Friday, February 13, 2015

Shape-memory polymer can repeatedly switch shapes without external forces

Although most materials slightly expand when heated, there is a new class of rubber-like material that not only self-stretches upon cooling; it reverts back to its original shape when heated, all without physical manipulation.

'NanoGap' sensor for early detection of bladder and kidney cancer

A new mobile device that allows bladder and kidney cancer to be detected at an early stage. Thanks to this method, it is possible to read from DNA whether their carrier has bladder or kidney cancer.

Researchers glimpse distortions in atomic structure of materials

Researchers are using a technique they developed to observe minute distortions in the atomic structure of complex materials, shedding light on what causes these distortions and opening the door to studies on how such atomic-scale variations can influence a material's properties.


Silver-glass sandwich structure acts as inexpensive color filter

Researchers bypass nanotechnology to create a simple design that can transform silver into any color of the rainbow.

Ground-breaking lung cancer breath test in clinical trial

A clinical trial led by University of Leicester respiratory experts into a potentially ground-breaking 'breath test' to detect lung cancer is set to get underway at the Glenfield Hospital in Leicester.


Nanotechnology pilot production facility planned at Lund University

A production facility for start-ups in the field of nanotechnology may be built in the Science Village in Lund, a world-class research and innovation village that is also home to ESS, the European Spallation Source.

Toxicity mitigation of nanomaterials used in inks and pigments using novel surface modification strategies (webinar)

Since 2012, the NanoMICEX project has been investigating ways to mitigate the risk and control workers' exposure to nanomaterials used in the inks and pigments industry. The project is nearing completion, and it is keen to share its knowledge with industrial stakeholders, scientists and policy-makers on how it has mitigated risks commonly faced in the sector.

Nanotechnology in dentistry - applications, hazards, benefits

Interest in the use of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) as either nanomedicines or dental materials/devices in clinical dentistry is growing. This new review paper details the ultrafine structure, chemical composition, and reactivity of dental tissues in the context of interactions with ENMs, including the saliva, pellicle layer, and oral biofilm; then describes the applications of ENMs in dentistry in context with beneficial clinical outcomes versus potential risks.


Seeing through sparklers

Scientists used a SuperSTEM electron microscope to study why brown colour occurs in diamonds and what happens to heat-treated stones.


Scientists establish the source of the peculiar stability of the structures forming carbon nanotubes

An unusual form of carbon ring structures has been identified for the first time in a family of doughnut-like macrostructures.


Frst successful demonstration of the biomedical use of gold nanotubes in human cancer model

Scientists have shown that gold nanotubes have many applications in fighting cancer: internal nanoprobes for high-resolution imaging; drug delivery vehicles; and agents for destroying cancer cells. A new study details the first successful demonstration of the biomedical use of gold nanotubes in a mouse model of human cancer.