Science

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On the Road to Artificial Photosynthesis: Berkeley Lab Study Reveals Key Catalytic Factors in Carbon Dioxide Reduction

The excessive atmospheric carbon dioxide that is driving global climate change could be harnessed into a renewable energy technology that would be a win for both the environment and the economy. That is the lure of artificial photosynthesis in which the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide is used to produce clean, green and sustainable fuels. However, finding a catalyst for reducing carbon dioxide that is highly selective and efficient has proven to be a huge scientific challenge. Meeting this challenge in the future should be easier thanks to new research results from Berkeley Lab.

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This TEM shows gold–copper bimetallic nanoparticles used as catalysts for the reduction of carbon dioxide, a key reaction for artificial photosynthesis.

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Penn Team Studies Nanocrystals by Passing Them Through Tiny Pores

An interdisciplinary team of University of Pennsylvania researchers has now applied a cutting-edge technique for rapid gene sequencing toward measuring other nanoscopic structures. By passing nanoscale spheres and rods through a tiny hole in a membrane, the team was able to measure the electrical properties of those structures' surfaces.

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An illustration of a nanocrystal passing through a nanopore.

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Smallest-possible diamonds form ultra-thin nanothread

A team including Carnegie's Malcolm Guthrie and George Cody has, for the first time, discovered how to produce ultra-thin "diamond nanothreads" that promise extraordinary properties, including strength and stiffness greater than that of today's strongest nanotubes and polymer fibers. Such exceedingly strong, stiff, and light materials have an array of potential applications, everything from more-fuel efficient vehicles or even the science fictional-sounding proposal for a "space elevator." Their work is published in Nature Materials.

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"Diamond nanothreads" promise extraordinary properties, including strength and stiffness greater than that of today's strongest nanotubes and polymers. The threads have a structure that has never been seen before. Image is courtesy of the Vincent Crespi lab, Penn State University.

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Nanotechnology leads to better, cheaper LEDs for phones and lighting

Princeton University researchers have developed a new method to increase the brightness, efficiency and clarity of LEDs, which are widely used on smartphones and portable electronics as well as becoming increasingly common in lighting.

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U.S. Releases Enhanced Shuttle Land Elevation Data

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Elevation data at the highest possible resolution from NASA's Shuttle Radar Topography Mission in February 2000 are now being released for the first time for most of the African continent. This color shaded relief image shows the extent of SRTM digital elevation data for Africa.

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NASA Telescopes Find Clear Skies and Water Vapor on Exoplanet

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A Neptune-size planet with a clear atmosphere is shown crossing in front of its star in this artist's depiction.

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Toward optical chips: A promising light source for optoelectronic chips can be tuned to different frequencies

Chips that use light, rather than electricity, to move data would consume much less power — and energy efficiency is a growing concern as chips' transistor counts rise.

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The MIT researchers deposited triangular layers of molybdenum disulfide on a silicon substrate. At left, regions highlighted in blue indicate where the layers overlap.

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Big Results Require Big Ambitions: Three young UCSB faculty receive CAREER awards from the National Science Foundation

Three UC Santa Barbara researchers — a computer scientist, a chemical engineer and a physicist — are among the recent recipients of the National Science Foundation's Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award. The NSF CAREER Program offers the NSF's most prestigious awards to young faculty who most effectively integrate research and education.

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This image depicts a nanoemulsion being used to template sophisticated materials

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NASA Mars Spacecraft Ready for Sept. 21 Orbit Insertion

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This artist concept depicts the process of orbital insertion of NASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft.

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Five Things About NASA's ISS-RapidScat

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ISS-RapidScat will have a close-up view of ocean winds from its perch on the International Space Station, as this 2010 astronaut photo of Hurricane Earl illustrates.