News & Comment

Increased control over the motion of magnetic flux quanta in superconductors could lead to a new generation of 'fluxtronic' devices

A comparison between two recent national surveys among nanoscientists and the general public in the US shows that, in general, nanoscientists are more optimistic than the public about the potential benefits of nanotechnology. However, for some issues related to the environmental and long-term health impacts of nanotechnology, nanoscientists were significantly more concerned than the public.

A well-established method for aligning carbon nanotubes across metal electrodes proves to be useful for making even more complex devices

Transfer of plasmon resonance energy from metallic nanoparticles to chemical or biological molecules offers a sensitive label-free detection method

By optimizing a range of structural parameters, the performance of different coloured quantum-dot-based LEDs has been significantly improved

Smart nanocomposite films made from carbon nanotubes and a temperature-responsive polymer gel show self-cleaning and controlled-release properties

The X-ray structure of a gold nanoparticle coated with a thiol monolayer has been determined, with unexpected results

Silicon nanostructures can be very precisely doped by coating them with organic molecules that release dopant atoms when heated to high temperatures

The resistance through a film of linked metal nanoparticles changes dramatically when it is stretched, suggesting these materials could be used to make highly sensitive strain gauges

A water-based synthesis of different-shaped palladium nanocrystals offers a more environmentally friendly approach to making these materials

Molecules made by grafting branched lipid chains to peptides can self-assemble into bioactive nanostructures that can be used to deliver materials into cells

A comprehensive study in mice shows that the size and charge of nanoparticles determine which organs they go to

Hydrogenase enzymes can be electrically connected to single-walled carbon nanotubes to form materials that could have possible applications in biofuel cells

The 'shrink-wrapping' of giant fullerenes to form smaller structures, such as C₆₀, has been observed with a transmission electron microscope

A combination of microscopy techniques can now trace how carbon nanotubes enter and kill cells

Many areas of nanoscience and technology will benefit from new capabilities offered by STEMs and STMs

In small volumes of spins, statistical fluctuations can provide a useful basis for imaging, and a study now shows how to let this good noise stand out above the rest

A new method of producing graphene sheets in large quantities for use in electronic devices involves simply removing the oxygen from graphite oxide