Winter can turn plumbing into a battlefield, with frozen pipes bursting and their joints failing under pressure. In this study, 18 teams of student researchers will face off in a school lab to test three common plumbing materials, copper, PVC, and PEX studying their joining techniques; soldering, solvent welding, and crimping against freezing conditions.
Over two weeks, we will subject a series of pipe assemblies into brutal freeze to thaw cycles, mimicking harsh winter weather, to see which ones crack, leak, or stand strong. By analyzing failure rates and durability, we aim to uncover the ultimate cold weather champion and share practical insights for homeowners and plumbers. Get ready our pipes are about to feel the chill!

This design proposal outlines the development of a bearing installation and proof-load testing tool intended to streamline and enhance the bearing installation process for Aero Components. The project focuses on creating an efficient and innovative solution using hydraulic press technology, with particular attention to the requirements of staking and swaging methods for securing bearings. The proposed design utilizes the HSP-30M Baileigh Hydraulic Press, which will be customized to meet specific operational needs, such as accommodating bearing diameters up to 3 inches and applying precise deformation forces. Key features include the development of a versatile attachment system, safety enhancements, and a digital feedback mechanism to monitor and control the hydraulic pressure during both installation and testing phases. The project aims to meet performance criteria, including visual inspection standards and proof-load testing requirements, ensuring the tool’s effectiveness and repeatability. Through a comprehensive testing regimen, the system’s reliability will be validated, with results documented to confirm the tool’s ability to perform under operation conditions. The proposal also includes a detailed project timeline, budget projections, and cost-management strategies, ensuring the project will be completed on time and within budget. The ultimate goal is to provide Aero Components with a tailored solution that optimizes bearing installation efficiency while maintaining high standards of safety, precision, and performance.

The growing environmental concern surrounding plastic waste has prompted the exploration of innovative recycling and reusing methods. This research investigates the potential of utilizing high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic waste to create sustainable bricks. Building on the work of Gjenge Makers, who have developed pavers from recycled plastic and sand, this study aims to evaluate the strength, durability, and environmental impact of plastic-sand composites and assess their viability as a substitute for conventional construction materials.

This study evaluates the structural integrity of reinforced concrete by comparing the mechanical properties of steel and fiberglass rebar. The primary objective is to assess the differences in material performance, performing compressive and flexural tests to quantify the ductility, load-bearing capacity, and durability of each rebar type under stress. The expected outcome is to determine the viability of fiberglass rebar as an effective alternative to traditional steel, particularly in terms of its mechanical performance and long-term reliability.

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have emerged as a promising platform for drug delivery and bioimaging due to their nanoscale size, water solubility, biocompatibility, and fluorescence properties. When functionalized, they enable both therapeutic delivery and real-time tracking in biological systems. This study focuses on the engineering of an optical system designed to cost effectively perform ex vivo spectra collection of GQDs. We utilized a bifurcated fiber optic cable connected to a laser and spectrometer, enabling simultaneous excitation and signal collection through a single optical path. Because excitation and collection occurred at the same angle rather than the conventional 90-degree configuration, a high optical density 840 nm long pass emission filter is utilized to optimize signal collection and minimize scattering. The system's cheap and easy to build design offers a streamlined method for studying nanomaterial-based therapeutics, providing a foundation for future advancements in biomedical imaging.

This study aims to educate participants about the formation and significance of grain structures in metals, focusing on the processes by which grains form and how these structures influence material properties. Using 1018 steel (low-carbon), 1045 steel (medium-carbon), 1080 steel (medium-carbon), ductile and grey cast iron, and PbSn (lead-tin) samples, 18 teams explored the random formation of grain structures through a series of preparatory steps, including mounting, grinding, polishing, etching, and hardness testing. Each team examined their samples at four magnifications to identify microstructural features and measure grain size using two different methods. In addition to the technical analysis, the teams focused on uncovering the artistic patterns that emerge from the randomness of grain formation. The study will highlight the art found in these naturally occurring structures, demonstrating how materials science and art intersect. By the end, participants gain an understanding of grain theory and microstructural analysis while also developing an appreciation for the unexpected artistic forms created by these random processes in materials like steel, cast iron, and lead-tin alloys.

Microclimates, which refer to the localized atmospheric conditions within small-scale environments, can be influenced by a variety of factors such as vegetation, topography, and human activity. One of the key elements that affect microclimates is the type of canopy cover present in an area. Open areas, where there is little vegetation and more exposure to the elements, often experience different conditions compared to areas with dense canopy cover, where the vegetation provides more shelter and shade. Understanding the differences in microclimatic conditions between these two types of environments helps us understand how these environmental conditions affect people, plants, and animals. The purpose of this study is to explore how microclimates vary between open areas and areas with closed canopy cover, focusing on factors such as temperature, humidity, and NDVI to better understand how canopy cover influences environmental conditions.

Cities are increasingly adopting and promoting actions in support of their sustainability goals to enhance community well being and improve environmental quality. These large, sprawling cities actions include providing more sustainable transportation choices, like bike lanes, micro-mobility options (e.g., scooters or e-bikes), and walkability. Yet, as municipalities offer these alternatives, increasing urban heat may deter residents and visitors from using them. Cities, such as Austin, Texas, have become hotter over the last decade due to increasing impervious cover and tree loss associated with urban (re)development. Urban trees provide cooling effects to the surrounding area through evapotranspiration and shade. Thus, tree shade is important to promote more walkable neighborhoods, especially in the summer months. This study looks at the relationship between canopy cover and urban walkability in Austin. Using a Geographic Information System, we examined the interactions between canopy cover, walkability, socioeconomic data (i.e., race, gender, income, and home-owner status), and sidewalks. In doing so, we found a total of 2,552.47 km of shaded sidewalks, equaling, about a third of all sidewalks in Austin. We also found that canopy cover and walkability vary by location. Some areas have high canopy cover and low walkability, whereas other areas have low canopy cover and high walkability. Preliminary results also indicate that some areas have less shaded sidewalks than others and vary based on an area’s socioeconomic characteristics. The results of this research may be used to promote sustainable cities and urban forestry along sidewalks to help mitigate the urban heat island effect.

Increases in city size and frequency have correspondingly led to increases in Urban Heat Island (UHI) strength and frequency. These urban heat islands have had serious implications for both children’s health and education. One widely accepted UHI mitigation strategy is green spaces. However, these have mainly been studied in the context of parks. This study aims to fill in a necessary gap of knowledge by studying the effect of green spaces at elementary schools. This was done by looking at the percentage of tree coverage at 273 public elementary schools in Tarrant County and comparing them to the Land Surface Temperatures (LSTs) of those schools. Google Earth Engine, ArcGIS Pro, and Google Spreadsheets were the three main software systems used to accomplish this. This study found that the percentage canopy cover and LST were inversely proportional at elementary schools in Tarrant County. It also found that other factors apart from trees effect LST.

With only four species of fish collected in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex as recently as the 1970’s, it is no surprise that the Trinity River was once referred to as the “mythological river of death”. Since then, coordinated improvements in water quality have led to the recovery of fish assemblages within the Trinity, becoming a well-documented environmental success story. To monitor that recovery, the Trinity River Authority has conducted Aquatic Life Monitoring surveys on one or more Trinity Basin waterbodies biannually since 2013. These surveys have targeted waterbodies with documented concerns or impairments for one or more water quality parameters, capturing conditions in both the Index (March 15-Oct 15) and Critical (July 1-Sept 30) periods. At each site, whole community fish data was collected via backpack electroshocking and seine netting, alongside benthic macroinvertebrate and habitat data. As of 2025, 30 surveys have been conducted on 13 waterbodies throughout the Upper Trinity basin. Although these surveys have targeted streams with water quality concerns, 90% of sites have scored as either High or Exceptional on the State of Texas Regionalized Nekton Index of Biotic Integrity. Here we will characterize the collected fish communities with over 12,500 individuals from 41 unique species collected during these surveys, while also describing the vision of the program over the next decade.