Scientists develop super-strong metal for next tech frontier

Materials scientists and engineers are reporting success in developing a new material that promises to help ensure that microelectromechanical systems can continue to meet the demands of the next technological frontier.

New polymer goes for a walk when illuminated (w/video)

Researchers have developed a new material that can undulate and therefore propel itself forward under the influence of light.

Nanostructures taste the rainbow

Combining nanophotonics and thermoelectrics, engineers generate materials capable of distinguishing between tiny differences in wavelengths of light.

Hydrogel cubes show highly efficient delivery of a potent anti-cancer drug

This active drug-delivery system addresses the limitations seen for the anti-cancer drug BA-TPQ - poor solubility and low bioavailability.

Fabricating high performance nanohybrid catalysts

Scientists have developed a method that allows them to engineer crystals with a large fraction of reactive facets.

Swimming microbots can remove pathogenic bacteria from water

Researchers designed 'two-faced' spherical particles to perform the task. One face is made with magnesium, which reacts with water to produce hydrogen bubbles to propel the microbots. The other face is made out of alternating iron and gold layers topped by silver nanoparticles.

Graphene aerogel holds record as world's least dense 3-D printed structure

The world's lightest 3-D printed structure is so lightweight that it can be placed on top of a cotton ball or the petals of a flower.

Making 'personalized medicine' easier and more precise with exosomes

Scientists are investigating how to tailor drug therapies using exosomes - nanoscale sacs full of biomarkers like lipids, proteins and nucleic acids found in bodily fluids - that can be used to achieve a noninvasive 'liquid biopsy'.

Magnetic particles that flock like birds

Tracking movements of individual particles provides understanding of collective motions, synchronization and self-assembly.

Vortex-antivortex pairs found in magnetic trilayers

A international team of researchers has discovered magnetic vortex-antivortex pairs arising from correlated electron spins in a newly engineered trilayer material. The discovery could advance memory cells and points to the potential development of 3-D magnetic logic circuits.

Injectable plant-based nanoparticles delay tumor progression

New research suggests co-administration with chemotherapy drugs most effective strategy.

Supersensitive through quantum entanglement

Physicists have demonstrated the deterministic generation of entangled photon states using a single semiconductor quantum dot, and could thereby outperform fundamental sensitivity boundaries, unattainable with classical light.

Continued funding of Collaborative Research Center developing nanomaterials for cancer immunotherapy

Focus on the development of drug carriers from polymer chemicals for use in biological systems.

A levitated nanosphere as an ultra-sensitive sensor

Researchers have demonstrated how to remove from and add elementary charges to a nanosphere that can be used for measuring extremely weak forces.

Ruthenium atoms on graphene to match platinum standard for fuel cells

Scientists have fabricated a durable catalyst for high-performance fuel cells by attaching single ruthenium atoms to graphene.

Lab-made synapses for artificial intelligence

Scientists have developed an artificial synapse capable of simulating a fundamental function of our nervous system - the release of inhibitory and stimulatory signals from the same 'pre-synaptic' terminal.

Extremely small gas and pressure sensors made from 'white graphene'

Researchers have found a way to create and clean tiny mechanical sensors in a scalable manner. They created these sensors by suspending a two-dimensional sheet of hexagonal boron nitride over small holes in a silicon substrate.

Nanofabrication: A slick route to smart surfaces

Controlled rupturing of thin films can make low-cost nanopatterned arrays for solar cells and biomolecular detection.

Nanostructured silicon - Bristling with potential

Better understanding the principles of silicon etching leads to improved surface patterning.

Nanoparticles improve the strength of metallic alloys

Superalloys are the wonder materials of metallurgy. By fine-tuning their composition, scientists can increase mechanical strength and improve resistance to corrosion and high-temperature shape changes.