“Khalifa University’s System on Chip Lab has developed a self-powered device that mimics the brain’s synapses, enabling real-time data processing without external power — for smarter, energy-efficient technology.”

— Dr. Muhammad Umair Khan, Post Doctoral Fellow, Computer and Information Engineering, Khalifa University

In the brain, synapses, or connections between nerve cells that transmit signals, can increase in strength, enhancing learning and memory — a process known as synaptic plasticity, which is crucial for developing artificial neural networks. In their device, the researchers found that applying electrical pulses can affect the device’s ability to adapt to new information, allowing it to strengthen or weaken connections in response to varying stimuli, much like how the brain learns and adjusts. 

 
Such key functions like strengthening and weakening connections and adapting over time occur without needing additional components, showcasing the device’s potential for self-powered sensing systems. As the device mimics brain functions independently, it also makes for an efficient, advanced, energy-saving technology. Additionally, the device forgets information more quickly when the input signals are weaker, indicating it can rapidly adapt to new inputs. This ability to forget faster allows it to respond faster in changing environments that require quick updates. 

Dr. Muhammad Umair Khan said: “The study highlights the Khalifa University System on Chip Lab’s leading role in advancing neuromorphic computing. Our research team has developed a self-powered device with great potential for self-powered electronics applications. Its ability to detect mechanical stimuli and store data makes it invaluable for self-powered electronics. This self-powered memory device not only represents a significant leap in neuromorphic computing but also holds the potential to revolutionize how future technologies interact with the world, offering smarter, more energy-efficient solutions across a broad spectrum of applications.” 

Alisha Roy

Science Writer

“Our research demonstrates that with the right approach, we can significantly improve energy efficiency and make meaningful progress toward closing the electricity gap in developing countries.”

— Prof. Ameena Al-Sumaiti, Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Khalifa University

The multi-strategy framework optimizes electricity distribution, particularly in regions suffering from power shortages. It integrates demand-side management strategies with utility operations, focusing on scheduling essential appliances and optimizing power flow in distribution grids. By leveraging a combination of technical and social strategies, the framework seeks to enhance energy efficiency, improve fairness in electricity distribution, and boost economic sustainability.  

“The core of the framework is an optimization tool designed to schedule electricity access in a way that maximizes the benefits for both consumers and utility providers,” Dr. Al-Sumaiti said. “This tool considers a variety of factors, including consumer preferences, appliance types, and grid constraints.  The tool prioritizes essential appliances, including- but not limited to- lighting, fans, and water pumps, to ensure that communities continue receiving vital services during power shortages. It also factors in the influence of weather conditions and the operational impact of one appliance on another, while accounting for how these factors may change over time in different seasons.” 

The optimization framework demonstrated significant improvements in energy efficiency and economic sustainability when evaluated across various scenarios.

The tool also proved scalable, with a sensitivity analysis showing that the system could handle population growth and increasing appliance usage without sacrificing performance. As more households connect to the grid, the multi-strategy approach ensures that electricity is distributed in a way that balances the needs of both consumers and the power system.  

“Addressing the challenge of supply shortage and achieving universal electricity access in developing economies requires innovative approaches and investment in energy infrastructure,” Dr. Al-Sumaiti said. “By integrating social equity, consumer preferences, and technical optimization, our framework provides a pathway to more efficient, fair, and sustainable electricity distribution.”   

“Our BlockCharge framework uses blockchain to bring a level of trust and efficiency to EV charging that’s essential for scaling up mobile charging services, especially in areas with limited infrastructure.”

— Prof. Ehab El-Saadany, Professor, Khalifa University

The team developed BlockCharge as the solution to these questions, combining blockchain technology with a novel auction system. The blockchain—a decentralized, secure digital ledger—ensures that every transaction in the system is transparent and tamper-proof. By building the entire MCS allocation and charging transaction system on a blockchain, BlockCharge can facilitate secure transactions and build trust between service providers and EV owners. The system is based on smart contracts: automated agreements that execute certain actions once specific conditions are met. These smart contracts handle the auctioning, allocation, and payment processes for EV charging, minimizing the need for intermediaries.  

“The process is simple,” Prof. El-Saadany explained. “When EV drivers need a charge, they submit a request to the local aggregator for their zone, including details such as their current location, battery status, and the energy needed to reach their next destination. The system takes care of the rest, automatically matching the request to a nearby MCS. Payments are handled by the  blockchain-based smart contracts, ensuring a secure transaction where funds are only released once the charging is complete. The MCS operators, for their part, benefit from a streamlined system that lets them plan their routes and bid for charging requests based on real-time data from their surrounding zones. The auction system keeps all operators on an even playing field, encouraging efficiency and fair competition.” 

A critical feature of BlockCharge is that it mitigates the risk of price inflation—a common issue in areas where demand for EV charging outstrips supply. When multiple MCS operators bid for charging requests in an open auction, it creates a competitive environment that naturally keeps prices more reasonable. Furthermore, the blockchain ledger records all bids, allocations, and payments, allowing any participant to verify that they were treated fairly. The transparent nature of blockchain helps ensure all transactions are secure, immutable, and free from manipulation by any single party. 

BlockCharge’s decentralized, blockchain-based approach could transform the EV charging market as it scales up to larger areas and integrates with existing infrastructure. This could enable a future where both fixed charging stations and MCS are seamlessly coordinated to meet demand in a variety of settings, from dense urban neighborhoods to rural highways. By adding the flexibility of mobile units to areas without sufficient fixed infrastructure, this hybrid system could help make EVs a viable choice for even more drivers. 

Jade Sterling 

Science Writer

“Chloride deposits serve as mineral markers of ancient water activity on Mars. They’re a high priority in the search for evidence of past habitability on the Red Planet.”

— Dr. Mohamed Ramy El-Maarry, Associate Professor, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Khalifa University

The research team developed a global dataset with chloride deposit candidates ranging from 300 meters to over 3 kilometers in diameter. Their work advances earlier research on Martian chlorides which was limited either by spatial resolution or image coverage. The team’s approach leveraged high-resolution CaSSIS data to locate previously undetected deposits and add detail to known sites.  

One of the most innovative aspects of this approach is the application of machine learning to planetary geology. The team employed a neural network architecture trained to recognize the spectral characteristics and textures of chloride deposits. Chloride deposits on Mars typically appear light-toned and display a characteristic pink to violet hue in color-infrared images. By processing nearly 39,000 CaSSIS images, the neural network identified chloride candidates with a high average precision of 94.5% and near-perfect recall, reducing human biases common in manual image classification. 

“The distribution of chlorides in the dataset tells an intriguing story about Mars’ past,” Dr. El-Maarry said. “Most chloride candidates are in the southern highlands, with large deposits often found within ancient topographic depressions—craters and basins in low-albedo regions that suggest a once-wet environment. This aligns with previous studies showing a higher concentration of chlorides in the south, whether the planet’s climate likely supported rain and surface runoff about 3 billion years ago.” 

The team also made a breakthrough discovery: the identification of chloride-bearing terrain in the northern hemisphere of Mars. The northern chlorides are generally smaller and more degraded than those in the south, suggesting they may have experienced greater weathering and erosion, possibly from wind-driven processes or temperature changes over time. 

For scientists aiming to reconstruct Mars’ climate history, chloride-bearing deposits are key. Unlike other minerals, chlorides are soluble and can only survive where water has evaporated but remained largely isolated from later flowing water. The persistence of chlorides in the Martian crust implies stable water sources in the past, and their presence offers clues for where groundwater or surface water might have once been active. 

The implications for astrobiology are significant. In saline environments on Earth, microbial life has shown remarkable resilience, finding ways to survive and even thrive in extreme conditions. The discovery of chloride-rich terrains on Mars, particularly those sheltered from high radiation exposure, raises the possibility that ancient microbial life might have once existed in these regions. 

Jade Sterling 

Science Writer

“Understanding shale’s thermal evolution gives us a blueprint for designing better energy extraction and storage systems, from fracking to carbon sequestration.”

— Dr. Muhammad Arif, Associate Professor, Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, Khalifa University

With researchers from China University of Petroleum, Dr. Arif published the results in the International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, a top 1% journal.  

“Shale’s microstructural characteristics at different stages of maturity directly affect the design and success of gas extraction and storage processes,” Dr. Arif explained. “As shale heats up, does it become stronger or weaker? How do these changes affect its suitability for hydraulic fracturing or CO2 storage? For example, during hydraulic fracturing, water, sand and chemicals are injected into shale to release gas, which requires knowledge of how the rock will respond under intense pressure. Previous studies have provided only broad insights, lacking the nanoscale detail needed to truly understand shale’s behavior.” 

Additionally, as the world seeks more effective methods to decarbonize the energy and industrial sectors, the need for secure, permanent CO₂ storage has become urgent within the framework of carbon capture, utilization and storage. Injecting CO₂ into shale deposits, where it must remain securely trapped for long periods, requires precise knowledge of how shale responds to long-term exposure to high temperatures and pressures. Rock mechanical properties also play a key role in geothermal energy applications, where it is important to predict whether the rock can retain stability under fluctuating temperatures and pressures. 

By focusing on how temperature-induced changes affect shale’s ability to withstand pressure and resist fracturing, this study provides a foundation for designing safer, more efficient energy and environmental systems. 

The research team subjected samples from the Longmaxi Formation—a well-known shale source in China’s Sichuan Basin—to pyrolysis, a controlled high-temperature process that simulates the rock’s natural evolution under geothermal conditions. The team noted changes in material stiffness as the shale was heated, as well as structural changes in the rock’s pore network.  

“This densification has major implications for hydraulic fracturing, as a stiffer rock matrix with smaller pore spaces requires different fracturing strategies to release gas efficiently,” Dr. Arif said. “The denser structure also suggests an improved ability to trap gases such as CO₂, enhancing the rock’s suitability for carbon sequestration.” 

In shedding light on shale’s mechanical evolution, this study lays the groundwork for more efficient and reliable strategies in natural gas extraction, carbon sequestration, and geothermal energy. As researchers continue to explore shale’s nanoscale properties, the energy industry stands to benefit from innovations that make energy extraction more productive and environmentally responsible. The insights from this study move us closer to unlocking shale’s full potential in a sustainable energy landscape. 

Jade Sterling 

Science Writer