Nanotechnology News – Latest Headlines

Eco-friendly cotton that repels water and separates oil

Hydrophobic nanoparticles create fluorine-free, water-repellent cotton with micro- and nanoscale surface textures. Stain-resistant, breathable, and eco-friendly.

March 6, 2026 Read more

Photonic crystal light sails could propel spacecraft without fuel

Researchers design scalable nanostructures that selectively reflect propulsion laser light while reducing heat and mass for fuel free interplanetary travel.

March 6, 2026 Read more

MXene smart textiles could track vitals, kill bacteria, and harvest solar energy

MXene materials can be coated onto fabrics to create smart textiles that track heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature while fighting bacteria and storing solar energy.

March 6, 2026 Read more

Gradient wall microbottle resonator enables large scale optical trapping

A gradient-thickness microbottle resonator traps nanoparticles across 195 micrometers at sub-milliwatt power by shielding peak optical fields from particle interference.

March 6, 2026 Read more

Tiny thermometers offer on-chip temperature monitoring for processors

Researchers developed a microscopic thermometer smaller than an ant's antenna that can be integrated onto chips for highly efficient and precise temperature monitoring.

March 6, 2026 Read more

Novel method holds promise for smaller, tuneable machines to produce water-window X-rays

Discovery paves the way for smaller and more flexible machines for bioimaging.

March 6, 2026 Read more

Scientists control 'free-flowing' electric currents with light

Team uses light to control magnetic fields in quantum materials, steering resistance-free electric currents for energy-efficient quantum computing.

March 6, 2026 Read more

A molecule with half-Moebius topology

Twisted electronic states in a molecule realized experimentally and modeled on quantum hardware.

March 6, 2026 Read more

Trapping light on thermal photodetectors shatters speed records

Metasurfaces featuring tailored silver nanocubes could allow thermal photodetectors to approach speeds akin to traditional digital cameras.

March 6, 2026 Read more

Defect-free ceramic membranes enable low-pressure water filtration

Researchers developed ceramic membranes with near-defect-free surfaces that filter dyes from wastewater at tap-water pressure, cutting energy use in water treatment.

March 6, 2026 Read more

A nanoplatform turns mild heat into a gene-editing trigger that disarms tumor defenses

Bismuthene nanodiscs use mild heat to switch on gene editing that dismantles a tumor's heat defenses, creating a feedback loop that kills cancer cells more effectively.

March 5, 2026 Read more

Photonic chips enable real time learning in spiking neural networks

A two-chip photonic neuromorphic system performs real time spiking reinforcement learning using only light, achieving GPU-class energy efficiency.

March 5, 2026 Read more

Hidden microscopic networks on catalyst surfaces that could lead to cleaner and greener chemical processes

Catalyst surfaces work as coordinated networks, not isolated hotspots, a new study reveals, opening doors to designing more efficient catalysts for clean energy.

March 5, 2026 Read more

Electronic nose inspired by insect antennae identifies and locates odor sources

An electronic nose modeled on insect antennae simultaneously identifies gas mixtures and pinpoints their three-dimensional origin by decoding the natural dynamics of odor plumes.

March 5, 2026 Read more

Multifunctional hydrogel achieves broadband EMI shielding with minimal filler

A MXene-based double-network hydrogel delivers broadband electromagnetic interference shielding and infrared stealth at just 0.12 wt% filler content.

March 5, 2026 Read more

Molecular 'catapult' fires electrons at the limits of physics

Electrons can be 'kicked across' solar materials at almost the fastest speed nature allows, scientists have discovered - challenging long-held theories about how solar energy systems work.

March 5, 2026 Read more