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News posted in 2005
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News posted in 2004
| December | November | October | September | August | July | June | May | April | March | February | January |
News posted in 2003
| December | November | October | September | August | July | June | May | April | March | February | January |
News posted in 2002
| December | November | October | September | August | Earlier |

2004

December

Nanotubes: Nanotubes form along atomic steps
(Eurekalert)
A new approach to create patterns of carbon nanotubes by formation along atomic steps on sapphire surfaces has been developed. Carbon nanotubes are excellent candidates for the production of nanoelectronic circuits. This makes it possible to produce different nanowire arrangements in a controlled fashion.
(12.22.04)

Scanning Tunneling Microscopy: Molecular grave-digging
(Nature News)
A researcher group has shown in principle that the scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) can be used to excavate shallow pits or 'molds' on the surface of a Si wafer shaped to receive organic molecules, so that the molecules stick at a particular location and in a particular position.
[Mayne A. J. et al., Molecular molds. Appl. Phys. Lett. 85, 5379–5381, (2004) Article]
(12.22.04)

© Nature
Femtosecond Lasers: Femtosecond laser pulses image single N₂ bonding orbital
(Chemical & Engineering News)
A technique for recording three-dimensional images of molecular orbitals using femtosecond laser pulses has been developed. It was used to image the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) of dinitrogen This could lead to new probes of chemical reaction dynamics and techniques for studying the motions of individual electrons.
[Itatani, J. et al . Nature 432 , 867 - 871 (2004)]
(12.20.04)

Electron Flow: Visualizing electron flow in semiconductors
(Science News Online)
Modeling electron flow in semiconductor materials yields visually stunning artistic images as evidenced by the work of Eric J. Heller of Harvard University.
(12.20.04)

Mesoporous Silica: Hollow spheres prepared with an emulsion of CO₂ droplets in water
(Chemical & Engineering News)
A new method for synthesizing mesoporous shells of silica has been developed that combines surfactant templating and supercritical fluid processing. Supercritical CO₂ was used as a benign internal phase and swelling agent in the formation of hollow spheres of silica with large mesopore wall structures.
[Chem. Commun., published online Dec. 3, http://xlink.rsc.org/?doi=10.1039/b413820a]
(12.20.04)

Micromachines: Red blood cells are go!
(PhysicsWeb)
Researchers have shown that red blood cells can transfer the angular momentum in a circularly polarized laser beam into rotational motion. The "motor" could find use in a variety of applications, including biosensors and cellular micromachines.
[J A Dharmadhikari et al. 2004 Appl. Phys. Lett. 85 6048]
(12.20.04)

Spider Silk: Spider silks, the ecological materials of tomorrow?
(Bio.com)
Spider silks could become the intelligent materials of the future. The characteristics of spider silk could have applications in areas ranging from medicine to ballistics. There are currently over 34,000 described species of spider, each with a specific tool-kit of silks with different mechanical properties serving specific purposes.
(12.20.04)

Superconductivity: Ups and downs for superconducting films
(NanoTechWeb)
The superconducting properties of ultrathin films are directly related to their thickness according to new experimental results. Researchers have found that the superconducting transition temperature of thin films made of lead varies with the number of atomic layers in the film
[Y Guo et al., 2004, Science, 306 1915]
(12.13.04)

© Nanotechweb
Atomic Force Microscopy: "Fountain pen" etches with molecular ink
(NanoTechWeb)
Scientists have used a micromachined "fountain pen" to write and etch sub-micron patterns on a surface with molecular "ink". The new device is based on an atomic force microscope
[S Deladi et al. 2004 Appl. Phys. Lett. 85 5361]
(12.13.04)

Organic Films: Better Films For Electro-Optics
(Chemical & Engineering News)
Using a vapor-deposition process, it has been demonstrated that transparent organic films with very high electro-optical responses can self-assemble through hydrogen-bonding interactions onto almost any type of substrate. The method could lead to a low-cost method for making electro-optical modulators and other high-speed switching devices to convert radio-frequency signals to optical signals for broadband telecommunications systems.
[Nat. Mater., 3, 910 (2004)]
(12.13.04)

Biotechnology: Artificial cells take shape
(Nature News)
Primitive bacteria-like cells have been created. These synthetic cells are not truly alive, because they cannot replicate or evolve. But they can churn out proteins for days, and could be useful for drug production and other applications.
[Noireaux V. & Libchaber A. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., doi:10.1073/pnas.0408236101 (2004)]
(12.10.04)

Biomimetics: Plastic eye mimics octopus vision
(Nature News)
A lens resembling an octopus eye has been created by researchers. It consists of roughly 6,000 nanolayers of two different polymers, which have different refractive indices, so by varying the number of polymer nanolayers in each film, the researchers created 100 films, each of which had a refractive index that differed from the next by 1%.
(12.10.04)

Nanotubes: Nanotubes glow, even within biological cells
(Bio.com)
In some of the first work documenting the uptake of carbon nanotubes by living cells, a team of scientists have selectively detected low concentrations of nanotubes in laboratory cell cultures.
(12.10.04)

Biotechnology: Injectable Gel Could Speed Repair Of Torn Cartilage
(Bio.com)
Researchers have developed an injectable gel that could speed repair of torn cartilage, a common sports injury. The technique uses the patient's own cartilage-producing cells. When the liquid mixture is injected into areas where cartilage is torn, the material hardens into a gel upon exposure to ultraviolet light, leaving the transplanted cells in place so they can grow new cartilage where it is needed.
(12.10.04)

Nanocrystals: Method produces monodisperse nanocrystals on multigram scale
(Chemical & Engineering News)
Scientists have shown that 40-g batches of uniform-sized magnetite nanocrystals and other materials can be prepared in a single reaction without a size-sorting step. Scaling up the process to produce multikilogram quantities is expected to be straightforward, the scientists say.
[Nat. Mater., 3, 891 (2004)]
(12.8.04)

Soft-Metal Whiskers: Soft-metal whiskers
(Physics News Update)
Soft-metal whiskers are tiny metallic protrusions that grow like hair from soft metals. They can cause electronic short circuits. Now, researchers have an explanation for the cause of whiskers and a potential method for alleviating them. Basically, the whiskers form because of reactions between oxygen and the soft metal such as tin or indium.
(12.8.04)

Transparent Transistor: See-through component for flexible displays
(Science News Online)
Japanese researchers have developed a transparent semiconductor material out of indium gallium zinc oxide. Transistors made from his team's new material are 10 times as conductive as the silicon transistors used in current liquid-crystal displays.
[ Nomura, K et al. 2004. Nature 432(Nov. 25):488-492. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature03090]
(12.7.04)

November

Transistor Laser: Lighthearted Transistor: Electronic workhorse moonlights as laser
(Science News Online)
A new transistor laser has been developed that both amplifies electric current and emits a narrow beam of single-wavelength light.
[G. Walter, N. Holonyak Jr., M. Feng, and R. Chan. 2004. Laser operation of a heterojunction bipolar light-emitting transistor. Applied Physics Letters 85(Nov. 15):4768-4770. http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1818331]
(11.24.04)

Negative Thermal Expansion: Bake, Shake, and Shrink
(Physical Review Focus)
Zirconium tungstate is unique because it exhibits negative thermal expansion from close to absolute zero up to nearly 1000 degrees Kelvin, a very broad range, while retaining the same atomic structure. A new study attributes this to complex vibrational motion and its unusual crystal structure.
[J. N. Hancock et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 93 , 225501 (issue of 26 November 2004)]
(11.24.04)

Microfluidics: Spreading polymer film visualized with molecular resolution
(Chemical & Engineering News NanoFocus)
A collaborative research team has monitored the motion of individual molecules in a drop of liquid polymer as it spreads over the surface of a solid substrate. They used atomic force microscopy to visualize the flow process of a thin film of polymer molecules on graphite, mica, and a silicon wafer
[Phys. Rev. Lett., 93, 206103 (2004)]
(11.22.04)

Lithography: Atom lithography
(Physics News Update)
Atom lithography, shooting sculpted beams of atoms at a substrate, can create lines of deposited atoms with widths as narrow as 50 nm.
(11.22.04)

Crystallization: Shaping Crystals With Biomolecules
(Bio.com)
Using biominerals as an inspiration, researchers have determined a key factor in how to manipulate the shapes of crystals. They used four different biomolecules to study their effects on the dynamics of atomic steps during crystallization using an atomic force microscope.
(11.19.04)

Nanotubes: Aqueous treatment efficiently yields patterns of high-purity structures
(Chemical & Engineering News)
Researchers have made single walled carbon nanotubes that are 99.98% pure by adding a controlled amount of water vapor to the growth atmosphere. They speculate that, in combination with metal particles from the catalyst, the water oxidizes any amorphous carbon that could build up on the catalyst.
[Science, 306, 1362 (2004)]
(11.19.04)

Nanoparticles: Metal nanoparticles and semiconducting nanowires coupled together
(Science - Editor's Choice)
When CdTe nanowires were complexed with Au nanoparticles using the biotin-streptavidin ligand-receptor pair to connect the two together, a fivefold increase in the peak luminescence intensity and a blue shift of the spectra that developed gradually with time were observed. [Nano Lett. 10.1021/nl048669h (2004)]
(11.19.04)

Terahertz Radiation: Simple wire picks up terahertz waves
(Nature News)
Terahertz waves can penetrate materials such as plastic and cardboard, which are opaque to other wavelengths. Now it seems that a small length of stainless steel wire is enough to carry the waves to a receiver.
[Wang K., Mittleman D. M., Nature , 432 . 376 - 379 (2004). |  Article  |]
(11.18.04)

Acids: World's strongest acid created
(Nature News)
The world's strongest acid, a carborane acid [ H(CHB 11 Cl 11 )] which is at least a million times more potent than concentrated sulphuric acid, has been made in a lab in California. However, it is also one of the least corrosive because once it gives up a proton, the remaining carborane part is extremely stable.
[Juhasz M., et al . Angewandte Chemie Int. Edn , 43 . 5352 - 5355 (2004). |  Article  |]
(11.18.04)

© Phys. Rev. Lett.
Fluorescence Microscopy: Tips for Better Fluorescence
(Physical Review Focus)
Two improved fluorescence microscopes could allow researchers to see individual protein molecules on the surface of a living cell. Both teams of researchers obtained fluorescence images by dipping a needle-like "tip" into the focus of the laser used to create the fluorescence.
[Tip-Enhanced Fluorescence Microscopy at 10 Nanometer Resolution, J. M. Gerton, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 93 , 180801
(issue of 29 October 2004)
High-Resolution Imaging of Single Fluorescent Molecules With the Optical Near-field of a Metal Tip, H. G. Frey et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 93 , 200801
(issue of 12 November 2004)]
(11.15.04)

Nanoscale Patterning: UV light is used to make a loosely bound molecular pattern more robust
(Chemical & Engineering News)
It has been shown that weakly bound self-assembled layers of molecules can be secured to solid surfaces via strong chemical bonds by irradiating the molecules with ultraviolet light. This could lead to simple, yet precise, procedures for patterning surfaces with nanometer-sized features.
[Surf. Sci., published online Nov. 4, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.susc.2004.09.048]
(11.15.04)

Foams: Polymer Microrods stabilize foams
(Science - Editor's Choice)
Polymer microrods made from an epoxy-based photoresist have been found to stabilize foams so that they resist collapse even when most of the liquid is allowed to evaporate. In contrast to foams made with sodium dodecyl sulfate, which survived for 2 days, the polymer rod foams were stable for more than 2 weeks.
[Alargova et al., Langmuir 10.1021/la048647a (2004)]
(11.12.04)

Nanostructures: Registering Nanostructures
(Science - Editor's Choice)
For STM atomic manipulation, a registration technique has been developed that allows the alignment of macroscopic electrodes to the nanoscale device elements buried underneath semiconducting layers. The registration markers are etched into the substrate before the STM manipulation stage and so should be a general method for bottom-up fabrication of other nanoscale device structures.
[Ruess et al., Nano Lett. 4, 1969 (2004)]
(11.12.04)

© NanoTechWeb
Nanowires: Indium phosphide nanowires grow on silicon
(NanoTechWeb)
Indium phosphide nanowires have been grown epitaxially onto silicon and germanium substrates for the first time. This could aid the integration of III-V semiconductors, which have good optoelectronic and high-frequency properties, with standard silicon technology. (11.11.04)

Adhesion: Stickiness takes on new shapes
(Nature News)
Animals such as insects and lizards employ an impressive range of tools to achieve surface-scaling superpowers including structures such as flat attachment pads to microscopic hairs. New mathematical equations have been developed to enable researchers to compare different shapes, which could allow us to design artificial surfaces that stick to walls better than anything found in nature.
[Spolenak R., et al . Proc. R. Soc. Lond. A , 460, 1 - 15 (2004).]
(11.9.04)

© Appl. Phys. Let.
Photocapacitor: A new type of solar cell
(PhysicsWeb)
Scientists have created the first "photocapacitor" that can convert solar energy into electricity and then store the resulting electric charge.
[T. Miyasaka and T. Murakami, Appl. Phys. Lett., 85, 3932]
(11.9.04)

Si Optics: Silicon optics switches by changing refractive index
(EE Times)
Researchers have demonstrated nanoscale techniques that has enabled the world's first silicon chip that switches optical wavelengths. The key is a ring-shaped nanoscale cavity whose resonant frequency depends on its refractive index, which can be optically switched by virtue of a second light beam controlling free-carrier dispersion.
(11.8.04)

Microfluidics: Tiny 'Chaperones' To Direct
Molecules And Nanoparticles In Drop Of Liquid
(Univ. California San Diego)
A method has been developed that uses dust-sized chips of silicon to surround and precisely direct the motion of molecules, cells, bacteria and other miniscule objects within a tiny drop of liquid.
(11.8.04)

Piezoceramics: Electronics Detox: Leadfree material for ecofriendly gadgetry
(Science News Online)
Scientists have reported the creation of a new piezoceramic, an alkaline niobate–based ceramic, that's not only leadfree but, in preliminary tests, matches the performance of lead zirconium titanate (PZT), currently the most widely used piezoceramic.
[Saito, Y., et al . 2004. Nature 432(Nov. 4):84-87. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature03028 ]
(11.8.04)

Si Optics: Silicon optics switches by changing refractive index
(EE Times)
Researchers have demonstrated nanoscale techniques that has enabled the world's first silicon chip that switches optical wavelengths. The key is a ring-shaped nanoscale cavity whose resonant frequency depends on its refractive index, which can be optically switched by virtue of a second light beam controlling free-carrier dispersion.
(11.8.04)

Radiation Damage: The Metallic Secret of Deinococcus radiodurans' Success
(Science)
The bacterium D. radiodurans is extremely resistant to both ionizing radiation and desiccation. The very high intracellular concentration of Mn ions relative to iron woas found to be critical. Rather than providing protection against the initial burst of radiation, high intracellular Mn might act against sudden increases in damaging reactive oxygen species during the recovery from radiation insult. (11.5.04)
[Daly et al., Science 2004 306: 1025-1028]

Ferroelectricity: Straining to improve
(Science)
Strained BaTiO₃ films have been fabricated that have ferroelectric transition temperatures and remanent polarizations that are substantially enhanced compared to pure BaTiO₃ and approach those of commonly used lead-based materials. (11.5.04)
[Choi et al., Science 2004 306: 1005-1009]

Hydrogen Storage: Ins and outs of hydrogen storage
(Science)
Metal-organic frameworks with relatively small channels have been developed, some of which exhibit hysteresis in the adsorption and desorption of hydrogen at -196°C. Such materials allow hydrogen to be loaded at high pressures but then stored at lower pressures. (11.5.04)
[Zhao et al., Science 2004 306: 1012-1015]

Biocompatible Polymers: A Polymer coat reduces wear and bone loss around artificial joint implants
(Chemical & Engineering News)
Researchers have shown that grafting a biocompatible polymer layer onto artificial joints reduces wear and bone loss. They were able to covalently attache a biocompatible phospholipid polymer to the liner surface of an artificial hip made of polyethylene. (11.3.04)
[ Nat. Mater., published online Oct. 24, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nmat1233]

Carbon: The magnetism of carbon
(PhysicsWeb)
Carbon is about to join the list of ferromagnetic elements. However, the origins of its magnetic properties remain a mystery.
(11.3.04)

Nuclear Reactors: A Natural Nuclear Reactor In Gabon
(Physics News Update)
Scientists have defined a likely mode of operation for an ancient natural nuclear reactor that was found in Gabon, West Africa, in 1972 and have confirmed one of the proposed mechanisms of its self regulation. (11.3.04)

October

Nanotubes: Researchers watch water inside nanotubes
(NanoTechWeb)
Researchers have been able to fill closed multiwalled carbon nanotubes between just 2 and 5 nm in diameter with water. This work is of fundamental importance for understanding liquid behaviour at the nanoscale. (10.28.04)

Mechanical Memory: Mechanical memories take off
(PhysicsWeb)
The first high-speed nanomechanical memory element made from single-crystal silicon wafers has been demonstrated. The device consists of a vibrating beam that can be made to switch between two distinct states. The team says its memory element could rival the current state-of-the-art in electronic data storage and processing.
(10.28.04)
[R L Badzey et al. 2004 Appl. Phys. Lett. 85 3587]

Lasers: First silicon laser pulses with life
(Nature News)
Scientists have created the world's first laser made from silicon. The new approach uses the natural atomic vibrations of silicon to create or amplify light. (10.26.04)
[Boyraz O. & Jalali B. Opt. Express , 12 . 5269 - 5273 (2004). |  Article  |]

Biomedical Materials: Eyeball glue
(Nature Materials News)
Researchers have devised a biocompatible glue consisting of highly branched peptide molecules that can be chemically crosslinked at room temperature to form a viscoelastic, transparent hydrogel.This could be very useful in cataract surgery. (10.26.04)
[J. Am. Chem. Soc. 126, 12744–12745 (2004)]

Nanocrystals: Silicon nanocrystals made easy
(NanoTechWeb)
A new technique has been developed for making silicon nanoparticles in plasmas at room temperature. The method overcomes problems encountered with existing plasma-based approaches and can produce crystalline nanoparticles with a uniform size. (10.25.04)
[A Bapat et al. 2004 arxiv.org/abs/physics0410038]

Flash Welding: A pulse of light converts polymer powders into potentially useful films
(Chemical & Engineering News)
Flashing light on a mat of dark green polyaniline nanofibers on a substrate fuses the fibers into a smooth, golden, continuous film of cross-linked polyaniline. This is a versatile new technique for processing polymers into potentially useful structures. (10.25.04)
[Nature Materials, published online Oct. 24, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nmat1242]

Membranes: Nanocomposite membranes are highly sensitive
(Chemical & Engineering News NanoFocus)
Spin-assisted layer-by-layer assembly has been used to fabricate 25–70-nm-thick Nanocomposite organic-inorganic films consisting of a central gold nanoparticle layer sandwiched between alternating monolayers of two polyelectrolytes.Their sensitivity to external forces is three to four orders of magnitude higher than that of an ultrathin silicon membrane with the same diameter.
(10.22.04)
[V. V. Tsukruk et al., Nat. Mater., 3, 721 (2004)]

<***Highlighted in eMatters***>
Carbon: Carbon goes ballistic
(PhysicsWeb)
It has been shown that films of carbon only one atom thick might have useful electronic properties. The graphene films were processed to make field-effect transistors. Electrons in the device were able to travel ballistically without being scattered from the source to the drain electrode at room temperature.
(10.22.04)
[K S Novoselov et al., Science, 306 (2004) 666]

<***Highlighted in eMatters***>
Sensors: Magnetic sensors tackle viruses
(NanoTechWeb)
Scientists have developed a new type of magnetic sensor that can detect biomolecules. The device relies on measuring magnetic susceptibility, the Brownian relaxation, of magnetic nanoparticles coated with a protein when they are bound to target biomolecules. (10.21.04)

<***Highlighted in eMatters***>
Plasmas: Crystalline Order At 40,000 K
(Physics News Update)
Scientists have been able to create a ball of dust particles holding to a crystalline structure even in the middle of a hot plasma. The plasma crystal consists of charged 3.5-micron-sized polymer particles amidst a gas-discharge that manage to arrange themselves into neat concentric spheres, to a total ball diameter of several mm. (10.21.04)

<***Highlighted in eMatters***>
Nanowires: A Nanowire with a Surprise
(Brookhaven National Laboratory)
Scientists have discovered that a short, organic chain molecule composed of units of phenyleneethynylene with dimensions on the order of a nanometer conducts electrons in a surprising way: It regulates the electrons’ speed erratically, without a predictable dependence on the length of the wire. (10.19.04)

Waveguides: Researchers guide light through liquids and gases on a chip
(Eurekalert)
The first demonstration of integrated optical waveguides with liquid cores, a technology that enables light propagation through small volumes of liquids on a chip, has been reported. The new technology has a wide range of potential applications, including chemical and biological sensors with single-molecule sensitivity. (10.19.04)

Superconductors: Superstructures add to superconducting mystery
(PhysicsWeb)
The discovery of oxygen "superstructures" in cuprate materials by two independent teams of physicists could help shed new light on the origins of high-temperature superconductivity. The results, which back up theoretical predictions made almost 15 years ago, suggest that the "stripes" of charge found in some high-temperature superconductors might not be as closely related to the superconducting property as previously thought.
(10.18.04)

Optoelectronics: Composite fibres light up
(PhysicsWeb)
Novel optoelectronic fibres have been created that contain metal, insulator and semiconductor layers. The fibres can be woven into a "spectrometric fabric" that could be used in devices such as photodetectors, and might also have applications in light-sensitive materials for clothing. (10.15.04)
(M Bayindir et al., 2004 Nature 431 826)

<***Highlighted in eMatters***>
Mass Spectroscopy: New technique allows direct mass spectrometry at ambient conditions
(Chemical & Engineering News)
A new ionization method called desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) can be used on samples under ambient conditions with no sample preparation. An ionized stream of solvent is sprayed on the surface of a sample at ambient temperature. The solvent clusters in the beam act as projectiles, knocking ions from the sample, which are then propelled to the mass spectrometer through a hose. (10.15.04)
[Science, 306, 471 (2004)]

<***Highlighted in eMatters***>
NEMS: Nanodevices target viruses
(PhysicsWeb)
Researchers are beginning to use NEMS devices for the detection of viruses. One group has used a Si cantilever based device to detect an insect baculovirus. A second group has employed a nanowire field-effect transistor to detect single influenza viruses. These techniques could easily be scaled up for applications in medicine or the detection of biological weapons.
(10.11.04)

<***Highlighted in eMatters***>
Bioengineering: DNA Lends Scientists A Hand, Revealing New Chemical Reactions
(Bio.com)
A powerful method for discovering new chemical reactions by piggybacking collections of different small organic molecules onto short strands of DNA has been developed. This gives the reactants the opportunity to react by zipping together. Their work is based upon "DNA-templated synthesis," that uses DNA to code not for RNA or proteins but instead for synthetic molecules. (10.11.04)

Granular Materials: Getting an Extra Bounce
(Physical Review Focus)
Researchers have simulated the small-scale interactions between a disk and an elastic surface that can lead to a greater-than-one coefficient of normal restitution. Their computer simulation calculates a coefficient of 1.3 when the disk strikes the surface at an angle of about 11 degrees.
(10.6.04)
Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 154301
(issue of 8 October 2004)

2004 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 2004 was awarded jointly to Aaron Ciechanover, Avram Hershko and Irwin Rose "for the discovery of ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation". (10.6.04)

<***Highlighted in eMatters***>
Buckyballs: Toxic nanomaterials get a tune-up
(Science News Online)
By adorning carbon buckyballs with simple chemicals, for example, hydroxyl or carboxyl groups, researchers found that the more decorated the buckyballs, the less toxic they became. In fact, for those buckyballs with the largest number of chemical groups, the concentration needed to kill half the cells was more than 10 million times that required with naked buckyballs. (10.5.04)

2004 Nobel Prize in Physics
The Nobel Prize in Physics for 2004 was awarded jointly to David J. Gross, H. David Politzer, Frank Wilczek "for the discovery of asymptotic freedom in the theory of the strong interaction". (10.5.04)

2004 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for 2004 was awarded jointly to Richard Axel and Linda B. Buck for their discoveries of "odorant receptors and the organization of the olfactory system". (10.4.04)

<***Highlighted in eMatters***>
Biosensors: In search of a biosensing biocide
(Chemical & Engineering News)
A molecule has been found that forms a bilayer which then curls up to form a nanotube. The nanotubes are always 89 nm across, and the walls, which consist of five lipid bilayers, are 27 nm thick and around 1 µm in length. Exposing the nanotubes to ultraviolet light induces them to polymerize through the triple bonds of the diacetylene groups on adjacent molecules. When these polymerized nanotubes are exposed to detergents or strong acids (stand-ins for chemical weapons), they change color from blue to red or yellow. (10.4.04)

Data Storage: Angular pits boost DVD storage
(PhysicsWeb)
DVDs store information in the form of simple, steep-sided pits each holding 1 bit of data and the capacity is currently limited to around 4.7 Gb per layer. Now, researchers have realized that by giving the pits an angular sub-structure they could hold at least ten times more data.
(10.4.04)

September

<***Highlighted in eMatters***>

© Schoelkopf Group, Yale Univ./ Nature
Circuit Quantum Electrodynamics: Physicists Create Artificial Molecule On A Chip
(Photonics.com)
A team of researchers has bound a single photon to a superconducting device engineered to behave like a single atom, forming an artificial molecule. It is the first experimental result in a field that is being called circuit quantum electrodynamics. (9.30.04)

<***Highlighted in eMatters***>

© Sandia National Lab.
MEMS: Motion detector 1000 times more sensitive than current ones
(Sandia National Lab.)
A new class of very small handheld devices can detect motion a thousand times more subtly than any tool known. The device is fabricated out of polysilicon by standard lithography techniques like those used to make MEMS devices (9.30.04)

Semiconductors: New surface chemistry may extend life of technology for making transistors
(Univ. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign)
A technique has been developed that uses surface chemistry to make tinier and more effective p-n junctions in silicon-based semiconductors. The method could permit the semiconductor industry to significantly extend the life of current ion-implantation technology for making transistors. (9.30.04)

Molecular Electronics: An important step toward molecular electronics
(Eurekalert)
Researchers have been able to precisely align multiple types of molecules on a silicon surface at room temperature -- an important step toward the goal of molecular electronics. This represents patterning on a scale 10,000 times smaller than that of microelectronics. (9.28.04)

<***Highlighted in eMatters***>
Solidification: Law-breaking liquid defies the rules
(PhysicsWeb)
A liquid that "freezes" when heated has been discovered. Researchers found that a simple solution composed of two organic compounds becomes a solid when it is heated to temperatures between 45 and 75°C, and becomes a liquid when cooled again. Hydrogen bonds were seen to be responsible for this novel behaviour.
(9.28.04)
[M Plazanet et al. 2004 J. Chem. Phys 121 5031]

<***Highlighted in eMatters***>
Nanotubes: Nanotubes harden up under pressure
(NanoTechWeb)
A new superhard phase of carbon has been created by applying pressure to carbon nanotubes. The material was at least as hard as cubic diamond and retained its properties at room temperature even when the pressure was removed. (9.24.04)

Nanotubes: Nanotubes work like radio antennas to convert light into electricity
(Nature News)
An array of carbon nanotubes of 50-nanometre-wide tubes make ideal miniature aerials to convert light to electricity because they conduct electricity well, so electrons can move freely up and down the tubes. (9.23.04)

<***Highlighted in eMatters***>
Nanomachines: Molecular gears: DNA cogs for nanomachines
(Nature Materials Update)
A gear system formed of two 'cogs' made from DNA has been created. Each cog was formed from four strands of DNA: a central circle as the main body with three linear strands — different for each cog — forming the 'teeth' of the cogs. (9.23.04)

Femtosecond Lasers: New Insights into Hydrated Electrons
(Bio.com)
Scientist have studied a single electron in a tiny cluster of between 25 and 50 water molecules by exciting it with a femtosecond laser pulse and using time-resolved photoelectron imaging to take snapshots of the electron as it relaxed back to its ground state. (9.23.04)

<***Highlighted in eMatters***>

© PhysicsWeb/Nature
NEMS: Nanotubes feel the force
(PhysicsWeb)
The first NEMS resonator capable of detecting extremely small forces has been developed. The device consists of a single nanotube suspended over a trench - typically 1.2 to 1.5 microns wide and 500 nanometres deep - between two gold electrodes.
(9.21.04)
[V Sazonova et al., Nature 431 (2004) 284]

Optical Fibers: Holey Fibers Shed New Light
(Physical Review Focus)
A simple device has been developed to convert commonly available laser light into other wavelengths. The converter is a hollow optical fiber made of a photonic crystal material and filled with hydrogen gas that acts as a Raman gas . The device is more efficient and requires a million times less power from the input laser than any such converter previously made.
(9.21.04)
[F. Benabid et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 93 , 123903 (issue of 17 September 2004)]

© NIST
Atom Manipulation: Atomic-scale Manipulation
(Chemical & Engineering News)
Researchers have used a scanning tunneling microscope to drag a cobalt atom over a copper surface and found that they were able to distinguish between two different crystal-packed binding sites. (9.20.04)

<***Highlighted in eMatters***>
Electron Microscopy: Electron microscope achieves direct sub-angstrom imaging of a crystal
(Chemical & Engineering News)
A milestone in electron microscopy--the first direct sub-angstrom imaging of a crystal lattice--has been reported by researchers. A 300-kV scanning transmission electron microscope was fitted with a special aberration corrector and made a number of other technical enhancements to the system. This is claimed to be Sbe the highest resolution electron microscope in the world. (9.20.04)

Drug Delivery: Heat-controlled Drug Implants Offer Hope for Future
(Bio.com)
Scientists have developed a material that could one day allow patients to receive prescriptions through micro-thin implantable films that release medication according to changes in temperature. (9.15.04)

<***Highlighted in eMatters***>
Mesophases: Molecular assemblies change their form depending on temperature
(Chemical & Engineering News NanoFocus)
Researchers have built a molecule that's part dendrimer and part block copolymer. Depending on the temperature, these hybrid molecules self-assemble into a variety of mesophases. This could be used to make switches in nanostructured materials and devices.
[Wiesner et al.,Science, 305, 1598 (2004)]
(9.15.04)

Hydrocarbons: Petroleum under pressure
(NanoTechWeb)
Methane has been produced for the first time under the conditions that exist in the Earth's upper mantle. The experiments demonstrate that hydrocarbons could be formed inside the Earth via simple inorganic reactions -- and not just from the decomposition of living organisms as conventionally assumed -- and might therefore be more plentiful than previously thought. (9.15.04)

Nanoclusters: Magic clusters double up
(PhysicsWeb)
A new family of "magic" clusters has been discovered using computer simulations. The clusters, which consist of a nickel or copper core surrounded by silver atoms, display high levels of structural, thermodynamic and electronic stability. The silver-nickel structures are also magnetic . (9.7.04)
[(G Rossi et al., 2004 Phys. Rev. Lett. 93 105503)]

Superfluids: Evidence for supersolid is firmed up
(PhysicsWeb)
Previously, researchers observed superfluid behaviour - fluid flow without viscosity - in solid helium that had been confined in porous glass. They have repeated the experiment with bulk samples of solid helium and confirmed that it can enter a superfluid state. Thus, superfluid-like behaviour appears to be a general and intrinsic property of solid helium. (9.7.04)

Nanotubes: Spinning nanotubes leads to fibers
(NanoTechWeb)
Researchers have carried out the first large-scale manufacture of fibers composed solely of single-walled carbon nanotubes. The team used a conventional solution spinning technique to make fibers around 100 µm in diameter. (9.7.04)

Resonators: Needles Capture Whispers of Light
(Physical Review Focus)
Needle-shaped nanocrystals of zinc oxide with hexagonal cross sections have been found to form the smallest "whispering galleries" for visible light ever observed, in the range of a few nanometers. Whispering galleries allow certain wavelengths to gain intensity as they circulate inside the structure. (9.7.04)
[Thomas Nobis, Evgeni M. Kaidashev, Andreas Rahm, Michael Lorenz, and Marius Grundmann, Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 103903 (issue of 3 September 2004)]

Nanotubes: Clear nanotube films in three simple steps
(Chemical & Engineering News NanoFocus)
A three-step method for making high-quality films out of single-walled carbon nanotubes has been developed by scientists. The films are conductive, transparent, ultrathin, and flexible. (9.3.04)
[Rinzler et al., Science, 305, 1273 (2004)]

Biomolecules: Molecular Motor Myosin VI Moves 'Hand Over Hand'
(Bio.com)
Different types of biomolecular motor proteins help carry out such essential tasks. A third molecular motor, Myosin VI, has now been found moves by the same "hand-over-hand" mechanism as two other molecular motors, myosin V and kinesin. (9.3.04)

Nanoparticles: Using Proteins To Develop Nanoparticles To Aid In Environmental Remediation
(Bio.com)
Researchers have used ferritin - an iron storage protein in blood - to design and assemble metal oxide nanoparticles that could be used in environmental remediation. (9.3.04)

© North Carolina State Univ.
Nanostructures: Self-assembly of novel nanodots
(National Science Foundation)
A pulsed excimer laser was used to create conditions under which nickel self-assembles into 3-D, ordered arrays within aluminum oxide and titanium nitride matrices. Applying similar techniques to gallium nitride and zinc oxide, it may be possible to further improve the efficiency of LED devices. (9.2.04)

Nanotubes: Scientists see through carbon nanotubes
(NanoTechWeb)
Researchers have created transparent electrically conducting films of single-walled carbon nanotubes. The films were used to make an electric field-activated optical modulator, demonstrating their potential for applications in photonic devices. (9.2.04)

NMR: NMR could go to nanoscale
(NanoTechWeb)
A new approach to nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has been developed. The new method - known as better observation of magnetisation, enhanced resolution and no gradient (BOOMERANG) - can image liquids as well as solids, and could lead to the development of portable NMR instruments that might be used at the micron scale and below. (9.2.04)

August

Proton Conductivity: Superprotonic Transitions
(Physics News Update)
New research has expanded the roster of superprotonic materials and has confirmed that the solid-form acid CsH₂PO₄, whose chemistry and conducting properties are very promising as a candidate for the electrolyte in fuel cells, can undergo the superprotonic transition. (8.31.04)

Silicon Carbide: Silicon carbide without defects
(Chemical & Engineering News)
A long-sought method to grow defect-free SiC single crystals for use as semiconductor wafers has been developed. This was achieved in multiple sSuccessive growth steps, each perpendicular to the previous step, to smooth out crystal defects.(8.30.04)

Catalysis: Origin of gold's catalytic activity
(Chemical & Engineering News)
In a nanostructured form, gold can be a surprisingly good catalyst. Researchers have identified a gold structure that is two atomic layers thick as the form of the metal responsible for gold's ability to catalyze the oxidation of carbon monoxide to an unprecedented degree. (8.30.04)

Superconductors: Get Wired for Superconductivity
(Physical Review Focus)
The recently discovered superconductor MgCNi3 may bridge the gap between conventional superconductors and the high-Tc cuprates, which can superconduct at temperatures higher than 100 degrees Kelvin. Researchers have now synthesized this material in a new, thread-like form, which is better for testing its electrical properties. (8.27.04)

Superconductors: Vibrations in crystal lattice play big role in high temperature superconductors
(Univ. California, Berkeley)
A recent experiment shows clearly that in high temperature superconductors, phonons play a significant though unconventional role. The group used Bi-2212, with oxygen-18 substituting for some of the oxygen-16, and studied electron dynamics using ARPES (angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy). The data provide the first direct evidence for the significant role that phonons play in high temperature superconductivity. (8.25.04)

Nanotechnology: RNA shapes up for "nano-scaffolding"
(NanoTechWeb)
Researchers have made a variety of shapes from molecules of packaging ribonucleic acid (pRNA) from the DNA-packaging motor of a bacterial virus. These molecules form hexameric rings. By tailoring the design of the pRNA, the team was able to induce the molecules to assemble into a variety of new shapes, including twins, tetramers, triangles, rods and three-dimensional arrays. (8.25.04)

Bioengineering: Scientists Reinvent DNA As Template To Produce Organic Molecules
(Bio.com)
Scientists have developed an innovative new method of using DNA as a blueprint for collections of complex synthetic molecules by piggybacking small organic molecules onto short strands of DNA. The DNA strands serve as a miniature, sequence-programmable assembly line for products of chemical synthesis. (8.25.04)

Nanotubes: Spotlight on nanotubes
(Physical Review Focus)
When electrons and holes are injected from opposite contacts into a single nanotube molecule, the ambipolar domain, where electron and hole currents overlap, forms a microscopic light emitter within the carbon nanotube. The authors were able to spatially resolve the infrared light emission and control its location by varying gate and drain voltages. (8.23.04)

Organometallic Chemistry: Zn atoms link up
(Chemical & Engineering News)
Spanish researchers have prepared and characterized the first stable molecular compound containing a zinc-zinc bond. This was an unexpected and serendipitous discovery. (8.23.04)

Nanotubes: Nanotube dynamos
(Physics News Update)
A tiny voltage has been produced in a small electrical circuit by blowing gas across a mat of carbon nanotubes and doped semiconductors. This result arises from two physical effects - the Bernoulli effect and the Seebeck effect. (8.23.04)

Nanotubes: Supertubes
(IEEE Spectrum)
The unique properties of carbon nanotubes may make them the natural successor to silicon microelectronics. They will likely be the wonder material of the 21st century. (8.19.04)

Nanoparticles: Patching together nanomaterials
(Nature Materials Update )
To use nanoparticles as the building blocks for new materials and devices, giving them sticky patches allows access to a wide range of self-assembled structures. Using computer simulation, researchers have explored a rather general way to direct such an assembly process into a wide range of structures (8.19.04)

Nanotubes: Nanotubes may have no 'temperature'
(Nature)
Although the concept of temperature is known to break down on the scale of individual atoms, research now suggests that it may also fail to apply in rather larger entities, such as carbon nanotubes. At such size scales, thermal equilibrium may never be reached because of the statistical fluctuations inherent in the quantum world.This has signficant implications for nanoscale devices. (8.18.04)

Organic Electronics: Organic thin film transistors (PDF)
(Materials Today)
OTFTs have great potential for a wide variety of applications, especially for new products that rely on their unique characteristics, such as electronic newspapers, inexpensive smart tags for inventory control, and large-area flexible displays. the basic materials requirements and fabrication methods for building these devices are described. (8.18.04)

Biomedical Engineering: Nerve cells 'guided' to repair spinal damage: Technique
(University of Toronto)
A method has been designed to facilitate nerve cell repair that could ultimately lead to treating severed spinal cords. (8.18.04)

Carbon Nanotubes: Carbon nanotubes eliminate manufacturing woe
(Eurekalert)
The addition of carbon nanotubes to a common commercial polymer, polypropylene, has been shown to eliminate a widespread manufacturing problem known as "die-swell" in which polymers swell in undesirable directions when passing through the exit port of an extruder. (8.16.04)

Tissue Engineering: Cartilage heal thyself
(NIBIB, NIH)
Researchers have created a versatile liquid polymer gel that solidifies in 30 seconds when exposed to laser light. This liquid/solid duality allows the material to be injected into torn cartilage tissue, where the liquid gel adapts to the contours and size of the cartilage tear. Once in place, the biomaterial is cured to a solid and serves as a scaffold for the body's own chondrocyte cells, which help to rebuild cartilage. (8.16.04)

Nanoactuators: Protein-based nanoactuators
(Physics News Update)
Researchers have demonstrated that protein-based nanoactuators can now be controlled rapidly and reversibly by thermoelectric signals. Motor molecules were thermally activated into motion in a controllable and reversible way using only input wires which provide a controlled amount of heat. (8.13.04)

Ceramics: Glass gets tough with alumina
(Chemical & Engineering News)
A new way to produce alumina-based glasses and glass ceramics that are harder and tougher than traditional silica-based glasses has been developed. (8.13.04)

Nanotubes: A tube of tubes
(Chemical & Engineering News)
Using benzene, ferrocene, and a simple laboratory apparatus, scientists have fabricated robust filters composed entirely of multiwalled carbon nanotubes and shaped like hollow cylinders. They are easy to clean and reusable, and have been shown to remove bacteria and viruses from water, eliminate heavy hydrocarbons from petroleum, and even separate a mixture of benzene and naphthalene. (8.11.04)

Coatings: Smart windows block heat not light
(Nature)
Glass coated with 100 nm vanadium dioxide mixed with 1.9% tungsten reflects heat above 29°C without blocking visible light. (8.10.04)

Electronic Textiles: Computer couture
(TheFeature)
Far from the catwalk, researchers at the intersection of materials science, electrical engineering and fashion design are designing the computer couture of tomorrow. (8.10.04)

Femtosecond Laser Pulses: Snapshots of the Movement of Molecules
(Univ. California, Riverside)
A technique to take extremely fast snapshots of molecular and atomic movement using femtosecond laser pulses has been developed. The movement of carbon monoxide molecules on a copper substrate when hit with femtosecond laser pulses was tracked in the study. (8.9.04)

Surfaces: Lighting the Way for Water
(Science News Online)
Researchers have succeeded in manipulating water with a beam of ultraviolet light based on the superhydrophobic properties of lotus leaves. To emulate the leaf's coarse surface, they grew a thin carpet of silicon nanowires on a silicon substrate and coated it with the photosensitive compound spiropyran, which assumes a hydrophilic configuration when exposed to light. (8.9.04)

Photonic Crystals: Shrinking photonic skeletons
(Nature Materials Update )
Researchers have successfully cast photonic crystals from the mineral skeletons of sea urchins. The periodic microstructure of some sea urchin skeletons, called stereoms, has the right shape to act as a potential photonic crystal. The stereom is made of calcite, and in some sea urchins it has a labyrinthine form with a three-dimensional network of interconnected channels. (8.6.04)

  
© NanoTechWeb
Nanowires: Nanowires take directions from substrate
(NanoTechWeb)
Scientists have been able to control the growth direction of a gallium nitride nanowire for the first time.They were able to tailor the growth by altering the substrate on which they grew the wires. The nanowires were grown on single crystals of lithium aluminium oxide and magnesium oxide by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). (8.4.04)

Nanocrystals: Heat treatment tunes conduction for nanocrystal assemblies
(NanoTechWeb)
Heat treatment has been used to alter the electrical properties of an array of CoPt₃ metal nanocrystals. The assembly moved from acting as an insulator to near-metallic behavior with increasing annealing temperature. (8.4.04)

Nanocrystals Deformation : New Light on How Metals Change Shape at the Nanoscale
(Lawrence Berkeley Natl. Lab/Univ. Pittsburgh)
Using in situ TEM in both bright-field and dark-field modes, researchers show that the prominent method of deformation in nanocrystalline metals is the sliding of grain boundaries past one another, allowing the grains to rotate and fit together in new ways. (8.3.04)

Microfluidics: Moving Water Molecules By Light
(Bio.com)
A team of researchers has demonstrated the ability to move water molecules by light -- a discovery that could have an important effect on the field of microfluidics. (8.3.04)

Lasers: Photon Marathon
(Physical Review Focus)
A random laser is an unusual type of light source that emits laser-like light, but in all directions. A group of researchers has now discovered an explanation for the phenomenon. Their results suggest that the flashes of monochromatic light are initiated by a very few photons that remain inside the material for a long time (8.3.04)
[Sushil Mujumdar, Marilena Ricci, Renato Torre, and Diederik S.Wiersma, Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 053903, (issue of 30 July 2004)]

July

Carbon: Graphite magnets get ready for applications
(PhysicsWeb)
Large quantities of magnetic graphite, that remains magnetic at room temperature, have been synthesized for the first time. Pores and other complex microstructural defects were found to be distributed non-uniformly throughout the material. (7.29.04)

Nanotechnology: Stopping the nanomachine
(Nature Materials)
A DNA-based nanoscale motor that runs continuously while provided with fuel, but which can be switched on and off by a molecular 'brake', has been reported. The device uses the energy liberated by a catalytic chemical process to generate mechanical motion and this motion can be stopped and restarted at will by adding and removing the chemical brake. (7.29.04)

Biotechnology: Dendrimer drugs reduce scars
(Nature Materials)
Researchers have used new synthetic macromolecules with glucosamine and glucosamine-6-sulphate moieties to show that it is possible to reduce scarring significantly and promote better healing of skin wounds. (7.29.04)

Magnets: New world record magnet
(Eurekalert)
The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Florida, has achieved another world record in magnet development with the successful testing of its 21.1 Tesla, superconducting, ultra-wide bore, NMR magnet. It stands 16 feet tall, weighs over 30,000 pounds, and has a stored energy of 40 megajoules. (7.26.04)

Materials Fragmentation: Fragmentation of Shells
(Physical Review Focus)
Researchers hurled empty eggshells against the ground and exploded others, in order to learn how shells shatter. The fragment sizes from both followed a similar pattern and matched that of a computer simulation, suggesting that all shell-like structures may fragment in a similar way. (7.26.04)
[F. Wittel, F. Kun, H.J. Herrmann, and B.H. Kroplin
Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 035504 (issue of 16 July 2004)]

Optical Properties: Optical Hall effect
(Physics News Update)
Scientists have theoretically demonstrated that an optical equivalent of the Hall effect exists, and that this hypothesis could be proved with experiments using polarized light. (7.26.04)

Protein Folding: The Impact of Backbone Hydrogen Bonds
(Bio.com)
Few studies until now have measured experimentally how backbone hydrogen bonds influence the folding and stability of a protein and no one has ever replaced all the backbone hydrogen bonds in a single protein to experimentally analyze their distinct contributions to a protein's folding.Now, a group of researchers report the energetic contributions of all the individual backbone hydrogen bonds in one protein by making a series of mutants of that protein in which the H-bonds are all knocked out one by one. (7.23.04)
[Songpon Deechongkit, Houbi Nguyen, Evan T. Powers, Philip E. Dawson, Martin Gruebele, and Jeffery W. Kelly, Nature, July 1, 2004 issue]

Scanning Tunneling Microscopy: Gold charges up electron by electron
(Nature)
A scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) was used to deliver a single electron to individual gold atoms, giving each one a negative charge. The tip can deliver electrons to the surface atoms as it moves across them, with exquisite precision. It can then also go back over the gold atoms and sense whether they are neutral or negatively charged. (7.23.04)
[Repp J., Meyer G., Olsson F. E., & Persson M. Science , 305 . 493 - 495 (2004)]

Nanotechnology: A nano-polymer a day keeps the microbes away
(NanoTechWeb)
Researchers have made a nanoparticle-containing polymer network that can act against microscopic organisms. The material repels bacteria and other microbes, releases a biocide and can also kill