Using spider-silk as a superlens to increase a microscope's potential

The dragline silk of the golden web spider, used as an additional superlens and applied to the surface of the material to be viewed, provides an additional 2-3 times magnification.

Breakthrough in the synthetic replication of composite-material structures found in Mother of pearl

For the first time, chemists have synthetically reproduced the structural configuration of natural mother of pearl or nacre.

Carbon molecular sieve membranes could cut energy in hydrocarbon separations (w/video)

Researchers have demonstrated a new carbon-based molecular sieve membrane that could dramatically reduce the energy required to separate a class of hydrocarbon molecules known as alkyl aromatics.

A changed exchange for magnetic materials

A method for controlling the magnetic texture of exotic materials offers a route to realizing the next generation of electronic devices.

Researchers discover how the liver prevents nanoparticles from reaching cancer cells

Scientists have figured out how the liver and spleen trap intact nanoparticles as they move through the organ.

Hybrid system designed to harvest full spectrum of solar energy (w/video)

A new concept could bring highly efficient solar power by combining three types of technologies that convert different parts of the light spectrum and also store energy for use after sundown.

A new way to display the 3-D structure of molecules

Metal-organic frameworks provide a new platform for solving the structure of hard-to-study samples.