The device with the fine nose

02-Feb-2016 - When it comes to measuring the smallest traces of volatile chemical compounds in the air, the analysis devices in Pablo Sinues' laboratory are among the most sensitive in the world. They can find the proverbial needle in a haystack: the detection limit for airborne volatile compounds is around a ...

Sweating for science

Wearable device detects, analyzes real-time changes in chemical composition of sweat

29-Jan-2016 - A team of researchers has combined two separate technologies to create a health-monitoring device that is noninvasive, doesn't interfere with strenuous outdoor activities and can continuously track a user's health at the molecular level. The two-part system of flexible sensors and a flexible ...

New patent on fast measurements in liquids

27-Jan-2016 - A new invention will open the doors for an entirely new way of measuring properties within liquids. The invention, a sol-gel matrix, will make it possible to perform measurements that are reliable, incredibly rapid and can be conducted over extended periods of time. The development will be a boon ...

Giant clams offer clues to improve solar cells & color displays

Nature’s surprising method for creating white coloration could yield bio-inspired innovations

21-Jan-2016 - Researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara have discovered that some species of giant clams produce their white coloration much like the displays used in televisions and smartphones do – by combining red, green and blue light. The new findings could help improve solar cell ...

Thermal cameras snoop beneath surfaces to reveal materials’ secrets

19-Jan-2016 - Scientists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory are pioneering the use of infrared cameras to image additive manufacturing processes in hopes of better understanding how processing conditions affect the strength, residual stresses and microstructure of 3D-printed parts. ...

Seeing where energy goes may bring scientists closer to realizing nuclear fusion

19-Jan-2016 - An international team of researchers has taken a step toward achieving controlled nuclear fusion--a process that powers the Sun and other stars, and has the potential to supply the world with limitless, clean energy. The team, led by scientists and engineers at the University of California, San ...

Metamaterials boost sensitivity of MRI machines

18-Jan-2016 - A group of researchers from Russia, Australia and the Netherlands have developed a technology that can reduce Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanning times by more than 50%, meaning hospitals can drastically increase the number of scans without changing equipment. This extraordinary leap in ...

License agreement for analytical chemistry tech signed by ORNL and SCIEX

15-Jan-2016 - The Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory and SCIEX of Framingham, Mass., have signed a licensing agreement for technologies that speed up, simplify and expand the use of analytic chemistry equipment. SCIEX is a manufacturer of mass spectrometers used to identify and characterize ...

'Radiolabeling' lets scientists track the breakdown of drugs

15-Jan-2016 - A new method for labeling molecules with radioactive elements could let chemists more easily track how drugs under development are metabolized in the body. Chemists consider thousands of compounds in the search for a new drug, and a candidate's metabolism is a key factor that must be evaluated ...

X-rays reveal details of plastic solar cell production

Organic photovoltaics: Researchers observe molecular processes

12-Jan-2016 - Plastic solar cells are light, easy to install, and readily produced using a printer. Nevertheless, the processes that take place on the molecular scale during the production of organic solar cells are not yet entirely clear. Researchers from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have now ...