Latest news with #Empa
IOL News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Bonang Matheba offers life lessons for young women
Reality TV star and businesswoman Bonang Matheba has shared wise words for her fan girls. Image: Instagram. Ladies! Mzansi's Queen B has spoken, so you'll better listen up. Award-winning media personality and businesswoman Bonang Matheba recently took to her X account to share invaluable life lessons with her followers, particularly aimed at young women striving for success. With her commanding presence in the entertainment industry, Matheba has become a beacon of inspiration for countless South African girls yearning to carve their own paths. 'Work hard. Make money. Travel the world. Repeat. ☺️,' Matheba wrote on her X timeline. Her words come at a time when many women face the pressing challenges of navigating a competitive job market while pursuing their dreams. Having built an impressive empire, Matheba's career spans hosting major events, including the MTV Africa Music Awards, Earthshot Prize Awards and Miss South Africa pageants. She's also launched her own alcohol brand, House of BNG and has had her own reality shows on TV and YouTube. Additionally, her collaborations with top international brands like Steve Madden have only cemented her status as a formidable player in the industry. Matheba's recent post drew significant attention, igniting a wave of discussion among her followers. While many applauded her for the encouragement, others shared their own realities of hard work and unfulfilled dreams. @devoted_kay expressed her frustration, saying: "Currently working hard and it's not even enough to travel the province ✋🏽🫶🏻🥺 Empa we will continue working hard 😌." Similarly, @Katl3goo shared: "Currently working like a donkey on double shifts and still can't afford to leave the province 😩✋🏽🫶🏻 But we move… hard work must hear me whether it wants to or not! 💼💃🏽." Matheba's status as a role model encourages many young women to follow in her footsteps, no matter how difficult the journey may seem. @BoityBanks added: "The Queen has spoken and so it shall be! 💋."
Sinar Daily
4 days ago
- Sinar Daily
Three sisters found suffocated, zip tied after visit with father, manhunt underway
SHAH ALAM – A routine custody visit turned into a horrifying tragedy in Washington, United States (US), when three young sisters were found dead on June 2, just days after going missing during a scheduled visit with their father, Travis Decker. The victims – Paityn Decker (9), Evelyn Decker (8) and Olivia Decker (5) – had been in their father's care at the time of their disappearance. As authorities continue a nationwide search for the 32-year-old fugitive, troubling details have emerged about Decker's mental health, military background and the final moments of his daughters' lives. A Scheduled Visitation That Ended in Horror The Decker sisters were last seen alive on Friday, May 30, when their father Travis picked them up at 5pm for a planned custody visitation. Their mother, Whitney Decker, expected them home by 8pm, but they never returned. Concerned and sensing something was wrong, she reported them missing at 9.45pm. According to police, Travis had gone "outside the parameters" of the agreed parenting plan, which was considered "not normal and cause for alarm." The Wenatchee Police Department said at the time that the case did not initially meet the criteria for an Amber Alert, but an Endangered Missing Person Alert (Empa) was issued the following day. A Mother's Fears and Pleas In the time leading up to the tragedy, Whitney raised concerns about her children's safety due to Decker's worsening mental health. Court filings reviewed by The Seattle Times reveal that Whitney described Travis as having emotional and mental health struggles, which she said were the main reason their marriage ended and had significantly impacted their daughters. Despite these issues, she never intended to limit his time with the girls and wanted him to remain involved in their lives with at least a minimum level of contact. "He was in the Army for many years. Upon separation, his borderline personality disorder and narcissism became rampant. Travis just keeps getting more and more unstable. 'But he has got to get better for our girls,' she wrote in legal documents. Travis (left), his ex-wife Whitney (right) and their daughters. Photo: Edited via Canva The Shocking Discovery On June 2 at around 3.45pm, authorities found Decker's car near Rock Island Campground in Chelan County, Washington; about 112 kilometres east of Seattle. Not far from the vehicle, officers discovered the lifeless bodies of Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia. Court documents revealed the girls had plastic bags over their heads and their wrists were also zip tied or showed signs of being zip tied. The scene was strewn with zip ties, plastic bags, and other personal belongings, including car seats, blankets, food and a wallet on the truck's console. Bloodied handprints were found on the tailgate of the vehicle. The cause of death, according to a preliminary report cited by Fox 13 Seattle, is believed to be asphyxiation, a form of suffocation where the body is deprived of oxygen. A Father on the Run Travis remains missing as of June 5. Law enforcement agencies at the local, state and federal levels have joined in an intensified manhunt. Authorities have warned the public not to approach him. The FBI, US Marshals, Homeland Security Investigations and Border Patrol are now involved in the case. On June 4, drones were deployed by federal agents in the search. A $20,000 reward has been announced for information leading to Decker's arrest. Decker is described as 5-foot-8, 190 pounds, with black hair, a mustache and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a light-coloured shirt and dark shorts. Military Past and Mental Decline According to multiple reports, Travis is a military veteran with extensive training in survival and wilderness tactics. He reportedly earned the elite Army 'Ranger' tab and served as an instructor at the Warrior Training Center in Fort Benning, Georgia, US. Since 2021, he was affiliated with the Washington National Guard but had stopped showing up to his monthly drills and disciplinary discharge proceedings had begun. The last drill he attended was roughly a year ago, Fox 13 reported. His ex-wife had disclosed that Decker was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and she believed he was not on medication. Olivia (left), Paityn (centre) and Evelyn. Photo: X Charges Filed Against Decker Authorities have charged Travis with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of kidnapping, in addition to earlier charges of custodial interference. As the manhunt continues, investigators say Decker's cell phone data shows he had visited the Rock Island Campground the day before picking up his daughters. The motive behind the killing remains unclear, though investigators are combing through court documents, digital records and witness statements for answers. Community in Mourning The girls' mother, Whitney, has received support from friends and the wider community. A GoFundMe campaign was launched by Amy Edwards, who described the tragedy as heartbreaking. 'We are heartbroken to share that the girls have since passed. Their light touched so many and the pain of this loss is immeasurable. I will miss seeing their sweet little faces,' Amy said. The deaths of Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia have shaken Washington's community and beyond. As the search continues for Travis, authorities are asking for public vigilance and continued tips to help bring closure to a deeply tragic case.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists Create Biodegradable Plastic Alternative That's Literally Alive
Swiss scientists have created a new plastic-like material that's flexible, biodegradable, and even edible. The secret? It's still alive. The material, which was created by a team from Empa in Switzerland, manages to balance biodegradability with toughness and versatility – a feat that is far from easy in materials science. The researchers processed fibers from the mycelium (the root-like part) of the split-gill mushroom (Schizophyllum commune) into a liquid mixture, without actually killing them off or destroying their natural biological functions. The resulting gel-like material is called living fiber dispersions, or LFD, and it can be molded into many different forms. It also makes full use of the extra substances produced by mushrooms, where other biomaterials might just use the core fungal cells. "The fungus uses this extracellular matrix to give itself structure and other functional properties," says materials scientist Ashutosh Sinha, from Empa. "Why shouldn't we do the same?" By developing a specific strain of the split-gill, the researchers were able to encourage the growth of two molecules in particular: polysaccharide schizophyllan and hydrophobin. These molecules are crucial in giving LFD its appealing properties. One possible use of the material is as a thin film with a very high tensile strength. The researchers suggest it could potentially be used in compost bags that naturally rot away as well as composting their contents, or in super-thin biodegradable batteries. LFD also works well as an emulsifier, a substance that enables two other materials to mix and bind together when they otherwise wouldn't. Emulsifiers are important in food and cosmetics production, found in everything from ice cream to shampoo. Because it's still alive, the fungus keeps releasing more of its key molecules. "This is probably the only type of emulsion that becomes more stable over time," says Sinha. And because it comes from the edible S. commune mushroom, this LFD is completely non-toxic too – you can even eat it without any problems. When it comes to foods and cosmetics, that's another big plus for the material. There's the potential for plenty of future research here too, because the team thinks that the approach used here could be tweaked to produce materials with other specific properties, like an on-demand materials maker. Scientists will often look to nature for inspiration, whether they're developing drug delivery methods or building robots, and we're seeing an increasing number of studies investigating fungi as a foundation for new materials. Fungi-based biomaterials could act as alternatives to plastic, and to form clothes that are able to repair themselves. There's a lot of benefit in materials that combine the natural and the synthetic. The researchers are hoping to find more and more practical uses for LFD over time, following in a long line of materials inspired by nature – evidence that the natural world around us is the best lab there is. "Biodegradable materials always react to their environment," says materials scientist Gustav Nyström, from Empa. "We want to find applications where this interaction is not a hindrance but maybe even an advantage." The research has been published in Advanced Materials. Uploading The Human Mind Could Become a Reality, Expert Says Scientists Developed a Kind of 'Living Concrete' That Heals Its Own Cracks World's First CRISPR-Edited Spiders Shoot Fluoro Red Silk From Their Butts
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Your next eco-friendly battery could be made from mushrooms, and it might eat your trash when it's done
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Mycelium might power electronics someday, if it stops biodegrading before the job is done The split-gill mushroom's extracellular matrix may be the key to future green batteries Scientists dream of compostable batteries, but controlling fungal behavior remains a major challenge Researchers from Empa, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, are exploring the potential of fungal mycelium to create a compact, biodegradable battery. Their goal is to use mycelium to produce 'fungal paper' for battery electrodes - a concept that, according to researcher Ashutosh Sinha, remains in the experimental phase. 'We want to produce a compact, biodegradable battery whose electrodes consist of a living 'fungal paper,'' Sinha states, emphasizing that this vision is still a dream for now. The idea of a biodegradable battery made from living materials is ambitious. The team is working with the mycelium of the split-gill mushroom, a fungus known for its unique mechanical and biological properties. This fungus is naturally biodegradable and, when combined with its extracellular matrix, produces a material with promising potential for sustainable applications in technology. The aim is to develop a system that decomposes without releasing harmful waste - unlike conventional electronic devices - by using the natural properties of the material. Empa researchers are now examining how the tensile strength of mycelium and its sensitivity to moisture can be applied in components like biodegradable sensors and batteries. Working with living materials brings notable challenges. Mycelium's biodegradable nature is both an advantage and a limitation. On one hand, it could significantly reduce the environmental impact of batteries. On the other, its tendency to degrade raises concerns about its longevity and reliability in electronic devices. Living materials also respond to their environments, making it difficult to predict or control their behavior consistently. 'Biodegradable materials always react to their environment. We want to find applications where this interaction is not a hindrance but maybe even an advantage,' said Empa's Gustav Nyström. The idea of a compact, biodegradable battery with fungal paper electrodes remains conceptual, and one of the biggest challenges will be refining the material to meet performance standards required in modern electronics. Nevertheless, it represents a promising step toward more sustainable and environmentally conscious electronics. Ten years of OSSRA: what a decade of data tells us about the state of open source security A third of enterprises have been breached despite increased cybersecurity investment GlobalX airline is helping Trump deportations hit by cyberattack
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Artificial muscles for robots brought closer to reality with 3D-printed actuators
Swedish researchers have developed a breakthrough 3D printing method to create soft actuators. These dielectric elastic actuators (DEA) are made from silicone-based materials, combining conductive electrodes with non-conductive dielectrics in interlocking layers. According to the team at Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA), the innovation enables the efficient production of complex, flexible components, advancing soft robotics and smart materials. "One day, these could be used in medicine or robotics – and anywhere else where things need to move at the touch of a button, said researchers in a statement. Artificial muscles could one day assist workers, aid mobility, or replace damaged tissue. However, replicating real muscle function remains a challenge. To match biological muscles, artificial versions must be powerful, elastic, and soft. They are fundamentally dependent on actuators, which are parts that translate electrical information into motion. Although actuators are frequently found in automobile engines, industrial systems, and residences, their conventional designs are stiff and lack the flexibility of actual muscles. To bridge this gap and bring artificial muscles closer to practical uses in robotics, prosthetics, and assistive technologies, researchers say new materials and manufacturing processes are needed to produce actuators that move naturally. An important advancement has been made by researchers at Empa's Laboratory for Functional Polymers, who have created a technique for 3D printing soft actuators. According to the team, these DEAs are composed of interlocking layers of two silicone-based materials: a conductive electrode and a non-conductive dielectric. When voltage is applied, the actuator contracts like a muscle and relaxes when the voltage is removed. Printing such structures is complex, as the materials must remain distinct yet adhere together. They must also be soft enough for electrical activation while meeting 3D printing requirements—liquefying under pressure for extrusion but solidifying quickly to maintain shape, balancing conflicting properties. Researchers from EMPA, in collaboration with ETH Zurich, developed a breakthrough method for 3D printing soft actuators, overcoming many conflicting material properties. Using specially formulated inks and a custom-designed nozzle, they successfully created functional artificial muscles. The effort is a component of the Manufhaptics project, which intends to create a glove that simulates resistance while gripping to enable users to feel virtual things. These soft actuators have several uses outside of virtual reality. They are a possible substitute for conventional actuators in automobiles, industrial machinery, and robots since they are small, quiet, and incredibly flexible in shape. According to the team, their adaptability and customization create opportunities for medical applications like prosthetics or assistive technology. The recently created method increases the possibility of soft, responsive materials by printing long, elastic threads in addition to intricate structures. These developments may eventually result in actuators that closely resemble the way muscles work naturally, which would advance wearable technologies, robotics, and medical treatments. "If we manage to make them just a little thinner, we can get pretty close to how real muscle fibers work," said Dorina Opris, who leads the research group Functional Polymeric Materials at Empa, in a statement. The possibility of printing an entire heart from these fibers may one day become a reality, but significant challenges remain.
