Bottling light
10 August, 2009Light can be 'bottled' or confined to a very small space by controllably inserting light into a microscopic container surrounded by reflective walls.
'Copernicium' proposed as name for element 112
16 July, 2009Element 112's existence has been officially confirmed by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry and now the name 'copernicium' (Cp) has been proposed as its name.
A quicker, cheaper way to sort isotopes
01 July, 2009Stanford chemists have developed a new method of isotopic analysis that does not use mass spectroscopy so it is much less expensive.
Carbon nanotube can detect the entire visible spectrum
05 May, 2009Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have created the first carbon nanotube device that can detect the entire visible spectrum of light, a feat that could soon allow scientists to probe single molecule transformations, study how those molecules respond to light, observe how the molecules change shapes, and understand other fundamental interactions between molecules and nanotubes.
Alloys between incompatible elements
27 February, 2009Pressure has been used to make what was previously impossible possible — an alloy between two incompatible elements.
Intellectual property management
28 October, 2008The 2008 Biotechnology Intellectual Property Manual, developed and funded by a partnership between the Brumby government, Ausbiotech and specialist intellectual property lawyers Spruson & Ferguson, contains information about the types of IP available, when to file a patent application and how to commercialise successfully, and will benefit researchers, SMEs and venture capitalists looking to invest in the area.
Ion track mystery cracked
24 October, 2008A research team from The Australian National University (ANU) has found that the ion tracks left by heavy ions as they move across a solid are consistent with a frozen-in, nanoscale acoustic shock wave — a discovery that could revolutionise geological dating and nano-wire manufacturing.
Testing for adulteration
03 October, 2008As adulterated milk continues to ravage the health of Chinese babies, the question of why the milk wasn't tested for melamine raises its head.
Forensics and the Mary Rose
01 September, 2008Forensic examination of the teeth of some of the sailors on the ill-fated Mary Rose shows they were not English.
Weighing individual atoms and molecules
04 August, 2008A nanoelectromechanical system that can function as a scale sensitive enough to measure the mass of a single atom of gold has been created.
Carbon nanotubes and nanoelectronics
15 July, 2008Next generation of nanoelectronics could be based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and the intramolecular junctions that connect CNTs for integration.
Liquids alter viscosity when confined, shaken
02 May, 2008New research shows that when water is confined to a small space, it behaves like a gel. Then, when shaken, it becomes fluidic and exhibits the same structural and mechanical properties as water in a bottle. The study — the first to use an atomic force microscope to measure the viscosity of confined fluids — revealed that these liquids can respond and modify their viscosity based on environmental changes.
Australia helps to redefine the kilogram
04 April, 2008Staff from the CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Precision Optics and the National Measurement Institute have played an integral part in redefining the kilogram.
Researchers create metal memory foam
27 December, 2007In the world of commercial materials, lighter and cheaper is usually better — especially when those attributes are coupled with superior strength and special properties, such as a recently developed material's ability to remember its original shape after it has been deformed by a physical or magnetic force.
Internet nutrition tool
06 July, 2007Sigma-Aldrich has enhanced its Bioactive Nutrient Explorer. This internet-based tool has been specifically designed to help nutrition and animal scientists, medical researchers, biologists and analytical chemists studying dietary plants and supplements locate the chemicals and kits they need to support their work.
