Researchers Report Pivotal Discovery of Nanomaterial for LEDs

Rendition of framework with green squares, connection of panels with cell. (Image by Los Alamos National Laboratory.)
Light-emitting diodes made from perovskite nanocrystals (green) embedded in a metal-organic framework can be created at low cost, use earth-abundant materials and remain stable under typical working conditions. (Image by Los Alamos National Laboratory.)

A breakthrough in stabilizing nanocrystals introduces a low-cost, energy-efficient light source for consumer electronic devices, detectors and medical imaging.

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are an unsung hero of the lighting industry. They run efficiently, give off little heat and last for a long time. Now scientists are looking at new materials to make more efficient and longer-lived LEDs with applications in consumer electronics, medicine and security.

Researchers from the U.S...

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Targeting the Gut to Relieve Rheumatoid Arthritis

Targeting the gut to relieve rheumatoid arthritis
Section of graphical abstract from paper. Credit: Med

UCL researchers have shown that damage to the lining of the gut plays an important role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis, paving the way for a new approach to treating the disease.

In the pre-clinical study, which used mouse models and patient samples, the research team propose that restoration of the gut-barrier could offer a new therapeutic approach to reducing the severity of Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that causes joint pain, swelling, and inflammation...

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Actuator Discovery Outperforms Existing Technology

organic semiconductor nanotubes in artificial muscle
Depiction of the application of organic semiconductor nanotubes in artificial muscle. Artwork courtesy of Mohammad Reza Abidian.

Researchers use organic semiconductor nanotubes to create new electrochemical actuator.

University of Houston researchers are reporting a breakthrough in the field of materials science and engineering with the development of an electrochemical actuator that uses specialized organic semiconductor nanotubes (OSNTs).

Currently in the early stages of development, the actuator will become a key part of research contributing to the future of robotic, bioelectronic and biomedical science.

“Electrochemical devices that transform electrical energy to mechanical energy have potential use in numerous applications, ranging from soft robotics and micropumps to au...

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Hydrogen-burning White Dwarfs enjoy Slow Aging

Could dying stars hold the secret to looking younger? New evidence suggests that white dwarfs could continue to burn hydrogen in the final stages of their lives, causing them to appear more youthful than they actually are. This discovery could have consequences for how astronomers measure the ages of star clusters.

The prevalent view of white dwarfs as inert, slowly cooling stars has been challenged by observations from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. An international group of astronomers have discovered the first evidence that white dwarfs can slow down their rate of ageing by burning hydrogen on their surface.

“We have found the first observational evidence that white dwarfs can still undergo stable thermonuclear activity,” explained Jianxing Chen of the Alma Mater Studio...

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