Strange though it sounds, vacuum is not exactly void. Absolute nothingness, according to quantum physics, is only imaginary. In truth, vacuums are populated by minute electromagnetic fluctuations. As proof, scientists have recently discovered an entirely new kind of force that is at play in vacuum. Acting on nanoparticles, this bizarre force has been shown to…
Although only a few nanometers or micrometers in thickness, a thin film is an important part of modern electronics, with miniature semiconductors and optical coatings being two of its major applications. At present, a process called photonic sintering allows scientists to fuse nanoparticles into functional thin films. However, the procedure usually requires very high temperatures…
In this age of smartphones and tablets, batteries are the life force that makes the world go round. Scientists are continually looking for ways to make batteries more efficient and powerful. Last year, for instance, a team of Singaporean researchers developed a new type of Li-ion battery that can be charged to 70-percent of its…
Many of the recent breakthroughs, in medical science, have been the result of the implementation of nanotechnology principles. These include the use of nanodiamonds for targeted drug delivery and therapeutics; gold nanoparticles for the detection of breast cancer as well as specially-designed nano drones that help prevent heart attacks by repairing arterial inflammation. Using an…
Back in January, scientists at the University of California had successfully devised micro-robots that could be targeted inside our body to precisely deliver drugs. And, this time around, a collaborative effort from from Colombia University Medical Center (CUMC), Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School have led to a research scope that can allow…
For quite some time now, gold nanoparticles have been deemed, by researchers across the world, as a major diagnostic tool, capable of carrying out high-resolution medical imaging. In a research, conducted a few months back, a scientist-duo at the University of Nebraska developed an advanced electronic skin, using composite layers of polymers and gold nanopartices, that could successfully detect…