Apr 22, 2026 For 70 years, we have assumed that 'attempt time' in nanomagnets is one nanosecond. For the first time ever, this value was measured experimentally by researchers at Tohoku University. Spoiler alert: it's more than one nanosecond. (Nanowerk News) A compass always points north - or does it?...
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Curiosity rover finds more evidence of ancient lakes on Mars
Apr 22, 2026 Metal-rich ripples in Gale Crater indicate a shallow lake with redox chemistry, suggesting past habitable conditions and possible microbial life on ancient Mars. (Nanowerk News) A team of scientists using the ChemCam instrument on NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover has discovered the highest amounts of iron, manganese, and...
New probes reveal proteins inside living cells with unprecedented clarity
Apr 22, 2026 Multicolor imaging technology lets researchers track proteins and cellular activity with exceptional precision and minimal background. (Nanowerk News) Fluorescent probes have transformed modern biology by allowing researchers to tag and visualize individual molecules in living cells, tissues, and animals. Using these tools, researchers can watch viruses infect...
Controlled oxidation turns MXene’s biggest weakness into a superior lubricant additive
Apr 22, 2026 Pre-oxidized MXene nanosheets decompose under friction and reconstruct into a dual-phase tribofilm of graphitized carbon and titanium oxides, cutting wear by 91%. (Nanowerk Spotlight) When two surfaces slide against each other under load, the contact zone becomes a site of intense chemical activity. Frictional heat and mechanical...
A new system to track material design processes
Apr 22, 2026 Engineers develop a system that captures all the elements of trial and error in material design, enabling reliable reproduction of the reasoning processes and results. (Nanowerk News) Discovering and characterizing new materials is important for unlocking advances in fields like clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and improved infrastructure....
Bioinspired aerogel cleans heavy metals from soil at depths no plant can reach
Apr 22, 2026 A plant-inspired aerogel uses solar evaporation to extract heavy metals from soil at 1.5 meters depth, far beyond any living root system's reach. (Nanowerk Spotlight) Heavy metals like lead, copper, and cadmium dissolve in rainwater and migrate steadily downward through soil, settling into dense, oxygen-poor layers where...
Astronomers find an exo-Jupiter, and it seems to have clouds
Apr 22, 2026 JWST studied a massive Jupiter-like exoplanet's atmosphere, finding surprising water-ice clouds that simpler models missed - a key test run for future Earth-like world searches. (Nanowerk News) A team of astronomers led by Elisabeth Matthews at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA) has made a discovery...
Breakthrough in the simulation of complex quantum systems
Apr 22, 2026 A new method overcomes fundamental resolution limits and may provide insights into high-temperature superconductivity. (Nanowerk News) The physicist Dr. Sebastian Paeckel has developed a method that can be used to calculate spectral functions of complex quantum systems much more precisely than was possible previously. His approach reconstructs...
Turning vibrations into value – a new catalyst converts CO2 into useful CO
Apr 22, 2026 Single-atom nickel sites on a vibration-responsive material boosted CO2-to-CO conversion under ultrasonic vibration. (Nanowerk News) Researchers at The University of Osaka have developed a catalyst that uses vibrational energy to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into carbon monoxide (CO), an important industrial feedstock. The work (Journal of Materials...
Stretching and squeezing diamond opens new path for ultra-precise quantum sensors
Apr 21, 2026 Researchers reveal a powerful new way to precisely tune quantum defects, opening the door to ultra-sensitive next-generation sensors. (Nanowerk News) Researchers have discovered a new way to tune the quantum properties of tiny defects in diamond – by gently stretching or compressing the crystal. These findings could...