Nanosheet growth technique could revolutionize nanomaterial production

After six years of painstaking effort, a group of materials scientists believe the tiny sheets of the semiconductor zinc oxide they're growing could have huge implications for the future of a host of electronic and biomedical devices.

Nanotechnology: the big picture (video)

Advancements in nanotechnology could fundamentally change global approaches to manufacturing, medicine, healthcare, and the environment. In this lecture Dr Eric Drexler, Senior Visiting Fellow, Oxford Martin School, will look at current advances in the field of advanced nanotechnology, and the impacts and potential applications of their widespread implementation, and Dr Sonia Trigueros, Co-Director of the Oxford Martin Programme on Nanotechnology, and Oxford Martin Senior Fellow, will consider how targeted nanomedicine could change how we treat disease in the future.

First self-assembled superconductor structure created

Building on nearly two decades' worth of research, a multidisciplinary team has blazed a new trail by creating a self-assembled, three-dimensional gyroidal superconductor.

Polar vortices observed in ferroelectric

New state of matter holds promise for ultracompact data storage and processing.

Energy-saving minicomputers for the Internet of Things

The new EU project Ions4Set aims to develop single electron transistor switches based on nanoplillars.

The strain allows to control the magnetic properties of individual iron atom

The iron Fe2+ atom embedded in a semiconductor exhibits a single non-degenerate ground state of zero magnetic moment. A team of scientistss has just shown that by using sufficiently large strain it is possible to tailor the energy spectrum of the iron atom to obtain doubly degenerate (magnetic) ground state.

Super-sharp images through thin optical fibres

Super-sharp images from within the human body made through tiny endoscopes have come a step closer to reality. An advanced wavefront shaping method combined with unique optical fibres make it possible to focus lensless light at an unparalleled resolution.

Silicon-based metamaterials could bring photonic circuits

New transparent metamaterials under development could make possible computer chips and interconnecting circuits that use light instead of electrons to process and transmit data, representing a potential leap in performance.

Are some people more likely to develop adverse reactions to nanoparticle-based medicines?

The complement system, the human body's first line of defense against blood-borne intruders, is blamed for infusion-related reactions to nanomedicines, but the conventional models used to predict the risk of cardiopulmonary side effects in response to nanopharmaceuticals might not well represent what actually occurs in humans, according to a new article.

Graphene shown to safely interact with neurons in the brain

Researchers have successfully demonstrated how it is possible to interface graphene with neurons, or nerve cells, while maintaining the integrity of these vital cells.

A better foundation for 3D memory

The discovery of metal-like domain walls in magnetic insulators may help realize energy-efficient memory devices with massive storage capacities.