Mar 02, 2026 Researchers developed an AI-guided method that dramatically speeds up a widely used X-ray technique known as X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy. It does so with far less risk of human error or damage to the sample from the X-ray beams. (Nanowerk News) Artificial intelligence (AI) is...
A quantum property is hiding in one of the most common lab nanoparticles
Mar 02, 2026 Common carbon quantum dots harbor a hidden room-temperature quantum spin response, potentially transforming them from simple fluorescent tags into biological sensors. (Nanowerk Spotlight) Carbon-based quantum dots are among the most widely used luminescent nanoparticles in modern research. Laboratories around the world synthesize them routinely, exploiting their bright...
A crystal that changes fluorescence color and moves when heated
Mar 02, 2026 Chemists discovered that a seemingly solid, nonporous crystal can 'come alive' when heated. A two-step transformation releases trapped molecules, drives a vivid blue - green - yellow glow, and even propels the crystal forward through bubble-powered motion. (Nanowerk News) In a study recently published in Angewandte Chemie...
AI solves a key barrier to making hydrogen cars more affordable
Mar 02, 2026 Researchers used artificial intelligence to redesign hydrogen fuel cell catalysts, boosting performance and durability while cutting costs for clean transport. (Nanowerk News) Hydrogen cars promise a clean alternative to fossil fuels, but one stubborn problem has held them back: the platinum catalyst at the heart of every...
Synthetic hydrogel helices amplify movement without muscles or motors
Mar 01, 2026 Inspired by a pond microorganism that retracts its spiral stalk using geometry alone, soft gel helices now wind and unwind on their own to amplify motion. (Nanowerk Spotlight) When Vorticella, a bell-shaped microorganism barely visible to the naked eye, detects a chemical threat in its pond-water habitat,...