Boron nitride nanosheets as super-absorbent material to soak up oil spills

Researchers have manufactured and tested a new material, called a boron nitride nanosheet, that can absorb up to 33 times its weight in oils and organic solvents - a trait that could make it an important technology for quickly mitigating these costly accidents.

Researcher to build internal nanotechnology device to simplify blood sugar testing

What if a diabetic never had to prick a finger to monitor his or her blood-glucose levels, and instead could rely on an internal, nanoscale device to analyze blood continuously and transmit readings to a hand-held scanner?

Doping powers new thermoelectric material

Adding sodium produces material that is most efficient at converting heat to electricity.

Nanostructures behind a tarantula's blue hue could improve displays

Scientists recently discovered that tiny, multilayer nanostructures inside a tarantula's hair are responsible for its vibrant color. The science behind how these hair-raising spiders developed their blue hue may lead to new ways to improve computer or TV screens using biomimicry.

Liquid foam: Plastic, elastic and fluid

Physicists have gained new insights into predicting how complex fluids react under stretching conditions due to the interplay between elasticity, plasticity and flow.

Nanomembrane technology improves the removal of salt from seawater

The membrane is partly made from silicon and overcomes several challenges of existing designs by tolerating the harsh conditions inside desalination plant equipment.

Researchers find new phase of carbon, make diamond at room temperature

Researchers have discovered a new phase of solid carbon, called Q-carbon, which is distinct from the known phases of graphite and diamond. They have also developed a technique for using Q-carbon to make diamond-related structures at room temperature and at ambient atmospheric pressure in air.

Physicists show skyrmions can exist in ferroelectrics

New theoretical physics research shows that swirling particles known as skyrmions, which have been found in magnetic systems, can also exist in ferroelectrics.

Tapping particles of light

Researchers have managed to 'pluck' a single photon - one particle of light - out of a pulse of light.

The switch molecule

A new kind of switch which operates at the nanometre scale has been presented by an international research team. The switch's state can be altered in a targeted manner using a single electron.

Researchers introduce new route to thermal measurements with nanometer resolution

Scientists reported on a versatile platform for nanoscale thermal measurements based on a combination of magnetic resonance, and optical and atomic force microscopy.

Highly tunable hybrid metamaterials fabricated using graphene

Researchers have demonstrated how the extraordinary properties of graphene can be exploited to create artificial structures that can be used to control and manipulate electromagnetic radiation over a wide range of wavelengths.

Tiny octopods catalyze bright nanotechnology ideas

New study shows plasmonic sensors and catalysts need not be mutually exclusive.