Month: January 2020

A new method could enable researchers to fabricate more efficient and longer lasting perovskite solar cells, LEDs and photodetectors. By growing thin perovskite films on substrates with different compositions, engineers at the University of California San Diego have invented a way of fabricating perovskite single crystals with precisely deformed, or strained, structures. The work was

The nucleic acids of DNA encode genetic information, while the amino acids of proteins contain the code to turn that information into structures and functions. Together, they provide the two fundamental codes underlying all of life. Now scientists have found a way to combine these two main coding languages into a single “bilingual” molecule. The

An interdisciplinary team of scientists from KU Leuven, the University of Bremen, the Leibniz Institute of Materials Engineering, and the University of Ioannina has succeeded in killing tumour cells in mice using nano-sized copper compounds together with immunotherapy. After the therapy, the cancer did not return. Recent advances in cancer therapy use one’s own immunity

Researchers at the University of Basel have succeeded in developing molecular factories that mimic nature. To achieve this they loaded artificial organelles inside micrometer-sized natural blisters (vesicles) produced by cells. These molecular factories remain intact even after injection into an animal model and demonstrate no toxicity, as the team report in the scientific journal Advanced

“We did not actually plan this, but that is just how science works sometimes: you start researching one thing and end up somewhere else,” says ETH Professor Dimos Poulikakos. Together with scientists from his group and from the National University of Singapore, they developed and tested various superhydrophobic materials – which are, like Teflon, extremely

IMAGE: Composites made from metal-organic frameworks can destroy nerve agents under relevant conditions. view more  Credit: Journal of the American Chemical Society Northwestern University scientists have successfully combined a nanomaterial effective at destroying toxic nerve agents with textile fibers. This new composite material one day could be integrated into protective suits and face masks for use

IMAGE: Schematic diagram of the muscle fiber structure (left) and the molecular structure of the entire thin filament (right) view more  Credit: Osaka University Osaka, Japan – Researchers at Osaka University used electron cryomicroscopy (CryoEM) to image essential cardiac muscle components, known as thin filaments, with unprecedented resolution. They also discovered the mechanism by which these

Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have synthesised the world’s first one-atom-thick amorphous material. Previously thought to be impossible, the discovery of monolayer amorphous carbon (MAC) could finally settle a decades-old debate of exactly how atoms are arranged in amorphous solids, and open up potential applications. This major research breakthrough was led by

University of Toronto Engineering researchers have developed a super-stretchy, transparent and self-powering sensor that records the complex sensations of human skin. Dubbed artificial ionic skin — or AISkin for short — the researchers believe the innovative properties of AISkin could lead to future advancements in wearable electronics, personal health care and robotics. “Since it’s hydrogel,

IMAGE: his cutaway rendering of the Advanced Light Source dome shows the layout of three electron-accelerating rings. A new approval step in the ALS Upgrade project will allow the installation of… view more  Credit: Matthaeus Leitner An upgrade of the Advanced Light Source (ALS) at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley

During storms in the southwestern U.S., some rattlesnakes drink rain droplets from scales on their backs. This unusual behavior could help them survive in a desert environment with infrequent rain. Now, researchers have figured out how the nanotexture of scales from these snakes helps them use their bodies to harvest rain. They report their results

IMAGE: Putting a batch of nanopipettes on a hot plate induces a thermal gradient, which enables complete filling of the pipettes with a solution. Adapted with permission from Linhao Sun, Kazuki… view more  Credit: Kanazawa University Nanopipettes, in which a nanoscale channel is filled with a solution, are used in all kinds of nanotechnology applications, including

Directional antennas convert electrical signals to radio waves and emit them in a particular direction, allowing increased performance and reduced interference. This principle, which is useful in radio wave technology, could also be interesting for miniaturised light sources. After all, almost all Internet-based communication utilises optical light communication. Directional antennas for light could be used

IMAGE: Ye Wang, first author of the study and a biology Ph.D. student working in Dr. Bao-Zhong Wang’s lab in the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University…. view more  Credit: Georgia State University ATLANTA–A novel nanoparticle vaccine that combines two major influenza proteins is effective in providing broad, long-lasting protection against influenza virus in

FBH exhibits novel diode lasers and modules at Photonics West 2020. Applications include materials processing, LiDAR, medicine, and (Raman) spectroscopy. Progress in UV LEDs is presented jointly with the spin-off UVphotonics. The Ferdinand-Braun-Institut (FBH) presents its developments and advancements in diode lasers and UV light-emitting diodes (LEDs) at Photonics West 2020, San Francisco (USA), February