Self-Healing Wire
The UDRI researcher who identified a plausible cause of the explosion that downed TWA flight 800 in 1996 has developed a self-healing wire designed to prevent that kind of explosion from recurring. July 31, 2008 (UDRI press release)

Developing Super Coatings
With a $5 million Third Frontier award, researchers will develop coatings to create a new generation of lightweight nanomaterials that will perform well in extreme environments. June 26, 2008 (UDRI press release)

Perfecting Jet Fuel from Coal
A $10-million seed grant funds the country’s first federal research facility designed to create jet fuel from coal and biomass. The program is aimed at creating a viable, home-grown alternative to increasingly expensive foreign petroleum-based fuel. The award will also fund research into coal- and biomass-derived fuel technologies for greater fuel efficiency and reduced environmental impact. May 20, 2008 (UDRI press release)

Preventing Brain Drain
As the Air Force braces to lose a significant number of experienced workers to retirement, members of the human factors group at the University of Dayton Research Institute are developing a system to capture the knowledge and experience of those workers before they leave. May 1, 2008 (UDRI press release)

Oyster Talent
It’s a gem of an idea. Based on the premise that an irritant introduced into an oyster will produce a pearl, scientists at the University of Dayton Research Institute are prompting oysters to produce pearl-like coatings on metal for applications to range from aircraft corrosion protection to biocompatible medical devices. February 1, 2008 (UDRI press release)