Cell-free protein synthesis is potential lifesaver

The device uses microfabricated bioreactors to facilitate the on-demand production of therapeutic proteins for medicines and biopharmaceuticals.

DARPA program seeks ability to assemble atom-sized pieces into practical products

DARPA selects 10 performers to develop technologies that bridge the existing manufacturing gap between nano-scale pieces and millimeter-scale components.

Thermal microscopy of single cells

Researchers explored whether it might be possible to tap into active thermography camera technology to create a sort of thermal microscope to produce heat maps of single cells to help them understand the thermal behavior of the cells or go a step even further by detecting diseased conditions at the sub-cell scale.

Improving accuracy in genomic mapping with nanochannels

Researchers have improved a nanochannel-based form of mapping by using dynamic time-series data to measure the probability distribution, or how much genetic material separates two labels, based on whether the strands are stretched or compressed.

Designing the topology of ion nano-channels leads to cleaner fuels

An international group of scientists has developed ion-exchange synthetic membranes based on amphiphilic compounds that are able to convert the energy of chemical reactions into electrical current. The new development could potentially be used in fuel cells, and in separation and purification processes.

Single molecule detection of contaminants, explosives or diseases now possible

A technique to combine the ultrasensitivity of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) with a slippery surface will make it feasible to detect single molecules of a number of chemical and biological species from gaseous, liquid or solid samples.

New acoustic technique reveals structural information in nanoscale materials

Researchers have developed a new nondestructive technique for investigating where and how phase transitions occur by examining the acoustic response at the nanoscale.

New silver metamaterial will help create an invisibility cloak and expedite computer processing

Researchers have proposed a two-dimensional metamaterial composed of silver elements, that refracts light in an unusual way.

Nano 'snow blowers' carve straight channels in semiconductor surfaces

Researchers report important addition to toolkit of 'self-assembly' methods eyed for making useful devices.

Simultaneous detection of the polarities of hundreds of semiconducting nanowires

Scientists have developed a technique to determine the individual polarities of hundreds of semiconducting nanowires in a single, time-saving process.

Understanding the mechanism for generating electric current without energy consumption at room temperature

Researchers have identified the requirements for the development of new types of extremely low power consumption electric devices.

Choreographing the dance of electrons

Scientists have discovered how to manipulate electrons in thin semiconductors by encapsulating them in atomically thin materials and changing the electric field.

Researchers create exceptionally strong and lightweight new metal

Magnesium infused with dense silicon carbide nanoparticles could be used for airplanes, cars, mobile electronics and more.

Infrared encoding of images with metasurfaces

Researchers have recently demonstrated metamaterial resonators that allow emission in the infrared to be tuned through the geometry of the resonator.

Controlling the thermodynamics of light

Scientists offer a more generalized theoretical description of chemical potential (usually denoted by the Greek letter mu) for light and show how mu can be controlled and applied in a number of physics research areas.

Optoelectronic microprocessors built using existing chip manufacturing

High-performance prototype means chipmakers could now start building optoelectronic chips.

Scientists make advances toward affordable photoelectrochemical (PEC) production of hydrogen

Scientists took a different approach to the PEC process, which uses solar energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The process requires special semiconductors, the PEC materials and catalysts to split the water.

Researchers found an unconventional phase transition in photonic structures

Physicists have researched the phenomenon of phase transition between photonic crystals and metamaterials - two types of periodic structures capable of manipulating light in intricate ways.

A quantum of light for material science

Computer simulations that predict the light-induced change in the physical and chemical properties of complex systems, molecules, nanostructures and solids usually ignore the quantum nature of light. Scientists have now shown how the effects of the photons can be properly included in such calculations.

Mixing nanocomposites? New math app helps you manage your mashup

Scientists at NIST have made recipe development a more palatable job.

'Squeezed' motion in a massive object

Everyone expects objects at the atomic scale to follow the weird rules of quantum mechanics. But in the past few years, scientists have shown that comparatively large mechanical objects can be coaxed into exhibiting a surprising variety of quantum properties.

Ringing in a new way to measure and modulate trapped light

Researchers have developed a novel way to noninvasively measure and map how and where trapped light vibrates within microscale optical resonators.

Nanoparticles of shell of plant virus spark immune response against cancer

Mice tumor free and protected from metastases after treatment.

Newly developed liquid crystal elastomer material could enable advanced sensors

Researchers have developed the first type of cholesteric liquid crystal elastomers with special properties that enable it to precisely emit laser light, without the use of mirrors, while being stretched.

Boron nitride-reinforced materials even stronger than carbonnanotube composites

While carbon nanotube-polymer nanocomposites have attracted enormous interest from the materials research community, a group of scientists now has evidence that a different nanotube - made from boron nitride - could offer even more strength per unit of weight.

Flexible sheet-type sensor for measuring cellular oxygen metabolism

A new tool useful for regenerative medicine and drug screening.

Researchers find a way to create focused spin wave beams

Synchronize an unlimited number of spintronic oscillators.

Precise molecular fingerprinting on the fly

Frequency-agile laser frequency combs take real-time multicolour snapshots of absorbing samples.

2D islands in graphene hold promise for future device fabrication

In what could prove to be a significant advance in the fabrication of graphene-based nanodevices, researchers have discovered a new mechanism for assembling two-dimensional molecular 'islands' that could be used to modify graphene at the nanoscale.

How about a jewel-encrusted nano-snowman for Christmas?

Would a jewel-encrusted snowman make the perfect Christmas present? At only 5 nanometres in size, the price might be lower than you think.

How nanoparticles give electrons away

Researchers have succeeded in quantifying the charge that is lost by a platinum nanoparticle when it is deposited onto a typical oxide support. Their work brings the possibility of designing nanoparticles with tailor-made properties a step closer.

Nature's masonry: The first steps in how thin protein sheets form polyhedral shells

First-of-its kind study shows beginning stages in assembly of bacterial microcompartments.

New hybrid electrolyte for solid-state lithium batteries

Scientists have developed a novel electrolyte for use in solid-state lithium batteries that overcomes many of the problems that plague other solid electrolytes while also showing signs of being compatible with next-generation cathodes.

New device uses carbon nanotubes to snag molecules

Nanotube 'forest' in a microfluidic channel may help detect rare proteins and viruses.

NanoOK: Quality Control for portable, rapid, low-cost DNA sequencing

NanoOK is the first open-source tool that provides comprehensive alignment-based quality control and error profile analysis for the MinION platform.

Femtochemistry: Atomic ballet in slow motion

Short electron pulses make it possible to observe a structural change in a complex molecule as if watching a film.

Creativity leads to measuring ultrafast, thin photodetector

Making an incredibly fast photodetector is one thing, but actually measuring its speed is another.

Researchers demonstrate tracking of individual catalyst nanoparticles during heating

Researchers have taken atomic-level images of individual nanoparticles during heating that could lead to improved fuel-cell technologies at lower cost, reduce dependence on imported oil and minimize greenhouse gas emissions.

Magnetic nanoparticle chains offer new technique for controlling soft robots

Researchers have developed a technique for using chains of magnetic nanoparticles to manipulate elastic polymers in three dimensions, which could be used to remotely control new soft robots.

Grad students aim to make nanotechnology fun, accessible for kids

Cornell is hoping to bring more 'cool science' to young students in the area with the establishment of CNF Ambassadors, a new program being run by the Cornell NanoScale Science and Technology Facility.

Alternative method for the representation of microstructures in polycrystalline materials

Raman microspectroscopy in an optical microscope provides the means to determine local crystal orientations of polycrystalline materials over large sample areas. This method can be used alternatively to electron backscatter diffraction in a scanning electron microscope.

A microfluidic biochip for blood cell counts at the point-of-care

Researchers have demonstrated a biosensor capable of counting the blood cells electrically using only a drop of blood.

A new process for rapidly fabricating complex 3D nanostructures

The new technique uses nanoelectrospray to provide a continuous supply of liquid precursor, which can include metal ions that are converted to high-purity metal by a focused electron beam.

Nanotech weapon against chronic bacterial infections in hospitals

Researchers develop a new technique that tricks bacterial biofilms into dislodging from their protective matrix, making them vulnerable to treatment with antibiotics.

Real-time tracking shows how batteries degrade

How disposable Lithium batteries degrade during normal use has been tracked in real-time using sophisticated 3D imaging, giving a new way to non-invasively monitor performance loss and guide the development of more effective commercial battery designs.

Attosecond glimpses into electron stripping

Measurements using ultrashort laser pulses show that ions take time to ?settle? after being stripped of an electron.

Nanodevices at one-hundredth the cost

New techniques for building microelectromechanical systems show promise.

Helical pores make perfect hosts

A porous framework consisting of liquid crystals aids the study of intriguing optical phenomena.

Synthesis of borophene - atomically thin metallic boron

Synthesis of borophene expands family of two-dimensional materials beyond graphene.

Scientists discover how cancer cells escape blood vessels

Study offers new targets for drugs that may prevent cancer from spreading.

Physicists develop graphene material for a more efficient energy storage

Predictions of physicists recently lead to the discovery of a material with special electric properties which engages the interest of plastics producing industry.

Facile hydrolysis of the Metal-NHC framework under regular reaction conditions

Researchers find that Ni-NHC complexes do undergo a hydrolysis with a breakage of metal-ligand bond.

Scientists blueprint tiny cellular molecular machine

Scientists have drawn up molecular blueprints of a tiny cellular 'nanomachine', whose evolution is an extraordinary feat of nature, by using one of the brightest X-ray sources on Earth.

Graphene proves a perfect fit for wearable devices

Cheap, flexible, wireless graphene communication devices such as mobile phones and healthcare monitors can be directly printed into clothing and even skin, researchers have demonstrated.

New microscopy technique maps mechanical properties of living cells

Researchers have developed a new way to use atomic force microscopy to rapidly measure the mechanical properties of cells at the nanometer scale, an advance that could pave the way for better understanding immune disorders and cancer.

A quantum pump for ultracold atoms

Scientists realize a dynamic version of the quantum Hall effect in optical superlattices.

Some like it hot: Simulating single particle excitations

Understanding and manipulating plasmons is important for their potential use in photovoltaics, solar cell water splitting, and sunlight-induced fuel production from CO2. Researchers have used a real-time numerical algorithm to study both the plasmon and hot carrier within the same framework. That is critical for understanding how long a particle stays excited, and whether there is energy backflow from hot carrier to plasmon.

New metamaterial manipulates sound to improve acoustic imaging

Researchers have developed a metamaterial made of paper and aluminum that can manipulate acoustic waves to more than double the resolution of acoustic imaging, focus acoustic waves, and control the angles at which sound passes through the metamaterial.

Researchers tailor power source for wearable electronics

Researchers have developed flexible wire-shaped microsupercapacitors that can be woven into a jacket, shirt or dress.

Big moves in protein structure prediction and design

Custom design with atomic level accuracy enables researchers to craft a whole new world of proteins.