Long-sought chiral anomaly detected in crystalline material

A new study presents evidence for a long-sought phenomenon - first theorized in the 1960s and predicted to be found in crystals in 1983 - called the 'chiral anomaly' in a metallic compound of sodium and bismuth. The additional finding of an increase in conductivity in the material may suggest ways to improve electrical conductance and minimize energy consumption in future electronic devices.

Making nanowires from protein and DNA

Using computational and experimental methods, researchers at Caltech have developed a technique for creating so-called protein-DNA nanowires - a hybrid biomaterial that could have important applications.

Molecular scientists unexpectedly produce new type of glass

A new could offer a simple way to improve the efficiency of electronic devices such as light-emitting diodes, optical fibers and solar cells. It also could have important theoretical implications for understanding the still surprisingly mysterious materials called glasses.

A future without cleaning

Self-cleaning windows, stain-resistant automobile interiors, graffiti-proof walls - there is a long list of things that we wish could have a surface to which dirt wouldn't stick.

Organic 'computers' made of DNA could process data inside our bodies

We invariably imagine electronic devices to be made from silicon chips, with which computers store and process information as binary digits (zeros and ones) represented by tiny electrical charges. But it need not be this way: among the alternatives to silicon are organic mediums such as DNA.

Lloyd's Register Foundation awards GBP9 million grants in nanotechnology

The Lloyd's Register Foundation has awarded grants totalling GBP 9 million to three international consortia in the field of nanotechnology. These grants support research and doctoral training that will support the Foundation?s aims to advance engineering-related education and research and support work that enhances safety of life at sea, on land and in the air.

Defects through the looking glass

Researchers characterize individual defects inside a bulk insulator using scanning tunneling microscopy.

Researchers identify behaviors of nanoparticle that shows promise as nanofertilizer

Rhave discovered unique behaviors of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HANPs) that show promise as a phosphorus nanofertilizer and could be used to help slow the release of phosphorous in soils.

Stick and slip

It has long been accepted that such a thin layer of lubrication between sliding surfaces alternates along with the cycles of sticking and slipping; it starts as a solid, turns to liquid in the slipping phase and then back to a solid when the surfaces stick once again. But a recent paper suggests this model is incorrect.

Single-beam two-dimensional spectroscopy

This new spectroscopy method is two-dimensional: It measures the response of the molecule to simultaneous illumination with two different wavelengths.

Squishy transistors: a device concept for fast, low-power electronics

Researchers have shown that a new device concept - a 'squishy' transistor - can overcome the predicted power bottleneck caused by CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) technology reaching its fundamental limits.

Light-emitting metallic gels

New family of luminescent materials could find broad uses in chemical and biological detectors.