Feb 16, 2026 Therapeutic mRNA delivered via lipid nanoparticles restored sperm production in genetically infertile mice and produced live offspring without genomic integration. (Nanowerk Spotlight) Male infertility accounts for roughly half of all infertility cases worldwide, yet treatment options for its most severe forms remain limited. Among the hardest cases...
Slippery ions create a smoother path to blue energy
Feb 16, 2026 By engineering lubricated interfaces inside nanopores, researchers have enabled ions to flow through a nanofluidic membrane with unprecedented speed and control. (Nanowerk News) Osmotic energy, often called blue energy, is a promising way to generate sustainable electricity from the natural mixing of salt and fresh water. It...
Physicists explain the exceptional energy-harvesting efficiency of perovskites
Feb 16, 2026 Despite impurities and defects, lead-halide perovskites efficiently convert solar energy, rivaling silicon cells. Physicists now explain the mechanism behind this surprising efficiency. (Nanowerk News) Despite being riddled with impurities and defects, solution-processed lead-halide perovskites are surprisingly efficient at converting solar energy into electricity. Their efficiency is approaching...
Dry graphene transfer at scale enabled by a ferroelectric polymer that switches its grip on command
Feb 16, 2026 Electrically switchable adhesion in a ferroelectric polymer film enables clean, fast, solvent-free transfer of graphene from copper growth substrates to target surfaces. (Nanowerk Spotlight) Growing high-quality graphene is no longer the hard part. Chemical vapor deposition can now produce uniform, single-atom-thick carbon sheets at meter scale on...
Nanopillar-studded plastic films physically destroy viruses, cutting infectivity by 94% without chemicals
Feb 15, 2026 Flexible plastic films stamped with dense nanopillar arrays mechanically rupture viral particles, reducing infectivity by 94% in one hour with no chemical agents involved. (Nanowerk Spotlight) Viruses that linger on surfaces pose a persistent public health problem. Common respiratory pathogens, including influenza and SARS-CoV-2, can remain infectious...
New alloy design strategy at the atomic scale greatly enhances metal fatigue resistance
Feb 14, 2026 Engineers have identified a fundamental deformation mechanism that can be leveraged to greatly enhance the fatigue properties of metals, opening the door to a new strategy for designing fatigue-resistant alloys. (Nanowerk News) Metal alloys crack and fail through a mechanism called “fatigue” when repeatedly loaded and strained....
AI-powered digital twin enables real-time energy evaluation for smart buildings
Feb 14, 2026 Next-generation model combines symbolic AI with VR to visualize and evaluate energy savings and thermal comfort in real time during zero-energy building design. (Nanowerk News) In recent years, in the context of global decarbonization, reducing energy consumption in buildings has become an important issue. In designing a...
Fast microwave method produces advanced carbon materials for efficient CO2 capture
Feb 14, 2026 A new microwave-assisted method creates nitrogen-doped ultramicroporous carbon from coal in minutes, dramatically cutting energy use while achieving high CO2 capture performance. (Nanowerk News) Scientists have developed a fast and energy efficient way to produce advanced carbon materials capable of capturing carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas...
Why your next health tracker might be a button on your shirt
Feb 14, 2026 Measuring human movement with tracking devices on looser clothing is more accurate than on tight body suits or straps. (Nanowerk News) The discovery by scientists at King’s College London could mark a potential breakthrough for a range of technologies, including improving accuracy on personal health devices, such...
Novel calcium-ion battery technology enhances energy storage efficiency and sustainability
Feb 14, 2026 Researchers develop high-performance quasi-solid-state calcium-ion batteries using redox covalent organic frameworks, achieving strong cycling stability as a sustainable alternative to lithium-ion technology. (Nanowerk News) Researchers at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have achieved a breakthrough in calcium-ion battery (CIB) technology, which could transform...