Month: February 2026

Feb 27, 2026 Researchers demonstrate that femtosecond laser-induced transient Pauli blocking can achieve ultrafast, broadband optical switching from visible to near-infrared. (Nanowerk News) Recent decades have witnessed rapid advancements in high-intensity laser technology. The combination of laser irradiation and novel materials is opening exciting avenues for the design of functional...

Feb 27, 2026 A new crystal-seeding method boosts the efficiency and scalability of perovskite solar cells, advancing this promising technology toward large-scale clean energy production. (Nanowerk News) Regular perovskite solar cells (PSCs)—which place the electron-transport layer beneath the perovskite absorber and the hole-transport layer on top—have limitations with respect to...

Feb 26, 2026 Researchers identified a new silicon qubit that emits telecom-band light without fragile hydrogen, potentially enabling scalable quantum devices using existing chip technology. (Nanowerk News) Quantum technologies are anticipated to transform computing, communication and sensing by harnessing the unusual behavior of matter at the atomic scale. Translating quantum’s...

Feb 26, 2026 Liquid metal droplets fuse themselves into stretchable circuits at room temperature, driven only by surface tension gradients during solvent evaporation. (Nanowerk Spotlight) Gallium-indium alloys are liquid at room temperature and conduct electricity almost as well as solid copper wire. That combination makes them attractive for stretchable electronics,...

Feb 26, 2026 Crystalline polymers assembled inside tumor cell lysosomes rupture membranes, release iron, and trigger immune-activating ferroptosis that shrinks tumors in mice. (Nanowerk Spotlight) Cells produce natural polymers such as DNA, proteins, and sugars to sustain life. Synthetic polymers can offer properties they lack: customizable architecture, tunable porosity, built-in...

Feb 26, 2026 Engineers have developed a cheaper and greener way to make graphene from leftover peanut shells. (Nanowerk News) The development opens the door to cheaper, more sustainable electronics and energy storage devices and could help transform agricultural waste into valuable products inside phones and computers that are used...

Feb 26, 2026 Researchers found that bursting bubbles can launch centimeter-wide water puddles into the air, a mechanism that could enable precise micro- and nano-scale 3D printing. (Nanowerk News) Water droplets have a unique ability: They can leap from a surface on their own. This can happen for a variety...

Feb 26, 2026 Scientists found that tweaking nitrogen arrangement around single cobalt atoms dramatically improves oxygen reduction, offering a blueprint for better fuel cell catalysts. (Nanowerk News) Tiny changes at the atomic scale can determine the future of clean energy. In a new study (Journal of the American Chemical Society,...

Feb 25, 2026 Scientists show enhanced enzyme diffusion after catalysis actively drives reactions away from equilibrium, offering a new role for enzymes in metabolic regulation and a possible missing link in prebiotic chemistry. (Nanowerk News) Living cells are sustained by countless chemical reactions that must be carefully regulated to maintain...

Feb 25, 2026 A flexible foam sensor built from silver selenide detects temperature and pressure simultaneously, enabling a robotic gripper to identify nine different materials with 96% accuracy. (Nanowerk Spotlight) Pick up a coffee mug without looking and your hand instantly reports back: ceramic, warm, smooth, light. That snap judgment...