Local rearrangements of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) upon twisting may be the cause for the poor mechanical performance of CNT bundles and yarns, report scientists. Using molecular dynamics simulations, they revealed that defects known as disclination lines appear when a CNT bundle is twisted, which alters the tensile properties of the whole system. Their findings could …

Understanding why carbon nanotube bundles become mechanically weak when twisted Read More »

Traditional methods to assess balance often suffer from subjectivity, aren’t comprehensive enough and can’t be administered remotely. They also are expensive and require specialized equipment and clinical expertise. Using wearable sensors and advanced machine learning algorithms, researchers offer a practical and cost-effective solution for capturing detailed movement data, essential for balance analysis. This approach is …

Balancing act: Novel wearable sensors and AI transform balance assessment Read More »

Our cells and the machinery inside them are engaged in a constant dance. This dance involves some surprisingly complicated choreography within the lipid bilayers that comprise cell membranes and vesicles — structures that transport waste or food within cells. In a recent paper, researchers shed some light on how these vesicles self-assemble, knowledge that could …

Revealing the dynamic choreography inside multilayer vesicles Read More »

Clean, safe water is a limited resource and access to it depends on local bodies of water. But even dry regions have some water vapor in the air. To harvest small amounts of humidity, researchers developed a compact device with absorbent-coated fins that first trap moisture and then generate potable water when heated. They say …

Small, adsorbent ‘fins’ collect humidity rather than swim through water Read More »

Many municipal landfills ‘burp’ gas from decomposing organic matter rather than letting it build up. And burps from buried waste containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) can release these ‘forever chemicals’ into the air, say researchers. Their study reports unexpectedly high levels of airborne PFAS at three landfills and demonstrates that vented gases and liquid …

Some landfill ‘burps’ contain airborne PFAS Read More »

Computers have come so far in terms of their power and potential, rivaling and even eclipsing human brains in their ability to store and crunch data, make predictions and communicate. But there is one domain where human brains continue to dominate: energy efficiency. ​Computers have come so far in terms of their power and potential, …

Next platform for brain-inspired computing Read More »

Scientists are helping to develop standards and safety protocols that would allow pharmacies to print drugs onsite at a dosage best for you. ​Scientists are helping to develop standards and safety protocols that would allow pharmacies to print drugs onsite at a dosage best for you. Scientists are helping to develop standards and safety protocols that …

Your future medications could be personalized for you on a 3D printer Read More »

With a new microscope that’s as light as a penny, researchers can now observe broad swaths of the brain in action as mice move about and interact with their environments. ​With a new microscope that’s as light as a penny, researchers can now observe broad swaths of the brain in action as mice move about …

Light-weight microscope captures large-scale brain activity of mice on the move Read More »