news 2024

A revolutionary nanomaterial with huge potential to tackle multiple global challenges could be developed further without acute risk to human health, research suggests. Carefully controlled inhalation of a specific type of graphene - the world's thinnest, super strong and super flexible material - has no short-term adverse effects on lung or cardiovascular function, the study shows.

A study led by the Complutense University of Madrid discovers a new generation of artificial materials by stacking two ultra-thin crystals of ceramic oxides rotated together. The work, published in Nature , opens up new avenues for increasing the information storage density and energy efficiency of future computing devices.

A new approach to producing artificial tissue has been developed at TU Wien: Cells are grown in microstructures created in a 3D printer. Is it possible to grow tissue in the laboratory, for example to replace injured cartilage? At TU Wien (Vienna), an important step has now been taken towards creating replacement tissue in the lab - using a technique that differs significantly from other methods used around the world.

Wherever hot water flows, limescale is never far away. In households, this is a nuisance; in thermal power stations, it's an expensive problem. Now researchers at ETH Zurich have found an answer. Hot water tanks, washing machines, kettles: limescale forms in every domestic appliance that comes into contact with (hot) water - especially in areas where the water is hard, meaning high in calcium.

A TU/e and Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology-led collaboration involving researchers from around the world has the answer, and the why, and the results have just been published in the journal Science Advances. Electrons carry electrical energy, while vibrational energy is carried by phonons.

Textiles made of synthetic fibers release microand nanoplastics during washing. researchers have now been able to show: Some of the supposed nanoplastics do not actually consist of plastic particles, but of water-insoluble oligomers. The effects they have on humans and the environment are not yet well-understood.

A coating that can hide objects in plain sight, or an implant that behaves exactly like bone tissue. These extraordinary objects are already made from 'metamaterials'. Researchers from TU Delft have now developed an AI tool that not only can discover such extraordinary materials but also makes them fabrication-ready and durable.

A combination of battery technology and catalysis opens new avenues for cheap, high-capacity batteries Science + Technology A combination of battery technology and catalysis opens new avenues for cheap, high-capacity batteries Key takeaways Lithium-sulfur batteries have the potential to transform energy storage, with exceptional theoretical capacity and performance in combination with an element in abundant supply.

Joint project -AReLiS-3- commences at MEET Battery Research Center A research team at the MEET Battery Research Center at the University of Münster has kicked off the international joint project "AReLiS-3" to pursue research on lithium-sulfur batteries. Its aim is to develop, investigate and optimize novel cell designs, materials, electrode coatings and electrolytes for sulfur-based battery systems.

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a sensor that utilises energy from sound waves to control electronic devices. This could one day save millions of batteries. Sensors that monitor infrastructure, such as bridges or buildings, or are used in medical devices, such as prostheses for the deaf, require a constant supply of power.

High-speed experiments can help identify lightweight, protective "metamaterials" for spacecraft, vehicles, helmets, or other objects. An intricate, honeycomb-like structure of struts and beams could withstand a supersonic impact better than a solid slab of the same material. What's more, the specific structure matters, with some being more resilient to impacts than others.

"Our sensor is like a highly accurate microphone for your breath. It can pick up on the tiniest changes in airflow, providing valuable physiological information on an individual, for example related to their cardiac, neurological and pulmonary conditions as well as certain types of illness. " Manchester scientists have developed a new type of wearable sensor that can precisely track your breath, even the slightest changes in the exhaling and inhaling processes.

Developed by MIT engineers, the model could be a tool for designers looking to innovate in sneaker design. A good shoe can make a huge difference for runners, from career marathoners to couch-to-5K first-timers. But every runner is unique, and a shoe that works for one might trip up another. Outside of trying on a rack of different designs, there's no quick and easy way to know which shoe best suits a person's particular running style.

Key Takeaways A new 3D-printable material called "supramolecular ink" replaces costly scarce metals with inexpensive, Earth-abundant materials. The organic material requires far less energy to manufacture than conventional methods. It could also enhance the sustainability of 3D-printable wearable devices, lighting technologies, and luminescent art and sculpture.

MIT chemists developed a battery cathode based on organic materials, which could reduce the EV industry's reliance on scarce metals. Many electric vehicles are powered by batteries that contain cobalt - a metal that carries high financial, environmental, and social costs. MIT researchers have now designed a battery material that could offer a more sustainable way to power electric cars.

The shape, size and optical properties of 3-dimensional nanostructures can now be simulated in advance before they are produced directly with high precision on a wide variety of surfaces. For around 20 years, it has been possible to modify surfaces via nanoparticles so that they concentrate or manipulate light in the desired way or trigger other reactions.

Not every wound can be closed with needle and thread. researchers have now developed a soldering process with nanoparticles that gently fuses tissue. The soldering technique is expected to prevent wound healing disorders and life-threatening complications from leaking sutures. The team recently published the promising method in the journal Small Methods and applied for a patent.

Engineers from UK universities have developed a new method of measuring temperature through the interaction of a soft and flexible 'smart skin' sensor with electromagnetic waves. Engineers from UK universities have developed a new method of measuring temperature through the interaction of a soft and flexible 'smart skin' sensor with electromagnetic waves.

Findings could help engineers methodically find best molecules to increase lifespan of perovskite solar cells, rather than relying on time-consuming trial and error Study: Molecular Design of Defect Passivators for Thermally Stable Metal Halide Perovskite Films (DOI: 10.1016/j.matt. An insight into preventing perovskite semiconductors from degrading quickly, discovered at the University of Michigan, could help enable solar cells estimated to be two to four times cheaper than today's thin-film solar panels.

Researchers from EPFL have resolved a long-standing debate surrounding laser additive manufacturing processes with a pioneering approach to defect detection. The progression of laser additive manufacturing - which involves 3D printing of metallic objects using powders and lasers - has often been hindered by unexpected defects.