nanotechnology | TechieTonics

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.

Electronics Out Of Bacteria: Microbial Physiology

September 21, 2020September 21, 2020 Pooja Kashyap

Bacteria – Geobacter, to be more specific – discovered electricity much before than we did. And the interesting part is – ubiquitous, groundwater and also the under the ocean dwelling bacteria takes-in the organic waste and give-out “electrons”. Yes, a tiny electric current is an end product of their exhaling process.

RoBeetle: Autonomous Crawling Bot Driven By Methanol Combustion

August 21, 2020August 21, 2020 Pooja Kashyap

Researchers have long envisioned designing tiny intelligent autonomous machines that are capable of exploring dangerous environments or the areas where tiny bots can work with full efficiency.

Astronauts create Fifth State of Matter on ISS: Bose-Einstein Condensates in Space

June 14, 2020June 15, 2020 Pooja Kashyap

Astronauts harnessed the microgravity environment at the International Space Station by developing an ‘exotic’ form of matter. We call it exotic because this form of matter has not been easily observed on earth – maybe due to gravity.

Xenobot: AI is Pushing the Best Way to Construct Itself

June 6, 2020December 1, 2021 Pooja Kashyap

Scientists at the University of Vermont, have created a new class of artifact, called xenobots. They have used frog’s stem cells to fabricate first living robots.

Plastic based Clothing that Cools the Wearer (w/Video): Nanoporous Polyethylene Textile

September 6, 2016September 5, 2016 Neha Shukla

With summer getting more unbearable each year, scientists finally have come up with new clothing material that helps to keep the body cool naturally. Thus, reducing the need for air conditioners and saving considerable energy.

Muscles Powered Biohybrid Devices: Robotics with Tissue Engineering

August 22, 2016August 21, 2016 Pooja Kashyap

Let’s picture the word, “Robot”, immediately, we get a glimpse of self operating machines, with nuts-and-bolts as building blocks. These machines are permeating all sections of our society. Machine human relationship has crossed the realms of science fiction. In fact, machine learning has become one of the most interesting and sought-after science, sprouting artificial intelligence (AI).

Non-Invasive Electric Tattoo for mapping Muscle Activity: Nanotech Tattoos

July 14, 2016 Pooja Kashyap

Scientists at Tel Aviv University (TAU) have fabricated an electronic tattoo that has the potential of recording muscle movements by mapping facial expressions.