Metamaterials shine bright as new terahertz source

Discovery demonstrates how metamaterials may be used in non-invasive material imaging and sensing, and terahertz information technologies.

3D-printed graphene aerogels improve energy storage (w/video)

A new type of graphene aerogel will make for better energy storage, sensors, nanoelectronics, catalysis and separations.

Nondestructive 3-D imaging of biological cells with sound

Researchers report the first known full 3-D scan of a single biological cell via picosecond ultrasound, an acoustic imaging technique.

From metal to insulator and back again

Metals are compounds that are capable of conducting the flow of electrons that make up an electric current. Other materials, called insulators, are not capable of conducting an electric current. At low temperatures, all materials can be classified as either insulators or metals. New work hones in on the physics underlying the recently discovered fact that some metals stop being metallic under pressure.

Materials scientists putting a new spin on computing memory

As computers continue to shrink, memory has to become smaller, stable and more energy conscious. A group of researchers is trying to do just that with help from a new class of materials, whose magnetism can essentially be controlled by the flick of a switch.

Quantum 'paparazzi' film photons in the act of pairing up

In the quantum world of light, being distinguishable means staying lonely. Only those photons that are indistinguishable can wind up in a pair, through what is called Hong-Ou-Mandel interference. This subtle quantum effect has been successfully imaged for the first time.

Nanoparticle drug reverses Parkinson's-like symptoms in rats

The researchers packaged dopamine in biodegradable nanoparticles that have been used to deliver other therapeutic drugs to the brain. The resulting nanoparticles successfully crossed the blood-brain barrier in rats, released its dopamine payload over several days and reversed the rodents' movement problems without causing side effects.