Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Nanotubes sniff out rotting fruit, your dorm room might be next]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/MIT-research-nanotubes-detect-rotting-produce/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/MIT-research-nanotubes-detect-rotting-produce/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/MIT-research-nanotubes-detect-rotting-produce/#comments MIT-research-nanotubes-detect-rotting-produce

Our favorite ultra-skinny molecules have performed a lot of useful functions over the years, but keeping fruit flies away was never one of them. Now MIT scientists, with US Army funding, have discovered a way to give these nanotubes the canine-like sense of smell needed to stop produce spoilage and waste. Doping sheets of them with copper and polystyrene introduces a speed-trap for electrons, slowing them and allowing the detection of ethylene gas vented during ripening. A sensor produced from such a substance could be combined with an RFID chip, giving grocers a cheaper way to monitor freshness and discount produce before it's too late. If that works, the team may target mold and bacteria detection next, giving you scientific proof that your roommate needs to wash his socks.

Nanotubes sniff out rotting fruit, your dorm room might be next originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 May 2012 02:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbon nanotubesCarbonNanotubesfruitfruits and vegetablesFruitsAndVegetablesgroceriesgrocery storesGroceryStoresmassachusetts institute of technologyMassachusettsInstituteOfTechnologyMITMIT scientistsMitScientistsnanotubespolystyreneresearchRFIDrfid tagRfidTagscienceUS ArmyUsArmyTue, 01 May 2012 02:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Sensitive scales can weigh individual atoms, ensure perfect recipes]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/02/catalan-atomic-scales/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/02/catalan-atomic-scales/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/02/catalan-atomic-scales/#comments Image
Those of you who have navigated beyond using an Easy-Bake Oven will know that weighing out ingredients is a chore. Then again, it's nothing compared to the sort of balancing that takes place at the Catalan Institute of Nanotechnology, where a team has developed a method of weighing individual protons. Using heated, shortened carbon nanotubes in a vacuum, the scale vibrates at different frequencies depending on what molecules are balanced on top. The Yoctogram-scale will enable scientists to diagnose health conditions by finding differences in mass, identifying elements in chemical samples that only differ at the atomic level and ensuring you never over-flour your batter mix again.

Sensitive scales can weigh individual atoms, ensure perfect recipes originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Apr 2012 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Adrian BachtoldAdrianBachtoldAtomicAtomic LevelAtomicLevelAtomsCarbon NanotubesCarbonNanotubesCatalan Institute of NanotechnologyCatalanInstituteOfNanotechnologyProtonsWeighing ScalesWeighingScalesYoctogramYoctogramsMon, 02 Apr 2012 07:57:00 EST<![CDATA[GE turns butterfly-inspired tech into cheap, accurate thermal sensors (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/15/ge-turns-butterfly-inspired-tech-into-cheap-accurate-thermal-se/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/15/ge-turns-butterfly-inspired-tech-into-cheap-accurate-thermal-se/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/15/ge-turns-butterfly-inspired-tech-into-cheap-accurate-thermal-se/#comments GE butterfly sensorWhen last we heard from GE and its Morpho-butterfly inspired sensors, all the talk was about detecting chemicals. And, with $6.3 million in funding coming from DARPA, we're not surprised. In the latest issue of Nature Photonics, however, the company's researchers show that the wing-like structures are just as good at detecting heat as they are ricin attacks. By coating them with carbon nanotubes the team was able to create a sensor sensitive to temperature changes as small as 0.02 degrees Celsius with a response rate of 1/40 of a second. The sensors could eventually find their way into imaging devices and medical equipment, and are expected to cost just a fraction of similar technologies currently on the market. Of course, since DARPA is still involved with the project, there are some potential security uses as well -- such as screening devices and fire detection. Head after the break for a video and some PR.

Continue reading GE turns butterfly-inspired tech into cheap, accurate thermal sensors (video)

GE turns butterfly-inspired tech into cheap, accurate thermal sensors (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 02:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We've seen scientists explore a number of ways to make paint "smarter" over the years, and now a team of researchers at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow have devised a method that they say could do nothing short of "revolutionize structural safety." The key to that is some novel nanotechnology that effectively turns the paint into a sensor network that's able to detect minor structural faults before they become a severe problem. More specifically, the paint consists of a mix of highly aligned carbon nanotubes and a recycled waste material known as fly ash -- when the nanotubes bend, the conductivity changes, indicating that there could be a structural problem developing. What's more, the fly ash is also said to give the paint a cement-like structure, which the researchers say could let it be used in harsh conditions where traditional structural monitoring can prove difficult (and expensive).

Continue reading Nanotech-enhanced 'smart paint' promises to detect structural damage

Nanotech-enhanced 'smart paint' promises to detect structural damage originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbon nanotubesCarbonNanotubesglasgownanotechnanotechnologynanotubespaintsafetyscotlandsmartsmart paintSmartPaintstructuralUniversity of StrathclydeUniversityOfStrathclydeMon, 30 Jan 2012 19:58:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM builds 9 nanometer carbon nanotube transistor, puts silicon on notice]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/28/ibm-builds-9-nanometer-carbon-nanotube-transistor-puts-silicon/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/28/ibm-builds-9-nanometer-carbon-nanotube-transistor-puts-silicon/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/28/ibm-builds-9-nanometer-carbon-nanotube-transistor-puts-silicon/#comments IBM makes a 9 nanometer carbon nanotube transistor, puts silicon on noticeIt's not the smallest transistor out there, but the boffins at IBM have constructed the tiniest carbon nanotube transistor to date. It's nine nanometers in size, making it one nanometer smaller than the presumed physical limit of silicon transistors. Plus, it consumes less power and is able to carry more current than present-day technology. The researchers accomplished the trick by laying a nanotube on a thin layer of insulation, and using a two-step process -- involving some sort of black magic, no doubt -- to add the electrical gates inside. The catch? (There's always a catch) Manufacturing pure batches of semiconducting nanotubes is difficult, as is aligning them in such a way that the transistors can function. So, it'll be some time before the technology can compete with Intel's 3D silicon, but at least we're one step closer to carbon-based computing.

IBM builds 9 nanometer carbon nanotube transistor, puts silicon on notice originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>9 nanometers9Nanometers9nmcarboncarbon nanotubesCarbonNanotubesibmmoores lawMooresLawresearchsciencesilicontransistorSat, 28 Jan 2012 00:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Cheap electronic skin edges us closer to cyberpunk future]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/15/cheap-electronic-skin-edges-us-closer-to-cyberpunk-future/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/15/cheap-electronic-skin-edges-us-closer-to-cyberpunk-future/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/15/cheap-electronic-skin-edges-us-closer-to-cyberpunk-future/#comments Researchers working for the Department of Energy's Berkeley Lab have figured out how to create relatively inexpensive "electronic skin" comprising carbon nanotubes enriched with semiconductors. Their process involves an enriched single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) solution embedded in a honeycomb pattern of hexagonal holes to make it more flexible and stretchable - it's so limber, they wrapped it around a baseball, as you can see in the photo above. Combined with inkjet printing of electrical contacts, the technology paves the way for making flexible, wearable computers and a host of other cool things that William Gibson and other cyberpunk authors thought of back in the 1980s: smart bandages, flexible solar cells and electronic skin that can sense touch. Bring on the Zeiss eye implants and neural interface jacks!

Cheap electronic skin edges us closer to cyberpunk future originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 06:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>berkeley labBerkeleyLabcarbon nanotubesCarbonNanotubesCyberpunkdepartment of energyDepartmentOfEnergymedicineSemiconductorsolar powerSolarPowerWilliam GibsonWilliamGibsonThu, 15 Dec 2011 06:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers use inkjet acumen to create wireless explosive sensor from paper]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/31/researchers-use-inkjet-acumen-to-create-wireless-explosive-senso/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/31/researchers-use-inkjet-acumen-to-create-wireless-explosive-senso/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/31/researchers-use-inkjet-acumen-to-create-wireless-explosive-senso/#comments
Meet Krishna Naishadham and Xiaojuan (Judy) Song. They're researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and those little devices they're holding may one day save you from an explosive device. This petite prototype is actually a paper-like wireless sensor that was printed using basic inkjet technology, developed by professor Manos Tentzeris. Its integrated lightweight antenna allows the sensor to link up with communication devices, while its functionalized carbon nanotubes enable it to pick up on even the slightest traces of ammonia -- an ingredient common to most IEDs. According to Tentzeris, the trick to such inkjet printing lies in the development of "inks" that can be deposited at relatively low temperatures. These inks, laced with silver nanoparticles, can then be uniformly distributed across paper-based components using a process called sonication. The result is a low-cost component that can adhere to just about any surface. The wireless sensor, meanwhile, requires comparatively low amounts of power, and could allow users to detect bombs from a safe distance. Naishadham says his team's device is geared toward military officials, humanitarian workers or any other bomb sniffers in hazardous situations, though there's no word yet on when it could enter the market. To find out more, careen past the break for the full PR.

Continue reading Researchers use inkjet acumen to create wireless explosive sensor from paper

Researchers use inkjet acumen to create wireless explosive sensor from paper originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 08:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ammoniaantennabombbomb detectorBombDetectorcarbon nanotubesCarbonNanotubesCNTexplosiveexplosive deviceExplosiveDevicegeorgia institute of technologygeorgia techGeorgiaInstituteOfTechnologyGeorgiaTechIEDinkjetManos TentzerisManosTentzerismilitarypaperprintingprototyperesearchsensorsilver nanoparticleSilverNanoparticlesonicationwireless sensorWirelessSensorMon, 31 Oct 2011 08:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Stanford builds super-stretchy skin sensor out of carbon nanotubes (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/25/stanford-builds-super-stretchy-skin-sensor-out-of-carbon-nanotub/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/25/stanford-builds-super-stretchy-skin-sensor-out-of-carbon-nanotub/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/25/stanford-builds-super-stretchy-skin-sensor-out-of-carbon-nanotub/#comments
An artificial skin that senses pressure, pinches and touch sounds like a macguffin from The Outer Limits (the episode "Valerie 23" if we recall correctly), but that's what a team from Stanford University has cooked up on the back of its pick-up truck. Sensors made of silicon films with a matrix of liquid carbon nanotubes ensure the material snaps back to its original shape no matter how frequently it's pulled about. When compressed, the electrical conductivity of the skin changes, and by measuring where and by how much, it knows the location and pressure of where you jab your fingers. The team wants to combine this super stretchy film with a much more sensitive sensor and if it can do it, then the technology could end up as an artificial skin for burn victims, covering prosthetic limbs or even replacing your multitouch display -- just be careful, you might hurt Siri if you pinch-to-zoom her too hard.

Continue reading Stanford builds super-stretchy skin sensor out of carbon nanotubes (video)

Stanford builds super-stretchy skin sensor out of carbon nanotubes (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 13:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ArtificialArtificial LimbArtificial LimbsArtificial SkinArtificialLimbArtificialLimbsArtificialSkinBenjamin TeeBenjaminTeeCarbonCarbon NanospringsCarbon NanotubesCarbonNanospringsCarbonNanotubesCyborgDarren LipomiDarrenLipomiMichael VosgueritchianMichaelVosgueritchianMultitouchNanospringsNanotubesresearchscienceStanfordStanford UniversityStanfordUniversityTouchTouch SensorTouchSensorvideoZhenan BaoZhenanBaoTue, 25 Oct 2011 13:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Dipping capacitors and batteries in nanotubes could improve capacity]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/06/dipping-capacitors-and-batteries-in-nanotubes-could-improve-capa/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/06/dipping-capacitors-and-batteries-in-nanotubes-could-improve-capa/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/06/dipping-capacitors-and-batteries-in-nanotubes-could-improve-capa/#commentsSuper capacitorsStanford researchers figured out that, by dipping electrodes for super capacitors in a solution of carbon nanotubes or a conductive polymer they could increase the charging capacity by up to 45-percent. The team started working with composite electrodes of graphene and manganese oxide, since manganese is cheap and plentiful, but were hamstrung by its low conductivity. The thin coating of more conductive material greatly boosted the capacitance of the electrodes, and thus their ability to hold a charge. Further tests are still required to find the actual energy density of the dipped electrodes, but lead researchers Yi Cui and Zhenan Bao are already working on a way to apply the same technique to batteries.

Dipping capacitors and batteries in nanotubes could improve capacity originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Oct 2011 02:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteriesbatterycarbon nanotubesCarbonNanotubesconductive polymerConductivePolymerdippeddippinggrapheneresearchresearcherssciencestanfordstanford universityStanfordUniversitysuper capacitorSuperCapacitorultra capacitorUltraCapacitorThu, 06 Oct 2011 02:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Invisibility cloak made of carbon nanotubes uses 'mirage effect' to disappear]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/05/invisibility-cloak-made-of-carbon-nanotubes-uses-mirage-effect/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/05/invisibility-cloak-made-of-carbon-nanotubes-uses-mirage-effect/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/05/invisibility-cloak-made-of-carbon-nanotubes-uses-mirage-effect/#comments If the phrase "I solemnly swear I'm up to no good" means anything to you, you'll be happy to know that scientists have come one step closer to a Potter-style "invisibility cloak" so you can use your Marauder's Map to the fullest. With the help of carbon nanotubes, researchers have been able to make objects seem to magically vanish by using the same principle that causes mirages. As anyone who's been especially parched along Route 66 knows, optical illusions occur when heat changes the air's temperature and density, something that forces light to "bend," making us see all sorts of crazy things. Apply the same theory under water using nanotubes -- one molecule carbon coils with super high heat conductivity -- and scientists can make a sheet of the stuff "disappear." Remember, it only works underwater, so get your gillyweed ready and check out the video after the break.

Continue reading Invisibility cloak made of carbon nanotubes uses 'mirage effect' to disappear

Invisibility cloak made of carbon nanotubes uses 'mirage effect' to disappear originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 00:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircarbon nanotubesCarbonNanotubesdensityharry potterHarryPotterinvisibility cloakInvisibilityCloaklightmiragemiragesnanotechnologynanotubenanotubesperceptionresearchsciencescientistsunderwaterUniversity of Texas at DallasUniversityOfTexasAtDallasUTDwaterWed, 05 Oct 2011 00:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Bee venom used to create ultra-sensitive explosives sensor]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/10/bee-venom-used-to-create-ultra-sensitive-explosives-sensor/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/10/bee-venom-used-to-create-ultra-sensitive-explosives-sensor/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/10/bee-venom-used-to-create-ultra-sensitive-explosives-sensor/#comments We knew that well-trained bees were capable of sniffing out dynamite and other explosives, but researchers at MIT have now come up with a slightly less militant way to use our winged friends as bomb detectors. A team of chemical engineers at the school recently developed a new, ultra-sensitive sensor that's sharp enough to detect even one molecule of TNT. Their special ingredient? Bee venom. Turns out, a bee's poison contains protein fragments called bombolitins, that react to explosive compounds. To create the detector, researchers applied these bombolitins to naturally fluorescent carbon nanotubes. Whenever an explosive molecule binds with the protein fragments, the interaction will alter the wavelength of the carbon cylinder's fluorescent light. The shift is too small for the naked eye to pick up on, but can be detected using specially designed microscopes. If it's ever developed for commercial use, the sensor could provide a more acute alternative to the spectrometry-based detectors used at most airport security checkpoints. At the moment, however, the technology isn't quite ready to be deployed on a widespread basis, so feel free to keep on living in fear. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Bee venom used to create ultra-sensitive explosives sensor

Bee venom used to create ultra-sensitive explosives sensor originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 May 2011 07:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airport securityAirportSecuritybee venombeesBeeVenombombbombolitinscarboncarbon nanotubesCarbonNanotubeschemicalsdetectorexplosivesmitnanotubeproteinresearchsafetysecuritysensitivesensorspectrometrystudytntVenomTue, 10 May 2011 07:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Self-strengthening polymer nanocomposite works best under pressure]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/27/self-strengthening-polymer-nanocomposite-works-best-under-pressu/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/27/self-strengthening-polymer-nanocomposite-works-best-under-pressu/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/27/self-strengthening-polymer-nanocomposite-works-best-under-pressu/#comments No one keeps carbon nanotubes down -- especially not these guys. The always popular allotropes have been enlisted by researchers at Rice University to create a composite material that gets stronger under pressure. When combined with polydimethylsiloxane, a rubbery polymer, the tubes form a nanocomposite that exhibits self-strengthening properties also exhibited in bones. During testing, the team found the material increased in stiffness by 12 percent after 3.5 million compressions. Apparently, the crew is stumped on why it reacts this way, but is no less eager to see it working in the real world -- discussion is already underway to use the stuff as artificial cartilage. And here we thought aerogel was cool. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Self-strengthening polymer nanocomposite works best under pressure

Self-strengthening polymer nanocomposite works best under pressure originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 Mar 2011 06:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbon nanotubecarbon nanotubesCarbonNanotubeCarbonNanotubesmaterialmedicinenanocompositenanocompositesnanotechnanotechnologyNASApolydimethylsiloxanepolymerpolymer nanocompositesPolymerNanocompositesPulickel AjayanPulickelAjayanresearchricerice univeristyRiceUniveristyself-strengtheningstrengthstrongSun, 27 Mar 2011 06:13:00 EST<![CDATA[New phase-change memory gets boost from carbon nanotubes, puts PRAM claims to shame]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/12/new-phase-change-memory-gets-boost-from-carbon-nanotubes-puts-p/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/12/new-phase-change-memory-gets-boost-from-carbon-nanotubes-puts-p/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/12/new-phase-change-memory-gets-boost-from-carbon-nanotubes-puts-p/#commentsWe've been hearing about the potential flash killer for years, and now a team of University of Illinois engineers is claiming that its new phase-change technology could make the PRAM of our dreams look quaint by comparison. Like so many groundbreaking discoveries of late, carbon nanotubes are at the heart of the this new mode of memory, which uses 100x less power than its phase-change predecessors. So, how does it work? Basically, the team replaced metal wires with carbon nanotubes to pump electricity through phase-change bits, reducing the size of the conductor and the amount of energy consumed. Still too much technobabble? How 'bout this -- they're using tiny tubes to give your cellphone juice for days. Get it? Good.

[Thanks, Jeff]

New phase-change memory gets boost from carbon nanotubes, puts PRAM claims to shame originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 12 Mar 2011 15:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterybattery lifeBatteryLifecarboncarbon nanotubesCarbonNanotubescell phonecell phonesCellPhoneCellPhoneshandsetsjuicememorynanotechnanotechnologynanotubenanotubesPCMphase changephase change memoryPhaseChangePhaseChangeMemorypowerPRAMuniveristy of illinoisUniveristyOfIllinoisSat, 12 Mar 2011 15:22:00 EST<![CDATA[New carbon nanotube aerogel is now the world's lightest solid material]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/16/carbon-nanotube-aerogel-now-the-worlds-lightest-material/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/16/carbon-nanotube-aerogel-now-the-worlds-lightest-material/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/16/carbon-nanotube-aerogel-now-the-worlds-lightest-material/#comments Frozen smoke (read: aerogel) -- not to be confused with the stuff your Grandma uses to flavor her turkey -- is the world's lightest solid material, and it just keeps getting lighter. Researchers at the University of Central Florida have created a new form of the super material, known as multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) aerogel, that has a density of just four milligrams per cubic centimeter and can be used in sensors to detect pollutants and toxic substances, chemical reactors, and electronic components. Aerogels, which are known as the world's most effective insulators, have been around since the early 20th century, but most of these are fabricated from silicon dioxide. In order to produce the new aerogel, researchers removed the liquid from a "wet gel of well-dispersed pristine MWCNTs," creating a honeycomb structure with walls just 100-nanometers thick. The resulting material is an impressive and resilient electrical conductor that looks and acts less like frozen smoke and more like a burnt marshmallow. And now, you know. Check out the coverage link below for video.

New carbon nanotube aerogel is now the world's lightest solid material originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 16 Jan 2011 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aerogelcarboncarbon nanotubesCarbonNanotubesfrozen smokeFrozenSmokeinsulationliquid smokeLiquidSmokemarshmallowmarshmallowsmulti-walled carbon nanotubemulti-walled carbon nanotube aerogelMulti-walledCarbonNanotubeMulti-walledCarbonNanotubeAerogelMWCNT aerogelMwcntAerogelnanotubenanotubessensorssilica dioxideSilicaDioxideUCFUniversity of Central FloridaUniversityOfCentralFloridaworlds lightestworlds lightest materialWorldsLightestWorldsLightestMaterialSun, 16 Jan 2011 10:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Nanotechnology enables ultra high-def LCDs, cheaper stacked-electrode OLED screens]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/27/nanotechnology-enables-ultra-high-def-lcds-cheaper-stacked-elec/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/27/nanotechnology-enables-ultra-high-def-lcds-cheaper-stacked-elec/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/27/nanotechnology-enables-ultra-high-def-lcds-cheaper-stacked-elec/#comments Pixel density enthusiasts, pay close attention, because science is ready to blow your minds -- the University of Michigan has developed an LCD technology that can display their logo in a space just nine microns high. By creating a filter made of microscopic metal gratings with differently sized holes just a few hundred nanometers wide, researchers discovered they could precisely capture wavelengths associated to red, green and blue light, producing pixels roughly eight times smaller than those in the iPhone 4's famous screen, and entire images that could practically fit inside a single dot of Kopin's microdisplay.

Meanwhile, OLEDs (which don't require filters to produce their color) saw a nanotech breakthrough of their own last week, as a group at the University of Florida have discovered that carbon nanotubes can revitalize a once-inefficient but promising vertical stacking technique. Layering thin sheets of aluminum, carbon nanotubes, organic material and finally gold on top of a glass substrate, scientists have created OLEDs that promise to be cheaper, faster and require one-tenth of the power of those using polycrystalline silicon, and could theoretically be printed as a flexible display as well. Here's hoping we'll see the fruits of these fellows' labors soon -- we can't wait to pen a follow-up to this epic fight.

Nanotechnology enables ultra high-def LCDs, cheaper stacked-electrode OLED screens originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Andrew RinzlerAndrewRinzlercarbon nanotubesCarbonNanotubesdarpaHDhigh definitionHighDefinitionJay GuoJayGuoLCDnanotechnanotechnologyOLEDstacked electrodestacked-electrode OLEDStacked-electrodeOledStackedElectrodeUniversity of Floridauniversity of michiganUniversityOfFloridaUniversityOfMichiganFri, 27 Aug 2010 09:29:00 EST<![CDATA[EcoloCap claims nanotube-infused Lithium-X battery has 99 percent efficiency, fuels our long-range EV dreams]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/22/ecolocap-claims-nanotube-infused-lithium-x-battery-has-99-percen/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/22/ecolocap-claims-nanotube-infused-lithium-x-battery-has-99-percen/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/22/ecolocap-claims-nanotube-infused-lithium-x-battery-has-99-percen/#comments The more we hear about the next generation of rechargeable batteries, the more nanotechnology seems integral to the case, as scientists work to improve the capacity of electrodes in the popular Lithium-ion chemical battery structure. Silicon nanowires are an exciting future possibility, and one current solution uses nano-structures made of iron phosphate. But the firm we're highlighting today, EcoloCap, has decided to revisit our versatile friend: the carbon nanotube. The company has just spread the word that its Nano Lithium X battery can generate a minimum of 200 amp-hours with a single cell (a Tesla requires 6,831 cells) at half the cost of a traditional Li-ion and with greater than 99 percent efficiency. Truth be told, we don't know if the tech actually exists, and we'd never even heard of the company before today -- but if this solution does materialize with the voltage to match its longevity, it'll bring a badly needed eco-boost of competition to a market with far too few players.

EcoloCap claims nanotube-infused Lithium-X battery has 99 percent efficiency, fuels our long-range EV dreams originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amp-hourscarbon nanotubesCarbonNanotubesEcoloCapEcolocap Nano Lithium XEcolocapNanoLithiumXli-ionLi-ion batteryLi-ionBatteryLithium IonLithium-XLithiumIonNano Lithium XNano Lithium-XNanoLithium-xNanoLithiumXnanotechnologynanotubesrechargeablerechargeable batteryRechargeableBatteriesRechargeableBatteryMon, 22 Mar 2010 10:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Inhabitat's Week in Green: skyscrapers, combustible ice, and coffee-powered cars]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/inhabitats-week-in-green-skyscrapers-combustible-ice-and-cof/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/inhabitats-week-in-green-skyscrapers-combustible-ice-and-cof/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/inhabitats-week-in-green-skyscrapers-combustible-ice-and-cof/#commentsThe Week in Green is a new item from our friends at Inhabitat, recapping the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us.
This week Inhabitat took a peek into the future of our built environment by showcasing the most incredible designs from the 2010 eVolo Skyscraper Competition. From water purifying buildings to cities stacked on stilts and self-sufficient underwater skyscrapers, there's no shortage of futuristic thinking on tap.

Alternative energy was also a hot topic this week as China launched plans to tap "combustible ice" as an energy source and researchers at MIT discovered a new way to produce electricity by sending thermopower waves through carbon nanotubes.

We also saw several exciting advances in efficient transportation as South Korea rolled out an EV that is recharged by electrified roads and researchers at UT Dallas revealed a heat-scavenging tailpipe that may one day help power cars. And if you think your Prius gets good mileage, get a load of this super-efficient gas engine that gets 98 MPG. Finally, if you rely on that morning cup of coffee to get your engine running, you won't want to miss this coffee-powered car that gets 56 espressos per mile

Inhabitat's Week in Green: skyscrapers, combustible ice, and coffee-powered cars originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carcarbon nanotubesCarbonNanotubescarpuccinocombustible iceCombustibleIceelectric vehicleElectricVehicleelectrified roadsElectrifiedRoadsevinhabitatskyscraperskyscraperstailpipeweek in greenWeekInGreenwigMon, 15 Mar 2010 15:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Stanford University shows that clothes make good batteries too]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/22/stanford-university-shows-that-clothes-make-good-batteries-too/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/22/stanford-university-shows-that-clothes-make-good-batteries-too/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/22/stanford-university-shows-that-clothes-make-good-batteries-too/#commentsStanford University shows that clothes make good batteries, too Remember when Stanford University turned mere paper into a proper battery? That was just the beginning. The same team, led by Yi Cui in the Department of Engineering, now wants your pants to be an electrical storage device. They've managed to dye fabric with carbon nanotube ink, still allowing the cloth to stretch and move like normal but also giving it the supernatural ability to hold a charge. Imagine the day when hipster jeans charge Droids, when booty pants juice up iPhones, and when your wristwatch is powered by the very band you use to strap it to your person -- assuming, of course, the whole "asbestos-like effects" thing turns out to be false.

Stanford University shows that clothes make good batteries too originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterycarbon nanotubesCarbonNanotubesdepartment of engineeringDepartmentOfEngineeringnanotubenanotubesresearchstanfordyi cuiYiCuiFri, 22 Jan 2010 09:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Stanford wants to roll its own paper batteries]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/09/stanford-wants-you-to-roll-its-own-paper-batteries/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/09/stanford-wants-you-to-roll-its-own-paper-batteries/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/09/stanford-wants-you-to-roll-its-own-paper-batteries/#comments It was only a couple of months ago that MIT was wooing us with the energy-preserving properties of carbon nanotubes, and in a classic act of oneupmanship Stanford has now come out and demonstrated paper batteries, which work thanks to a carbon nanotube and silver nanowire "ink." We've seen this idea before, but the ability to just douse a sheet of paper in the proper magical goo and make a battery out of it is as new as it is mindblowing. Battery weight can, as a result, be reduced by 20 percent, and the fast energy discharge of this technology lends itself to utilization in electric vehicles. The video after the break should enlighten and thrill you in equal measures.

Continue reading Stanford wants to roll its own paper batteries

Stanford wants to roll its own paper batteries originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 05:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteriesbatterycarboncarbon nanotubesCarbonNanotubesenergyinknanotubesnanowirespaperpaper batteriespaper batteryPaperBatteriesPaperBatterypowersilver nanowiresSilverNanowiresstanfordstanford universityStanfordUniversityWed, 09 Dec 2009 05:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Carbon nanotubes find yet another purpose, could star in ultra-reliable batteries]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/carbon-nanotubes-find-yet-another-purpose-could-star-in-ultra-r/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/carbon-nanotubes-find-yet-another-purpose-could-star-in-ultra-r/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/carbon-nanotubes-find-yet-another-purpose-could-star-in-ultra-r/#comments
Carbon nanotubes are kind of like peanuts. They both seem pretty simple at first glance, but with a little work, you can make pretty much anything out of 'em. Take this case, for example, as MIT boffins have discovered that by forming the tube-shaped molecules of pure carbon into minuscule springs, they could be "capable of storing as much energy, pound for pound, as lithium-ion batteries." The real kicker is exactly how they'd do it -- "more durably and reliably." Essentially, these newfangled cells could be left alone for years on end without losing their charge, and unlike conventional batteries, these wouldn't suffer from performance degradation when exposed to temperature extremes. Of course, anything as pie-in-the-sky as this is probably at least a decade or so out from Walmart shelves, but considering that the group responsible has already filed a patent, we'd say they're pretty confident in the possibilities.

[Via Physorg]

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Carbon nanotubes find yet another purpose, could star in ultra-reliable batteries originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterybattery lifeBatteryLifecarbon nanotubesCarbonNanotubeselectricityenergyenergy storageEnergyStorageengineeringmitnanotubespowerresearchsciencespringspringsuniversityMon, 21 Sep 2009 20:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers create nanotube memory that can store data for a billion years]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/09/researchers-create-nanotube-memory-that-can-store-data-for-a-bil/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/09/researchers-create-nanotube-memory-that-can-store-data-for-a-bil/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/09/researchers-create-nanotube-memory-that-can-store-data-for-a-bil/#comments
Researchers at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and UC Berkeley have developed an ultra-dense memory chip that is capable of storing data for up to a billion years (besting silicon chips by roughly... a billion years). Consisting of a crystalline iron nanoparticle shuttle encased within a multiwalled carbon nanotube, the device can be written to and read from using conventional voltages already available in digital electronics today. The research was led by Alex Zettl, who notes that current digital storage methods are capable of storing mass amounts of data, but last just decades, while, say, some books have managed to last nearly a thousand years, though the amount of data they contain is quite small. The new method, called shuttle memory, is based on the iron nanoparticle which can move back and forth within the hollow nanotu. Zettl believes that, while shuttle memory is years away from practical application, it could have a lot of archival applications in the future. There's a video after the break, hit the read link for more tiny details.

[Via The Register]

Continue reading Researchers create nanotube memory that can store data for a billion years

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Researchers create nanotube memory that can store data for a billion years originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Alex ZettlAlexZettlcarbon nanotubesCarbonNanotubesdepartment of energyDepartmentOfEnergylawrence berkeley national laboratoryLawrenceBerkeleyNationalLaboratorymemorynanotechnanotechnologystorageuc berkeleyUcBerkeleyTue, 09 Jun 2009 22:32:00 EST<![CDATA[MIT builds battery from bacterial virus, humans to power machines by 2012]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/03/mit-builds-battery-from-bacterial-virus-humans-to-power-machine/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/03/mit-builds-battery-from-bacterial-virus-humans-to-power-machine/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/03/mit-builds-battery-from-bacterial-virus-humans-to-power-machine/#comments We've been tracking MIT professor Angela Belcher's attempt to build batteries and nano-electronics from viruses since 2006. Scientifically speaking, the so-called "virus" is actually a bacteriophage, a virus that preys only on bacteria while leaving humans of diminishing scientific knowledge alone to doubt that claim. Now, in a new report co-authored by Belcher, MIT research documents the construction of a lithium-ion battery (pictured after the break) with the help of a biological virus dubbed M13. M13 acts as a "biological scaffold" that allows carbon nanotubes and bits of iron phosphate to attach and form a network for conducting electricity. Specifically, MIT used the genetically engineered material to create the battery's negatively charged anode and positively charged cathode. Best of all, MIT's technique can be performed at, or below room temperature which is important from a manufacturing perspective -- a process that MIT claims will be "cheap and environmentally benign." Already MIT has constructed a virus-battery about the size of that found in a watch to turn on small lights in an MIT lab. Belcher claims that just a third of an ounce (about 10 grams) of the viral battery material could power an iPod for 40 hours. In time and with enough effort MIT expects to scale the technology to power electronic vehicles. Remember, when the time comes choose the red pill.

[Via Scientific American, Thanks James]

Continue reading MIT builds battery from bacterial virus, humans to power machines by 2012

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MIT builds battery from bacterial virus, humans to power machines by 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 04:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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8GHz (with the help of liquid nitrogen) not quick enough? Leave it to the folks at MIT to make sure your zaniest desires are well taken care of. As research forges ahead on graphene, carbon nanotubes and buckyballs (remember those?), gurus at the university have discovered a breakthrough that could eventually lead to microchips that make existing silicon-based CPUs weep. In fact, the research could lead to practical systems in the 500 to 1,000 gigahertz range. The magic all ties back to advancements on a graphene chip known as a frequency multiplier, and while the nitty-gritty of all this is far too complicated for the layperson to grasp, all you really need to know is this: finally, you can rest assured that you'll one day own a chip capable of handling Duke Nukem Forever.

[Via InformationWeek]

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Graphene chip could hit 1,000GHz, make your Core i7 feel totally inadequate originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 08:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seriously, is there anything carbon nanotubes can't do? We've got shock absorbers, flexible displays, atypically small eating utensils and now, film-like speakers. For times when NXT flat drivers simply aren't thin enough, a team of Chinese researchers have reportedly found a way to create sound from a thin sheet of carbon nanotubes. The film, which could be stretched and placed on PMPs, HDTVs or even clothing, can generate sound when "zapped with a varying electric current." Great, the perfect recipe for a new wave of Milli Vanilli copycats. A video of the tech can be seen after the jump.

[Via Physorg]

Continue reading Carbon nanotubes could be used in film-like flat speakers

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Carbon nanotubes could be used in film-like flat speakers originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Nov 2008 05:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seriously, is there anything carbon nanotubes can't do? We've got shock absorbers, flexible displays, atypically small eating utensils and now, film-like speakers. For times when NXT flat drivers simply aren't thin enough, a team of Chinese researchers have reportedly found a way to create sound from a thin sheet of carbon nanotubes. The film, which could be stretched and placed on PMPs, HDTVs or even clothing, can generate sound when "zapped with a varying electric current." Great, the perfect recipe for a new wave of Milli Vanilli copycats. A video of the tech can be seen after the jump.

[Via Physorg]

Continue reading Carbon nanotubes could be used in film-like flat speakers

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Carbon nanotubes could be used in film-like flat speakers originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not to get too nano-technical on you this Saturday afternoon, but you're probably going to want to be briefed on these newfangled macroscopic aggregates commonly referred to as buckypapers. The devices, which are reportedly involved in a long-term undercover relationship with those buckyballs you discussed in 10th grade chemistry class, are ridiculously tough (albeit lightweight) sheets of matter made from intertwined carbon nanotubes. Put simply, these composites could see uses in making more efficient heat sinks, lighter background illumination material for displays and (at least in theory) transportation of the future. For now, buckypapers are being made exclusively in university laboratories, but Florida State is already in the process of spinning out a firm to make them commercially. Do we see the makings of a new and improved Project Grizzly suit? Our signs are pointing to yes.

[Via Yahoo!]

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Ultra-tough buckypapers could build planes, trains and automobiles originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Oct 2008 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung and LG are locked in a tight race for "best HDTV you won't be buying this year or next" this week at the International Meeting on Information Display 2008, trading shots with OLEDs, LCDs and more. Samsung brought along an upgraded version of its true 240Hz 15-inch Blue Phase LCD panel with improved image quality, some fresh carbon nanotube-based color electronic paper, plus slimmed-down versions of its 40- and 50-inch LCDs. Then it got busy with the OLEDs, dropping in a 14-inch HD display, 31-inch 1080p display and 5-inch VGA panel, to which LG could only respond with the above 19-inch OLED powered by amorphous silicon TFT. More stills of the carnage exist beyond the read link, but in the battle of display tech streeting in 2011 at the earliest, we just hope LG is holding back a few surprises for CES.

[Via OLED-Display, thanks Erik]

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Samsung & LG HDTV prototypes battle for supremacy originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung and LG are locked in a tight race for "best HDTV you won't be buying this year or next" this week at the International Meeting on Information Display 2008, trading shots with OLEDs, LCDs and more. Samsung brought along an upgraded version of its true 240Hz 15-inch Blue Phase LCD panel with improved image quality, some fresh carbon nanotube-based color electronic paper, plus slimmed-down versions of its 40- and 50-inch LCDs. Then it got busy with the OLEDs, dropping in a 14-inch HD display, 31-inch 1080p display and 5-inch VGA panel, to which LG could only respond with the above 19-inch OLED powered by amorphous silicon TFT. More stills of the carnage exist beyond the read link, but in the battle of display tech streeting in 2011 at the earliest, we just hope LG is holding back a few surprises for CES.

[Via OLED-Display, thanks Erik]

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Samsung & LG HDTV prototypes battle for supremacy originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>240hzamorphous siamorphous siliconAmorphousSiAmorphousSiliconblue phaseBluePhasecarbon nanotubesCarbonNanotubescnte-paperhdimidimid 2008Imid2008lcdlgoledsamsungtxtWed, 15 Oct 2008 16:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Shock-absorbing carbon springs to protect falling gizmos]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/14/shock-absorbing-carbon-springs-to-protect-falling-gizmos/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/14/shock-absorbing-carbon-springs-to-protect-falling-gizmos/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/14/shock-absorbing-carbon-springs-to-protect-falling-gizmos/#commentsThe Tigers down at Clemson University are doing more than deciding whether an all-purple uniform really sends a sense of fear to the opponent, as they're also crafting shock-absorbing carbon springs which could theoretically protect gadgets when they crash to the ground. In working with researchers at UC San Diego, the crew has determined that layers of tiny coiled carbon nanotubes can act as "extremely resilient shock absorbers." The team envisions their discovery finding its way into body armor, car bumpers, bushings and even in shoe soles, but we're hoping that cellphones and PMPs get lined with this stuff to protect from those butter-finger moments.

[Via Physorg]

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Shock-absorbing carbon springs to protect falling gizmos originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yeah, we get it, flexible electronics -- sans application -- are about as exciting as the circuitry under your keyboard. But it's Friday, and this here story has real-live carbon nanotubes, so you know it's a winner. Takao Someya of the University of Tokyo has built for himself a stretchy, flexible conducting material using carbon nanotubes mixed with a polymer. The nanotubes are mixed into a compound called "bucky gel" to prevent clumping, and after some rubber-like flourinated copolymer is mixed in and it's all poured onto a glass plate, holes are punched in the material to better flexibility. Apparently it ends up looking a bit like a nylon stocking, but we won't hold that it against it, since it can be stretched up to 38%, while also managing to be 100 times more conductive than any other elastic material. The possibilities for such technology is pretty much endless, but we'd say "nylon stocking that is also, conveniently, a computer" is the first product category worth felling.

[Via I4U]

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Another flexible circuit project emerges, carbon nanotubes to blame originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Networks of carbon nanotubes find use in flexible displays originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Now that just looks extra scrumptious, doesn't it? What you're peering at above is believed to be the world's tiniest ramen bowl, created by a clever bunch of scientists from the University of Tokyo. Reportedly, Masayuki Nakao and his students "used a carbon-based material to produce a noodle bowl with a diameter 1 / 25,000 of an inch in a project aimed at developing nanotube-processing technology." In other words, they carved a bowl out of nanotubes, which can now only be viewed through a microscope. Best of all, they didn't stop with just the dinnerware, as they managed to insert a number of inedible noodles to round things off -- each of which measured "one-12,500th of an inch in length with a thickness of one-1.25 millionth of an inch." Don't get any bright ideas here, McDonald's, ditching SuperSize was bad enough.

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Japanese scientists craft planet's smallest ramen bowl originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 01 Jun 2008 02:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Graphene-polymer hybrid composites look to oust carbon nanotubes originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 May 2008 22:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbon nanotubesCarbonNanotubescompositesGraphenenanotechnologyNorthwesternPolymerresearchscienceuniversityWed, 28 May 2008 22:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Carbon nanotubes causing asbestos-like effects in lab mice]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/carbon-nanotubes-causing-asbestos-like-effects-in-lab-mice/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/carbon-nanotubes-causing-asbestos-like-effects-in-lab-mice/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/21/carbon-nanotubes-causing-asbestos-like-effects-in-lab-mice/#commentsThe scientific and engineering possibilities of carbon nanotubes are hard to overestimate, but a study out of the UK might put a damper on the small-scale party for a while: mice injected with certain lengths of nanotubes developed lung problems similar to those caused by asbestos. Apparently the long, straight shape of the nanotubes causes problems for the lining of the lungs designed to deal with particulate matter, which can cause scarring, inflammation, and "probably cancer in the long term." That's a big "probably," however -- researchers say they're a long way from actually proving the link between long nanotubes and cancer, but no one's denying that it's troublesome, including the Nanotechnology Industries Association, which told the BBC that "there could be reason for concern... but it needs to be validated." It also seems like the focus is on handling the tech correctly, which is promising -- we'll keep an eye on how this plays out.

[Thanks, TC]

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Carbon nanotubes causing asbestos-like effects in lab mice originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 May 2008 05:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We've seen self-healing materials and artificial arms, but a team of researchers hailing from UCLA have taken two fabulous ideas and wed them together to create "an artificial muscle that heals itself and generates electricity." Put simply, the contracting / expanding of the material can generate a small electric current, which can be "captured and used to power another expansion or stored in a battery." The scientists have relied on carbon nanotubes as electrodes rather than metal-based films that typically fail after extended usage, and in an ideal world, the research could eventually lead to (more) walking robots and highly advanced prosthetics. Integrate an AC adapter in there and we're sold.

[Via CNET]

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UCLA researchers create self-healing, power-generating artificial muscle originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 22 Mar 2008 22:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boron nanotubes beat carbon at its own game originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Jan 2008 03:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Move over, UC Irvine: your colleagues across the state at UC Berkeley have just one-upped your nano-scale radio by not only using nanotechnology for the demodulator, but actually "stuffing" all the components into a single carbon nanotube. By utilizing mechanical -- rather than electrical -- vibrations of a nanotube protruding from an electrode, the team from Berkeley and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory were able to mimic the tuner, antenna, amplifier, and demodulator which compose traditional radios. Their prototype nano-radio, 10,000 times thinner than a human hair, has already been used to broadcast and receive such classic tunes as Good Vibrations by the Beach Boys and Eric Clapton's Layla; a video of this latter transmission, whose poor quality will make you long for the relative clarity of AM radio, is available after the break...

[Via San Francisco Chronicle, image and video courtesy of Zettl Research Group, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and University of California at Berkeley]

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Berkeley researchers develop world's smallest radio originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Nov 2007 13:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nanotubes have certainly played their part in various forms of swank gadgetry over the years, but researchers at the University of Illinois, Lehigh University, and Purdue University seem to have upped the ante for future nanotube implementations. Their approach utilizes "dense arrays of aligned and linear nanotubes as a thin-film semiconductor material suitable for integration into electronic devices," which essentially means that the arrays can be transferred into devices where silicon isn't entirely comfortable, such as "flexible displays, structural health monitors, and heads-up displays." Interestingly, the creators aren't expecting their discovery to overtake silicon, but they did mention that the linear arrays could be "added to a silicon chip and exploited for particular purposes, such as higher speed operation, higher power capacity, and linear behavior for enhanced functionality." Sounds like these gurus are just the type Intel would be scouting right about now, eh?

[Via TechnologyReview]

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Nanotube breakthrough creates scalable transistors originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Mar 2007 15:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carbon nanotubesCarbonNanotubeselectron microscopeElectronMicroscopeillinoisnanoelectronicsnanotubesresearchUIUCuniversityFri, 30 Mar 2007 15:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Intel researching "carbon nanotubes" for chip design]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/13/intel-researching-carbon-nanotubes-for-chip-design/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/13/intel-researching-carbon-nanotubes-for-chip-design/http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/13/intel-researching-carbon-nanotubes-for-chip-design/#comments While Moore's Law has held up pretty well over the last 40 years, it may not be able to stay true forever. It turns out that as the components inside semiconductors get smaller and smaller, electrical resistance goes up, thereby reducing performance; experts say that eventually there will be a breaking point for "copper interconnects," reaching the point where Moore's Law falls apart. Scientists have been well aware of this roadblock, and have invested heavily in everything from quantum computing to optical processors. Intel is also working on a solution for this electrical engineering problem by attempting to determine whether these semiconductor interconnects can be replaced by carbon nanotubes. The ubiquitously researched microscopic tubes can conduct electricity far better than metals, due to their "ballistic conductivity," a property where no electrons are dispersed or blocked. But, the problem with carbon nanotubes, as CNET reports, is that they're really tough to mass produce; once created, some act as great semiconductors, while others don't. So now, Intel has to figure out how to get carbon nanotubes to act more uniformly, or to separate the bad ones from the good. Thankfully, consumers won't have to worry about this problem for about another decade, which is why Intel has brainiacs working on a solution as we speak.

[Via Slashdot]

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Intel researching "carbon nanotubes" for chip design originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Nov 2006 07:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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[Via HD Beat]

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Carbon nanotubes manage 1080p on a 0.7-inch microdisplay originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Jun 2006 08:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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