Nanotechnology News – Latest Headlines

Researcher uses living cells to create 'biotic' video games

Stanford physicist Ingmar Riedel-Kruse has begun developing 'biotic games' involving paramecia and other living organisms. He hopes the games lead to advances in education and crowd-sourcing of laboratory research while helping to raise the level of public discourse on bio-related issues.

Jan 14th, 2011

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Nanoparticles for a greener path for the production of a vital chemical

Nanoparticles of gold and palladium (Au-Pd) could lead to a more efficient and environmentally friendly way of producing benzyl benzoate, a chemical compound used widely in the food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries whose applications include a fixative for fragrances, a food additive and a solvent for chemical reactions.

Jan 14th, 2011

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Bacterial minicompass uses nanomagnets

Magnetotactic bacteria orient themselves in their environment with the aid of tiny compasses, consisting of chains of membrane sacs called magnetosomes, each containing a single nanomagnet.

Jan 14th, 2011

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Simulations explain the peculiar nature of molecular hydrogen vibration under high pressure

Most of our Universe consists of hydrogen atoms, which are often found under extraordinarily high pressure as high as tens of millions of times the atmospheric pressure of Earth. Understanding the exotic physics of such a high-pressure regime will contribute to our understanding of planet formation, hydrogen storage, room temperature superconductivity and other fields, explains Toshiaki Iitaka from the RIKEN Advanced Science Institute in Wako.

Jan 14th, 2011

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Nano-Leuchtkugeln auf Wanderschaft

Nanopartikel spielen eine wesentliche Rolle bei der Entwicklung zukuenftiger diagnostischer und therapeutischer Methoden fuer Tumorerkrankungen, beispielsweise als Transporter fuer Wirkstoffe oder als Kontrastmittel. Aufnahme und Verteilung von Nanopartikeln im Tumorgewebe haengen dabei stark von der Partikelgroesse ab. Um dies systematisch untersuchen zu koennen, haben Wissenschaftler jetzt einen Satz fluoreszierender Nanopartikel verschiedener Durchmesser zwischen 10 und 150 nm hergestellt.

Jan 14th, 2011

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Physicists observe exotic state in an unconventional superconductor

A new fractional vortex state observed in an unconventional superconductor may offer the first glimpse of an exotic state of matter predicted theoretically for more than 30 years. University of Illinois physicists, led by Raffi Budakian, describe their observations of a new fractional vortex state in strontium ruthenium oxide (SRO).

Jan 13th, 2011

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Self-assembling structures open door to new class of materials

Researchers at the University of Illinois and Northwestern University have demonstrated bio-inspired structures that self-assemble from simple building blocks: spheres. The helical 'supermolecules' are made of tiny colloid balls instead of atoms or molecules. Similar methods could be used to make new materials with the functionality of complex colloidal molecules.

Jan 13th, 2011

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New tool for cell research may help unravel secrets of disease

Advancements in understanding rotational motion in living cells may help researchers shed light on the causes of deadly diseases, such as Alzheimer's, according to Ning Fang, an associate scientist at the U.S. Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory and faculty member at Iowa State University.

Jan 13th, 2011

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Polymer with amazing self-healing properties

Materials with self-healing properties could help extend the durability of products and make repairs easier. Krzysztof Matyjaszewski and his co-workers at Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, USA) and Kyushu University (Japan) have now developed a polymer that can repair itself when irradiated with UV light - over and over again.

Jan 13th, 2011

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Tissue engineering meets nanotechnology: A look at tomorrow's medicine

Tissue engineers seek to develop functioning substitutes for damaged tissues and organs. Generally, this means seeding cells onto 3-dimensional porous scaffolds made of biomaterials, which provide mechanical support and instructive cues for the developing engineered tissue. Now it's time to go to the next level, and make complex tissues that can really do things - contract, release growth factors, conduct electrical signals and more. Things our own cells and tissues do.

Jan 13th, 2011

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