Bluesky Facebook Reddit Email

This could replace your silicon computer chips

Researchers created a high-performance transistor using black phosphorus, which can operate as both n-type and p-type materials without extrinsic doping. This could lead to thinner, more efficient alternative to silicon chips in electrical devices.

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

The peaks and valleys of silicon

USC Viterbi researchers have developed new layered semiconducting materials that can be adjusted to achieve unique electronic and optical properties. These materials have potential applications in LIDAR systems, infrared thermal imaging technology, and flexible night vision glasses.

Towards graphene biosensors

Researchers have successfully created graphene biosensors that can selectively bind to specific molecules, allowing for precise detection and control. This breakthrough enables the development of inexpensive 'lab-on-a-chip' devices for medical diagnostics, promising a significant impact on healthcare.

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

New heterogeneous wavelength tunable laser diode for high-frequency efficiency

The researchers developed a novel ultra-compact heterogeneous wavelength tunable laser diode using silicon photonics and quantum-dot technology, achieving a wide-range tuning operation of around 1250 nm wavelength with an ultra-small device footprint. The obtained frequency tuning-range of 8.8 THz is a world record for QD and silicon p...

Stanford breakthrough heralds super-efficient light-based computers

Researchers at Stanford University have developed a breakthrough technology that enables the efficient transmission of data using light, potentially replacing wires in computing systems. The innovation uses inverse design algorithm to fabricate silicon structures that can carry infrared light, paving the way for faster and more energy-...

Efficiency record for black silicon solar cells jumps to 22.1 percent

Researchers from Aalto University and Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya have achieved a new record in black silicon solar cell efficiency at 22.1%, surpassing previous records by over 3%. The breakthrough is attributed to the application of a thin passivating film and integration of metal contacts on the back side of the cell.

Computing at the speed of light

Engineers created an ultracompact beamsplitter to divide light waves into two channels, bringing researchers closer to silicon photonic chips that compute with light instead of electrons. This technology could significantly increase the power and speed of machines such as supercomputers, data center servers, and mobile devices.

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

New shortcut to solar cells

Researchers at Rice University have discovered a way to simplify the manufacture of solar cells by employing electrodes as catalysts to create black silicon. The new process enables the production of black silicon with high efficiency and reflects little light, allowing more sunlight to reach the active elements of solar cells.

Printing silicon on paper, with lasers

A new fabrication technique allows for direct production of polycrystalline silicon on flexible surfaces, enabling the creation of wearable electronics and other applications. The method bypasses a traditional thermal annealing step, making it more suitable for use with flexible substrates.

Engineer improves rechargeable batteries with MoS2 nano 'sandwich'

Researchers have developed a new type of battery electrode made from molybdenum disulfide sheets wrapped in silicon carbonitride, showing improved stability and high lithium capacity. The discovery could lead to more efficient rechargeable batteries for smartphones and other devices.

New ways to see light and store information

Researchers have designed an organic electronic device with record-breaking ultra-long charge carrier lifetimes, opening up possibilities for new classes of devices such as sensitive photo detectors and flexible memory elements. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient solar cells, low-carbon electricity generation, and reduced e...

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Prototype 'nanoneedles' generate new blood vessels in mice

Researchers at Imperial College London and Houston Methodist Research Institute have successfully delivered nucleic acids to specific areas of the body using nanoneedles, prompting the formation of new blood vessels in mice. This breakthrough technique shows promise for treating damaged organs and nerves by repairing themselves.

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Chemists make new silicon-based nanomaterials

Researchers at Brown University have developed a method to create pure, p-type semiconductors from silicon telluride, which could be used in various electronic and optical devices. The materials can take up lithium and magnesium, making them suitable for battery electrodes.

30 years after C60: Fullerene chemistry with silicon

Researchers at Goethe University have successfully synthesised a silicon dodecahedron, a structurally similar compound to C60. The molecule features an Si20 Platonic solid and opens up new possibilities for the semiconductor industry.

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

New paper-like material could boost electric vehicle batteries

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside have developed a novel paper-like material composed of silicon nanofibers to boost lithium-ion battery performance. The material has the potential to increase specific energy by several times, making it suitable for electric vehicles and personal electronics.

The future of electronics -- now in 2-D

Researchers from Ohio State University are working to turn germanium into a potential replacement for silicon. They have created forms of germanium called germanane, which has the potential to transmit electrons 10 times faster than silicon and absorb light more efficiently.

Research shows benefits of silicon carbide for sensors in harsh environments

Research from Griffith University demonstrates silicon carbide's superiority as a semiconductor for high-performance sensors in various industries, including mining and aerospace. The compound's unique electronic structure provides mechanical strength, chemical inertness, thermal durability, and electrical stability.

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Self-assembled nanotextures create antireflective surface on silicon solar cells

Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory developed a method to create an antireflective surface on silicon solar cells using self-assembled nanotextures inspired by the structure of moths' eyes. The resulting surface reduces reflections and improves sunlight conversion, outperforming state-of-the-art coatings by up to 20%.

New laser for computer chips

Scientists have created the first germanium-tin semiconductor laser for silicon chips, enabling faster data transfer and reducing energy consumption. The new material can be applied directly onto a silicon chip, paving the way for high-speed data transmission.

Perovskites provide big boost to silicon solar cells, Stanford study finds

Researchers at Stanford University have developed a novel perovskite-silicon tandem device that dramatically improves the overall efficiency of conventional silicon solar cells. The device achieves an efficiency boost of nearly 50% with relatively low cost, making it a promising solution for the renewable energy sector.

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

Toward quantum chips

Researchers have built an array of light detectors sensitive enough to register individual photons and mounted them on a silicon optical chip. The approach increases detector density and sensitivity, yielding results up to 20 percent, which is a significant step toward practical quantum computing.

Stanford team combines logic, memory to build a 'high-rise' chip

The Stanford team created a high-rise chip with multiple layers of logic and memory, potentially leading to computing performance that is much greater than anything available today. The architecture leverages three breakthroughs: new transistor technology, multi-story computer memory, and innovative fabrication techniques.

Germanium comes home to Purdue for semiconductor milestone

Researchers at Purdue University have created the first modern germanium circuit, a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) device, using germanium as the semiconductor material. The breakthrough enables the industry to make smaller transistors and more compact integrated circuits, potentially replacing silicon in the future.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

New technique could harvest more of the sun's energy

Researchers at Caltech have developed a new technology to absorb and utilize infrared light, often lost in traditional solar panels. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient solar cells and sensors that detect light using electrostatic potential.

New technique to help produce next-generation photonic chips

Researchers from the University of Southampton have developed a new technique, Ultrafast photomodulation spectroscopy (UPMS), to help produce more reliable and robust next-generation photonic chips. This method uses ultraviolet laser pulses to change the refractive index of silicon in a tiny area on the chip.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Revolutionary solar-friendly form of silicon shines

A team of Carnegie scientists synthesized a novel form of silicon with a quasi-direct band gap, suitable for high-efficiency solar applications. The new allotrope, Si24, has an open framework structure and is stable at ambient pressure, making it potentially more effective than conventional diamond-structured silicon

Space: The final frontier in silicon chemistry

Scientists from the University of Tokyo have detected silicon and nitrogen-terminated carbon chain molecules in interstellar space using laboratory experiments. The discovery provides valuable information on the formation mechanisms of these molecules and their potential impact on understanding the chemical composition of the universe.

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

Producing solar power with impure silicon

NTNU researchers have developed a technique to produce solar cells using impure silicon, reducing energy consumption and production costs. The new method uses glass fibers coated with a silicon core, which is heated and stretched to create a thin fiber filled with silicon, resulting in lower energy requirements and fewer production steps.

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Future flexible electronics based on carbon nanotubes

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) show promise as a successor to silicon for smaller, faster and cheaper electronic devices. A new method improves their reliability and performance by coating them with PVDF-TrFE, a fluoropolymer that mitigates impurities and defects.

University of Utah engineers unlock potential for faster computing

Researchers have discovered a way to create a metal layer on silicon that can lead to faster computing without overheating. The new topological insulator could enable the development of quantum computers and spintronic devices that are billions of times faster than conventional computers.

Quick-change materials break the silicon speed limit for computers

Researchers have developed phase-change materials that can switch between crystalline and glassy phases to enable fast logic-processing operations. These new devices could process speeds up to 500-1,000 times faster than current silicon-based computers while using less energy.

For electronics beyond silicon, a new contender emerges

Harvard researchers have engineered a material to perform comparably with the best silicon switches, achieving an on/off ratio of greater than 10^5. The discovery uses solid-state chemical doping and exploits chemistry rather than temperature to achieve dramatic results.

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

Grant to help commercialize silicon surgical blades

A UC Davis engineering professor has developed a technique to mass-produce thin silicon blades at lower cost. The new technology enables the production of sharp blades with reduced manufacturing costs, opening possibilities for incorporating electrical and optical technologies.

Moving silicon atoms in graphene with atomic precision

Researchers at the University of Vienna successfully manipulated individual silicon atoms in graphene, revealing a previously unknown phenomenon where the silicon-carbon bond is inverted. This discovery opens promising possibilities for atomic-scale engineering and could lead to the creation of unique quantum structures.

Artificial membranes on silicon

Researchers have developed a new technology to create artificial membranes on silicon surfaces, mimicking those found in living organisms. The process uses commercial chemicals and is the first time anyone has made an artificial membrane without mixing liquid solvents together.

New analytical technology reveals 'nanomechanical' surface traits

Researchers developed a new technique to measure nanomechanical properties of microstructures undergoing stress and heating, revealing insights for improving microelectronics and battery designs. The technology uses laser-based Raman spectroscopy to study surface stresses and their impact on mechanical properties.

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Biomimetic photodetector 'sees' in color

Rice University researchers have created a CMOS-compatible, biomimetic color photodetector that directly responds to red, green and blue light. The device uses an aluminum grating that can be added to silicon photodetectors with the mainstay technology, "complementary metal-oxide semiconductor," or CMOS.

Researchers prove stability of wonder material silicene

A team of international researchers has successfully isolated thick multilayers of silicene and demonstrated its stability in the presence of oxygen for at least 24 hours. The breakthrough allows scientists to further explore the material's properties, which have made silicene a promising candidate for the electronics industry.

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Rice's silicon oxide memories catch manufacturers' eye

Researchers at Rice University have developed a breakthrough silicon oxide memory technology that can be fabricated at room temperature with conventional methods. The new porous silicon oxide version improves the forming voltage and eliminates edge fabrication needs.

Silicon sponge improves lithium-ion battery performance

Researchers developed a porous silicon material to replace traditional graphite in lithium-ion batteries, allowing for more energy storage capacity and longer runtime. The new material maintained over 80% of its initial capacity after 1,000 charge-and-discharge cycles.