Oct 02, 2026 X-ray imaging reveals how sapphire substrates interact with ultrathin vanadium dioxide films, creating strain feedback that influences electrical switching and could reshape brain-inspired electronics. (Nanowerk News) Argonne’s Advanced Photon Source X-ray beams reveal unexpected behavior of a thin film grown on a sapphire base, challenging conventional wisdom...
Magnetically controlled capsule robot collects intestinal microbiome samples
Oct 02, 2026 Researchers develop a magnetically controlled capsule robot with a retractable brush that collects intestinal samples for microbiome analysis, demonstrated in experiments using excised pig intestine. (Nanowerk News) A small capsule could change how we study the microbiome of the small intestine. A team, led by researchers at...
See-through OLED bends with skin and reaches 80% transparency
Oct 02, 2026 An ultrathin OLED transmits 80.7% of light while emitting efficiently from both sides and conforming to skin, advancing the development of nearly invisible wearable displays. (Nanowerk Spotlight) Materials that carry electricity well rarely let light through. In metals, the free electrons that carry current also reflect much...
Graphene enables record proton acceleration with long-pulse lasers
Oct 02, 2026 Ultrathin graphene targets withstand laser prepulses, enabling moving electric fields to accelerate protons to 132 MeV, with AI identifying rare high-energy particles. (Nanowerk News) Imagine a proton catching a wave and surfing it to gain speed. While the imagery may seem wild, the premise of laser-driven ion...
Self-assembling enzymes form storable beads for sustainable chemical production
Oct 02, 2026 Researchers create porous beads made entirely of enzymes that serve as both catalysts and structural material. Combined with living cells, they enable versatile, storable biocatalytic systems. (Nanowerk News) Thanks to enzyme-based biocatalysis, an enormous range of pharmaceutical active ingredients and other complex molecules can be synthesized in...
Waste eggshells strengthen lightweight magnesium alloys
Oct 02, 2026 Researchers turn waste eggshells into nanoscale reinforcements through friction stir extrusion, improving the strength of lightweight magnesium alloys while offering a potentially more sustainable manufacturing approach. (Nanowerk News) Researchers have demonstrated a technique that uses powdered eggshells to produce high-quality magnesium alloys, which have a wide variety...
CRISPR nanodroplets identify multiple mycobacterial species in mixed samples
Oct 02, 2026 A genome-informed CRISPR platform combines microfluidic droplets and molecular recognition to distinguish closely related mycobacteria, identifying up to five species in mixed samples. (Nanowerk News) Mycobacterial infections can be challenging to diagnose because clinically relevant species differ in their clinical and therapeutic implications, while closely related species,...
Single-fiber imaging achieves video-rate speeds for future minimally invasive endoscopy
Oct 01, 2026 Researchers combine optical frequency combs and deep learning to achieve video-rate imaging through a single optical fiber, advancing minimally invasive endoscopy. (Nanowerk News) Endomicroscopy provides critical pathophysiological information for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal, pulmonary, and neurological abnormalities by enabling in vivo, cellular-level visualization of tissues without the...
A robot that falls like a maple seed and sails like a boat
Oct 01, 2026 Researchers have built a robotic platform that can be dropped from the air onto remote waters and sail autonomously using wind energy, pairing rapid aerial deployment with the potential for long duration marine monitoring. (Nanowerk News) Remote waters are difficult to monitor. Boats can take a long...
Wearable stroke rehabilitation device gives patients the upper hand
Oct 01, 2026 Research team invents device that will enable continuous upper-limb rehabilitation monitoring, enabling the future of personalized treatment. (Nanowerk News) A team led by University of Massachusetts Amherst researchers has developed a wearable wrist device powered by a machine-learning algorithm that can continually track changes in arm movement...