Nanotechnology may revolutionize future engines (w/video)

Scientists are on the hunt for nanomaterials that could improve engine technology in a big way.

'Schroedinger's cat' molecules give rise to exquisitely detailed movies

Scientists exploit a famous bit of quantum weirdness to film a molecule's inner life.

Ahead of the 'curve' in magnetic study

When a baseball pitcher uncorks a nasty curveball, the spinning motion of the ball forces air to flow around it at different speeds, causing the ball to 'break' in one direction. The physics behind this kind of deflection also work at smaller scales.

A conscious coupling of magnetic and electric materials at the atomic scale

New multiferroic material is a big step in march toward ultra-low power electronics.

Reshaping the virus

Scientists have created a new method to help researchers discover how much the virus?s size matters. By mutating a single amino acid in a bacterial virus, the team drastically changed the size of its protein coating, or capsid.

Speedy bacteria nanosensor detector could help prevent foodborne illnesses

Researchers developed a hybrid nanosensor incorporating magnetic resonance and fluorescence. Lab testing of milk showed the detector could sense varying concentrations of a pathogenic strain of E. coli known as O157:H7 in less than an hour.

Detecting blood alcohol content with an electronic skin patch

To help imbibers easily and quickly know when they?ve had enough, scientists have developed a flexible, wearable patch that can detect a person's blood-alcohol level from his or her sweat.

The microdoctors in our bodies

Researchers are developing tiny, sophisticated technological and biological machines enabling non-invasive, selective therapies. Their creations include genetically modified cells that can be activated via brain waves, and swarms of microrobots that facilitate highly precise application of drugs.

Researchers control 'shear-band' defects in manufacturing processes

An international team of researchers has invented a method to control the formation of defects called 'shear bands' in metals manufacturing processes and discovered microscopic details of how the defects are created.

Defects at the spinterface disrupt transmission

Researchers put metal-oxides and organic magnets together; applications for electronics in sight.

New nano-optics study offers insight for improved plasmonic grating design

Researchers have discovered that a newly developed plasmonic fabrication capability and design can improve the performance of biosensors, solar cells and photodetectors.

Hybrid material opens the door to new possibilities in graphene applications

Researchers have succeeded in linking graphene with another important chemical group, the porphyrins. These new hybrid structures could also be used in the field of molecular electronics, catalysis or even as sensors.