nanotechnology – TechieTonics

Capsule X-Ray Dosimeter for Real-time Monitoring: Radiotherapy

April 19, 2023April 19, 2023 Pooja Kashyap

Radiotherapy is all about precision in targeting tumor tissue while minimizing damage to healthy tissue. To deliver precision radiation requires real time monitoring of the dose till the time it is absorbed. The task is quite challenging, especially if it is in gastrointestinal tract. The dynamic nature of the region makes it nearly inaccessible. Current approaches used for tracking biochemical indicators including pH and temperature are insufficient to give out comprehensive evaluation of radiotherapy.

Antineutrinos Detected at SNO+ Collaboration: Water Cherenkov Detector

April 12, 2023April 12, 2023 Pooja Kashyap

Antineutrinos falls under the category of elusive particles. They are extremely difficult to detect due to their weak interaction with matter. These exotic particles have the same properties as neutrinos but with opposite charges. And have very little mass.

Dynamics between Quantum Entanglement: Coupling at a Distance

March 10, 2023March 10, 2023 Pooja Kashyap

Entanglement is a unique and powerful feature of quantum mechanics. It allows two or more particles, such as photons of light, to become correlated in such a way that the state of one particle is immediately determined by the state of the other particle, regardless of the distance between them. This phenomenon has been studied extensively in the field of quantum physics. It has important implications for the development of quantum technologies such as quantum cryptography and quantum computing.

Platform for Building Quantum Networks: Entanglement of Trapped-ion

February 6, 2023February 6, 2023 Pooja Kashyap

The researchers at the University of Innsbruck and the Université Paris-Saclay have developed a method for linking multiple quantum systems by trapping atoms in optical cavities. And then transferring the quantum information to light particles which can then be sent through optical fibers. They have successfully entangled two trapped ions located more than a few meters apart for the first time.

Two/Quasi 2D Perovskite Heterostructures: Optoelectronic Innovation

February 6, 2023February 6, 2023 Pooja Kashyap

Two-dimensional perovskite materials have unique properties that make them attractive candidates for use in next-generation optoelectronic devices, such as photovoltaic solar cells, LEDs, and photodetectors.

Ceramic based Micro Glucose Fuel Cells: Implantable Power Sources

May 17, 2022May 17, 2022 Pooja Kashyap

In the coming two decades, nanotechnology will surely touch the lives of nearly all people across globe. As technology progresses, we will experience next generation sensors embedded in all things that we use, including our clothes, kitchen and within ourselves. Yes, IoT is coming here to stay. So, the next question is what will be the efficient power source for these devices, especially the implantable sensors and drug-delivery systems? Researchers at MIT have paved a way for glucose powered medical implants. With their newly designed glucose fuel cell, they are…

Tattoo like Sensors to Reveal Blood Oxygen Levels: Silk based Biomaterials

May 12, 2022May 12, 2022 Pooja Kashyap

Soft skin sensors are beginning to transform the health care industry. We can surely predict that within a decade, people will be wearing skin sensors to detect the blood glucose level, oxygen level and to track other different blood components which currently require an incision. Researchers at Tufts University have developed a tattoo-like sensor that glows when exposed to light. The degree of brightness depends on the level of oxygen in blood. Silk fibroin hydrogel The sensor is made up of silk fibroin hydrogel. Fibroin is an insoluble protein that…

China’s Particle Collider to Gear up: A Future Higgs Factory

May 4, 2022May 4, 2022 Pooja Kashyap

To explore more exotic particles, Beijing Electron Positron Collider (BEPC), the particle-physics lab, is undertaking a major re-equipping. The work is expected to complete by 2024. Dubbed as BEPCII-U, the new version will not only triple the current collision rate but it’ll also extend the maximum collision energy to 5.6 GeV from the existing 2–5 GeV. With the plans underway for next-generation collider, China might head the world in high-energy physics research.

Bacterium Flagellar Beats on Graphene: Microbial Melody

April 26, 2022April 26, 2022 Pooja Kashyap

Anything that vibrates, creates sound. This implies, microbes too must emit noise. Does this mean, we can also hear disease? Pathogenic bacteria mixed with other healthy microbe bacteria might sound in a certain way. So, if this technology is used for diagnostic purposes, we could we hear disease!

Light controlled Organic Microswimmers: Semi Autonomous Microrobots

February 3, 2022February 3, 2022 Pooja Kashyap

The idea that nanobots flowing through our blood streams to deliver localised medication or to detect any tumour formation is no more a far-fetched dream. A group of researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS) in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research (MPI-FKF), have developed microswimmers that can navigate through biological fluids, areas that are otherwise difficult to access. Steering is done through external form of light energy.

Surface Optics & Neural Based Processing: MetaOptics

November 30, 2021November 30, 2021 Pooja Kashyap

An international team of researchers at Princeton University and the University of Washington has developed a micro-sized camera to the size of a salt grain.

Formation of Single Unit by Collision of Multiple Grains: Resurrecting Quasicrystals

October 11, 2021October 11, 2021 Pooja Kashyap

Quasicrystal is a form of matter with an unusual arrangement of atoms. Although it’s called a “crystal” but it lacks symmetry. Unlike crystals, pattern within the quasicrystal does not repeat itself. They were first discovered in 1980s and since then the possible atomic arrangements violated the rules that fall under the category of crystals, that is, the materials could have only two-, three-, four- or six-fold symmetry.

Nanoscale Thermal Transport: To Prevent Overheating in Electronics

September 21, 2021September 22, 2021 Pooja Kashyap

Nano world is full of mysterious features such as uncertainty principle, probabilities and wave function. It’s been at the beginning of quantum mechanics that researchers are working unceasingly to understand the perplexing phenomenon of the nano realm. Unlike the macro world, events at the nano scale are beyond the comprehension of physicists. One such problem is why some uber small heat sources cool down faster if they are packed too close.

Interview: Professor Sheng Xu, Nanotech Scientist at University of California San Diego

March 8, 2021March 31, 2021 Pooja Kashyap

It’s our honour to have Professor Sheng Xu from University of California San Diego with us today. Dr Xu’s research interests focus on the understanding of the electrical and mechanical behaviors of inorganic materials when they are engineered into a soft format; which can further be morphed into soft electronics, nano electronics and energy harvesting/storage devices. He obtained his B.S. in Chemistry and Molecular Engineering from Peking University in Beijing, China in 2006. While he received his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering in 2010 at Georgia Institute of Technology,…

One Epidermal Patch to track Cardiovascular and Multiple Biomarkers: Wearable Microelectronics

March 2, 2021March 2, 2021 Pooja Kashyap

Monitoring cardiovascular signals and multiple biochemical levels together on one tiny wearable patch has always been a far-fetched dream in the nanotech world. Scientists across the globe are still trying to figure it out however, researchers at the University of California San Diego have done something extraordinary in soft, stretchy skin patch.