Articles tagged with Nanotechnology
A team of scientists has discovered a new magnetic phenomenon by growing perfectly-crystalline atomic layers of a manganite on a nonmagnetic substrate. The discovery shows that adding just one extra layer can transform the magnetism, validating the polar catastrophe model.
Researchers developed a simple electrochemical approach to create intentionally defective graphene, altering its properties. By varying voltage, they controlled the thickness, flake area, and number of defects in graphene.
Researchers investigated nano-islands on a copper surface, finding that as islands grow, they transition from superlubricity to high friction; this phenomenon could lead to innovative nanobearing applications.
Physicists detect nuclear spins in single biomolecules for the first time using magnetic particles and novel experimental setup. This breakthrough improves medical diagnostics and analysis of biological and chemical samples.
The $1.6-million gift enables world-changing research in lung diseases and quantum computing through collaboration between the University of Waterloo and Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. Researchers aim to develop targeted drug delivery systems for pulmonary diseases and advance quantum information science.
The National Nanotechnology Initiative has published a report on the commercialization of carbon nanotubes, outlining common themes and potential future research priorities. The report identifies the need for increased efforts in manufacturing, quality control, and scale-up to produce CNT-based bulk materials with improved properties.
The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) has received a $1.5 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2016, with a focus on accelerating the transition of nanotechnology-based discoveries from lab to market.
A team of researchers has developed a virtual archive of building blocks to create nano-knots of all shapes and forms. By studying the shape of fragments, they found that complex knots can be assembled efficiently from just four helical fragments.
Researchers at Brandeis University have discovered that friction forces are nearly 1,000 times greater than previously thought at the microscopic level. This breakthrough understanding of friction is an important step toward designing next-generation microscopic and nanotechnologies.
For the first time, researchers have visualized the molecular machine made up of the estrogen receptor, its coactivator SRC-3, another coactivator called p300, and DNA. This 3-D image revealed the spatial relationships among these molecules, suggesting how the receptor recruits the co-activators and activates genes.
Researchers at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have developed a technique to rapidly explore, sort, and analyze samples with high-resolution X-ray imaging. This method enables the study of viral infections, cell division, and photosynthesis in unprecedented detail, and has the potential to revolutionize biology research.
Researchers are developing new software to visualize molecular machines, revealing their inner workings and structures. The Phenix software uses X-ray diffraction spots to create 3-D images of protein molecules.
The National Academy of Inventors has published a special issue of Technology and Innovation featuring presentations from the Third Annual Conference, including topics such as pharmacy and nanotechnology. The conference attracted 250 inventors and featured presentations by distinguished scientists and innovators.
A survey of 1,117 U.S. consumers reveals that most are willing to buy nanotech or genetically modified foods if they offer health or safety advantages. The study identifies four consumer groups: rejecters, averse consumers, price-oriented shoppers, and benefit-seekers who prioritize nutrition and food safety.
A new electronic chip with nano-sized chemical sensors can detect miniscule concentrations of hazardous materials in the air, surpassing even the most advanced detection dogs. The breakthrough technology has been tested on various explosives and shows great promise for providing a safer world.
Scientists at the University of Basel have discovered that proteins within nuclear pores function like a 'velcro', enabling controlled and selective transport of particles. This discovery has potential applications in lab-on-a-chip technology, where it could be used to miniaturize complex pump and valve systems.
A Danish/American research team has discovered an accelerator pedal that controls the speed of a molecular machine. By varying the distance between the starting and stopping points, researchers can increase or decrease the speed of the molecule.
JILA researchers developed a new AFM probe design that improves precision and stability in picoscale force measurements. The shorter, softer probes enable rapid, precise measurements of biomolecules like proteins and DNA, allowing for the study of folding and stretching events.
A paper-based device replicating human brain's electrochemical signalling has been created by Chinese researchers. The thin-film transistor (TFT) can mimic the biological synapse and could be used to build lightweight and biologically friendly artificial neural networks.
Jayan Thomas is working on creating materials for a 360-degree 3D image without glasses. His research has led to a $400,000 NSF grant to develop display screens using nanotechnology.
Scientists from McGill University and Sandia National Laboratories have successfully tested the 'Luttinger liquid' model, a mathematical prediction for one-dimensional quantum physics. The experiment measures the effect of electrical current on nearby wires, showing increased friction at low temperatures.
A new study presents a carbon nanotube sponge that can absorb water contaminants, such as fertilizers, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals, with improved efficiency. The sponge's porous structure and rough surface enable it to absorb oils and solvents up to 150 times its initial weight.
Scientists at UCL and international partners discovered a new mechanism controlling magnetic anisotropy at the atomic scale, enabled by electrical coupling between metal substrate and magnetic atoms. This discovery opens up new avenues for designing smallest devices for information processing, data storage, and sensing.
A new study found that US consumers are in favor of labeling food products with nanotechnology, and some are willing to pay up to 25% more for labeled products. The research suggests that people want access to reliable information about the risks associated with labeled products.
C-Voltaics, a University of Houston nanotech company, has won the $50,000 Goradia Innovation Prize for its commercially viable nano-coatings that protect various products from environmental hazards. The company's win is confirmation of market demand for its product, which was launched this fall in the Energy Research Park.
Researchers at the University of Washington have created a programming language for chemistry that allows scientists to design and build custom DNA molecules with specific functions. This new approach enables flexible control over chemical reactions, which could lead to innovative medical applications such as smart drug delivery systems.
C-Voltaics, a University of Houston start-up, won the Young Technology Award for its nanotechnology-based coatings that protect various products from environmental hazards. The company's product has shown significant potential for investment returns and audience interest.
Researchers have demonstrated a new type of quantum phenomenon called Klein tunnelling for two interacting particles. By crossing an energy barrier together, the particles can tunnel through what would otherwise be impassable to individual particles.
New research finds that coherent twin boundaries in metals contain tiny kink-like steps and curvatures, making them stronger but also more electrically resistant. This discovery challenges previous understanding of these materials and could lead to improved engineering designs for high-strength applications.
The Brain Activity Mapping (BAM) Project seeks to develop tools for greater understanding of the brain's intricate networks, potentially leading to treatments for neurological diseases. Advances in nanoscience and nanotechnology hold promise for probing the brain at a nanoscale.
Researchers at the University of Southampton have created an artificial material that can be controlled by electric signals. This breakthrough enables the rapid manipulation of metamaterial building blocks, leading to changes in transmission and reflection characteristics.
A study by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers found that the tone of online blog comments can significantly influence public perception of nanotechnology. Civility in online forums is lacking, leading to a Wild West environment where exposure to rude comments can sway perceptions of risk.
Researchers at the University of Alberta have developed a new technique to analyze the Barkhausen Effect, providing critical information for rapid prototyping of magnetic computational devices. The method measures magnetic jumps in a special 'vortex' pattern and converts it into a probe of magnetic interactions on an atomic scale.
The machine, inspired by natural ribosomes, can synthesize complex molecules in a synthetic process, with potential applications in pharmaceuticals and other industries. While still inefficient compared to natural ribosomes, the machine's development marks an important step towards more efficient manufacturing processes.
Scientists have created chemical modules that replicate complex interactions between plants, animals, and molecules, opening the door to more sophisticated molecular machines and computers. By using DNA and enzymes, researchers can now reproduce predator-prey interactions, mutually beneficial relationships, and competitive conditions.
Researchers at the University of Jyvaskyla have solved two acute problems in chemical catalysis using a novel intramolecularly assisted catalyst for beta amino acid synthesis. They also identified a new mechanism for the amine-catalysed Michael addition reaction between aldehydes and nitroalkenes.
Researchers from China have devised a universal method using just an optical microscope to measure graphene and other two-dimensional materials' thickness. The technique exploits the reflected light's red, green, and blue components, increasing contrast with sample thickness.
Researchers created a multilayer cake using graphene and boron nitride to form a nanoscale electric transformer. The breakthrough paves the way for complex electronic devices with novel architectures.
The American Chemical Society is honoring the 25th anniversary of National Chemistry Week with a symposium. The event aims to promote awareness of chemistry's value in everyday life through hands-on science events and demonstrations. The week-long celebration will feature presentations by prominent chemists, including ACS President Bas...
Researchers develop electrotactile stimulation devices that can respond to touch and finger movement, paving the way for smart surgical gloves. The devices could enable precise local ablations and ultrasound scans with unprecedented accuracy.
Researchers have developed a wireless power device called rectenna that can harness energy from smartphones and transmit it to nearby objects. The device is priced at just one penny per unit and has the potential to revolutionize daily interactions with everyday objects.
Researchers found fluoxetine to be a potent inhibitor of coxsackievirus replication, reducing viral RNA and protein production. The discovery has significant implications for understanding enterovirus replication and potential clinical utility for future treatment.
Researchers at NPL have demonstrated a monolithic 3D ion microtrap array that can confine individual ions at the nanoscale and scale up to handle tens of qubits. This breakthrough device could enable faster quantum computation and advanced measurements.
University of Montreal researchers developed a strategy to monitor protein assembly by integrating fluorescent probes throughout the linear protein chain. This approach enables capturing snapshots of protein shape at each stage of assembly, shedding light on how proteins self-assemble into working nanomachines.
UCLA researchers have developed a method to stabilize proteins using polymers, which could lead to improved protein-based therapeutics. The study found that attaching the polymer to the protein resulted in better stability during lyophilization and heat treatment.
UCLA researchers have developed a compact and cost-effective RDT-reading device that works in tandem with standard cell phones. The platform can read nearly every type of RDT, eliminating manual decision-making errors. It wirelessly transmits results to a global server, creating maps charting disease spread worldwide.
Researchers at Purdue University have developed a new type of miniature medical sensor that uses acoustic waves from rap music to recharge and monitor pressure. The sensor can be used to diagnose incontinence and treat conditions such as aneurisms and paralysis, offering potential benefits over conventional implantable devices.
Researchers at Kyoto University and the University of Oxford have successfully constructed a DNA motor capable of navigating a programmable network of tracks with multiple switches. The breakthrough uses DNA origami technology, allowing for autonomous nanoscale devices to produce predictable outputs based on different starting conditions.
Researchers have created new microtweezers capable of manipulating objects to build tiny structures, print coatings for advanced sensors, and grab live stem cell spheres. The tool enables the precision printing of chemical or protein dots onto microcantilevers, which can detect chemicals in air and water.
A team of scientists recreated the evolution of complexity in a molecular machine by analyzing ancient genes and testing their functions in modern organisms. They found that the increase in complexity was due to complementary loss of ancestral functions rather than gaining new ones.
Researchers at UCLA's Laboratory of Integrative Neuroimaging Technology use functional MRI brain scans to study mental activity patterns. They employ computerized machine learning methods to identify cognitive states and anticipate neurocognitive changes similar to predictive text-entry for cell phones and Internet search engines.
Researchers discovered a 'viscoelastic regime' in isolated protein molecules, exhibiting both elastic and viscous behavior. This finding opens up new avenues for understanding complex materials and potentially leading to advancements in protein engineering.
Scientists create one of the world's smallest electronic circuits, just 150 atoms away, revealing positive and negative interactions between wires. This discovery in quantum physics could revolutionize integrated circuit design and heat management.
Researchers at University College London discovered electronic stripes on graphene sheets, a finding that could revolutionize the exploitation of this material. The discovery was made using a scanning tunneling microscope and found that extra electrons arrange themselves into nanometer-scale stripes spontaneously.
Researchers outline challenges and potential solutions for synthetic molecular machines to fulfill their promise. The team proposes using metal-organic frameworks to organize molecular switches spatially and temporally.
Nanotechnology researchers at Georgia Tech have compared two techniques for chemically doping sheets of graphene for device and interconnect fabrication. Edge treatment, which reacts with defects created when the material is cut, was found to be thousand times more efficient than surface treatment.
Scientists are creating greener technology to prevent marine biofouling, a problem that costs the US Navy over $50 million annually. Researchers have developed stimuli-responsive surfaces that can shake off slime, inspired by nature's own anti-fouling systems.
Researchers used scanning tunneling microscopy to assemble 1-nanometer sized molecules into a 3x3 square array, showing varying conductance across the structure. The study demonstrates the beauty and intricacy of molecular electronics, with applications in miniaturized circuits and challenges to be addressed.
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have successfully demonstrated nanoscale spin waves, which could replace microwave technology in mobile phones and wireless networks. The study opens up new possibilities for magnonics, a field that uses nanoscale magnetic waves.
Scientists at University College London and Sapienza University of Rome have developed a method to manipulate high-temperature superconductivity in materials. By illuminating with X-rays, researchers can create and control tiny superconducting structures, enabling the creation of new electronic devices.