Nanotechnology News – Latest Headlines

Uncovering unique properties in a 2-dimensional crystal

When the dry lubricant, molybdenum disulfide, is stripped down to a single layer of atoms, a tightly bound quasi-particle comprised of two electrons and a hole forms with unique spin and valley properties.

Dec 3rd, 2012

How 'transparent' is graphene?

MIT researchers find that adding a coating of graphene has little effect on how a surface interacts with liquids - except in extreme cases.

Dec 3rd, 2012

Steps towards filming atoms dancing

With their ultra short X-ray flashes, free-electron lasers offer the opportunity to film atoms in motion in complicated molecules and in the course of chemical reactions. However, for monitoring this motion, the arrival time and the temporal profile of the pulses which periodically illuminate the system, must be precisely known. An international team of scientists has now developed a measurement technique that provides complete temporal characterization of individual FEL (free-electron laser) pulses.

Dec 3rd, 2012

High-speed measurements of molecular motion in the cell nucleus

Heidelberg scientists study interactions between proteins and DNA in living cells.

Dec 3rd, 2012

World's smallest wrench puts new twist on microscopic manipulation

Harnessing laser light's ability to gently push and pull microscopic particles, researchers have created the fiber-optic equivalent of the world's smallest wrench. This virtual tool can precisely twist and turn the tiniest of particles, from living cells and DNA to microscopic motors and dynamos used in biological and physical research.

Dec 3rd, 2012

The self-improvement of lithium-ion batteries

The search for clean and green energy in the 21st century requires a better and more efficient battery technology. The key to attaining that goal may lie in designing and building batteries not from the top down, but from the bottom up - beginning at the nanoscale.

Dec 3rd, 2012

Biologists and physicists collaborate to investigate 'quantum biology'

The bizarre world of quantum mechanics might not seem a likely place from which to find answers to biological questions, but increasing numbers of scientists are turning to it to better explain the living world.

Dec 3rd, 2012

Multitasking plasmonic nanobubbles kill some cells, modify others

Researchers at Rice University have found a way to kill some diseased cells and treat others in the same sample at the same time. The process activated by a pulse of laser light leaves neighboring healthy cells untouched.

Dec 3rd, 2012

Gezielte Freisetzung von Antibiotika mit Nanoreaktoren

Chemiker der Universität Basel haben winzige Nanokugeln entwickelt, die das häufig eingesetzte Antibiotikum Cephalexin herstellen und lokal freisetzen können. Wenn es gelingt, solche Nanoreaktoren in medizinische Implantate einzubauen, liessen sich gezielt bakterielle Infektionen bekämpfen, ohne dass der Wirkstoff über den ganzen Körper verteilt wird.

Dec 3rd, 2012

Goodbye, fluorescent light bulbs! Nanomaterials bring new light to your office

Say goodbye to that annoying buzz created by overhead fluorescent light bulbs in your office. Scientists at Wake Forest University have developed a flicker-free, shatterproof alternative for large-scale lighting.

Dec 3rd, 2012

Call for papers: Nanotechnology, Innovation and Global Development

The aim of this special issue of Int. J. of Technology and Globalisation is to provide a review of advances in nanotechnology or relevance to global development.

Dec 2nd, 2012

Bismuth provides perfect dance partners for quantum computing qubits

New research has demonstrated a way to make bismuth electrons and nuclei work together as qubits in a quantum computer.

Dec 2nd, 2012

Water nanodroplets cool biomolecules ultrafast

Researchers of the Max-Born-Institute at Berlin, Germany, have observed how biomolecules transfer energy into extremely small water droplets in their environment. A water shell consisting of only 3 water molecules around a phospholipid molecule is sufficient for energy transfer within 1 ps.