Many socks, towels and other textiles are treated with silver nanoparticles to kill germs and odors. When the silver washes out, it can pollute waterways. Two chemists propose a way to collect it from wastewater.
Coating paper with an inexpensive thin film can allow users to print and erase a physical page as many as 80 times. That reduces both the cost and the environmental effects of paper use.
These mini lightning bolts have been known for millennia. Understanding static electricity at the atomic level opens the door for new technologies – as well as ways to cut down on the tiny zaps.
Two new studies from Food Standards Australia and New Zealand show there’s no evidence that nanoparticles in food present a health risk, but there’s more research to be done.
Growing enough food to feed 9 billion people by 2050 will require huge amounts of energy and water. Using nanoparticles to boost plant growth and yield could save resources and reduce water pollution.
Nanophotonics deals with photons at the nanometre scale, and it’s set to transform everything from internet speeds to turning your smartphone into a portable science lab.