Project uses crowd computing to improve nanotechnology water filtration

The research was conducted by 150,000 volunteers at IBM's World Community Grid.

Surfing a wake of light

For the first time, researchers have created wakes of light-like waves moving on a metallic surface, called surface plasmons, and demonstrated that they can be controlled and steered. The creation and control of surface plasmon wakes could lead to new types of plasmonic couplers and lenses that could create two-dimensional holograms or focus light at the nanoscale.

Transition from 3 to 2 dimensions increases conduction

Scientists have for the first time described the behavior of electrons in a previously unstudied analogue of graphene, two-dimensional niobium telluride, and, in the process, uncovered the nature of two-dimensionality effects on conducting properties. These findings will help in the creation of future flat and flexible electronic devices.

Structural shift elucidated with large-scale atomic simulations

Iron-nickel alloys' structure changes as they heat up and cool down.

Fundamental observation of spin-controlled electrical conduction in metals

Ultrafast terahertz spectroscopy yields direct insight into the building block of modern magnetic memories.

New nanocatalyst does more with less platinum

Platinum is a highly reactive and in-demand catalyst across the chemical and energy industries, but scientists could reduce the world's dependence on this scarce and expensive metal.

3D atomic map gives clues to extending catalyst life

Researchers reconstructed the first 3-D atomic map of an industrially relevant zeolite material to track down its key element, aluminum.