Jan 29, 2026 A flexible photodetector using asymmetric 2D heterostructures switches spectral response by gate voltage, enabling filter-free wavelength control under bending. (Nanowerk News) Flexible photodetectors are increasingly required in applications such as wearable health monitoring, curved imaging systems, and soft optoelectronic interfaces, where both mechanical compliance and spectral discrimination...
Novel quantum refrigerator benefits from problematic noise
Jan 29, 2026 Researchers developed a simple quantum refrigerator that uses environmental noise to control heat and energy flows, aiding precise cooling for quantum computing. (Nanowerk News) For quantum computers to function, they must be kept at extremely low temperatures. However, today’s cooling systems also generate noise that interferes with...
One-step 3D microfluidic chip brings cells closer to real tissues
Jan 29, 2026 Researchers developed a microfluidic chip with 3D-printed microstructures that moves droplets precisely, captures cells efficiently, and quickly forms cell spheroids for improved lab-grown tissue studies. (Nanowerk News) Most cells in the human body exist in complex three-dimensional environments, yet they are still commonly studied on flat plastic...
Battery electrolyte stays solid at room temperature yet conducts ions like a liquid
Jan 29, 2026 A battery electrolyte that is solid at normal temperatures yet still conducts ions could make lithium batteries safer and longer lasting by replacing flammable liquids. (Nanowerk Spotlight) Batteries fail in the cold. This simple fact has constrained everything from Antarctic research stations to electric vehicle range in...
Scientists create ultra thin metal with never before seen quantum behaviour
Jan 28, 2026 Researchers uncovered a powerful new way to engineer exotic quantum states, revealing a robust and tunable three?dimensional flat electronic band in an ultrathin kagome metal, an achievement long thought to be nearly impossible. (Nanowerk News) The discovery centres on Mn₃Sn films just three nanometres thick. Despite their...
New state-of-the-art 3D micro and nanofabrication technique overcomes material limitations
Jan 28, 2026 Researchers unveil an optofluidic laser method that assembles micro- and nanoparticles in liquid, enabling multi material 3D microstructures and microrobots. (Nanowerk News) Building things so small that they are smaller than the width of a human hair was previously achieved by using a method called two-photon polymerization,...
Light changes a magnet’s polarity
Jan 28, 2026 Scientists have succeeded in changing the polarity of a special ferromagnet using a laser beam. In the future, this method could be used to create adaptable electronic circuits with light. (Nanowerk News) In a ferromagnet, combined forces are at work. In order for a compass needle to...
Crystalline nitride alloys pushed to glass-like limits of thermal insulation
Jan 28, 2026 Researchers show that a modified crystalline nitride can suppress heat flow to near-amorphous levels, offering a new route to durable thermal insulation. (Nanowerk News) Discovering materials that exhibit completely insulating thermal behavior—or, conversely, extraordinarily high thermal conductivity—has long been a dream for researchers in materials physics. Traditionally,...
Powder spray and water mist turn everyday objects into soft robots in seconds
Jan 28, 2026 Freeze-dried hydrogel powders sprayed onto wet surfaces merge into functional coatings in under five seconds, enabling rapid soft robot fabrication. (Nanowerk Spotlight) Soft robots can bend, stretch, and adapt to their surroundings, but flexibility alone is not enough for most applications. A soft surgical device might need...
A compact enzyme expands the capabilities of CRISPR gene editing
Jan 28, 2026 Researchers identified AlCas12a, a compact, versatile enzyme that improves CRISPR gene editing and enables faster molecular diagnostics. (Nanowerk News) The Molecular Microbiology research group at the University of Alicante (UA) has identified a new enzyme with promising properties for CRISPR-Cas gene editing tools. Named AlCas12a, this protein...