Web cookies (also called HTTP cookies, browser cookies, or simply cookies) are small pieces of data that websites store on your device (computer, phone, etc.) through your web browser. They are used to remember information about you and your interactions with the site.
Purpose of Cookies:
Session Management:
Keeping you logged in
Remembering items in a shopping cart
Saving language or theme preferences
Personalization:
Tailoring content or ads based on your previous activity
Tracking & Analytics:
Monitoring browsing behavior for analytics or marketing purposes
Types of Cookies:
Session Cookies:
Temporary; deleted when you close your browser
Used for things like keeping you logged in during a single session
Persistent Cookies:
Stored on your device until they expire or are manually deleted
Used for remembering login credentials, settings, etc.
First-Party Cookies:
Set by the website you're visiting directly
Third-Party Cookies:
Set by other domains (usually advertisers) embedded in the website
Commonly used for tracking across multiple sites
Authentication cookies are a special type of web cookie used to identify and verify a user after they log in to a website or web application.
What They Do:
Once you log in to a site, the server creates an authentication cookie and sends it to your browser. This cookie:
Proves to the website that you're logged in
Prevents you from having to log in again on every page you visit
Can persist across sessions if you select "Remember me"
What's Inside an Authentication Cookie?
Typically, it contains:
A unique session ID (not your actual password)
Optional metadata (e.g., expiration time, security flags)
Analytics cookies are cookies used to collect data about how visitors interact with a website. Their primary purpose is to help website owners understand and improve user experience by analyzing things like:
How users navigate the site
Which pages are most/least visited
How long users stay on each page
What device, browser, or location the user is from
What They Track:
Some examples of data analytics cookies may collect:
Page views and time spent on pages
Click paths (how users move from page to page)
Bounce rate (users who leave without interacting)
User demographics (location, language, device)
Referring websites (how users arrived at the site)
Here’s how you can disable cookies in common browsers:
1. Google Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data.
Choose your preferred option:
Block all cookies (not recommended, can break most websites).
Block third-party cookies (can block ads and tracking cookies).
2. Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security.
Under the Enhanced Tracking Protection section, choose Strict to block most cookies or Custom to manually choose which cookies to block.
3. Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the top-left corner of the screen.
Go to Preferences > Privacy.
Check Block all cookies to stop all cookies, or select options to block third-party cookies.
4. Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three horizontal dots in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Cookies and site permissions.
Select your cookie settings from there, including blocking all cookies or blocking third-party cookies.
5. On Mobile (iOS/Android)
For Safari on iOS: Go to Settings > Safari > Privacy & Security > Block All Cookies.
For Chrome on Android: Open the app, tap the three dots, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies.
Be Aware:
Disabling cookies can make your online experience more difficult. Some websites may not load properly, or you may be logged out frequently. Also, certain features may not work as expected.
University Scholar Zhengyang Wei ’26 is exploring ways to improve the stability and performance of aerodynamic designs.
Zhengyang Wei ’26, a mechanical engineering major and University Scholar, is conducting advanced research to improve the stability and efficiency of aerodynamic systems. His project focuses on analyzing shear flows, where fluid layers move at different speeds, to understand and prevent turbulence, a key challenge in fluid dynamics. Using mathematical models and stability theorems, Wei’s work aims to enhance the performance of systems like aircraft by reducing turbulent transitions.
Working under the guidance of faculty members Chang Liu, Reza Sheikhi, and Jason Lee in the School of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Manufacturing Engineering, Wei has already co-published a research paper and received a 2025 Summer Undergraduate Research Fund (SURF) award. As a member of the FLUENT Lab and a math minor, he plans to pursue a Ph.D. in fluid stability or optimization.
In a paper published as an Editor’s Pick in Applied Physics Letters, College of Engineering’s Georges Pavlidis outlines ways to manage heat in high-speed electronic.
When electronic devices overheat, they can slow down, malfunction, or stop working altogether. This heat is mainly caused by energy lost as electrons move through a material—similar to friction in a moving machine.
Most devices today use silicon (Si) as their semiconductor material. However, engineers are increasingly turning to alternatives like gallium nitride (GaN) for longer lifetime use and higher performance. This includes products such as LEDs, compact laptop chargers, and 5G phone networks. For even more extreme applications—such as high-voltage systems or harsh environments—researchers are exploring ultrawide bandgap (UWBG) materials like gallium oxide (Ga2O3), aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN), and even diamond.
Pictured in center, Georges Pavlidis, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, and School of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Manufacturing Engineering Ph.D. candidates Francis Vásquez, at left, and Dominic Myren, are co-authors of a “Perspectives” paper published in Applied Physics Letters. Together, they’re exploring thermal management strategies in ultra side bandgap semiconductor devices. (Sarah Redmond/UConn Photo)
The key difference between these materials lies in their electronic bandgap—the energy needed to get electrons to flow through the material. Wider bandgaps allow companies to reduce the size of their electronics and make them more electrically efficient.
“UWBG materials can resist up to 8,000 volts and can operate at temperatures over 200 °C (392°F), making them promising for the next generation of electronics in the energy, health, and communication sectors,” explains Georges Pavlidis, assistant professor of mechanical engineering.
While these materials offer promising advantages, they also come with challenges. They’re currently expensive, difficult to manufacture, and their thermal behavior is hard to measure precisely. As electronics become more powerful and in smaller dimensions, the heating in the device becomes more localized and can generate a heat flux greater than the sun, Pavlidis explains.
“Chip manufacturers need new methods to measure temperature in smaller dimensions,” he says.
Pavlidis, along with UConn’s School of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Manufacturing Engineering Ph.D. candidates Dominic Myren and Francis Vásquez, collaborated with colleagues from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory over the past year to tackle the challenge of measuring the heat output. Their work resulted in a “Perspectives” paper published in Applied Physics Letters.
Backed by a $2.3M grant from the NIH and NIH/NIBIB, Thanh Nguyen will stimulate cartilage regeneration in large animal model.
A team from the College of Engineering is developing an injectable hydrogel that could stimulate cartilage regeneration in large animal models. The work recently was supported by a $2.3M grant. Pictured, from left, is postdoctoral fellow Gang Ge, Associate Professor Thanh Nguyen, Ph.D. candidate I’jaaz Muhamaad, postdoctoral fellow Sumanta Karan, and Ph.D. candidate Achal Duhoon.(Contributed photo)
Millions of Americans suffer from osteoarthritis, a painful joint disease that wears down cartilage and can severely impact mobility. Pain medications only mask symptoms, and surgical option carry risks of infection and immune rejection.
At the University of Connecticut, a research team led by Thanh Nguyen, associate professor of mechanical engineering and biomedical engineering, believes the future of joint repair might lie in a tiny electrical spark—and a simple injection.
Backed by a $2.3M grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), Nguyen and his team are developing an injectable hydrogel designed to stimulate cartilage regeneration in large animal models.
“With current treatments, we’re managing the pain, not healing the tissue,” says Nguyen. “We’re hoping that the body’s own mechanical movements—like walking—can generate tiny electrical signals that encourage cartilage to grow back.”
The innovation harnesses the body’s natural bioelectric signals to promote healing. The injectable gel contains a piezoelectric scaffold—a composite made from biodegradable poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) nanofibers and magnesium oxide nanoparticles. When subjected to mechanical stress—such as joint movement or ultrasound—this scaffold generates small electrical charges.
As the body ages, a network of proteins and other molecules may structurally change, leading to a loss of elasticity and tissue strength in skin, joints, and arteries. This can lead to reduced muscle mass, stiffness, and increased susceptibility to chronic diseases like osteoarthritis.
Anna Tarakanova, assistant professor of mechanical engineering and biomedical engineering, leads a research group in UConn’s College of Engineering (CoE) that uses advanced computer models to study the mechanical properties of proteins.
In doing so, she’s developing nature-inspired materials that can mimic the flexibility of elastin or the durability of collagen. These designs could lead to innovations in medical devices, prosthetics, or even “repurpose” molecules for resilience in aging.
“Ultimately, our goal is to understand aging and disease at a basic, molecular level and how that fits into the bigger picture of how complex biological systems function,” Tarakanova explains.
Osama Bilal, director of the Wave Engineering Laboratory for Extreme and Intelligent Matter (on right), and Doctoral Student Mahmoud Samak are co-authors of a new paper documenting research into innovative soundwave technologies. (Christopher LaRosa / UConn College of Engineering Photo)
A team of UConn College of Engineering (CoE) researchers have achieved a major milestone in the field of Phononics with the first experimental demonstration of an all-flat phononic band structure (AFB). Phononics concerns the study of sound and heat control. A breakthrough, detailed in an article just published in Physical Review Letters, introduces a new class of materials capable of uniquely controlling sound and vibrations by trapping energy with unprecedented intensity, offering exciting possibilities for potential applications in acoustics, vibration insulation, energy harvesting, and beyond.
The work, led by Professor Osama Bilal, director of the Wave Engineering Laboratory for Extreme and Intelligent Matter (We-Xite), unlocks a new recipe for engineering materials with exotic behavior. In the experiments, the material serves a double function, Bilal explains, by being a perfect sound vacuum and wave amplifier at the same time.
The D2REAM Research Center team is continuing its work supporting advanced structural digital design and manufacturing, and discovery of novel metamaterials. (Christopher LaRosa / UConn College of Engineering Photo)
The funding is aimed at continuing academic, government, and industry partnerships that are developing groundbreaking modeling and simulation capabilities that can support the next generation of Army ground vehicle systems.
The $5 million in new federal government funding comes from a cooperative agreement with the United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC) in Warren, Michigan. GVSC maintains collaborations with higher education, defense and automotive industry parties to co-develop key ground vehicle technologies.
UConn President Radenka Maric hands a proclamation from Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont to Lee Langston, professor emeritus of mechanical engineering at UConn, during the “UConn Forum: Economic Engine of a Thriving Connecticut” event in the Rowe Commons ballroom on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. (Sydney Herdle/UConn Photo)
During the recent “UConn Forum: Economic Engine of a Thriving Connecticut,” which brought together leaders, researchers, and public officials, UConn President, Dr. Radenka Maric presented Prof. Emeritus Lee Langston, an ASME Life Fellow, with the proclamation from Gov. Ned Lamont.
He joined UConn in 1977 as a mechanical engineering professor after more than a decade at Pratt & Whitney. He also served a year as the interim dean of the School of Engineering (now a college), later retiring from UConn in 2003 but remaining active as a professor emeritus.
“His contributions to science and society are immeasurable,” Maric said in presenting the proclamation, adding that she first learned of his expertise in sustainable energy when she was studying for her Ph.D. in Japan.
This breakthrough in accurately predicting protein crystallization propensity is vital for developing drugs and understanding diseases
A new computational model and tool developed at UConn uses advanced techniques to analyze protein dynamics and predict their crystallization propensity accurately. (Christopher LaRosa/UConn Photo)
To the average person, knowing how a protein wiggles might not seem that exciting or pertinent, but then again, most people aren’t fascinated by the natural movements and fluctuations of proteins and their functional properties. If, however, you were interested in designing new drugs, better understanding how diseases can be eradicated or enhancing biotechnology for industrial and therapeutic applications, you might be on the edge of your seat waiting to see what a new study on protein sequencing and crystallization has to offer.
An article about that study, authored by Anna Tarakanova, assistant professor in the School of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Manufacturing Engineering at UConn’s College of Engineering, has just appeared in a prominent monthly scientific journal, Matter, which focuses on the general field of materials science. The study examines how the natural movements and fluctuations of proteins – the protein’s “wiggles” – can help predict their functional properties. Tarakanova was assisted by Mohammad Madani, a Mechanical Engineering graduate student and first author of the study.
Stephany Santos, named to the newly established Vergnano Endowed Chair for Inclusion, sees her role as helping students build successful engineering futures, no matter the challenges
Professor Stephany Santos at the Vergnano Showcase in April 2024. (Matthew Hodgkins/UConn Photo)
Stephany Santos, the new Vergnano Endowed Chair for Inclusion at UConn’s College of Engineering, feels like she’s been preparing for this role since she set foot on UConn’s campus in 2008, as an undergraduate preparing to study mechanical engineering.
Prior to her first summer at UConn, she was a participant in the BRIDGE program, which is a transitionary preparation program designed to support the success of incoming first-year students that are underrepresented in engineering.
The BRIDGE program, then run out of the Engineering Diversity Program led by Kevin McLaughlin, became a hallmark of her identity and purpose as an engineering student and leader at UConn, says Santos ’12 (ENG) ’20 Ph.D. She volunteered for every program offered by the Engineering Diversity Program, from Multiply Your Options, a program designed to inspire 8th-grade girls to think about STEM, to the Northeast Regional Science Bowl, the largest regional competition in the country for high school students competing quiz-bowl-style in STEM questions.
During this period Santos also helped found UConn’s student organization Engineering Ambassadors. This is an organization that supports K-12 teachers and education systems by broadening understanding and access to engineering, and by exploring how engineers can change the world for good. These programs, Santos explains, are foundational in creating confidence academically, connections psychosocially and inspiration professionally.
Anna Tarakanova
