nanotechnology – Lifeboat News: The Blog https://lifeboat.com/blog Safeguarding Humanity Thu, 17 Apr 2025 18:09:35 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 Mimosa seed bio-piezoelectric device functions as self-charging supercapacitor with high efficiency https://lifeboat.com/blog/2025/04/mimosa-seed-bio-piezoelectric-device-functions-as-self-charging-supercapacitor-with-high-efficiency https://lifeboat.com/blog/2025/04/mimosa-seed-bio-piezoelectric-device-functions-as-self-charging-supercapacitor-with-high-efficiency#respond Thu, 17 Apr 2025 18:09:35 +0000 https://lifeboat.com/blog/2025/04/mimosa-seed-bio-piezoelectric-device-functions-as-self-charging-supercapacitor-with-high-efficiency

Most energy generators currently employed within the electronics industry are based on inorganic piezoelectric materials that are not bio-compatible and contribute to the pollution of the environment on Earth. In recent years, some electronics researchers and chemical engineers have thus been trying to develop alternative devices that can generate electricity for medical implants, wearable electronics, robots and other electronics harnessing organic materials that are safe, bio-compatible and non-toxic.

Researchers at the Materials Science Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur recently introduced a new device based on seeds from the mimosa pudica plant, which can serve both as a bio-piezoelectric nanogenerator and a self-chargeable supercapacitor. Their proposed device, outlined in a paper published in the Chemical Engineering Journal, was found to achieve remarkable efficiencies, while also having a lesser adverse impact on the environment.

“This study was motivated by the need for biocompatible, self-sustaining energy systems to power (e.g., pacemakers, neurostimulators) and wearable electronics,” Prof. Dr. Bhanu Bhusan Khatua, senior author of the paper, told Tech Xplore.

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Chiral plasmonic nanostructures push the limits of light manipulation on the nanoscale https://lifeboat.com/blog/2025/04/chiral-plasmonic-nanostructures-push-the-limits-of-light-manipulation-on-the-nanoscale https://lifeboat.com/blog/2025/04/chiral-plasmonic-nanostructures-push-the-limits-of-light-manipulation-on-the-nanoscale#respond Thu, 17 Apr 2025 07:14:02 +0000 https://lifeboat.com/blog/2025/04/chiral-plasmonic-nanostructures-push-the-limits-of-light-manipulation-on-the-nanoscale

Researchers from ICMAB are revolutionizing how we manipulate light at the nanoscale using chiral plasmonic structures—nanomaterials designed to interact with polarized light in extraordinary ways.

ICMAB researchers from the NANOPTO group at ICMAB have recently published two studies demonstrating how cost-effective fabrication techniques can produce highly efficient chiral nanostructures with potential applications in sensors, imaging, and even quantum technologies.

The first study, published in Nature Communications, showcases self-assembled chiral plasmonic architectures (triskelion patterns) made from gold and silver nanoparticles. These structures demonstrate exceptional optical responses, selectively interacting with circularly polarized light, opening up exciting possibilities for advanced optoelectronic devices.

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Scientists Unveil Safer Way To Make “Miracle Material” MXene https://lifeboat.com/blog/2025/04/scientists-unveil-safer-way-to-make-miracle-material-mxene https://lifeboat.com/blog/2025/04/scientists-unveil-safer-way-to-make-miracle-material-mxene#respond Thu, 17 Apr 2025 07:04:19 +0000 https://lifeboat.com/blog/2025/04/scientists-unveil-safer-way-to-make-miracle-material-mxene

MXene, a nanomaterial used in battery technology and as a high-performance lubricant, was previously difficult and hazardous to produce. However, researchers at TU Wien have now developed new, safer methods for its production. One of the most groundbreaking trends in materials science is the stud

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Golden eyes: How gold nanoparticles may one day help to restore people’s vision https://lifeboat.com/blog/2025/04/golden-eyes-how-gold-nanoparticles-may-one-day-help-to-restore-peoples-vision https://lifeboat.com/blog/2025/04/golden-eyes-how-gold-nanoparticles-may-one-day-help-to-restore-peoples-vision#respond Wed, 16 Apr 2025 22:19:20 +0000 https://lifeboat.com/blog/2025/04/golden-eyes-how-gold-nanoparticles-may-one-day-help-to-restore-peoples-vision

A new study by Brown University researchers suggests that gold nanoparticles—microscopic bits of gold thousands of times thinner than a human hair—might one day be used to help restore vision in people with macular degeneration and other retinal disorders.

In a study published in the journal ACS Nano, the research team showed that nanoparticles injected into the retina can successfully stimulate the visual system and restore vision in mice with retinal disorders. The findings suggest that a new type of visual prosthesis system in which nanoparticles, used in combination with a small laser device worn in a pair of glasses or goggles, might one day help people with retinal disorders to see again.

“This is a new type of retinal prosthesis that has the potential to restore vision lost to without requiring any kind of complicated surgery or ,” said Jiarui Nie, a postdoctoral researcher at the National Institutes of Health who led the research while completing her Ph.D. at Brown. “We believe this technique could potentially transform treatment paradigms for retinal degenerative conditions.”

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Niamh Peren | From Neurons to Networks: Whole Brain Emulation @ Vision Weekend 2025, Puerto Rico https://lifeboat.com/blog/2025/04/niamh-peren-from-neurons-to-networks-whole-brain-emulation-vision-weekend-2025-puerto-rico https://lifeboat.com/blog/2025/04/niamh-peren-from-neurons-to-networks-whole-brain-emulation-vision-weekend-2025-puerto-rico#respond Wed, 16 Apr 2025 02:18:53 +0000 https://lifeboat.com/blog/2025/04/niamh-peren-from-neurons-to-networks-whole-brain-emulation-vision-weekend-2025-puerto-rico

*This video was recorded at Foresight’s Vision Weekend 2025 in Puerto Rico*
https://foresight.org/vw2025pr/

Our Vision Weekends are the annual festivals of Foresight Institute. Held in two countries, over two weekends, you are invited to burst your tech silos and plan for flourishing long-term futures. This playlist captures the magic of our Puerto Rico edition, held February 21–23, 2025, in the heart of Old San Juan. Come for the ideas: join the conference, unconference, mentorship hours, curated 1-1s, tech demos, biohacking sessions, prize awards, and much more. Stay for fun with new friends: join the satellite gatherings, solarpunk future salsa night, beach picnic, and surprise island adventures. This year’s main conference track is dedicated to “Paths to Progress”; meaning you will hear 20+ invited presentations from Foresight’s core community highlighting paths to progress in the following areas: Existential Hope Futures, Longevity, Rejuvenation, Cryonics, Neurotech, BCIs & WBEs, Cryptography, Security & AI, Fusion, Energy, Space, and Funding, Innovation, Progress.
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*About The Foresight Institute*

The Foresight Institute is a research organization and non-profit that supports the beneficial development of high-impact technologies. Since our founding in 1986 on a vision of guiding powerful technologies, we have continued to evolve into a many-armed organization that focuses on several fields of science and technology that are too ambitious for legacy institutions to support. From molecular nanotechnology, to brain-computer interfaces, space exploration, cryptocommerce, and AI, Foresight gathers leading minds to advance research and accelerate progress toward flourishing futures.

*We are entirely funded by your donations. If you enjoy what we do please consider donating through our donation page:* https://foresight.org/donate/

*Visit* https://foresight.org, *subscribe to our channel for more videos or join us here:*

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Yuri Deigin | Brain Rejuvenation by Partial Reprogramming @ Vision Weekend 2025, Puerto Rico https://lifeboat.com/blog/2025/04/yuri-deigin-brain-rejuvenation-by-partial-reprogramming-vision-weekend-2025-puerto-rico https://lifeboat.com/blog/2025/04/yuri-deigin-brain-rejuvenation-by-partial-reprogramming-vision-weekend-2025-puerto-rico#respond Wed, 16 Apr 2025 02:18:10 +0000 https://lifeboat.com/blog/2025/04/yuri-deigin-brain-rejuvenation-by-partial-reprogramming-vision-weekend-2025-puerto-rico

*This video was recorded at Foresight’s Vision Weekend 2025 in Puerto Rico*
https://foresight.org/vw2025pr/

Our Vision Weekends are the annual festivals of Foresight Institute. Held in two countries, over two weekends, you are invited to burst your tech silos and plan for flourishing long-term futures. This playlist captures the magic of our Puerto Rico edition, held February 21–23, 2025, in the heart of Old San Juan. Come for the ideas: join the conference, unconference, mentorship hours, curated 1-1s, tech demos, biohacking sessions, prize awards, and much more. Stay for fun with new friends: join the satellite gatherings, solarpunk future salsa night, beach picnic, and surprise island adventures. This year’s main conference track is dedicated to “Paths to Progress”; meaning you will hear 20+ invited presentations from Foresight’s core community highlighting paths to progress in the following areas: Existential Hope Futures, Longevity, Rejuvenation, Cryonics, Neurotech, BCIs & WBEs, Cryptography, Security & AI, Fusion, Energy, Space, and Funding, Innovation, Progress.
══════════════════════════════════════

*About The Foresight Institute*

The Foresight Institute is a research organization and non-profit that supports the beneficial development of high-impact technologies. Since our founding in 1986 on a vision of guiding powerful technologies, we have continued to evolve into a many-armed organization that focuses on several fields of science and technology that are too ambitious for legacy institutions to support. From molecular nanotechnology, to brain-computer interfaces, space exploration, cryptocommerce, and AI, Foresight gathers leading minds to advance research and accelerate progress toward flourishing futures.

*We are entirely funded by your donations. If you enjoy what we do please consider donating through our donation page:* https://foresight.org/donate/

*Visit* https://foresight.org, *subscribe to our channel for more videos or join us here:*

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Niccolo Zanichelli | The State of Brain Emulation in 2025 @ Vision Weekend 2025, Puerto Rico https://lifeboat.com/blog/2025/04/niccolo-zanichelli-the-state-of-brain-emulation-in-2025-vision-weekend-2025-puerto-rico https://lifeboat.com/blog/2025/04/niccolo-zanichelli-the-state-of-brain-emulation-in-2025-vision-weekend-2025-puerto-rico#respond Wed, 16 Apr 2025 02:17:26 +0000 https://lifeboat.com/blog/2025/04/niccolo-zanichelli-the-state-of-brain-emulation-in-2025-vision-weekend-2025-puerto-rico

*This video was recorded at Foresight’s Vision Weekend 2025 in Puerto Rico*
https://foresight.org/vw2025pr/

Our Vision Weekends are the annual festivals of Foresight Institute. Held in two countries, over two weekends, you are invited to burst your tech silos and plan for flourishing long-term futures. This playlist captures the magic of our Puerto Rico edition, held February 21–23, 2025, in the heart of Old San Juan. Come for the ideas: join the conference, unconference, mentorship hours, curated 1-1s, tech demos, biohacking sessions, prize awards, and much more. Stay for fun with new friends: join the satellite gatherings, solarpunk future salsa night, beach picnic, and surprise island adventures. This year’s main conference track is dedicated to “Paths to Progress”; meaning you will hear 20+ invited presentations from Foresight’s core community highlighting paths to progress in the following areas: Existential Hope Futures, Longevity, Rejuvenation, Cryonics, Neurotech, BCIs & WBEs, Cryptography, Security & AI, Fusion, Energy, Space, and Funding, Innovation, Progress.
══════════════════════════════════════

*About The Foresight Institute*

The Foresight Institute is a research organization and non-profit that supports the beneficial development of high-impact technologies. Since our founding in 1986 on a vision of guiding powerful technologies, we have continued to evolve into a many-armed organization that focuses on several fields of science and technology that are too ambitious for legacy institutions to support. From molecular nanotechnology, to brain-computer interfaces, space exploration, cryptocommerce, and AI, Foresight gathers leading minds to advance research and accelerate progress toward flourishing futures.

*We are entirely funded by your donations. If you enjoy what we do please consider donating through our donation page:* https://foresight.org/donate/

*Visit* https://foresight.org, *subscribe to our channel for more videos or join us here:*

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Using 2D nanomaterials to create electric vehicle fuel https://lifeboat.com/blog/2025/04/using-2d-nanomaterials-to-create-electric-vehicle-fuel https://lifeboat.com/blog/2025/04/using-2d-nanomaterials-to-create-electric-vehicle-fuel#respond Tue, 15 Apr 2025 19:03:38 +0000 https://lifeboat.com/blog/2025/04/using-2d-nanomaterials-to-create-electric-vehicle-fuel

Purdue University researchers have developed a new type of two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterial called a tungsten carbide MXene. This small but mighty material could be used to produce hydrogen fuel for electric vehicles, possibly becoming the key to a more reliable future.

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Microscopy method breaks barriers in nanoscale chemical imaging https://lifeboat.com/blog/2025/04/microscopy-method-breaks-barriers-in-nanoscale-chemical-imaging https://lifeboat.com/blog/2025/04/microscopy-method-breaks-barriers-in-nanoscale-chemical-imaging#respond Tue, 15 Apr 2025 14:03:17 +0000 https://lifeboat.com/blog/2025/04/microscopy-method-breaks-barriers-in-nanoscale-chemical-imaging

Today’s super-resolution microscopes have made it possible to observe the nanoscale world with unprecedented detail. However, they require fluorescent tags, which reveal structural details but provide little chemical information about the samples being studied.

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MRI warning as study says injection could cause deadly material to form in body https://lifeboat.com/blog/2025/04/mri-warning-as-study-says-injection-could-cause-deadly-material-to-form-in-body https://lifeboat.com/blog/2025/04/mri-warning-as-study-says-injection-could-cause-deadly-material-to-form-in-body#respond Mon, 14 Apr 2025 22:05:04 +0000 https://lifeboat.com/blog/2025/04/mri-warning-as-study-says-injection-could-cause-deadly-material-to-form-in-body

A chemical injected before MRI scans to help create sharper images may cause some patients to experience a potentially deadly complication in rare cases, a new study suggests.

Researchers from the University of New Mexico found that gadolinium – a toxic rare earth metal used in MRI scans – could mix with oxalic acid found in many foods to precipitate tiny nanoparticles of the metal in human tissues.

The research, published in the journal Magnetic Resonance Imaging, assessed the formation of these nanoparticles associated with potentially deadly health problems in the kidneys and other organs.

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