May 03, 2024 (Nanowerk News) Dead stars known as white dwarfs, have a mass like the Sun while being similar in size to Earth. They are common in our galaxy, as 97% of stars are white dwarfs. As stars reach the end of their lives, their cores collapse into the...
Towards transparent and antimicrobial surfaces for touch displays
May 03, 2024 (Nanowerk News) The interest in antimicrobial solutions for personal and multi-user touch screens, such as tablets and mobile devices, has grown in recent years. Traditional methods like sprayable alcohols or wipes are not ideal for these delicate displays. Antimicrobial coatings applied directly to the glass are a...
Advancing responsive colloidal nanomaterials with virus-polymer crystals
May 03, 2024 (Nanowerk Spotlight) Researchers have demonstrated a simple yet powerful method for creating highly organized nanomaterials by combining bacteriophages – viruses that infect bacteria – with synthetic polymers. The resulting colloidal crystals, which are ordered structures composed of particles dispersed in a medium, can be tuned by adjusting...
Physicists arrange atoms in extremely close proximity
May 03, 2024 (Nanowerk News) Proximity is key for many quantum phenomena, as interactions between atoms are stronger when the particles are close. In many quantum simulators, scientists arrange atoms as close together as possible to explore exotic states of matter and build new quantum materials. They typically do this...
Nanotechnology opens door to future of insulin medication
May 02, 2024 (Nanowerk News) An international team, led by researchers from Australia, have developed a system using nanotechnology that could allow people with diabetes to take oral insulin in the future. The researchers say the new insulin could be eaten by taking a tablet or even embedded within a...
Researchers unlock potential of 2D magnetic devices for future computing
May 02, 2024 (Nanowerk News) Imagine a future where computers can learn and make decisions in ways that mimic human thinking, but at a speed and efficiency that are orders of magnitude greater than the current capability of computers. A research team at the University of Wyoming created an innovative...
Perovskite-based tandem solar cells
May 02, 2024 (Nanowerk News) Roof tiles are becoming a thing of the past: Today, more and more Swiss roofs boast large black and blue rectangles that convert sunlight into electricity. The blueish color comes from silicon crystals, as the majority of solar cells available today are based on this...
Random robots are more reliable
May 02, 2024 (Nanowerk News) Northwestern University engineers have developed a new artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm designed specifically for smart robotics. By helping robots rapidly and reliably learn complex skills, the new method could significantly improve the practicality — and safety — of robots for a range of applications, including...
Bioinspired magnetic soft actuators rapidly deform using bone-in-flesh constructs
May 02, 2024 (Nanowerk Spotlight) The field of soft robotics seeks to create compliant, adaptive actuators that mimic the remarkable abilities of biological systems. Conventional robotic actuators, built from rigid components and powered by electric motors or hydraulics, excel at speed and precision but struggle to match the versatility and...
Marriage of synthetic biology and 3D printing produces programmable living materials
May 02, 2024 (Nanowerk News) Scientists are harnessing cells to make new types of materials that can grow, repair themselves and even respond to their environment. These solid “engineered living materials” are made by embedding cells in an inanimate matrix that’s formed in a desired shape. Now, researchers report in...