Sep 29, 2023 (Nanowerk News) Solid materials are generally known to be rigid and unmoving, but scientists are turning this idea on its head by exploring ways to incorporate moving parts into solids. This can enable the development of exotic new materials such as amphidynamic crystals—crystals which contain both rigid...
Wearable patch wirelessly monitors estrogen in sweat
Sep 29, 2023 (Nanowerk News) The sex hormone commonly known as estrogen plays an important role in multiple aspects of women's health and fertility. High levels of estrogen in the body are associated with breast and ovarian cancers, while low levels of estradiol can result in osteoporosis, heart disease, and...
3D-printed plasmonic plastic enables large-scale optical sensor production
Sep 29, 2023 (Nanowerk News) In a multi-year project, researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have developed plasmonic plastic – a type of composite material with unique optical properties that can be 3D-printed. This research has now resulted in 3D-printed optical hydrogen sensors that could play an important role in...
Living hydrogel fibers unveiling a new era of sustainable engineered materials
Sep 29, 2023 (Nanowerk Spotlight) In an era where the quest for sustainable, adaptable, and efficient materials is more urgent than ever, the field of engineered living materials (ELMs) is fast emerging as a promising avenue of research. ELMs, a novel class of biohybrid materials, unite the realms of living...
Transformer! New multi-purpose robot changes shape for different uses
Sep 29, 2023 (Nanowerk News) A team at the University of Bristol and based at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory have built a tetrahedron shaped robot with flexible piping known as Tetraflex that can move through small gaps or over challenging terrain. It can also encapsulate fragile objects such as an...
Novel battery technology with negligible voltage decay
Sep 28, 2023 (Nanowerk News) A pivotal breakthrough in battery technology that has profound implications for our energy future has been achieved by a joint-research team led by City University of Hong Kong (CityU). The new development overcomes the persistent challenge of voltage decay and can lead to significantly higher...
Researchers dynamically tune friction in graphene
Sep 28, 2023 (Nanowerk News) The friction on a graphene surface can be dynamically tuned using external electric fields, according to researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign led by Professor Rosa Espinosa-Marzal of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The work is published in the journal Nature Communications...
How to build better extraterrestrial robots
Sep 28, 2023 (Nanowerk News) Running on the beach versus a paved road can change an athlete’s stride, speed and stability. Alter the force of gravity, and that runner may break their personal record or sink into the ground. Researchers have to consider such parameters when designing extraterrestrial rovers and...
Programmable Surfaces Make Droplets Dance for Clean Energy | by Michael Berger | Sep, 2023
Researchers use microscopic, 3D printed mushroom-like structures to achieve unprecedented control over the speed, path, and patterning of bouncing water droplets. This new surface technology offers advances in self-cleaning, water harvesting, and green energy technologies.IntroductionWater droplets bouncing off surfaces may seem like a simple, everyday phenomenon, but what if we...
Accelerating sustainable semiconductors with ‘multielement ink’
Sep 28, 2023 (Nanowerk News) Semiconductors are the heart of almost every electronic device. Without semiconductors, our computers would not be able to process and retain data; and LED (light-emitting diode) lightbulbs would lose their ability to shine. But semiconductor manufacturing requires a lot of energy. Forming semiconductor materials from...