Many important discoveries happened by accident, and researchers at the Washington State University (WSU) had luck when they found out that exposing a crystal to light enables 400-fold increase of its electrical conductivity. The phenomenon, which lasted for days after the light was turned off, could dramatically improve the performance of devices like computer chips…. »
A research done in collaboration between researches at the RIKEN Institute and the University of Tokyo has revealed a way for structural control of tiny magnetic vortex structures known as skyrmions. The discovery could lead to a compact, low-power alternative to conventional magnetic data storage – a solution vital to dealing with constantly growing volume… »
Researchers at the North Carolina State University (NC State) have developed a 3D printing technology method which allows them to create free-standing structures made of liquid metal microstructures at room temperature. The researchers developed multiple techniques to create these free-standing microstructures which could be used in electronics, microfluidic networks, tissue engineering scaffolds, photonic band gap… »
Inspired by structures found in the nature’s own fuel cells and solar cells (mitochondria and chloroplasts), researchers at the University of Reading have patented a new method to create electrode coatings with a thousand-fold increase in surface area compared to a flat electrode. The increased contact surface could lead to more efficient and greener vehicles,… »
More than 3,500 years ago, civilizations in Asia and the Middle East used boiled rose madder roots to color fabrics in vivid colors such as orange, red and pink. Rose madder roots owe this ability to an organic compound in them named purpurin. Aside being a natural plant dye, purpurin could be used to power… »
Although they were invented before lasers, MASERs (Microwave Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) didn’t quite find their use as lasers since they required specific conditions to operate. Scientists from the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and Imperial College London managed to develop a solid-state MASER able to operate at room temperature, thus enabling its more… »
