Since the 1960s, silicon ‘nanomaterials’ have driven the information revolution. But as their potential is exhausted, is it time for ‘atomaterials’ such as graphene to drive innovation still further?
A single-atom engine is the latest example of how nano-technology can create machines to power tiny robots inside the body.
We all know engineering is useful, functional, even ingenious. But the engineering photography competition we hold each year provides us a chance to wander outside its merely utilitarian aspects into dimensions…
Eucalyptus oil is useful for lots of things – what if that list also included carbon-neutral aviation fuel? Chemistry suggests it could.
Compressed glassy carbon could be used to make better bulletproof vests or new types of electronics.
High energy, high power and endless life cycles: not all batteries are created equal.
Nanotechnology has an impressive record against viruses.
Developing new technologies requires time-consuming, expensive and even dangerous experiments. But now we can carry out many experiments entirely on computers using modelling.
Fire is being used to create the nanoparticles used in the many important nanotechnologies — from solar cells to medical imaging contrast agents.
If grown on an industrial scale, hemp could provide multiple benefits for the environment and the economy.
