A team of physicists has solved the mystery behind a perplexing phenomenon in the nano realm: why some ultra-small heat sources cool down faster if you pack them closer together.

Chemical engineers now understand how water molecules assemble and change shape in some settings, revealing a new strategy to speed up chemical reactions critical to industry and environmental sustainability. The new approach is poised to play a role in helping chemical manufacturers move away from harmful solvent catalysts in favor of water.

Using specialized nanoparticles embedded in plant leaves, engineers have created a light-emitting plant that can be charged by an LED. After 10 seconds of charging, plants glow brightly for several minutes, and they can be recharged repeatedly.

Reversible system can flip the magnetic orientation of particles with a small voltage; could lead to faster data storage and smaller sensors.

Researchers revealed for the first time the inhibitory effect on oral pathogenic biofilms by high-pressure high-temperature nanodiamonds.