Apr 16, 2026 An AI system enables researchers to find stable energy materials using plain language, removing coding barriers while maintaining scientific accuracy and reliability. (Nanowerk News) A new artificial intelligence (AI) tool that could make it much easier to discover better materials for clean energy technologies. The system, called...
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Lichen-inspired nanocomposite coating delays ice for nearly an hour and melts it on demand
Apr 16, 2026 A nanocomposite coating modeled on Antarctic lichens traps a stable insulating air layer and adds sunlight-driven and electrical heating, delaying ice formation and clearing it within minutes. (Nanowerk Spotlight) Subzero air settling onto a wet surface sets up a small but consequential physical problem. Water finds its...
AI model finds hidden high-performance dielectric materials by learning the underlying physics
Apr 16, 2026 A physics-based AI model identifies new high-dielectric materials by modeling atomic behavior, enabling faster and more accurate materials discovery. (Nanowerk News) Predicting material properties remains a major challenge in materials science, as it often requires complex and computationally intensive calculations. In particular, understanding how materials respond to...
Bottled lightning makes a cleaner fuel
Apr 15, 2026 Bursts of plasma convert methane into methanol without high heat and pressures. (Nanowerk News) Northwestern University chemists have discovered a new way to turn natural gas into liquid fuel — and it’s lightning in a bottle. By harnessing tiny bursts of plasma — or mini “lightning bolts”...
Biodegradable implant mimics electric eel organs to regenerate severed nerves
Apr 15, 2026 A biodegradable ionic hydrogel battery modeled on electric eel organs powers a nerve conduit that accelerates peripheral nerve regeneration without external energy. (Nanowerk Spotlight) Every nerve signal in the body is, at its core, an electrical event. When a peripheral nerve is severed, the biological wiring that...
Active matter that can crawl, walk and dig challenges classical engineering principles
Apr 15, 2026 Active matter uses internal energy to adapt its shape and functionality under force, leading to striking conclusions in this dynamic field of modern research. (Nanowerk News) When we think of materials, we usually think of substances like metal, concrete, glass or rubber. What these examples have in...
Researchers capture images of interface-controlled bulk oxygen spillover for the first time
Apr 15, 2026 Researchers directly observed bulk oxygen spillover in catalysts for the first time, revealing that a catalyst's interior can actively contribute to chemical reactions. (Nanowerk News) Recently, a research team led by Prof. ZHANG Tao, Prof. HUANG Yanqiang from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of the...
Scientists create ‘any wavelength’ lasers in photonic chips
Apr 15, 2026 Scientists have pioneered a way to make integrated circuits for light by depositing complex patterns of specialized materials onto silicon wafers. (Nanowerk News) Computer chips that cram billions of electronic devices into a few square inches have powered the digital economy and transformed the world. Scientists may...
Planets need more water to support life than scientists previously thought
Apr 15, 2026 Researchers show that an Earth-sized planet likely needs at least 20 to 50% of the water in Earth's oceans to maintain a critical natural cycle that keeps water on the surface. These new parameters could exclude many exoplanets in the so-called habitable zone. (Nanowerk News) Unfortunately for...
Quantum algorithm cracks massive simulation barrier, boosts materials discovery
Apr 15, 2026 Researchers use a quantum inspired algorithm to simulate complex materials in seconds, opening faster paths to quantum computing and low heat electronics. (Nanowerk News) Quantum technologies like quantum computers are built from quantum materials. These types of materials exhibit quantum properties when exposed to the right conditions....