Feb 13, 2025 (Nanowerk News) Standing at the intersection between mathematics and the tiler's trade is the so-called einstein problem. Despite its name, this mathematical question has nothing to do with the Nobel Prize winner Albert Einstein. It asks: Can you seamlessly tile an endless surface with a single shape...
Scientists describe the creation of black holes without singularities through pure gravity
Feb 13, 2025 (Nanowerk News) Traditional black holes, as predicted by Albert Einstein’s theory of General Relativity, contain what are known as singularities, i.e. points where the laws of physics break down. Identifying how singularities are resolved in the context of quantum gravity is one of the fundamental problems in...
Microscopy study of bacterial flagella motors could guide design of nanoscale machines
Feb 13, 2025 (Nanowerk News) When speaking of motors, most people think of those powering vehicles and human machinery. However, biological motors have existed for millions of years in microorganisms. Among these, many bacterial species have tail-like structures—called flagella—that spin around to propel themselves in fluids. These movements employ protein...
Study reveals breakthroughs in high-performance photon detectors
Feb 13, 2025 (Nanowerk News) From high-speed communication to quantum computing and quantum sensing, the detection, transmission, and manipulation of light (photons) have transformed modern electronics. Central to these systems are photon detectors, which detect and measure photons. One notable type is the superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SNSPD). SNSPDs utilize...
Scientists discover mechanism driving molecular network formation
Feb 13, 2025 (Nanowerk News) Covalent bonding is a widely understood phenomenon that joins the atoms of a molecule by a shared electron pair. But in nature, patterns of molecules can also be connected through weaker, more dynamic forces that give rise to supramolecular networks. These can self-assemble from an...
Dual-powered fabric desalinates seawater day and night, rain or shine
Feb 13, 2025 (Nanowerk Spotlight) Water scarcity affects billions of people worldwide. While Earth’s oceans hold abundant water, converting seawater into fresh water requires substantial energy and complex infrastructure. Modern desalination plants use processes like reverse osmosis, pushing seawater through specialized membranes under high pressure. These facilities are expensive to...
New ultra-sensitive method for detecting bacterial spores
Feb 13, 2025 (Nanowerk News) Bacterial spores are one of nature’s most resilient organisms. These tiny, seed-like structures form when bacteria enter a dormant state to survive unfavorable conditions. They can endure extreme environments, including boiling water, common disinfectants and radiation — conditions that would kill most bacteria. Their resilience...
Eco ink writes new chapter for graphene use
Feb 13, 2025 (Nanowerk News) Researchers at the University of Waterloo have unlocked the potential of graphene in areas as diverse as vehicles, consumer electronics and environmental cleanup with an eco-friendly ink for 3D-printing. The study appeared in Journal of Materials Chemistry A ("Additive-free graphene-based inks for 3D printing functional...
Engineers develop a fully 3D-printed electrospray engine
Feb 13, 2025 (Nanowerk News) An electrospray engine applies an electric field to a conductive liquid, generating a high-speed jet of tiny droplets that can propel a spacecraft. These miniature engines are ideal for small satellites called CubeSats that are often used in academic research. Since electrospray engines utilize propellant...
Unique five-atom bismuth ring synthesized
Feb 13, 2025 (Nanowerk News) Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have synthesized a Bi5--ring, a molecule with five bismuth atoms, and stabilized it in a metal complex. Their discovery fills a gap in chemical knowledge and enables future applications in materials research, catalysis, and electronics. Their findings...