New ceramic nanofiber 'sponges' could be used for flexible insulation, water purification

Researchers have found a way to make ultralight sponge-like materials from nanoscale ceramic fibers. The highly porous, compressible and heat-resistant sponges could have numerous uses, from water purification devices to flexible insulating materials.

Observation of the phase transition of liquid crystal defects for the first time

Scientists observed the phase transition of topological defects formed by liquid crystal materials for the first time.

Self-healing, highly sensitive nanostructured electronic sensors

Researchers have developed a facile and effective approach to fabricate spontaneous self-healing and highly sensitive sensors based on metal?ligand coordination and hierarchical structure design.

Scientists design molecular system for artificial photosynthesis

System is designed to mimic key functions of the photosynthetic center in green plants to convert solar energy into chemical energy stored by hydrogen fuel.

Conductive ink improves mechanical durability of printed e-textiles

Researchers have developed textile-permeable viscous ink which can be directly screen/stencil printed on textile substrates. This conductive composite enables highly conductive and stretchable wirings on textile with a simple and inexpensive way.

Lasers pick up good vibrations

The changes to the structure of a light-sensing protein have been tracked over incredibly short time scales.

Breaking Newton's Law

In the quantum world, our intuition for moving objects is strongly challenged and may sometimes even completely fail. Experimental physicists have found a quantum particle which shows an intriguing oscillatory back-and-forth motion in a one-dimensional atomic gas.

Seeing the forest and the trees to find parasitic reactions in batteries

Detailed view of the atomic scale and mesoscale changes in a troubling layer offers insights for a better battery.

Fulleren-graphene nanomaterials could end cracked electronics

Researchers found that by combining semiconducting molecules C60 with layered materials, such as graphene and hBN, they could produce a unique material technology, which could revolutionise the concept of smart devices.