Jan 08, 2026 A quantum trick based on interferometric measurements allows a team of researchers to detect even the smallest movements of a laser beam with extreme sensitivity. (Nanowerk News) Precisely measuring minute shifts or slight tilts of a laser beam is crucial in many scientific and technological applications, such...
An unexpected breakthrough in flat optics
Jan 08, 2026 Researchers found silica can outperform high-index materials for optical metasurfaces. Its chip-making compatibility enables scalable, robust flat optical devices. (Nanowerk News) An unexpected discovery in a Harvard lab has led to a breakthrough insight into choosing an unconventional material, silica, to make optical metasurfaces – ultra-thin, flat...
A new 3D-printed solar cell that is transparent and color-tunable
Jan 08, 2026 New semi-transparent solar cells use 3D-printed pillars to adjust color and light transmission without changing the solar material, ideal for windows and flexible surfaces. (Nanowerk News) A new study (EES Solar, "Semitransparent color tunable perovskite solar cells with 3D pillar structure") highlights a semi-transparent, color-tunable solar cell...
Researchers propose hierarchical porous copper nanosheet-based triboelectric nanogenerators
Jan 08, 2026 The proposed innovation demonstrates multifunctionality in terms of efficient energy harvesting, EMI shielding, and Joule heating. (Nanowerk News) Two-dimensional (2D) single-crystalline metal nanosheets have emerged as a promising next-generation platform for self-powered electronics. However, their potential for triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs)—a promising energy-harvesting technology—remains largely untapped, mainly due...
Astronomers find missing link to galaxy’s most common planets
Jan 08, 2026 Scientists weighed newborn planets for the first time, revealing puffy worlds that will shrink into super-Earths and sub-Neptunes, the galaxy's most common planets. (Nanowerk News) One of the biggest recent surprises in astronomy is the discovery that most stars like the Sun harbor a planet between the...
Breaking performance barriers of all solid state batteries
Jan 08, 2026 Researchers have developed a design method for core materials for all-solid-state batteries that uses low-cost raw materials while ensuring high performance and low risk of fire or explosion. (Nanowerk News) Batteries are an essential technology in modern society, powering smartphones and electric vehicles, yet they face limitations...
Coffee as a staining agent substitute in electron microscopy
Jan 08, 2026 Researchers have proven that espresso is a favourable alternative to the highly toxic and radioactive uranyl acetate in the analysis of biological samples. (Nanowerk News) To ensure that the tissue structures of biological samples are easily recognisable under the electron microscope, they are treated with a staining...
Porous nanosheet gels release molecules on schedules from hours to weeks based on size and charge
Jan 08, 2026 A new gel made from porous nanosheets releases small neutral molecules in hours but holds charged molecules for weeks, offering tunable control over delivery timing. (Nanowerk Spotlight) Gels occupy unusual territory among materials. They behave like solids but consist mostly of liquid, holding their shape under gravity...
Unearthing experimental data buried in scientific papers
Jan 08, 2026 Large language models accelerate construction of materials property databases. (Nanowerk News) Technologies that underpin modern society, such as smartphones and automobiles, rely on a diverse range of functional materials. Materials scientists are therefore working to develop and improve new materials, but predicting material properties is no simple...
Nanostructured material changes color and texture like an octopus
Jan 07, 2026 Researchers have developed a flexible material that can quickly change its surface texture and colors, offering potential applications in camouflage, art, robotics, and even nanoscale bioengineering. (Nanowerk News) Octopus and cuttlefish are masters of disguise. Many species can rapidly change both the color and the texture of...