Neutrons reveal 'quantum tunnelling' on graphene enables the birth of stars

Graphene-based materials, prepared from the exfoliation of graphite oxide, are used as a model of interstellar carbon dust as they contain a relatively large amount of atomic defects, either at their edges or on their surface. These defects are thought to sustain the Eley-Rideal chemical reaction, which recombines two H atoms into one H2 molecule.

Back to the roots: Germanium outperforms silicon in energy efficient transistors with n- und p- conduction

Scientists have demonstrated the world-wide first transistor based on germanium that can be programmed between electron- (n) and hole- (p) conduction.

A ground-breaking method for screening the most useful nanoparticles for medicine

Researchers have devised a rapid screening method to select the most promising nanoparticles, thereby fast-tracking the development of future treatments. In less than a week, they are able to determine whether nanoparticles are compatible or not with the human body - an analysis that previously required several months of work.

Magnetic bubbles pop up

Skyrmionic bubbles, a potential data carrier in low-energy computing systems, can be controlled using temperature or a magnetic field.