May 05, 2026 Theorists address an experimental paradox by developing a general theory uniting a kind of order known as electronic nematicity with a crystal's elasticity. (Nanowerk News) Electronic nematicity is a phase of some crystalline solids in which electrons’ collective properties, such as charge or spin densities, organize themselves...
Piezoelectric MXene scaffold promotes cartilage repair while limiting vessel growth
May 05, 2026 An origami scaffold uses electrical repair cues and light-triggered heating to promote cartilage formation while limiting vessel growth beneath the defect. (Nanowerk Spotlight) Piezoelectric scaffolds offer a neat idea for cartilage repair: let joint movement generate electrical signals that push stem cells toward cartilage. Every step or...
Covalent organic framework recovers gold from electronic waste with 99% efficiency
May 05, 2026 Researchers developed a photocatalytic covalent organic framework that selectively captures gold from electronic waste leachate with 99% efficiency and strong reusability. (Nanowerk News) A two-dimensional covalent organic framework (COF) can selectively recover gold from electronic waste solutions with roughly 99% efficiency, according to research published in the...
Twisted crystal interfaces create conductive zones in quantum materials
May 05, 2026 Physicists created highly conductive zones at twisted lithium niobate interfaces, extending twisted interface research beyond van der Waals materials for nanoelectronics. (Nanowerk News) An international team of physicists has demonstrated that rotating and bonding two large crystals of lithium niobate at precise angles produces unexpected electrically conductive...
Insect brain discovery offers a blueprint for faster and more efficient AI and robots
May 05, 2026 The secret behind insects' lightning fast reactions could offer a blueprint for more energy efficient robots and self-driving cars, according to a new study challenging our understanding of how brains process information. (Nanowerk News) Published in Nature Communications ("Synaptic high-frequency jumping synchronises vision to high-speed behaviour"), the...
Bio-based MOF aerogel combines electromagnetic shielding, fire resistance, and insulation
May 05, 2026 Researchers developed a cellulose aerogel with metal-organic frameworks that absorbs microwaves, resists fire, insulates heat, and dampens sound in one lightweight material. (Nanowerk News) Modern aircraft, high-power electronics, electric vehicles, and energy-efficient buildings share a common set of vulnerabilities: electromagnetic interference, fire hazards, excess heat, and noise....
Multiplex modular nanorobots combine magnetic control with reusable catalysis
May 05, 2026 DNA base pairing snaps magnetic Janus nanoparticles and enzyme-loaded polymersomes into modular nanorobots that can be steered, tracked, and magnetically recovered for repeated catalytic cycles. (Nanowerk Spotlight) Living cells coordinate thousands of molecular machines within a single micrometer-scale compartment. Separate systems handle transport, energy conversion, and catalysis,...
Using AI to crack billion-dollar solar panel recycling challenge
May 05, 2026 AI and supercomputers show early promise in speeding solar panel recycling by identifying solvents that separate silicon with less contamination. (Nanowerk News) Research intended to advance the circular economy of renewable energy is being undertaken at the University of New England (UNE), where researchers have found early...
Scientists unveil a faster way to ‘train’ bacteria for complex tasks, like munching plastics
May 04, 2026 The approach uses a reprogrammed virus that evolves 160,000 times faster than the host, effectively training bacteria to consume a common plastic ingredient. After five cycles, plastic degradation improved by over 50%. (Nanowerk News) Millions of tonnes of plastic waste accumulate in landfills and oceans every year....