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Articles on Nanomaterials

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Cloud seeding can increase rainfall and reduce hail damage to crops, but its use is limited. John Finney Photography/Moment via Getty Images

Cloud seeding can increase rain and snow, and new techniques may make it a lot more effective – podcast

Cloud seeding – spraying materials into clouds to increase precipitation – has been around for nearly 80 years. But only recently have scientists been able to measure how effective it really is.
Nanoparticles can help cancer drugs home in on tumors and avoid damaging healthy cells. Kateryna Kon/Science Photo Library via Getty Images

Nanoparticles are the future of medicine – researchers are experimenting with new ways to design tiny particle treatments for cancer

The COVID-19 mRNA vaccines put nanomedicine in the spotlight as a potential way to treat diseases like cancer and HIV. While the field isn’t there yet, better design could help fulfill its promise.
Tiny fuel cells convert sweat to electricity that can power sensors in electronic skin. Yu et al., Sci. Robot. 5, eaaz7946 (2020)

A smart second skin gets all the power it needs from sweat

Lightweight, flexible materials can be used to make health-monitoring wearable devices, but powering the devices is a challenge. Using fuel cells instead of batteries could make the difference.
Could graphene - shown here as an illustration of its molecular structure - come to define the next phase of the information revolution? Rost9/Shutterstock

Small world: atom-scale materials are the next tech frontier

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?
Spawning sockeye salmon make their way up the Adams River near Chase, B.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Freshwater wildlife face an uncertain future

Populations of freshwater species are in a state of deep decline. But we know why and we can reverse the trend.
Strange new materials that propel the fictional Star Trek universe are being developed by scientists in reality today. Above, the USS Discovery accelerates to warp speed in an artist’s rendition for the TV series Star Trek Discovery. (Handout)

How quantum materials may soon make Star Trek technology reality

Advanced materials that seem like they come from Star Trek are becoming reality today.
Molecular machines are ready to join forces and take on real-world work. Chenfeng Ke

3-D printing turns nanomachines into life-size workers

Research on molecular machines won last year’s Nobel Prize in chemistry. Now scientists have figured out a way to get these tiny molecules to join forces and collaborate on real work on a macro scale.
Some companies have used nano-titanium dioxide to make powdered sugar on donuts whiter. Shutterstock

No big deal: there is little to fear from nanoparticles in food

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.
What’s in the bottle is good for me, right? nerissa's ring

Nanoparticles in baby formula: should parents be worried?

Microscopic needle-like particles don’t seem like something you’d want to feed a baby. Whether safe or not, the way we deal with nanoscale food additives leaves plenty of other questions.

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