Creating a single phonon in ambient conditions

In a new experiment, physicists have shown that a single phonon can be excited and detected at room temperature and in the air, making the quantum behaviour of vibrating matter more tangible.

A promising route to scalable quantum photonics

Scientists have integrated single photon emitters in 2D layered materials with a silicon nitride photonic chip.

New 'supercondensers' store electric charge in textile materials

Researchers have developed new devices that store electric charge in textile materials, which could be used to, for example, charge our mobile phone.

Flexible, biocompatible nanocellulose sensors

Researchers have developed flexible, biocompatible nanocellulose sensors that can be attached to the skin. The 3D-printed analytic chips made of renewable raw materials will even be biodegradable in future.

A simple way to control swarming molecular machines

The swarming behavior of about 100 million molecular machines can be controlled by applying simple mechanical stimuli such as extension and contraction. This method could lead to the development of new swarming molecular machines and small energy-saving devices.

Modified quantum dots capture more energy from light and lose less to heat

Researchers discover a new approach for capturing energy from light-generated, 'hot' electrons, avoiding wasteful heat loss.

Electrode-fitted microscope points to better designed devices that make fuel from sunlight

Researchers find that smaller catalytic nanoparticles may be vital for many kinds of devices that convert solar energy into chemical fuels like hydrogen gas.