New polymer-piezoelectric hybrid creates potential for 'materials that compute'

Moving closer to the possibility of 'materials that compute' and wearing your computer on your sleeve, researchers have designed a responsive hybrid material that is fueled by an oscillatory chemical reaction and can perform computations based on changes in the environment or movement, and potentially even respond to human vital signs.

Silica 'spiky screws' could enhance industrial coatings, additive manufacturing

A molecular process paves the way for improved silica structure design by introducing microscopic, segmented screw-like spikes that can more effectively bond materials for commercial use.

Interaction of tailored light with a single atom and individual nanostructures

By adapting a mode of the light field to a system under study, the interaction of light with matter can be optimized. In this context, the spatial distribution of the electric field of such a tailored mode plays an important role. Researchers use this approach to couple light to a single atom or individual nanoparticles.

Towards graphene biosensors

For the first time, a team of scientists has succeeded in precisely measuring and controlling the thickness of an organic compound that has been bound to a graphene layer. This might enable graphene to be used as a sensitive detector for biological molecules in the future.

Spintronics advance brings wafer-scale quantum devices closer to reality

Researchers have made a crucial step toward nuclear spintronic technologies. They have gotten nuclear spins to line themselves up in a consistent, controllable way, and they have done it using a high-performance material that is practical, convenient, and inexpensive.

Nanowires could be the LEDs of the future

LEDs made from nanowires will use less energy and provide better light. Researchers studied nanowires using X-ray microscopy and with this method they can pinpoint exactly how the nanowire should be designed to give the best properties.

Giving atoms their marching orders with nanotubes

Highly homogeneous nanotube enforces single-file flow of atoms in gas diffusion.

The world's first full-color, flexible skin-like display

Researchers developed an ultrathin nanostructured surface that can change color by applying voltage. The new method doesn't need its own light source. Rather, it reflects the ambient light around it.

Scientists highlight the importance of hybrid nanomaterials for non-invasive cancer diagnosis

Owing to recent spectacular advances in nanochemistry and nanomaterials sciences, substantial progress in the design and synthesis of synthetic nanoscale hybrid materials has been achieved with new or improved properties. This allows scientists to fabricate new hybrid materials that can be used in individual and multimodal imaging techniques simultaneously.

New device tracks chemical signals within cells

Biomedical engineers have invented a new device that more quickly and accurately 'listens in' on the chemical messages that tell our cells how to multiply. The tool improves our understanding of how cancerous growth begins, and could identify new targets for cancer medications.

Like cotton candy? You'll love electrospinning

Forget that old glucose test. In the future, suits of light and virus-filled fibers could detect trace amounts of biological molecules.

First report of detecting spin precession in silicon nanowires

Scientists have reported the first observation of spin precession of spin currents flowing in a silicon nanowire transport channel, and determined spin lifetimes and corresponding spin diffusion lengths in these nanoscale spintronic devices.

A novel scanning cavity microscope for nanosystems

Scientists can image the optical properties of individual nanoparticles with a novel microscope.

Researchers align atomic friction experiment

To study friction on the atomic scale, researchers have conducted the first atomic-scale experiments and simulations of friction at overlapping speeds.

Setting the standard for graphene

A recent estimate suggested there are more than 600 different types of graphene, commercial organisations looking to work with the material can struggle to know where to start. To address this problem, The University of Manchester and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) have joined forces by holding the Graphene UK Standardisation Workshop at the National Graphene Institute (NGI).

New technique to accurately detect the 'handedness' of molecules in a mixture

Scientists have demonstrated for the first time the ability to rapidly, reliably and simultaneously identify the 'handedness' of different molecules in a mixture.

Physicists fine-tune control of agile exotic materials

Tunable hybrid polaritons realized with graphene layer on hexagonal boron nitride.

Nanoparticle 'wrapper' delivers chemical that stops fatty buildup in rodent arteries

Experimental therapy restores normal fat metabolism in animals with atherosclerosis.

'Pick and mix' smart materials for robotics

Researchers have developed a simple 'recipe' for combining multiple materials with single functions into a single material with multiple functions: movement, recall of movement and sensing - similar to muscles in animals. The materials could be used to make robotics far more efficient by replacing bulky devices with a single, smarter, life-like material.

Biomanufacturing of CdS quantum dots

Engineers have demonstrated a bacterial method for the low-cost, environmentally friendly synthesis of aqueous soluble quantum dot nanocrystals at room temperature.

Using lasers to see the shape of molecules

Researchers have created a new technique for resolving the orbits of multiple molecular orbitals, a previously impossible feat.

Nanostructure design enables pixels to produce two different colors

A nanostructure design enables pixels to produce two different colors depending on the polarization of the incident light.

Artifical neuron mimicks function of human cells (w/video)

Scientists have managed to build a fully functional neuron by using organic bioelectronics. This artificial neuron contain no 'living' parts, but is capable of mimicking the function of a human nerve cell and communicate in the same way as our own neurons do.