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Research reveals link between beer and bone health

A study published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture reveals that beer is a significant source of dietary silicon, a key ingredient for increasing bone mineral density. The researchers found that beers containing high levels of malted barley and hops are richest in silicon.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of the Science of Food and Agriculture·DateFeb 8, 2010

Scientists discover repulsive side to light force

A Yale team has discovered a repulsive light force that can be used to control components on silicon microchips, paving the way for faster and more efficient nanodevices. The researchers found that by manipulating out-of-phase light beams, they could create a controlled repulsive force with tunable intensity.

SourceYale University·JournalNature Photonics·DateJul 13, 2009

New organic material may speed Internet access

Researchers have developed an organic material with high optical quality and strong ability to mediate light-light interaction, which can fill the slot between waveguides on integrated optical circuits. This innovation enables fast data processing in all-optical networks, potentially increasing internet speed.

SourceLehigh University·JournalNature Photonics·DateMar 15, 2009

Nanoscale materials grow with the flow

Researchers discovered that nanoscale lead atoms on silicon exhibit a fluid-like motion, enabling the formation of uniform-height islands in minutes. The unique behavior suggests that quantum mechanics governs the growth process, allowing for rapid self-assembly and potentially simplifying material properties manipulation.

SourceDOE/Ames National Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 11, 2009

NRL scientists study cracks in brittle materials

Researchers used computer modeling and experimentation to investigate how cracks grow at low speeds in silicon, finding rearrangements of atoms associated with ductile materials can occur near the crack tip. This instability can lead to macroscopic changes in the path of the crack, leaving behind ridges on the crack surface.

SourceNaval Research Laboratory·JournalNature·DateNov 20, 2008

Progress toward new storage media

Researchers have created reliable nanopatterns of a spin-transition compound on silicon oxide chips, paving the way for new molecular storage media. The development uses special unconventional micro- and nanolithographic techniques to print neutral iron(II) complexes onto silicon wafers in the form of fine lines.

SourceWiley·DateOct 27, 2008

Sweet nanotech batteries

Researchers at Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science developed a new material using carbon nanotubes to prevent lithium batteries from losing charge capacity over time. The new material achieved a discharge capacity of 727 milliamp hours per gram after twenty cycles, outperforming traditional sugar-coated silicon particles.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Nanomanufacturing·DateApr 10, 2008

Feeling the heat

Researchers at Berkeley Lab have developed a novel method to synthesize silicon nanowires with exceptionally rough surfaces, which exhibit high thermoelectric efficiency. This breakthrough technology could enable the widespread adoption of thermoelectric materials in various applications.

IBM reports milestone in silicon nanophotonics

Researchers from IBM, Kyoto University, Northwestern, and the University of New Mexico have achieved significant breakthroughs in silicon nanophotonics. The longest photon lifetime of 2.1 ns was observed in a photonic crystal nanocavity, while advanced microresonators with quality factors over 100 million were demonstrated.

SourceOptica·JournalOptics Express·DateDec 11, 2007

New computer program automates chip debugging

Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a new technology to automate post-silicon debugging, using puzzle-solving search algorithms to diagnose problems early on. This reduces parts of the process from days to hours, making it possible to produce computer chips that work correctly under all scenarios.

Molecules line up to make the tiniest of wires

A team of researchers has created an innovative method for producing tiny conductive nano-wires on silicon chips using self-assembling molecules. The process can produce nano-wires that are 5,000 times longer than they are wide, meeting the need for connecting smaller transistors and electronic components.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateAug 28, 2007