Jan 26, 2022 (Nanowerk News) Spectroscopy at the Advanced Light Source (ALS) and theoretical calculations at the Molecular Foundry revealed the intrinsic spectroscopic signature of lithium metal and explained the origin of previous contradictory reports. The findings (ACS Applied Materials Interfaces, "Controlled experiments and optimized theory of absorption spectra of...
Maize and milk proteins can replace fossil fuels and metals in the production of nanostructured surfaces
Jan 26, 2022 (Nanowerk News) Nanotechnology can be found almost everywhere in our daily lives, although it is nearly impossible to see. Nanostructures are materials that have been processed at the atomic level to obtain desired material properties. They are used, for instance, in electronics, diagnostics, and as surface treatments...
Fat-burning hydrogel fights obesity (w/video)
Jan 26, 2022 (Nanowerk News) Scientists at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have developed a new therapeutic approach to obesity and related metabolic disorders that in laboratory experiments demonstrated a significant reduction in body fat, body weight, and improvement in the blood markers that accompany these disorders. Developed by...
Cosmic chemistry in the lab
Jan 26, 2022 (Nanowerk News) Using DESY's free-electron laser FLASH, scientists have recreated some of the harsh environment of interstellar space in the lab and analysed the reaction of astrochemical molecules to these conditions. The results show a comprehensive picture of the dynamics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) under extreme...
Illuminating a biological light switch
Jan 26, 2022 (Nanowerk News) Using an innovative new imaging technique, researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have revealed the inner workings of a family of light-sensing molecules in unprecedented detail and speed. The work could inform new strategies in the burgeoning field of optogenetics, which uses light pulses to alter...
Kirigami robotic grippers are delicate enough to lift egg yolks (w/video)
Jan 26, 2022 (Nanowerk News) Engineering researchers from North Carolina State University have demonstrated a new type of flexible, robotic grippers that are able to lift delicate egg yolks without breaking them, and that are precise enough to lift a human hair. The work has applications for both soft robotics...
Nanoparticle-formulated drug combination is effective in medulloblastoma, a pediatric brain tumor
Jan 26, 2022 (Nanowerk News) UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers have demonstrated that a novel combination of two drugs that act as targeted inhibitors, delivered in a nanoparticle formulation, extend the survival of mice with medulloblastoma. The research team believes this laboratory success could be translated into a less...
Mysterious object unlike anything astronomers have seen before
Jan 26, 2022 (Nanowerk News) A team mapping radio waves in the Universe has discovered something unusual that releases a giant burst of energy three times an hour, and it’s unlike anything astronomers have seen before (Nature, "A radio transient with unusually slow periodic emission"). The team who discovered it...
‘Smart’ saddle with triboelectric nanogenerators could help equestrians hit their stride (w/video)
Jan 26, 2022 (Nanowerk News) Skilled equestrians make advanced riding maneuvers, like jumps, spins and piaffes, look effortless. But good riding requires balance and subtle cues to the horse, many of which are given through the rider’s posture, seat and legs. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Nano ("Self-Rebound Cambered Triboelectric...
Technological improvements in lubricant development due to recent advances in nano additives
Jan 26, 2022 (Nanowerk Spotlight) Lubricants are essential for optimal equipment efficiency and performance. However, in order for the latter to be achieved, lubricants have to be well developed and optimized. Hence, many tribological research studies are being conducted to advance lubricant technology. This article will discuss the use of...