Apr 25, 2023 (Nanowerk News) Most of the matter in the universe, amounting to a staggering 85% by mass, cannot be observed and consists of particles not accounted for by the Standard Model of Particle Physics (see remarks). These particles are known as Dark Matter, and their existence can be...
Want to make better materials? Read between the lines. Or the ‘grain boundaries’, as they’re known in materials science
Apr 25, 2023 (Nanowerk News) The orientations of these infinitesimally small separations between individual “grains” of a polycrystalline material have big effects. In a material such as aluminum, these collections of grains (called microstructures) determine properties such as hardness. New research is helping scientists better understand how microstructures change, or...
Controlling materials properties through nanoscale patterning
Apr 25, 2023 (Nanowerk News) Scientists have developed a new way to control the electronic properties of materials. They created a nanoscale pattern of holes on a thin film of metal oxide known as titania. This noticeably improved the flow of electrons and inhibited the flow of ions in the...
A simple paper test could offer early cancer diagnosis
Apr 25, 2023 (Nanowerk News) MIT engineers have designed a new nanoparticle sensor that could enable early diagnosis of cancer with a simple urine test. The sensors, which can detect many different cancerous proteins, could also be used to distinguish the type of a tumor or how it is responding...
Jellyfish-like robots could one day clean up the world’s oceans
Apr 25, 2023 (Nanowerk News) Most of the world is covered in oceans, which are unfortunately highly polluted. One of the strategies to combat the mounds of waste found in these very sensitive ecosystems – especially around coral reefs – is to employ robots to master the cleanup. However, existing...
Two-component nanoparticle system could offer a new way to halt internal bleeding
Apr 25, 2023 (Nanowerk News) MIT engineers have designed a two-component system that can be injected into the body and help form blood clots at the sites of internal injury. These materials, which mimic the way that the body naturally forms clots, could offer a way to keep people with...
Researchers 3D print a miniature vacuum pump
Apr 25, 2023 (Nanowerk News) Mass spectrometers are extremely precise chemical analyzers that have many applications, from evaluating the safety of drinking water to detecting toxins in a patient’s blood. But building an inexpensive, portable mass spectrometer that could be deployed in remote locations remains a challenge, partly due to...
Circuit boards from renewable raw materials
Apr 25, 2023 (Nanowerk News) For many years, Thomas Geiger has been conducting research in the field of cellulose fibrils – fine fibers that can be produced from wood pulp or agricultural waste, for example. Cellulose fibrils hold great potential for sustainable production and the decarbonization of industry: they grow...