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RNA nanotechnology is an emerging field that combines the unique properties of RNA with the principles of nanotechnology to create new and innovative applications in medicine, biotechnology, and materials science. Here we give an overview of RNA's potential in drug delivery, diagnostics, vaccine development and gene therapy.
Super-resolution microscopy has transformed the way we view the biological world, and enabled scientists to visualize biological structures and their interactions inside cells, at a resolution of a few nanometers. But 'seeing' atomic motion in space and time is not straightforward. Researchers set out do something similar and see how individual atoms move in a molecule using X-rays. The result is an approach to extend super-resolution imaging to the challenging case of ultrafast scattering.
Functional, nanoengineered textiles are designed to enhance human comfort in outdoor activities that require cooling, warming, or drying, resulting in improved comfort levels and increased productivity in outdoor work. Furthermore, there is the potential for functional textiles to be integrated with IoT devices for a range of applications, including healthcare, sports, and fashion, demonstrating how nanotechnology can be used to create smart textiles that can provide real-time data on various metrics.
Hygromorphs are materials that can change their shape or size in response to changes in humidity or moisture. Synthetic hygromorphs, designed to have specific responses to changes in humidity, can be used in various applications, such as in sensors and actuators. A recent review generalizes a full design process for a 4D printed hygromorph which includes designing concepts, using additive manufacturing to produce designs, and measuring actuation.
Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are complex devices made up of multiple materials that have many different factors affecting their properties, which makes it difficult to analyze them comprehensively. Machine Learning (ML) can efficiently handle these complexities and help scientists in the design of new PSCs. We outline the current state and future prospects of ML in perovskite solar cell research, including data sources, feature extraction, algorithms, model validation, interpretation, and challenges.
Our society generates staggering amounts of waste in all areas of economic activities. Foremost among them, apart from energy waste, are the food and plastic sectors. However, both food and plastic wastes are potentially valuable sources of carbon. are working on upcycling of waste materials to high-value carbon by combining materials science and nanotechnology approaches to develop functional nanostructures for advanced energy storage, catalysis, water purification, and biosensor applications.
Researchers have made significant strides in developing photodetectors made with tungsten disulfide (WS2) on paper substrates for disposable electronics. This research, which addresses the growing issue of electronic waste, has yielded promising results with WS2 photodetectors on paper substrates reaching photo responses comparable to commercially available silicon photodetectors. The findings have significant implications for ubiquitous electronics and low-performance sensing applications.
Neuromorphic engineering is focused on developing computer hardware and software systems that mimic the structure, function, and behavior of the human brain. The goal of neuromorphic engineering is to create computing systems that are much more energy-efficient, scalable, and adaptive than conventional computer systems, and that can solve complex problems in a manner that is similar to how the brain solves problems. Neuromorphic computing is a specific application of neuromorphic engineering. It involves the use of hardware and software systems that are designed to process information in a manner that is similar to how the human brain processes information.