Tag: Atom

ScienceSemiconductorsTechnology

Gentle Squeeze Turns Atom-Thin Bismuth Into Metal, Enabling Rewritable Nanoelectronics

Researchers have demonstrated that applying gentle pressure can transform atomically thin bismuth from a semiconductor into a metal. This breakthrough enables the creation of electronic circuits that can be rewired on demand using electric fields rather than physical connections.

The Pressure Principle

Sometimes the most dramatic technological breakthroughs come from the gentlest touches. According to recent research from the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), applying subtle pressure to atom-thin bismuth can completely transform its electrical personality from semiconductor to metal. This discovery, detailed in Nano Letters, represents what analysts are calling a significant step toward truly reconfigurable electronics that could be rewired on the fly.

by Michael Turner
InnovationScienceTechnology

Plastic Waste Transformed Into High-Performance Catalysts in Breakthrough Study

Researchers have demonstrated a scalable process to transform waste plastics into advanced carbon nanomaterials. The resulting single-atom catalysts show exceptional performance in environmental and energy applications, offering a dual solution to plastic pollution and materials scarcity.

In what could represent a major step forward for both waste management and advanced materials science, researchers have developed a method to convert common plastics into high-performance catalysts for clean energy and environmental applications. According to findings published in Nature Communications, the approach addresses two pressing challenges simultaneously: the growing plastic pollution crisis and the need for efficient, cost-effective catalytic materials.

From Environmental Burden to Valuable Resource

by Jessica Moore P.E.
InnovationScienceTechnology

Ancient Universe Heating Detected, Challenging Cosmic ‘Cold Start’ Theories

Astronomers have uncovered evidence that the early universe was heating up rather than cooling down during a critical developmental phase. The findings challenge long-standing theories about how the cosmos transitioned from its dark ages to the illuminated universe we know today.

Cosmic Revelation: Early Universe Was Heating Up

Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery about the universe’s early development, according to new research published in The Astrophysical Journal. Using a decade of data from the Murchison Widefield Array telescope in Western Australia, scientists have determined that the universe was heating up during a critical period about 800 million years after the Big Bang, challenging previous theories that suggested a “cold start” to cosmic reionization.

by Michael Turner