From smart socks to workout clothes that measure exertion, wearable body sensors are becoming the latest “must-have” technology. Now scientists report they are on the cusp of using silk, one of the world’s most coveted fabrics, to develop a more sensitive and flexible generation of these multi-purpose devices that monitor a slew of body functions in real time.
Investing in graphene has become one of the trendiest topics in scientific and financial forums. It is talked about as being a “wonder material,” and the potential replacement for silicon in the production of computer chips.
A new type of non-liquid lubricant containing graphene reduces friction and wear under conditions found applications including air compressors to missile systems, claim researchers in the US.
The world’s largest rubber band manufacturer is putting graphene, the strongest material in the world, into its bands.With the right amount of graphene, the bands will be unbreakable and just as elastic as ordinary bands.Graphene-infused bands hold the ability to embed scannable RFID tags and temperature sensors, and possess anti-static properties.
Researchers report that it is possible to move a nanoparticle on the surface of a graphene sheet by applying a temperature difference at the ends of the membrane—a nanocluster on the surface will drift from the hot region to the cold one. In addition, contrary to the macroscale physical laws, the force acting on the particle—the so-called thermophoretic force—should not decrease as the sheet length rises, instead sporting a so-called ballistic behavior, as a bullet in a gun barrel. In fact, simulations show that vertical thermal oscillations of the graphene membrane flow ballistically from hot to cold, providing a push to the object.
Nanomedical Diagnostics recently announced the launch of the new graphene-enhanced NHS Agile biosensorchip. The new chip reportedly reduces the number of steps needed to gain kinetic binding data for a wide range of molecules, including small and large molecules, peptides, proteins, and antibodies. NHS biosensors are designed for use on the company’s Agile R100 label-free personal assay system.
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory successfully manipulated the electronic structure of graphene, which may enable the fabrication of graphene transistors that could be faster and more reliable than existing silicon-based transistors.
Researchers have determined that graphene is safe for neurons and non-neuronal cells and has long-term biocompatibility — opening the door for use in devices that interface with the nervous system. Following this new finding, the research team will begin to use graphene with different types of tissues to better understand cell physiology.
In a perfect world, we would succeed in making computers both incredibly cheap and extremely fast. For the longest time, reaching this goal seemed well out of reach. Thanks to new research, it turns out that graphene-based computers use far less power while boosting computer performance by as much as 1,000%. It is a discovery that could have major consequences for all computer-related activities.
Clean graphene be set free without damage to its growth substrate, using only simple safe chemicals, according to researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign – aiming to release it for use in flexible transparent electronics.