Oct 31, 2023 (Nanowerk News) Researchers from MIT and NVIDIA have developed two techniques that accelerate the processing of sparse tensors, a type of data structure that’s used for high-performance computing tasks. The complementary techniques could result in significant improvements to the performance and energy-efficiency of systems like the massive...
MXene-enhanced plasmonic sensing for ultrasensitive label-free miRNA detection
Oct 31, 2023 (Nanowerk News) microRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that play an important role in the development and progression of various types of cancer, which makes it as biomarkers. The detection of miRNAs is of vital importance to the early-stage diagnostics and prognostics. However, traditional detection strategies...
How microelectronics will take computing to new heights
Oct 31, 2023 (Nanowerk News) You’re seeing the story on your screen right now thanks to tiny switches known as transistors. The microchips in computers contain billions of them, each one sending electrical signals based on what you want the computer to do. Microelectronics like these have become both essential...
Novel MXene 3D assembly a promising technique for engineering applications
Oct 31, 2023 (Nanowerk Spotlight) Two-dimensional materials like graphene and MXene have generated great excitement in recent years due to their exceptional properties, which hold promise for applications such as batteries, fuel cells and sensors. However, a major challenge has been assembling these nanoscale, atomically thin sheets into functional 3D...
Giant planets cast a deadly pall
Oct 31, 2023 (Nanowerk News) Giant gas planets can be agents of chaos, ensuring nothing lives on their Earth-like neighbors around other stars. New studies show, in some planetary systems, the giants tend to kick smaller planets out of orbit and wreak havoc on their climates. Jupiter, by far the...
Automated system and machine learning accelerate discovery of efficient, non-toxic solar materials
Oct 30, 2023 (Nanowerk News) To quickly and accurately characterize prospective materials for use in solar energy, researchers built an automated system to perform laboratory experiments and used machine learning to help analyze the data they recorded. Their goal is to identify semiconductor materials for use in photovoltaic solar energy,...
Scientists develop soft robotic skin that mimics human touch by sensing object consistency
Oct 30, 2023 (Nanowerk Spotlight) Human skin is remarkably complex, containing an array of receptors that provide detailed sensory information about our environment through the sense of touch. One unique feature is the ability to perceive an object's compliance – its ability to deform under pressure - or softness, by...
‘Plug and play’ nanoparticles could make it easier to tackle various biological targets
Oct 30, 2023 (Nanowerk News) Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed modular nanoparticles that can be easily customized to target different biological entities such as tumors, viruses or toxins. The surface of the nanoparticles is engineered to host any biological molecules of choice, making it possible...
Engineers develop an efficient process to make fuel from carbon dioxide
Oct 30, 2023 (Nanowerk News) The search is on worldwide to find ways to extract carbon dioxide from the air or from power plant exhaust and then make it into something useful. One of the more promising ideas is to make it into a stable fuel that can replace fossil...
3D-printed metals with contrasting properties made using new method
Oct 30, 2023 (Nanowerk News) Scientists have developed a new method that can make customised 3D-printed metal parts containing different properties – such as having some regions of the metal stronger than others. Key Takeaways The technique eliminates the need for additional raw materials and mechanical treatments, potentially lowering manufacturing...