Elusive metal discovered
Researchers at Carnegie Institution find nickel oxide becomes metallic at enormous pressures of 2.4 million times atmospheric pressure, a goal in physics that ranks as high as achieving metallic hydrogen.
Nickel
Articles tagged with Nickel
Evidence of oceanic 'green rust' offers hope for the future
Research finds green rust played a crucial role in oxygenating the Earth's atmosphere, scavenging heavy metals like nickel from water. The mineral's high reactivity makes it promising for cleaning up polluted sites and removing toxic metals.
Stanford scientists spark new interest in the century-old Edison battery
Researchers have created an ultrafast nickel-iron battery that can be fully charged in about 2 minutes and discharged in less than 30 seconds. The new battery uses graphene and multi-walled carbon nanotubes to improve performance, making it suitable for applications such as electric vehicles and emergency situations.
Copper-nickel nanowires could be perfect fit for printable electronics
Duke University chemists created copper-nickel nanowires with improved stability and conductivity compared to plain silver and copper. The new material is an attractive option for printed electronics applications, including solar cells, LEDs, and clothing. Its low cost and high speed make it suitable for mass production.
Invisibility of magnetic fields made reality
Researchers at Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona manufacture a cylinder that hides contents and makes them invisible to magnetic fields, paving the way for the invisibility of light. The device uses high-temperature superconductor material and is fully isolated from external magnetic fields.
Inner workings of magnets may lead to faster computers
Researchers at CU-Boulder and NIST used X-ray lasers to study magnetism in nickel and iron atoms, finding that each metal behaves differently. The findings could lead to optimized optical energy delivery for hard drive performance.
SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 14, 2012
High bodily levels of nickel and selenium may lower pancreatic cancer risk
Research found that patients with high levels of nickel and selenium had a lower risk of pancreatic cancer, whereas those with high levels of lead, arsenic, and cadmium had an increased risk. These findings suggest a potential role of trace elements in pancreatic carcinogenesis.
Shape memory materials ready for mass production
Researchers have successfully developed a new, cheaper alloy for shape memory materials, which could revolutionize industries such as aerospace engineering and electronics. The new alloy, produced using copper, has shown promising properties and is expected to be cost-effective alternative to existing alloys like Nitinol.
Nickel nanoparticles may contribute to lung cancer
New research from Brown University finds that nickel nanoparticles can activate a cellular pathway that contributes to cancer in human lung cells. The study shows that smaller nanoscale particles are more harmful and potentially cancer-causing than larger microscale particles.
Experimental treatment offers relief from painful prostate condition
A new alpha-blocker treatment, silodosin, has been shown to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life for men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). The study found that approximately 60% of men reported feeling better after treatment, compared to 30% on a placebo.
Movement without muscles
Researchers identify epithelial cells as key to sponge movement, contradicting long-held assumption about muscle cell origins. The study uses 3D imaging to visualize sponges' contracted and expanded states, revealing a new understanding of the evolutionary development of musculature.
Nanoparticles offer hope for common skin allergy
Scientists at Brigham and Women's Hospital have developed nanoparticles containing calcium that can capture nickel efficiently without penetrating the skin. This breakthrough could provide a new strategy for preventing nickel-induced contact dermatitis, affecting millions worldwide.
Better than the human eye
Researchers developed a curvilinear camera with adjustable zoom capability inspired by the human eye. The camera combines simplicity and versatility, enabling applications in night-vision surveillance, robotic vision, endoscopic imaging and consumer electronics.
SourceNorthwestern University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 17, 2011
New inexpensive solar cell design
Scientists at University of Toronto have developed a new inexpensive solar cell design that uses nickel instead of gold, reducing material costs by 40-80 percent. The design employs low-cost electrical contacts, including nickel, to gather the electrical current produced by colloidal quantum dot solar cells.
Waste chip fat fuels hydrogen economy
Researchers at the University of Leeds have found an innovative process to produce hydrogen from used cooking oil, generating some of the energy needed and producing a nearly carbon-neutral byproduct. This breakthrough technology has the potential to power cars, large-scale power plants, and even reduce energy loss during transmission.
Study shows that size affects structure of hollow nanoparticles
Researchers at North Carolina State University found that the size of nickel nanoparticles plays a crucial role in determining their structure. Smaller particles form a single void, while larger particles create multiple bubbles, leading to hollow structures with potential applications in energy production and nanoelectronics.
Superatoms mimic elements: Research gives new perspective on periodic table
A team of researchers at Penn State has discovered that certain combinations of elemental atoms can mimic the electronic signatures of other elements. By examining photoelectron spectroscopy data, they found similarities between titanium monoxide and nickel, zirconium monoxide and palladium, and tungsten carbide and platinum.
Engineers produce 'how-to' guide for controlling the structure of nanoparticles
Engineers at North Carolina State University have developed a comprehensive understanding of nanostructural control during nanoparticle formation. They created hollow, solid, and amorphous nanoparticles of nickel phosphide with controlled structures using specific reactant ratios and temperatures.
New way to make sensors that detect toxic chemicals
Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a new synthesis method to create highly pure and small nickel oxide nanoparticles for gas sensors. The material reacts quickly and reliably to various toxic industrial chemicals and biological warfare agents, enabling the detection of these substances.
Nickel isotope may be methane producing microbe biomarker
Researchers found that nickel isotopic fractionation may be a useful biomarker for identifying methanogenic microbes on the early Earth. The presence of specific isotopic fractions indicates biological processes, such as microbial assimilation or uptake of metals.
Nanophysicists find unexpected magnetic effect
Researchers found that the last atom in a line of single-atom contacts behaves differently than expected, altering the defining properties of ferromagnetic metals. The Kondo effect is observed in these tiny contacts, contradicting conventional wisdom about metal behavior at the nanoscale.
Did a nickel famine trigger the 'Great Oxidation Event'?
Researchers found a drop in dissolved nickel in seawater around 2.7 billion years ago, which could have led to the Great Oxidation Event. This event increased oxygen levels dramatically, changing the Earth's surface environment and making advanced life possible.
A new link between nickel, methane gas and the evolution of complex life forms on Earth
A new theory proposes that a sharp decrease in nickel-rich volcanism led to the decline of methanogen bacteria, causing oxygen levels to rise. The discovery suggests approximately 2.4 billion years ago was when the planet became oxygenated, allowing complex life forms to evolve.
Common fragrance ingredients in shampoos and conditioners are frequent causes of eczema
A study at the University of Gothenburg reveals that over 5% of individuals tested are allergic to linalool, a fragrance ingredient in many hygiene products. The risk increases with exposure, and EU legislation requires labeling of products containing linalool.
A pocketful of uranium
Scientists create a protein that selectively binds to uranium, offering potential methods for detecting and treating uranium poisoning. The protein is based on a nickel-binding protein from E. coli and has been engineered to bind to uranium instead.
Do the hyper-coordinate planar transition metal atoms exist?
Researchers have discovered wheel-shaped structures with octa- and enneacoordinate planar cobalt, iron and nickel centered in perfect octagonal and enneagonal boron rings. The stability of these structures is attributed to the contribution from two kinds of orbitals, resulting in aromaticity with six delocalized p electrons.
New process creates 3-D nanostructures with magnetic materials
Researchers at NIST created a method to build complex 3D nanoscale structures of magnetic materials like nickel using standard semiconductor manufacturing techniques. The technique enables the creation of sensors and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) with magnetic alloys.
SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalJournal of The Electrochemical Society·DateJun 26, 2008
LSU professor works with international researchers to make quantum physics discovery
Researchers discovered a novel magnetic material that behaves differently from regular magnets, exhibiting string order and quantum phase coherence. The findings have strong implications for designing devices and materials for quantum information processing.
Supernovae -- cosmic lighthouses
Researchers have discovered that all Type Ia supernovae explode with the same mass and energy, making them useful for measuring distances. The brightness of supernovae depends on the amount of nickel they contain, allowing for more accurate calibration and future distance measurements.
Metals in China: Protecting the environment
A new research project in China aims to develop robust scientific guidelines for safe levels of copper and nickel in Chinese soils. The project will combine data from various sources, including European Union and Australian research programs, to explain toxicity across a wide range of environments.
Metals in China: Protecting the environment
A new international collaborative research project in China aims to develop robust scientific guidelines for safe levels of copper and nickel in soils. The project will combine data from European Union and Australian research programs with local Chinese data to explain toxicity across a wide range of environments.
MIT thinks small to find safer metals
Researchers at MIT create a new alloy using nanostructure manipulation to replace chromium, a toxic material used in industrial coatings, reducing fumes and improving resistance to corrosion. The technology has the potential to transform industries and improve worker safety.
MIT powers up new battery for hybrid cars
Researchers at MIT have developed a new type of lithium battery that can charge and discharge in about 10 minutes, making it closer to the timeframe needed for hybrid car batteries. The new material is more stable and safer than existing lithium cobalt oxide batteries, which are used in small devices.
Novel material may demonstrate long-sought 'liquid' magnetic state
Researchers find nickel gallium sulfide material exhibits disordered magnetic spin arrangement, characteristic of a liquid magnetic state. The team used neutron experiments to study the material's structure and properties, shedding light on its unique magnetic behavior.
A giant step toward tiny functional nanowires
Researchers at Northwestern University create a new method to produce nanowires with controlled gaps, enabling the design of devices for diagnostics and drug discovery. The technique, called on-wire lithography, allows for the fabrication of nanowires with precise electrical measurements on individual molecules.
In solution, tiny magnetic wires scatter light
University of Wisconsin-Madison materials chemist Anne Bentley discovered how suspended nickel wires can scatter light in various fluids, including molasses-like liquids. The phenomenon could aid in photonics and lead to the development of magneto-optical switches for storing information in tiny electronic systems.
Purdue study finds antioxidant protects metal-eating plants
A Purdue University study found that an antioxidant, glutathione, plays a critical role in protecting plants from toxic metals. Glutathione helps to minimize oxidative stress, allowing certain plants to thrive on metal-enriched soils.
New light on how metals change shape at the nanoscale
Scientists have identified a prominent way in which nanocrystalline metals change shape by using dark-field imaging techniques. Researchers report that at very small dimensions, grain boundaries themselves move and slide past one another to allow deformation.
A safer way to make metal nanospheres
The new method produces uniformly sized metal nanospheres with improved safety compared to current production technologies. The solution contains a metal compound, water, and a solvent like methanol or ethanol, reducing the risk of fire or explosion.
Step towards building tiny, molecular motors achieved by Hebrew University, UCLA scientists
Researchers from Hebrew University and UCLA successfully created a tiny molecular motor that can be halted, paving the way for nanoscale devices with high precision. The achievement uses light or electrical stimulation to rotate a molecule, opening up possibilities for industrial and surgical applications.
Urologist to study herbal remedies for prostate and urinary diseases
A team led by Queen's urologist Dr. J. Curtis Nickel will investigate herbal remedies like saw palmetto and pygeum africanum for treating BPH, prostatitis, and bladder disease. The study aims to determine the true effectiveness and safety of these alternative therapies.
Experiment could reveal 'extra dimensions,' exotic forces
Researchers at Purdue University are conducting an experiment to measure the Casimir effect, which could reveal new forces beyond the three spatial dimensions of length, width, and height. The study uses plates made of isotopes of nickel to test for a potential 'fifth force' that could interact with extra dimensions.
Genetic secrets of metal-eating plants uncovered
Researchers identify genes from a rare Austrian plant that allow it to accumulate large amounts of nickel, enabling the potential to engineer crops to clean up polluted sites. This discovery could also lead to functional foods with micronutrients and improved crop nutrition.
Scientists discover formula for long-life rechargeable batteries
Brookhaven National Laboratory scientists have developed a cobalt-free alloy that can store more charge and resist corrosion, leading to longer battery life. The discovery could lead to more affordable electric vehicles.
Biomolecular motors with propellers can live inside cells
Biomolecular motors powered by ATP and spinning nickel propellers have been successfully built and tested, enabling the creation of ultrasmall robotic devices. The technology holds promise for developing nanonurses and smart pharmacies that can detect chemical signals from body cells and precisely dispense drugs.
Nickel Plating A Monster Mirror
Nitec's electroless nickel plating technology has been used to create a highly polished mirror with excellent optical performance. The technique, which ensures an even deposit of the coating, has achieved enormous cost savings in the restoration project.
Chemists Discover New Processes In Fuel-Cleaning Catalysis
Chemists have discovered a key to enhancing hydrodesulfurization, the most widely used process for removing sulfur compounds from crude oil. By observing individual molecules on surfaces, they found that nickel atoms can act as 'sticky ballbearings,' capturing thiophenes and helping them bind at optimal edge sites.