Smart label could let you know when to toss food and cosmetics

Detecting food and cosmetic spoilage and contamination. Identifying new medicinal plants in a remote jungle. Authenticating tea and wine. Scientists have developed a low-cost, portable, paper-based sensor that can potentially carry out all of these functions with easy-to-read results.

A traffic cop for molecules

Easily manufactured membranes aid efficient chemical separation.

Stretchable biofuel cells extract energy from sweat to power wearable devices

A team of engineers has developed stretchable fuel cells that extract energy from sweat and are capable of powering electronics, such as LEDs and Bluetooth radios.

Electrons flowing like liquid in graphene start a new wave of physics

A new understanding of the physics of conductive materials has been uncovered by scientists observing the unusual movement of electrons in graphene.

Electronic skin takes wearable health monitors to the next level

A soft, stick-on patch collects, analyzes and wirelessly transmits a variety of health metrics from the body to a smartphone.

Nanotechnology helps rewarm fast-frozen donor tissue, enabling long-term viability

SWIFT magnetic resonance tool assures removal of nanoparticles from rewarmed samples.

Silk could improve sensitivity, flexibility of wearable body sensors

Scientists report they are on the cusp of using silk to develop a more sensitive and flexible generation of these multi-purpose devices that monitor a slew of body functions in real time.