By virtue of their relative strength, spider webs are already one of the impressive organic 'structures' of the natural world. And now adding to this wonder of nature, scientists (from the University of Trento) have been able to enhance the metabolic rate of a batch of spiders by basically feeding them graphene and carbon nanotubes,…
With the world’s freshwater reserve dwindling rapidly, scientists are increasingly looking for energy- as well as cost-efficient ways to desalinate seawater. Now a team of 13 researchers from UK's University of Manchester has uncovered a new and innovative technique to remove salts from ocean water using the versatile one-atom-thick allotrope of carbon known as graphene.…
Scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have shown for the first time that transistors fashioned out of carbon nanotubes are actually twice as efficient as regular silicon varieties. This comes after decades of research regarding how carbon nanotubes can be used to design the next generation of computers. Speaking about the breakthrough, recently published in…
With countries increasingly turning towards renewable energy in recent decades, scientists across the globe are looking for more efficient and cheaper ways of harvesting it on a large scale. As part of a new research, a team from Shandong-based Ocean University of China is developing graphene-fitted solar panels that can capture usable energy from raindrops. (more…)
Aerogels are some of the lightest solid materials on Earth, containing up to 99.98-percent of air. As part of a research last year, a team of ETH Zurich scientists developed a new type of porous gold foam that is as light as air and, even floats on cappuccino. The world’s lightest material, however, is graphene…
Despite its long list of impressive properties, including remarkable electrical conductivity, flexibility and mechanical strength among others, graphene was until now quite poor at absorbing light. As part of a new research, scientists at UK-based University of Surrey have developed an incredibly innovative technique that greatly enhances the light-absorption abilities of this one-atom-thick wonder material.…
Back in August, we harped about how scientists have concocted a self-healing electrical circuit comprising a hybrid gel. However, this time around, researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology have decided to take the circuit technology to an interesting new level by contriving 'disappearing' circuits that change over time. According to their research, the scientists…
The term “wonder material” seems fitting when describing graphene, a one-atom-thick allotrope of carbon that boasts an array of truly impressive properties. Known for its remarkable strength, thermal and electrical conductivity, it could revolutionize the future of electronics, medicine and energy development. Despite its many enticing features, it has been, until now, incapable of behaving…
We have already prattled about how graphene can have various potential applications in upcoming technologies, ranging from bullet proof vests to fuel cells. But now it seems another incredible material is rising up to the task of handling physical demands in the realm of practicality. We are talking about the hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) in…
A group of researchers, from Columbia University, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) and Seoul National University (SNU), has created what is likely the world’s thinnest light bulb, using graphene. A one-atom-thick allotrope of carbon, graphene is known to have a plethora of impressive properties and uses. Although invisible to the naked eye,…