Graphene is superstrong and superconductive, and it has applications in everything from construction to electronics. But to date there have been almost no commercial uses of the material.
Less-toxic hair dye would be a great invention. But discounting the risks that come with nanoparticles could undermine other efforts to protect human health and environmental from their effects.
Who says scientists aren’t artistic? A team of researchers have done some amazing kirigami work, an ancient Japanese paper art, using graphene.
In the 1977 movie Star Wars, Princess Lea recorded a holographic message that was delivered to Obi Wan Kenobi.
Screenshot from Star Wars/Lucasfilm/20th Century Fox
There is much excitement about graphene, a material only a single carbon-atom thick, but finding ways to do something with it that’s affordable have always been a challenge.
Asteroidea Electrica, first prize winner by Adrianus Indrat Aria.
Cambridge University
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…
There’s definitely room for improvement in night-vision goggle technology – and graphene could make a huge contribution.
UK Ministry of Defence/Flickr
Graphene – an atom-thick sheet of carbon – has been touted as a new wonder material: it is stronger than steel and conducts electricity better than copper. In the journal Nature Nanotechnology today, my…
Will your smartwatch contain graphene? Samsung thinks so.
Kārlis Dambrāns
Samsung has had a mixed relationship with wearable technology to date but an announcement this week may put it ahead of the crowd. The South Korean firm made an early bid on the market with smartwatches…
Saving the heart with a plastic coat.
Jim Waddington
Every year thousands of people are fitted with artificial heart valves to replace their own malfunctioning valve. Many of these patients, however, have to remain on drugs that stop blood clotting on these…
Graphene is an exciting and lucrative new industry – so why isn’t the Australian government funding local commercial development?
Hinkle Group
Australian industries have reached a turning point. With old industries on the way out, the Australian manufacturing sector’s biggest challenge is to move from a low-cost mass production model to one that…
Pick me! Condoms remain an unpopular choice of contraception.
Frank Kovalchek
The proposal of an ultra-thin condom made from graphene and latex brings design of the contraceptive into the 21st century. We have yet to see a prototype, but the developers at the University of Manchester…
Executive Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science and Director of the Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, University of Wollongong
Professor of Organic Chemistry, ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science and Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, University of Wollongong