A portable device for rapid and highly sensitive diagnostics

When remote regions with limited health facilities experience an epidemic, they need portable diagnostic equipment that functions outside the hospital. As demand for such equipment grows, researchers have developed a low-cost and portable microfluidic diagnostic device. It has been tested on Ebola and can be used to detect many other diseases.

Gold sensor is latest in a series of metal-detecting biosensors

Instead of a pan and a pick ax, prospectors of the future might seek gold with a hand-held biosensor that uses a component of DNA to detect traces of the element in water.

Breakthrough in dynamically variable negative stiffness structures

Researchers have developed an active variable stiffness vibration isolator capable of 100x stiffness changes and millisecond actuation times.

Moving electrons around loops with light: A quantum device based on geometry

Scientists demonstrate versatile, noise-tolerant quantum operations on a single electron.

Topological insulators: Magnetism is not causing loss of conductivity

If topological insulators are doped with impurities that possess magnetic properties, they lose their conductivity. Yet contrary to what has been assumed thus far, it is not the magnetism that leads to this.

Shape-shifting engineered nanoparticles for delivering cancer drugs to tumors

Researchers design modular nanoparticles attached to strands of DNA that can change shape to gain access to diseased tissue, like a key fitting into a lock.

Stretchable nano-devices towards smart contact lenses

Scientists create a stretchable nano-scale device to manipulate light.