The university's mechanical engineering department was given the bus by the federal government early this year for research and development, said mechanical engineering professor Vernon Roan.

CNN: Bus showcases fuel cell technology

The family source said Abdulmutallab received a college degree at the University College London, where spokesman Dave Weston said a man named Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab was enrolled in the mechanical engineering department between September 2005 and June 2008.

CNN: Obama orders review of flight screenings

The CBL grant was specifically earmarked for Mechanical Engineering, the largest department in the School.

FORBES: Grants Expanding Opportunities for Women in Science

Dr. James Friend, senior lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Monash University in Australia, is developing a nanobot propelled by a tiny rotor motor measuring about five-millionths of a meter.

CNN: Nanobots get to the heart of the matter

Dr. Dennis Leung, assistant professor at Hong Kong University's Department of Mechanical Engineering, says the innovative design will enable people to harness wind power and reducing greenhouse gases at an affordable price.

CNN: Lucien Gambarota: Alternative energy pioneer

Conventional small wind turbines only work 20 percent to 40 percent of the time due to variations in wind speed, according to the Department of Mechanical Engineering of The University of Hong Kong and Motorwave.

CNN: Lucien Gambarota: Alternative energy pioneer

The data showed the average forces of a soccer-ball header were similar to those exerted on the head by punches from amateur boxers, according to Daniel Plant, a researcher in Imperial's department of mechanical engineering, who presented the data Friday at a helmet-safety science conference at the university.

WSJ: Soccer 'Header' Impact Likened to Hard Punch