Anton Molina and colleagues demonstrate the fabrication of absorbent materials from the drought tolerant plant agave sisalana (sometimes known as sisal). The findings suggest a route toward local production of the absorbent component of menstrual pads in low- and middle-income countries, where there is more limited access to sanitary products.

Yao Xiao and colleagues report a graph-based machine learning algorithm for categorising and then more efficiently distributing code segments across different processing units in heterogeneous hardware platforms. The approach leads to more efficient processing, vital for future developments harnessing AI, for example in fields such as autonomous vehicles and machine vision.

Oscar Recalde-Benitez and colleagues report a FIB-based sample preparation process to limit current leakage during operando TEM experiments, thus improving the accuracy of device nanocharacterization under operating conditions. The methodology results in leakage currents that are small compared to device currents, which enables the analysis of operating stack devices inside the microscope.

Inspired by the construction of insect eyes, Gkanias and colleagues built a navigation sensor which finds the North using skylight polarisation. An array of polarization analysers detects the Sun’s location even in cloudy skies, providing a low-complexity compass for autonomous vehicles and robots.

Mueller matrix microscopy is capable of mapping tissue architecture at the subcellular level. Wan, Dong and colleagues report an unsupervised learning approach to identify pathological structures by clustering polarization features in Muller matrix images. This approach enables the identification of microstructures subtypes invisible in nonpolarized optical images.

Yanqing Su, Wanmin Lin colleagues report the construction of an instance-based learning classifier by non-specific hybridization of DNA sequences both in simulation and in a small-scale experiment. The approach is simple, robust and scalable to larger classification applications.

Costa and co-authors detected an earthquake in Mexico using conventional polarisation optics within a trans-oceanic fibre-optic cable connecting Los Angeles, USA with Valparaiso, Chile. Their approach enables non-invasive monitoring and localization of seismic waves on the seabed.

Bablich and colleagues report an Intrinsic Photomixing Detector (IPD), a cost-effective amorphous silicon device, enabling high-bandwidth, long-distance, and high accuracy Time-of-Flight optical ranging even in low light conditions. The device allows for large-scale integration on silicon or flexible platforms.

Anton Molina and colleagues demonstrate the fabrication of absorbent materials from the drought tolerant plant agave sisalana (sometimes known as sisal). The findings suggest a route toward local production of the absorbent component of menstrual pads in low- and middle-income countries, where there is more limited access to sanitary products.

Yao Xiao and colleagues report a graph-based machine learning algorithm for categorising and then more efficiently distributing code segments across different processing units in heterogeneous hardware platforms. The approach leads to more efficient processing, vital for future developments harnessing AI, for example in fields such as autonomous vehicles and machine vision.

Nanomaterial solutions to sustainable development goals are hindered in their path to commercialisation by an early-stage reliance on single metric optimisation. Here we formulate the PSEC challenge (Performance, Scalability, Environment and Cost) to integrate broader sustainability thinking with precise technical solutions and so enable successful commercialisation of these advanced materials.

On International Women in Engineering Day, we outline the ways that Communications Engineering supports the equitable inclusion of women in our publishing activities. We also suggest ways in which researchers can be supporters of diversity and inclusion when publishing their own research.

Today we celebrate the first anniversary of the launch of Communications Engineering. We reflect on our progress and welcome in the second year by announcing some new projects and content.

Professor Inge Herrmann offers her insights into building commercialisable research projects and the transition into spin-off activity.

A recent publication in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences describes a fluid-based building interface to reduce energy use for heating, cooling and lighting by selectively tuning light absorption and dispersion. Models showed that this system could reduce the annual energy consumption by up to 43% compared to existing technologies.

Dr. Robert Lang describes how he approaches building origami structures and offers thoughts on the future of origami research.