Stick and slip

It has long been accepted that such a thin layer of lubrication between sliding surfaces alternates along with the cycles of sticking and slipping; it starts as a solid, turns to liquid in the slipping phase and then back to a solid when the surfaces stick once again. But a recent paper suggests this model is incorrect.

Single-beam two-dimensional spectroscopy

This new spectroscopy method is two-dimensional: It measures the response of the molecule to simultaneous illumination with two different wavelengths.

Squishy transistors: a device concept for fast, low-power electronics

Researchers have shown that a new device concept - a 'squishy' transistor - can overcome the predicted power bottleneck caused by CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) technology reaching its fundamental limits.

Light-emitting metallic gels

New family of luminescent materials could find broad uses in chemical and biological detectors.

Please do spill the oxygen

Scientists show how clusters funnel atoms to create oxygen pools that benefit biofuels, fuel cells, and sensors.

Biodegradable nanogenerator made from DNA can generate power from touch (w/video)

Researchers report the development of a biodegradable nanogenerator made with DNA that can harvest the energy from everyday motion and turn it into electrical power.

For 2-D boron, it's all about that base

Scientists have theoretically determined that the properties of atom-thick sheets of boron depend on where those atoms land.