Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Home Page Perfect Exposure The VIP in George Xu’s radiological engineering laboratory is not the principal investigator himself. Nor is it a postdoctoral fellow or a graduate student. And it is not Karl, the life-size torso made of high-tech plastic. VIP-Man (VIsible Photographic Man) is a computer code containing three billion voxels (a voxel is a 3-D pixel) of information. He and yes, VIP-Man is male is research subject extraordinaire used to study how radiation affects the human body. Learn more Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Education for Working Professionals (EWP) Corporate & Foundation Relations Government & Community Relations International Advancement Human Resources Incubator Program Technology Commercialization Technology Park RPI Bookstore Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was established in Troy, N.Y., in 1824 by Stephen Van Rensselaer “for the purpose of instructing persons, who may choose to apply themselves, in the application of science to the common purposes of life.” Buckled carbon nanotubes under compression (RPI/Cao) Nanotube Foams Flex and Rebound With “Super Compressibility” Carbon nanotubes have enticed researchers since their discovery in 1991, offering an impressive combination of high strength and low weight. Now a recent study suggests that they also act like “super-compressible” springs, opening the door to foam-like materials for just about any application where strength and flexibility are needed, from disposable coffee cups to the exterior of the space shuttle.   Read more Electronic Walls and Ceilings Make it Easy to Change Lighting and Room Design The Alliance for Solid-State Illumination Systems and Technologies, an LED industry group organized by the Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer, has unveiled a novel concept for lighting homes and offices. The design integrates light-emitting diode (LED) technology with building materials and systems to create electronic walls and ceilings.   Read more Toxicology-on-a-Chip Tool Being Readied for Biotechnology Market Researchers at Rensselaer, University of California-Berkeley, and Solidus Biosciences Inc. have developed a biochip, called the MetaChip, which can analyze pharmaceutical drug candidates for toxicity and eliminate harmful ones before they advance to pre-clinical stages. They’re working to bring the MetaChip to market within a year.   Read more Fostering Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation in the Maghreb Rensselaer’s Lally School of Management and Technology, in conjunction with the Institute of Advanced Business Studies in Tunisia, Africa, recently hosted a symposium, “Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Economic Development in the Maghreb”.   Read more Architecture Students Garner Top Honors in International Design Competition Two teams of fifth-year architecture students at Rensselaer garnered top honors first and third place overall in the Global House 2005 International Design Competition, selected from among more than 250 entries from 44 countries.   Read more Harnessing the Heating and Cooling Powers of the Sun Imagine heat radiating fr