patsyd.bsky.social · 19/02/2025
Sponge-like implant helps develop a treatment for a MS-like condition in mice 🧪 The implant captures immune cells, providing a close look at cell communication outside the CNS. Results helped develop a targeted nanoparticle treatment that slowed or stopped disease progression. myumi.ch/nyMn5
myumi.ch
Multiple sclerosis: Cell-catching implant helps identify successful treatment in mice
The implant attracts diseased immune cells, enabling researchers to study and target them with a nanoparticle-based treatment.
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Patsy DeLacey @patsyd.bsky.social · 03/02/2025
Sensors with a sense of time 🧪 A system of time-aware sensors can map out chemical concentrations within long, narrow tubes according to simulations. Memristors act like a ticking clock until they collide with the target chemical, switching off the timer. che.engin.umich.edu/2025/02/03/t...
che.engin.umich.edu
Thousands of tiny, time-aware sensors collectively map chemical concentrations within narrow tubes  - Chemical Engineering
A new framework optimizes a system of sensors that remember when they collided with a target chemical while flowing through hard-to-reach areas
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Reposted by Patsy DeLacey
Science X / Phys.org @sciencex.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
An interactive tool evaluates the most efficient carbon-neutral aircraft for various flight scenarios, comparing battery-electric, hydrogen, and synthetic fuel options based on energy consumption. doi.org/g83j3x
techxplore.com
Interactive tool helps find most efficient carbon-neutral aircraft for your flight
OK, we admit, we're a long way from a carbon-free grid—but when we have one, what's the most efficient way to use that energy to fly planes?
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Patsy DeLacey @patsyd.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
Given a carbon-free grid, what’s the most efficient air travel? 🧪 An interactive tool finds the best option given the distance, speed and payload. Battery powered aircrafts are best for short flights, while hydrogen options win out for longer flights. news.engin.umich.edu/2025/01/find...
news.engin.umich.edu
Finding the most efficient carbon-neutral aircraft for your flight
Sustainable aviation doesn't have a one-size-fits-all solution, but an interactive tool can identify the right fit given the flight distance, speed and payload.
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Reposted by Patsy DeLacey
Derek Smith @djsmitty156.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
PRESS RELEASE: New water purification technology helps turn seawater into drinking water without tons of chemicals and extra reverse osmosis steps. 💧🧪news.engin.umich.edu/2025/01/new-...
news.engin.umich.edu
New water purification technology helps turn seawater into drinking water without tons of chemicals
Cutting acid and base treatments from conventional desalination plants could save billions of dollars globally, making seawater a more affordable option for drinking water.
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Patsy DeLacey @patsyd.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
Transparent AI for nuclear engineers 🧪 ☢️ Nuclear regulators need a way to validate AI models. Starting to crack open the AI ‘black box’, a new open source python package includes explainability features and helps engineers create AI tools from their data. ners.engin.umich.edu/2025/01/22/s...
ners.engin.umich.edu
Streamlining AI development for transparent nuclear engineering models - Nuclear Engineering & Radiological Sciences
A new tool simplifies machine learning development for nuclear engineers while incorporating model explainability features to help improve transparency.
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Patsy DeLacey @patsyd.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
Greener cement: An electrochemical method produces calcium carbonate, the primary cement feedstock, while capturing CO2 from the air. 🧪 If used at full capacity, the process could reduce cement industry global CO2 emissions from 8% to 3%. cee.engin.umich.edu/2025/01/10/s...
cee.engin.umich.edu
Sustainable cement: An electrochemical process to help neutralize cement industry CO2 emissions - Civil and Environmental Engineering
The reaction produces carbon-negative calcium carbonate to replace limestone as the primary feedstock and green hydrogen as the fuel for cement kilns
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Patsy DeLacey @patsyd.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
Machine learning advances the search for methane storage solutions, promoting use as a cleaner vehicle fuel 🧪 A new tool evaluated 84,000 covalent organic frameworks (COFs), a porous material that condenses methane to its surface. me.engin.umich.edu/news-events/...
me.engin.umich.edu
A tool to optimize methane storage solutions – Mechanical Engineering
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Patsy DeLacey @patsyd.bsky.social · 19/12/2024
Two aligned solar probes helped researchers track changes in the Sun’s magnetic field. 🧪 As the magnetic field loses steam, it accelerates the surrounding solar wind. Results can help improve space weather predictions and potential impacts on Earth. clasp.engin.umich.edu/2024/12/19/w...
clasp.engin.umich.edu
When Solar Probes Align: Data Confirms the Sun’s Magnetic Field Accelerates Solar Wind - Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering
A new study led by University of Michigan researchers published in The Astrophysical Journal confirms the sun's magnetic field accelerates solar wind as it relaxes.
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Patsy DeLacey @patsyd.bsky.social · 17/12/2024
A new self-supervised learning model learns both object identity and pose using unlabeled image triplets, mimicking robotic vision. 🧪 This paves the way for more intuitive interactions between tech like robots and self-driving cars and the physical world. cse.engin.umich.edu/stories/help...
cse.engin.umich.edu
Helping machine learning models identify objects in any pose
A new self-supervised learning benchmark and dataset improve pose estimation, paving the way for more intuitive interactions between technology and the physical world.
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Patsy DeLacey @patsyd.bsky.social · 11/12/2024
A new diffusion model reconstructed high-quality, sparse-view 3D CT images, moving towards use in low radiation dose medical imaging. 🧪 The paper will be presented this afternoon at NeurIPS in Vancouver, BC. ece.engin.umich.edu/stories/new-...
ece.engin.umich.edu
New generative AI model can reconstruct a high-quality, sparse-view 3D CT scan with a much lower X-ray dose
Improvements move the deep learning technique towards use in 3D medical imaging.
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Patsy DeLacey @patsyd.bsky.social · 09/12/2024
A newly developed phosphorescent organic molecule sped up light emission by 1,000 times, pointing towards use in display screens like OLEDs🧪 Adding to the intrigue, the material seemed to break a quantum rule - the Pauli Exclusion Principle 🤯 Read more here: news.engin.umich.edu/2024/12/fast...
news.engin.umich.edu
Faster organic phosphorescence for better display tech
Layering an organic material on top of 2D materials achieves stable, fast phosphorescent light emission without using expensive and hazardous heavy metals.
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Patsy DeLacey @patsyd.bsky.social · 05/12/2024
Sometimes science is running around a forest catching monkey pee in a plastic sheet held between two sticks. And that’s a beautiful thing. #primatology #capuchins #monkeyscience #climatechange news.umich.edu/warming-temp...
news.umich.edu
Warming temperatures impact immune performance of wild monkeys, U-M study shows
The immune performance of wild capuchin monkeys declines when the animals experience higher temperatures, and younger monkeys seem to be particularly vulnerable to heat, according to a University of M...
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Patsy DeLacey @patsyd.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
Had the pleasure of sitting down with Drs. Finelli and Cech to learn how they are preparing the next generation of engineers to consider public welfare when they enter the workforce news.engin.umich.edu/2024/12/educ...
news.engin.umich.edu
Educating People-First Engineers: A Q&A with Cindy Finelli and Erin Cech
Preparing the next generation of engineers to consider public welfare when developing new technologies.
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Patsy DeLacey @patsyd.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
I’ve decided it’s Theropithecus Thursday! My former study species, geladas, are the only living species in their genus Theropithecus. My first fun facts: Geladas live in Ethiopia highlands and are the only primarily grazing primate. Mostly they eat handfuls of grass and dig for tubers.
A grassy plateau on the edge of a dramatic cliff face in northern Ethiopia. At the end of the cliff sits three gelada monkeys from left to right: adult female, adult male, juvenile.
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Patsy DeLacey @patsyd.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
Being a science writer is cool because before this job I forgot everything about photons (typical charismatic megafauna biologist), but now I’m like - WOW the precise shape of a single photon?! Think of all light-matter interaction engineering applications www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2024/ne...
birmingham.ac.uk
New theory reveals the shape of a single photon - University of Birmingham
A new theory, that explains how light and matter interact at the quantum level has enabled researchers to define the precise shape of a single photon.
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Patsy DeLacey @patsyd.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
Charming statues of the Research Triangle, continued. This is Mr. Scrappy, and I have no notes. Thanks #SciWri24 for arranging the NC Botanical Garden tour!
A statue of an ostrich wearing a black bow tie, black top hat, and monocle made of found industrial parts welded together. About 4 feet tall.A sign describing the sculpture, part of the 36th Annual Sculpture in the Garden.  Artist: Jose Pereira of Durham, NC. Title: Mr. Scrappy. Material: Mild steel, recycled materials. Description: This ostrich is made from 100% recycled materials, reflecting my attention to caring for our natural world. At a closer look, this bird speaks from the “heart” with a few surprises inside.
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Reposted by Patsy DeLacey
Josie Glausiusz @josiegz.bsky.social · 14/11/2024
Science writers rock! Or write about rocks. Also medicine, environment, technology, climate, physics, engineering, math, et cetera go.bsky.app/7Z8u31b
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Patsy DeLacey @patsyd.bsky.social · 14/11/2024
Very important PSA spotted near #SciWri24: This is Pterry. His star sign is Sagittarius.
A sculpture of a pterodactyl made out of astroturf positioned on a city block between two buildings. A zoom in to a sign in front of the pterodactyl sculpture that reads: “Pterry (he/him). Species: Pterodactyl. Spotted in: Downton Raleigh rooftop hot spots and anywhere with a great view. Star sign: Sagittarius.”
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