Jan 14, 2026 Researchers develop reliable method using transmission electron microscopy to verify graphene's single-atom thickness, establishing foundation for industrial standards. (Nanowerk News) Graphene could transform everything from electric cars to smartphones, but only if we can guarantee its quality. The University of Manchester has led the world’s largest study...
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Atoms caught in the act of wetting
Jan 14, 2026 Real-time microscopy and AI reveal how atomic wetting controls tin oxide nanowire growth inside carbon nanotubes, uncovering the mechanisms that link temperature, geometry, and surface chemistry. (Nanowerk Spotlight) Liquids behave strangely when confined to spaces only a few atoms wide. They can climb, spread, or retreat depending...
Reading qubits in an ultraclean environment
Jan 14, 2026 Microwaves should be able to probe qubits made from single electrons floating above liquid helium. (Nanowerk News) One intriguing method that could be used to form the qubits needed for quantum computers involves electrons hovering above liquid helium. But it wasn’t clear how data in this form...
AI helps assess environmental risks from chemicals
Jan 13, 2026 Scientists find systematic weakness in tests of bioaccumulation in fish; newly-developed AI tool aims to improve testing. (Nanowerk News) The bioconcentration factor shows the concentration of chemical substances in fish as compared to the surrounding water. It is the standard measure for determining the bioaccumulation of chemicals...
A dry surface thanks to fluid physics
Jan 13, 2026 Researchers ave developed a gentle, contact-free method to collect liquids and remove them from microscopic surface structures. The method uses vapor condensation to generate surface currents that transport droplets off surfaces. (Nanowerk News) Many modern technologies rely on microscopic elements, such as microchips in smartphones. The manufacturing...
Smart transparent woods that block UV and save energy
Jan 13, 2026 The transparent wood is not only promising for indoor illumination and a healthy lifestyle, but also protects privacy at night. (Nanowerk News) Environmentally friendly buildings are highly attractive for sustainable development and efficient energy consumption. Recently, scientists have made significant strides towards the development of energy-efficient smart...
Dark matter may have begun much hotter than scientists thought
Jan 13, 2026 Research challenges decades-old theory and sheds light on the early beginnings of the Universe. (Nanowerk News) Researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and Universit´e Paris-Saclay have challenged a decades-old dark matter theory. Their new research shows that the Universe’s most mysterious material could have been...
This contact lens tracks your eyes using only light and a smartphone camera
Jan 13, 2026 A contact lens with microscopic line patterns tracks eye position with high precision using only a smartphone camera, requiring no batteries, electronics, or special lighting. (Nanowerk Spotlight) In 1879, French ophthalmologist Louis Émile Javal documented the rapid, jerky movements eyes make while reading, which scientists now call...
Living sensor display turns engineered skin into a biological monitor
Jan 12, 2026 Researchers created a living skin graft that fluoresces with inflammation, enabling long-term internal biomarker monitoring without blood tests. (Nanowerk News) Wearable health devices, such as smartwatches, have become commonplace, enabling the continuous monitoring of physiological signals at the skin’s surface. Recently, a research team in Japan has...
How electron microscopy reveals the hidden structure of battery electrodes
Jan 12, 2026 Researchers developed a method to enhance 3D imaging of lithium-ion battery electrodes, improving visualization of internal structures that affect performance. (Nanowerk News) Lithium-ion batteries power much of modern technology, yet their performance is still strongly shaped by something that remains difficult to observe: the internal structure of...