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Aalto University


Making colors out of gold and DNA

Researchers at Aalto University developed a method to produce colors using gold nanocylinders suspended in a gel, controlled by custom DNA molecules. The technique uses polarized light to transmit specific colors depending on the orientation of the nanoparticles.

SourceAalto University·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateMay 31, 2022

The Rule of Two helps make spaces sound better

The Rule of Two method uses multiple measurements to collect reliable data, overcoming the limitations of single sine sweep techniques. This new approach will make it easier and faster to design rooms with optimal acoustic combinations, leading to better sound quality in various spaces.

SourceAalto University·JournalThe Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·DateMar 30, 2022

Convenient wireless charging for home use

Researchers at Aalto University developed a simple, low-cost wireless charging system that provides efficient charging regardless of device position or orientation. The new design uses a cylindrical power coil to create a donut-shaped charging field, increasing convenience and reliability for consumer devices.

SourceAalto University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics·DateMar 4, 2022

A new super-cooled microwave source boosts the scale-up of quantum computers

Researchers at Aalto University have developed a precise microwave source that operates at extremely low temperatures, potentially removing the need for high-frequency control cables. The new device could enable larger quantum processors with more qubits, increasing their potential applications in fields like computing and sensing.

SourceAalto University·JournalNature Electronics·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 9, 2021

Does environmental stress drive migration?

A comprehensive analysis of 178 countries reveals that social factors, such as income and education, play a more important role in explaining migration than environmental factors. The study found that income was the most important factor in some countries, while health was key in areas with high in-migration

SourceAalto University·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateNov 5, 2021

Non-toxic technology extracts more gold from ore

Researchers at Aalto University have developed a non-toxic alternative to traditional cyanide-based gold extraction processes. The new chloride-based method, called EDRR, achieves an impressive 84% gold recovery rate, surpassing the 64% recovered with traditional cyanide methods.

SourceAalto University·JournalChemical Engineering·DateOct 1, 2021

New type of wireless charger can charge multiple devices simultaneously

Researchers at Aalto University have developed a new type of wireless charger that can transfer energy to multiple devices simultaneously, achieving 90% efficiency within a 20-centimeter charging range. The technology bypasses traditional detection functions, allowing for self-tuning and motion-free device charging.

SourceAalto University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2021

How should governments offer subsidies for clean-energy heating?

A new study from Aalto University recommends that government subsidies for clean-energy heating be allocated to areas where homeowners can least afford the upfront cost, namely those with lower housing prices. This approach aims to promote energy-efficient heat pumps and reduce carbon emissions in Finland's residential buildings.

SourceAalto University·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateJun 16, 2021

Anyone can get super-hearing

Researchers at Aalto University developed a new audio technique that allows people to track bats in flight and localise sources of ultrasonic sound, enabling super-hearing. The device records ultrasound using microphones on a small sphere, pitch-shifts the signal, and plays it back through headphones.

SourceAalto University·JournalScientific Reports·DateJun 2, 2021

Warm ice may fracture differently than cold ice

Researchers at Aalto University discovered that warm ice behaves differently than previously studied cold ice, with no significant viscoelastic recovery. The team's findings suggest that warmer conditions are increasingly expected to affect infrastructure engineering in frigid regions.

SourceAalto University·JournalThe Cryosphere·DateMay 26, 2021

A new form of carbon

A team of researchers has discovered a new form of carbon that exhibits metallic properties, unlike graphene. The material, named Biphenylene network, is made by assembling carbon-containing molecules on an extremely smooth gold surface and has the potential to be used as conducting wires in future carbon-based electronic devices.

SourceAalto University·JournalScience·DateMay 20, 2021

AI learns to type on a phone like humans

A new AI model precisely replicates human touchscreen typing by simulating eye and finger movements, making it easier to optimize keyboard designs for better typing. The model can also account for different user types, including those with motor impairments, to develop personalized typing aids.

Battery parts can be recycled without crushing or melting

Researchers at Aalto University have discovered a new recycling method for lithium-ion batteries that replenishes spent lithium in electrodes without crushing or melting. This process saves valuable raw materials and likely energy compared to traditional methods, which extract metals from crushed batteries by melting or dissolving them.

SourceAalto University·JournalChemSusChem·DateApr 29, 2021

A path to graphene topological qubits

Researchers have successfully demonstrated the coexistence of magnetism and superconductivity in graphene, opening a pathway towards graphene-based topological qubits. This breakthrough finding enables the creation of Yu-Shiba-Rusinov states, which are crucial for achieving topological superconductivity.

SourceAalto University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateApr 28, 2021

New nanoscale device for spin technology

Researchers at Aalto University developed a new device for spintronics, allowing control and filtering of spin waves in devices as small as hundreds of nanometres. The device uses exotic magnetic materials to trap and cancel out unwanted frequencies, enabling faster processing and wireless transmission.

SourceAalto University·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 16, 2021

New physics rules tested on quantum computer

A team of researchers used a quantum computer to explore non-Hermitian quantum mechanics and demonstrated experimental results that are forbidden by regular Hermitian quantum theory. They also showed that entanglement can be altered in a way that is not possible under regular quantum physics.

SourceAalto University·JournalCommunications Physics·DateFeb 15, 2021

A magnetic twist to graphene

Researchers create a new platform for valleytronics by combining ferromagnets and twisted graphene layers, enabling the manipulation of electrons' 'valley' property. This opens up a new realm of correlated twisted valleytronics with potential applications in topological quantum computing.

SourceAalto University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 8, 2021

Entangling electrons with heat

Researchers from Aalto University have successfully entangled pairs of electrons using temperature differences in superconducting structures. This breakthrough has significant implications for quantum devices and applications, including exponential increases in computational capacity and secure information exchange.

SourceAalto University·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 8, 2021