Feb 19, 2026 A nanomechanical sensor once limited to the lab can now detect ultrafine airborne particles, closing a key gap in pollution monitoring and climate science. (Nanowerk News) “Measure what can be measured,” said Galileo around the start of the 1600s; a masterful aphorism that summarises the metrics of...
Scientists unlock a massive new ‘color palette’ for biomedical research by synthesizing non-natural amino acids
Feb 19, 2026 Chemists created a gold-catalyzed method to make non-natural amino acids ready for peptide synthesis, expanding drug design options beyond 22 natural types. (Nanowerk News) Ozempic has been making headlines for its remarkable success in treating obesity and diabetes. Yet it is just one in a rapidly growing...
Quantum ‘ghost imaging’ paves way for nanoscale images at lower X-ray dose
Feb 19, 2026 Scientists used entangled X-ray photon pairs to produce ghost images of tiny samples, a proof of concept that could enable longer, lower-dose studies of delicate biological materials. (Nanowerk News) A group of researchers led by scientists at the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II), a U.S. Department...
Water replaces complex receptor molecules in carbon nanotube gas sensor
Feb 19, 2026 Three cheap hygroscopic salt solutions on carbon nanotube sensors distinguish nine toxic gases, including warfare agents, without engineered receptor molecules. (Nanowerk Spotlight) Many toxic gases, from acid chlorides to nerve agents, react strongly with water. They dissolve in it, break apart on contact, or shift into new...
Nanodevice produces continuous electricity from evaporation
Feb 19, 2026 The nanodevice produces an autonomous, stable current from evaporating saltwater by using heat and light to control the movement of ions and electrons. (Nanowerk News) In 2024, researchers in the Laboratory of Nanoscience for Energy Technology (LNET) in EPFL’s School of Engineering reported a platform for studying...
Oral nanozyme treats colitis-linked mental disorders via gut-brain axis
Feb 19, 2026 Oral polysaccharide-engineered nanozyme treats colitis-linked mental disorders by targeting oxidative stress and gut dysbiosis via the microbiome-gut-brain axis. (Nanowerk News) Collaborative research teams from Yangzhou University and Nanjing University have developed an oral polysaccharide-engineered nanozyme to treat colitis-associated mental disorders. The study (Advanced Materials, "Polysaccharide Engineered Nanozymes...
New plastic nanocomposite could solve energy storage challenge
Feb 18, 2026 Researchers developed a polymer alloy capacitor with self-assembled nanostructures that delivers dramatically higher energy density and extreme heat resistance for electronics. (Nanowerk News) In the race to lighter, safer and more efficient electronics — from electric vehicles to transcontinental energy grids — one component literally holds the...
3D-printing platform rapidly produces complex electric machines
Feb 18, 2026 Overcoming challenges of 3D printing with multiple functional materials, researchers fabricated an electric linear motor in hours. (Nanowerk News) A broken motor in an automated machine can bring production on a busy factory floor to a halt. If engineers can’t find a replacement part, they may have...
First recyclable smart textile fibers retain their shape-shifting power after being melted and remade
Feb 18, 2026 Smart textiles from liquid crystal elastomer fibers can now be melted down and reknitted with nearly identical shape-shifting performance. (Nanowerk Spotlight) Smart textiles built from liquid crystal elastomer fibers can contract, bend, twist, and pump. But until now, no one has shown that these textiles can be...
Injectable nanocomposite hemostat speeds blood clotting for trauma care
Feb 18, 2026 Researchers are using clay-derived nanosilicates integrated into an expandable shape-memory nanocomposite to create injectable hemostatic dressings that rapidly accelerate clotting and cut bleeding time in internal hemorrhage models. (Nanowerk News) Traumatic injury is the third leading cause of death in the state of Texas, surpassing strokes, Alzheimer’s...