Intriguing Innovations from SUNY
SUNY inventors and scientists are making discoveries, solving problems, creating knowledge, and producing hundreds of new technologies that are improving our world. Profiled below are five intriguing innovations based on groundbreaking research at SUNY.
University at Buffalo
Continuous Ammonia Production from Air
Ammonia synthesis is crucial for fertilizer production, supporting global agricultural demands and enhancing crop yields. However, the only commercial production method, the Haber-Bosch process, requires fossil fuel inputs and extremely high pressures and temperatures, resulting in significant carbon emissions and energy consumption.
Researchers at the University at Buffalo have developed a green chemistry alternative, synthesizing ammonia at room temperature and pressure, using water as the proton source from ambient air. This revolutionary method has demonstrated the highest ammonia production rate reported in the literature, with reduced carbon emissions and without harsh production conditions. Potential applications include factory-scale production, portable ammonia generation, and hydrogen fuel production. Learn more: https://suny.technologypublisher.com/tech/Continuous_Ammonia_Production_from_Air
University at Albany
A New Era for Microbiome Research
The human body is teeming with trillions of tiny organisms -- bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other one-celled microbes -- that form specialized communities that contribute to the normal functioning of organs and bodily systems in an ecosystem called the microbiome. Little is known about how these microorganisms are arranged due to limitations in current microscope technology.
Researchers at The RNA Institute have taken imaging technology that was initially developed in the 1950s and 1960s for satellite imaging of the earth and turned it around to image cells inside the body. Combined with machine learning, this novel approach greatly expands the number of microbes that can be distinguished and classified in a single image. Understanding the relative proportions and quality of the microbiome will provide insight into disease progression and, ultimately, prevention. Currently, the limiting factor to this technology is the number of fluorescent dyes available on the market. Learn more: https://suny.technologypublisher.com/tech/Algorithm_for_Identifying_Images_of_Fluorescently-Labeled_Cells
Stony Brook University
Large-scale Hydrogen Storage and Separation
Hydrogen, the most abundant element in the universe, is emerging as the energy source of the future. A major complication in the development of a hydrogen economy is the lack of infrastructure for hydrogen storage and distribution.
Researchers at Stony Brook University developed a low-cost method of separating hydrogen from hydrogen-methane blends in existing natural gas pipelines for long-term hydrogen storage. Their technology uses a low-cost metal hydride material that can differentiate hydrogen from a blend with methane. The process operates at low temperature (50-70°C), low pressure (50-1000) and produces an extremely high purity yield (>99%) for fast response applications. Learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aP_XwoIpxJc
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
RNA Therapeutics for Breast Cancer
Breast cancer continues to rank among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in women, with over 300,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Despite advancements in detection and treatment, therapies often come with prohibitive costs—reaching up to $160K for advanced cases—and severe side effects. These challenges underscore the urgent need for more effective, affordable alternatives.
Researchers at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University developed a siRNA therapeutic that targets BC200 RNA, a small non-coding RNA demonstrated to be a driver of breast cancer transformation and progression. By “silencing” BC200 RNA, the novel approach disrupted molecular processes that fuel cancer growth and allowed malignant breast cancer cells to revert to a normal cell type. The therapeutic is cost-effective and can be produced at scale. Learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pfxwy6s_2Hg
College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Sensor for Per and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances (PFAS)
PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” linger in the environment and pose a health threat to humans and wildlife. At least 45% of the nation’s tap water may contain PFAS, according to a recent study by the U.S. Geological Survey. Traditionally, testing water samples for PFAS requires sending the samples to specialized labs for analysis, a process that can be slow and costly.
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry researchers developed an electrochemical sensing device that enables direct, on-site measurement of PFAS and provides immediate, accurate and reproducible results down to trace parts per trillion. Their goal is to make the technology easily usable by a consumer, such as a homeowner or municipal water system, to assure truly safe and purified drinking water. Learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I79IPw1V8k
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