Science | WPN World People News

This illustration shows the seven TRAPPIST-1 planets as they might look as viewed from Earth using a fictional, incredibly powerful telescope.

A new optical nanosensor enables more accurate brain mapping and opens the way for broader applications in future; Fig. 5 in a paper reporting on the work shows retention of a potassium nanosensor in the extracellular space.

Mild heating of graphene oxide sheets makes it possible to bond particular compounds to the sheets’ surface, a new study shows. These compounds in turn select and bond with specific molecules of interest, including DNA and proteins, or even whole cells. In this image the treated graphene oxide on the right is nearly twice as efficient at capturing cells as the untreated material on the left. Courtesy of the researchers

A proof of concept triboelectric nanogenerator produces electrical charges for a mass spectrometer. Georgia Tech researchers have shown that replacing conventional power supplies with TENG devices for charging the molecules being analyzed can boost the sensitivity of mass spectrometers to unprecedented levels.

This is an artist's illustration shows how PNNL's addition of the chemical lithium hexafluorophosphate to a dual-salt, carbonate solvent-based electrolyte makes rechargeable lithium-metal batteries stable, charge quickly, have a high voltage, and go longer in between charges.

The series of optical microscope images (a) show the patterns formed by the condensation of water from a supersaturated atmosphere on surfaces textured with nanocylinders (top row) and nanocones (bottom row) throughout a 45-minute period. Both textures start out covered with microdroplets, but the cylindrical texture shows large droplets forming over time that stick to the surface. In contrast, the conical texture resists dew formation because the water droplets are so lightly adhered to the surface that, when two drops join together (b, top), they gain enough energy to spontaneously jump off the surface (b, bottom).

The most complex crystal designed and built from nanoparticles. Left: An electron microscope image of a slice of the structure (Northwestern University). Right: A matching slice from a simulation of the structure (University of Michigan).