May 13, 2024 (Nanowerk News) Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a protein-based hydrogel that breaks down alcohol in the gastrointestinal tract without harming the body. In the future, people who take the gel could reduce the harmful and intoxicating effects of alcohol. Key Takeaways Researchers have developed a gel...
Is the end of the package holiday provider near? Blockchain technology could revolutionise our travel experiences
May 13, 2024 (Nanowerk News) The research looked into user acceptance of blockchain-based sharing platforms similar to Airbnb. The study found that blockchain technology could eliminate intermediaries, such as holiday providers, potentially slashing costs by bypassing booking platforms. The study also suggests that property owners stand to gain from blockchain...
Recyclable nanomotors enable ultra-sensitive detection of trace pollutants in water
May 13, 2024 (Nanowerk Spotlight) The presence of trace emerging pollutants in aquatic environments poses a significant challenge to the health of ecosystems and human populations. These pollutants, which include persistent organic compounds, pharmaceuticals, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, can exert adverse effects even at extremely low concentrations. The complex nature of...
Flexible micro-supercapacitor with laser-enhanced liquid metal
May 13, 2024 (Nanowerk News) A joint research team, led by Dr. Chanwoo Yang and Researcher Seong Ju Park from Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH), along with Prof. Jin Kon Kim and Dr. Keon-Woo Kim from POSTECH, has successfully developed a compact energy storage device with excellent elasticity. This...
A new process for the synthesis of rare nuclei in the Universe?
May 13, 2024 (Nanowerk News) A new nucleosynthesis process denoted the νr-process has been suggested by scientists from GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Technische Universität Darmstadt, and the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics. It operates when neutron-rich material is exposed to a high flux of neutrinos. The theoretical proposal, which was...
Molecular roll of the dice delivers winning combinations
May 13, 2024 (Nanowerk News) Researchers have shed light on the shape-shifting capabilities of protein assemblies, with results that could revolutionise fields from biomanufacturing to vaccine development. Led by the University of Sydney’s Dr Taylor Szyszka and Dr Yu Heng Lau, of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology,...
Designer peptoids mimic nature’s helices
May 10, 2024 (Nanowerk News) Nature is filled with extraordinarily precise molecular shapes that fit together like a hand in glove. Proteins, for example, can assemble into a wide variety of well-defined shapes that grant them their function. “Depending on their shape, proteins can fit together with other proteins to...
a quantum leap in green hydrogen production
May 10, 2024 (Nanowerk News) As the world is transitioning from a fossil fuel-based energy economy, many are betting on hydrogen to become the dominant energy currency. But producing “green” hydrogen without using fossil fuels is not yet possible on the scale we need because it requires iridium, a metal...
Thermal welding of liquids using nanoparticle surfactants (w/video)
May 10, 2024 (Nanowerk Spotlight) The ability to mold and weld materials into desired shapes and structures is a fundamental manufacturing capability that enables the creation of countless products we rely on every day. For centuries, this process has been limited to solid materials like metals, plastics, and ceramics. Liquids,...
Visual observation of photonic Floquet-Bloch oscillations
May 10, 2024 (Nanowerk News) Recent studies on Bloch oscillations (BOs) in periodically driven quantum systems, also known as "Floquet systems," have attracted considerable interest due to their unique characteristics, which are distinctly different from those in static systems. Researchers have specifically focused on two variants of Bloch-like oscillations: quasi-Bloch...