Hasta La Gadget!

It’s been a while since we last heard about nanogenerators — you know, those insanely tiny fibers that could potentially be woven into your hoodie to juice up your smartphone. Dr. Zhong Lin Wang of the Georgia Institute of Technology has reported that he and his team of Einsteins constructed nanogenerators with enough energy to potentially power LCDs, LEDs and laser diodes by moving your various limbs. These micro-powerhouses — strands of piezoelectric zinc oxide, 1 / 500 the width of a single hair strand — can generate electrical charges when flexed or strained. Wang and his team of researchers shoved a collection of their nanogenerators into a chip 1 / 4 the size of a stamp, stacked five of them on top of one another and can pinch the stack between their fingers to generate the output of two standard AA batteries — around 3 volts. Although it’s not much, we’re super excited at this point in development — imagine how convenient to charge your phone in your pocket sans the bulky battery add-ons. And that’s only one application of this technology. Yea, we know.

Continue reading Nanogenerators produce electricity by squeezing your fingers together, while you dance

Nanogenerators produce electricity by squeezing your fingers together, while you dance originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 20:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Surely you’ve heard of graphene, the one-atom-thick layer of pencil lead that has the potential to change the world of computers, batteries and screens? You might want to familiarize yourself with the term “silicine,” too. It’s basically a version of graphene constructed out of silicon, which doesn’t naturally align itself into the same eminently useful honeycomb shape — but, given a little prod here and a layer of silver or ceramic compound there, can do much the same thing, and with better computing compatibility. First proposed around 2007, it’s reportedly been produced twice now by two different teams, which gives physicists hope that it could actually be useful some day. For now, researchers need to figure out a way to easily produce it so detailed experiments can be performed — from what we understand, the good ol’ scotch tape method just won’t do the job.

Silicine might be the new graphene, now that it’s been physically constructed originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 06:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Small is beautiful, but only when you can see it. Specifically, we’re talking about nanostructures — including cellular organelles and nanoelectronic circuits — around the order of 100nm. The problem is with a microscope, visible light only takes us down to a resolution of 200nm at best, and it’s not always ideal to use conventional methods to boost the resolution — you’d either have to dope the subject with fluorescent dye or use highly delicate equipment. Thankfully, the University of Twente has come up with a new type of lens that would solve this problem: in a nutshell, a nanoparticle is placed on one side of the gallium phosphide lens, while the other side — disorderedly etched with acid — takes in a precisely modulated laser beam and scatters it into a focal point of your choice. Sure, this sounds bizarre and ironic, but apparently the modulation is controlled in such a way that the scattered beam focuses much tighter than an ordinary beam would using an ordinary lens. Have a look at the comparison shots of some gold nanoparticles after the break — that’s some sweet 97nm resolution right there for ya.

Continue reading University of Twente’s new lens reveals the sub-100nm level with visible light

University of Twente’s new lens reveals the sub-100nm level with visible light originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 23:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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At some point in the future, it’s going to be hard to just brush of those “computer-chip-in-my-brain” conspiracy theorists. That’s because researchers at the University of Wisconsin have found that neurons will gladly thread themselves through semiconductor tubes, opening up possibilities for interfacing these cells with computers.

Neurons, which make up the main part of our brain and nervous system, are composed of a main body and a long extension called an axon, which carries signals away from the body and towards other neurons. Graduate student Minrui Yu and colleagues found that, through creating a very small tube from layers of silicone and germanium, neurons would push their axons through the tube, leaving the cell’s main body, which is too large for the small opening, outside of it.

According to the scientists, this opens up the possibility of creating engineered networks of cells, planned and organized through these tubes, that can be studied through voltage sensors and other equipment. Right now, the group is exploring the possibility of using the tunnels to study diseases that affect the neurons, like multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s. However, the network of neurons that they have created might one day be useful for interfacing our nervous system with artificial limbs. This won’t be happening tomorrow, as there’s still an engineering gap between networking the cells and getting them to actually do something, but even inching towards a future of naturally-controlled prosthetics is certainly welcome news.

[via ScienceNews]

It’s no secret: if your laptop sits atop your lap for an extended period of time, you’re going to get burned — okay, so maybe not burned, but you’re definitely going to feel the heat. Luckily GE has been working (under contract for DARPA) on a new phase-change based thermal conductor that promises to cool electronics twice as well as copper, at one-fourth the weight. The breakthrough means big things for those of us who’d like to make babies one day, but we doubt that’s why DARPA’s shelling out the big bucks — the new material functions at 10 times normal gravity, making it a shoo-in for on-board computing systems in jetliners. Using “unique surface engineered coatings” that simultaneously attract and repel water, the new nanotechnology could mean not only lighter, cooler electronics, but also an increase in computing speeds. Goodbye scrotal hyperthermia, hello cool computing! Full PR after the break.

Continue reading GE’s new phase-change based thermal conductor could mean cooler laptops — literally

GE’s new phase-change based thermal conductor could mean cooler laptops — literally originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 17:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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