Feb 23, 2026 Less than 2% of the genome codes for proteins; the rest, once called 'junk DNA', contains regulatory elements. Researchers analyzed 10,000 to reveal how variants shape gene activity. (Nanowerk News) Less than 2% of the human genome encodes proteins. The remaining DNA was once dismissed as “junk...
Hair-width LEDs could replace lasers
Feb 23, 2026 Hair-thin microLEDs could replace lasers for short-range data links and next-gen displays, with new research showing major gains in efficiency, brightness and beam control. (Nanowerk News) LEDs no wider than a human hair could soon take on work traditionally handled by lasers, from moving data inside server...
Laser shockwaves transform carbon nanotube films into graphene-rich networks without external heating
Feb 23, 2026 Laser shockwaves convert carbon nanotube films into multilayer graphene without external heating, boosting thermal conductivity sevenfold in a single chemical-free step. (Nanowerk Spotlight) Single-walled carbon nanotube thin films are among the most promising platforms for flexible electronics and scalable device integration. They can be spray-coated onto substrates,...
End-to-end robotic system automates catalyst testing 45x faster
Feb 23, 2026 A dual-robot platform fully automates catalyst performance evaluation from sample loading to data collection, completing tests 45 times faster with 32% less variability. (Nanowerk News) A technology has been developed that uses robots rather than humans to evaluate the performance of newly developed catalysts. By operating 45...
Stretchy plastic conducts electricity through nanoscale whisker-like fibers
Feb 23, 2026 Advanced imaging reveals a detailed understanding of the mechanisms driving a previously misunderstood material, researchers say. (Nanowerk News) A stretchy, conductive type of plastic could help power the next generation of implantable biomedical devices, like longer-lasting pacemakers or glucose monitors, according to Enrique Gomez, professor of chemical...
Polystyrene nanoparticles can increase fish embryo early mortality especially in a stressful environment
Feb 23, 2026 Plastic pollution in freshwater is increasing, leading to micro- and nanoplastic buildup. A study found these particles and their surface charge can harm fish reproduction, especially under stress. (Nanowerk News) Plastic contamination in freshwater ecosystems continues to rise, resulting in micro- and nanoparticle accumulation in the aquatic...
Nanophotonic color router solves smartphone camera angle problem
Feb 23, 2026 A new metamaterial-based nanophotonic color router maintains 78% optical efficiency at oblique angles, enabling accurate color separation for next-gen smartphone cameras. (Nanowerk News) Smartphone cameras are becoming smaller, yet photos are becoming sharper. Korean researchers have elevated the limits of next-generation smartphone cameras by developing a new...
All-optical morphological image processing at the speed of light
Feb 23, 2026 A nanophotonic diffractive network performs morphological image processing, including dilation and erosion, purely through light propagation. (Nanowerk Spotlight) In the age of big data, we are generating more images than we can actually process. Autonomous vehicles, medical scanners, and quality control systems rely heavily on morphological transformations—the...