Feb 16, 2026 Scientists tracked polaron formation for the first time using ultrafast imaging, confirming decades-old predictions about electron energy loss and mass gain in crystal lattices. (Nanowerk News) When an electron travels through a polar crystalline solid, its negative charge attracts the positively charged atomic cores, causing the surrounding...
mRNA-packed nanoparticles restore fertility in genetically infertile mice and produce live offspring
Feb 16, 2026 Therapeutic mRNA delivered via lipid nanoparticles restored sperm production in genetically infertile mice and produced live offspring without genomic integration. (Nanowerk Spotlight) Male infertility accounts for roughly half of all infertility cases worldwide, yet treatment options for its most severe forms remain limited. Among the hardest cases...
Slippery ions create a smoother path to blue energy
Feb 16, 2026 By engineering lubricated interfaces inside nanopores, researchers have enabled ions to flow through a nanofluidic membrane with unprecedented speed and control. (Nanowerk News) Osmotic energy, often called blue energy, is a promising way to generate sustainable electricity from the natural mixing of salt and fresh water. It...
Physicists explain the exceptional energy-harvesting efficiency of perovskites
Feb 16, 2026 Despite impurities and defects, lead-halide perovskites efficiently convert solar energy, rivaling silicon cells. Physicists now explain the mechanism behind this surprising efficiency. (Nanowerk News) Despite being riddled with impurities and defects, solution-processed lead-halide perovskites are surprisingly efficient at converting solar energy into electricity. Their efficiency is approaching...
Dry graphene transfer at scale enabled by a ferroelectric polymer that switches its grip on command
Feb 16, 2026 Electrically switchable adhesion in a ferroelectric polymer film enables clean, fast, solvent-free transfer of graphene from copper growth substrates to target surfaces. (Nanowerk Spotlight) Growing high-quality graphene is no longer the hard part. Chemical vapor deposition can now produce uniform, single-atom-thick carbon sheets at meter scale on...