Researchers advance nanotechnology technique to detect ovarian cancer

Scientists use fluorescent carbon nanotube probes to achieve first in vivo success.

Deducing the properties of a new form of diamond

Simple model used to compute elasticity of newly synthesized glassy diamond.

Scientists visualize structure of key DNA repair component with near-atomic resolution

At the first hint of DNA damage, a protein known as an ATR kinase activates the cell's built-in repair system. Scientists have now imaged this protein at unprecedented resolution, and are beginning to understand its response to DNA damage.

Squeezing light into a tiny channel brings optical computing a step closer

By forcing light to go through a smaller gap than ever before, researchers have paved the way for computers based on light instead of electronics.

Designing a golden nanopill

Researcher uses supercomputers to explore optical properties of plasmonic nanovesicles for drug delivery and investigations of molecules in the brain.

Biotemplates breakthrough paves way for cheaper nanobots

By using bacterial flagella as a template for silica, researchers have demonstrated an easier way to make propulsion systems for nanoscale swimming robots.

Neutrophil-inspired propulsion (w/video)

Researchers have developed a novel system that enables aggregates composed of magnetised particles to roll along a channel in a combined acoustic and magnetic field.

A molecular zipper for efficient gas separation

Metal-organic frameworks with chains of iron centers adsorb and release carbon monoxide with very little energy input.

Photosynthesis without cells: Turning light into fuel

An entirely human-made architecture produces hydrogen fuel using light, shows promise for transmitting energy in numerous applications.

Craters on graphene: Electrons impact

Novel defect control in graphene enables direct imaging of trapped electrons that follow Einstein's rules.

Lighting the way to switch chemical reaction pathways

Could the manufacture of the integrated circuits and chips for our everyday electronic devices be made simpler, safer and cheaper simply by being able to switch coloured light on and off?

High-yield production of intrinsic and defect-free MoS2 and WS2 2-D sheets

Researchers report report a general strategy for the high-yield production of MoS2 and WS2 quantum sheets with intrinsic and defect-free characteristics, which was achieved by sequential combination of salt-assisted ball-milling and sonication-assisted solvent exfoliation of the bulk materials.

A space-time sensor for light-matter interactions

Physicists have developed an attosecond electron microscope that allows them to visualize the dispersion of light in time and space, and observe the motions of electrons in atoms.

Nanostructure of the sea urchin spines inspires better cement

Based on the nanostructure of the sea urchin spines, researchers develop cement that is significantly more fracture-resistant.

'Swiss army knife' nanovaccine carries multiple weapons to battle tumors

Vaccine stimulates multi-pronged immune attack, inhibits tumor-induced immune suppression.

Surprisingly fast heat flow from graphene to its surrounding

Researchers have recently succeeded in observing and following, in real-time, the way in which heat transport occurs in van der Waals stacks, which consist of graphene encapsulated by the dielectric two-dimensional material hexagonal BN.

Magnetoelectric material shows promise as memory for electronics

In new research, scientists describe not only their unique process for making a high-quality magnetoelectric material, but exactly how and why it works.

Watching a quantum material lose its stripes

Study uses terahertz laser pulses to reveal ultrafast coupling of atomic-scale patterns.

Scientists make transparent materials absorb light

A group of physicists has demonstrated a highly unusual optical effect: They managed to 'virtually' absorb light using a material that has no light-absorbing capacity.

Mimicking reptiles and bug skin for industrial applications

Lizards and bark bugs are more similar than they may at first appear: both have unique ways of dealing with water, and this has caught scientists' eyes. The LiNaBioFluid project hopes to replicate both skin systems in organic and inorganic materials for a wide range of applications.

A transistor made of graphene nanoribbons

Researchers have succeeded in producing nanotransistors from graphene ribbons that are only a few atoms wide.

Researchers compare 'new' and 'aged' catalytic converter at the nanoscale level

Lower diesel emissions may be possible thanks to a catalyst that 'stays young'.

Piezoelectrics - Leaving lead behind

Thin films of a lead-free piezoelectric finally match the performance of the lead-bearing standard.

Revolutionary nanomapping microscope and labelling technique maps DNA mutations

A team of scientists has developed a new nanomapping microscope - powered by the laser and optics found in a typical DVD player.

A guidebook for exotic states

A theoretical model will allow systematic study of a promising class of peculiar quantum states.

Harnessing the rattling motion of oxygen ions to convert T-rays to visible light

A team of researchers has shown that terahertz rays can be converted to light visible to the human eye. The finding is a breakthrough for functional materials research and could lead to the development of a new kind of terahertz detector.

The ultimate defense against hackers may be just a few atoms thick

Researchers discover big cryptographic potential in nanomaterial.

Addition of tin boosts nanoparticle's photoluminescence

Scientists have developed germanium nanoparticles with improved photoluminescence, making them potentially better materials for solar cells and imaging probes.

New technique reduces side-effects, improves delivery of chemotherapy nanodrugs

Researchers have developed a new method for delivering chemotherapy nanodrugs that increases the drugs' bioavailability and reduces side-effects.

Researchers develop highly efficient thermochromic windows

Demonstration device dynamically responds to sunlight by transforming from transparent to tinted while converting sunlight into electricity.

Quantum-emitting answer might lie in the solution

By growing nanocrystals in solution, researchers have demonstrated a new colloidal technique for making optoelectronic emitters.

Atomistic calculations predict that boron incorporation increases the efficiency of LEDs

Using predictive atomistic calculations and high-performance supercomputers, researchers found that incorporating the element boron into the widely used InGaN (indium-gallium nitride) material can keep electrons from becoming too crowded in LEDs, making the material more efficient at producing light.

Researchers inadvertently boost surface area of nickel nanoparticles for catalysis

Scientists have discovered that a technique designed to coat nickel nanoparticles with silica shells actually fragments the material - creating a small core of oxidized nickel surrounded by smaller satellites embedded in a silica shell. The surprising result may prove useful by increasing the surface area of nickel available for catalyzing chemical reactions.

Nanosensor measures tension of tissue fibers

Computer simulations have helped a team of researchers to develop a peptide that is able to detect the tensional state of tissue fibers. This paves the way for completely novel research approaches in medicine and pharmacology.

Researchers achieve significant breakthrough in topological insulator based devices

Researchers have, for the first time, successfully demonstrated room temperature magnetisation switching driven by giant spin-orbit torques in topological insulator/conventional ferromagnet heterostructures with an extremely low current density, that can address the issue of scalability and high power consumption needed in modern spintronic devices.

Freezing electrons makes them get in line

New research suggests that electrons in a two-dimensional gas can undergo a semi-ordered (nematic) to mostly-ordered (smectic) phase transition, which has been discussed in physics theory but never seen in practice before.

Study shows potential for efficiently controlling 2-D materials with light

In experiments with an ultrafast ?electron camera,? laser light hitting a material is almost completely converted into nuclear vibrations, which are key to switching a material?s properties on and off for future electronics and other applications.

New method benchmarks organic mixed conductors

New framework compares the performances of organic materials for bioelectronics and energy storage.

High-refractive-index material retains high transmissivity after annealing at 850 degrees C

Successfully combined with magnetic garnet to yield ten times enhanced performance.

Drug-delivering nanoparticles seek and destroy elusive cancer stem cells

Researchers are sending tiny drug-laden nanoparticles on a mission to seek and destroy cancer stem cells, the elusive and rare cells that can cause cancer to come back even when years have passed since the initial tumor was treated.

Graphene oxide making any material suitable to create biosensors

Scientists have developed a new tool for biomedical research focused on single-cell investigation.

Discovery points the way to better and cheaper transparent conductors

Researchers have made a discovery that could improve the conductivity of a type of glass coating which is used on items such as touch screens, solar cells and energy efficient windows.

Tuning the wavelength of fluorescent carbon tubes

Scientists control the fluorescence of carbon nanotubes with potential applications in bio-imaging.

The electronic origins of fluorescence in carbon nanotubes

Researchers use electrical techniques to understand the infrared fluorescence of modified carbon nanotubes.

Quantifying quanta

Elementary quantum-computing device used to observe quanta in propagating microwaves.

Eco-friendly waterborne semiconductor inks using surfactant

Researchers have developed a technology to produce environmentally friendly water-borne semiconductor inks using surfactant. The result is expected to be applied to various electronic devices with a semiconductor surface control technique.

New microscope sets a record for visualizing surface wetting properties

Researchers have developed a measurement technique called Scanning Droplet Adhesion Microscopy (SDAM) to understand and characterize the wetting properties of superhydrophobic materials.

Ultrathin and flat graphene metalenses gain more properties

These optical devices, made of graphene and a punctured gold surface, could become optical components for advanced applications, such as amplitude tunable lenses, lasers (i.e. vortex phase plates), and dynamic holography.

New-wave spintronics comes to light

Successful injection of tiny ripples into ultrathin magnetic films holds promise for computer chips that never overheat.

Physicists develop faster way to make Bose-Einstein condensates

Method of laser cooling may speed up investigations into magnetism and superconductivity.