News from the NNI Community - Research Advances Funded by Agencies Participating in the NNI

Scientists from Caltech, Georgia Tech, and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich have developed a metamaterial that can change shape in a tunable fashion. While most reconfigurable materials can toggle between two distinct states – the way a switch toggles on or off – the new material's shape can be finely tuned, adjusting its physical properties as desired. The material has potential applications in next-generation energy storage and bio-implantable micro-devices.

Scientists from Caltech, Georgia Tech, and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich have developed a metamaterial that can change shape in a tunable fashion. While most reconfigurable materials can toggle between two distinct states – the way a switch toggles on or off – the new material's shape can be finely tuned, adjusting its physical properties as desired. The material has potential applications in next-generation energy storage and bio-implantable micro-devices.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has awarded a total of nearly $4 million in grants to 19 small businesses to support innovative technology development. Five of the 19 small businesses (Graphene Waves LLC, Parman Tech LLC, Xallent LLC, Advanced Silicon Group, and Applied NanoFluorescence) were awarded nearly $1.1 million awarded for nanotechnology development.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has awarded a total of nearly $4 million in grants to 19 small businesses to support innovative technology development. Five of the 19 small businesses (Graphene Waves LLC, Parman Tech LLC, Xallent LLC, Advanced Silicon Group, and Applied NanoFluorescence) were awarded nearly $1.1 million awarded for nanotechnology development.

The typical method for delivering genes inside cells is by using altered viruses that carry genome-editing machinery rather than their own viral genes into cells. But alterations of such viruses can be laborious and manufacturing them can be complicated. To address these issues, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have, instead, packed a gene-editing payload into a tiny customizable, synthetic nanocapsule.

The typical method for delivering genes inside cells is by using altered viruses that carry genome-editing machinery rather than their own viral genes into cells. But alterations of such viruses can be laborious and manufacturing them can be complicated. To address these issues, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have, instead, packed a gene-editing payload into a tiny customizable, synthetic nanocapsule.

Platinum has long been used as a catalyst in fuel cells, but the metal's high cost has hindered fuel cells from competing with cheaper ways of powering automobiles and homes. Now researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a new platinum-based catalytic system that is more durable than traditional commercial systems and has a potentially longer lifespan. The process involves using nanoscale spheres of selenium that react with a salt precursor to platinum to generate particles of platinum smaller than two nanometers in diameter.

Platinum has long been used as a catalyst in fuel cells, but the metal's high cost has hindered fuel cells from competing with cheaper ways of powering automobiles and homes. Now researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a new platinum-based catalytic system that is more durable than traditional commercial systems and has a potentially longer lifespan. The process involves using nanoscale spheres of selenium that react with a salt precursor to platinum to generate particles of platinum smaller than two nanometers in diameter.

Tools that detect cancer in its early stages can increase patient survival and quality of life. But cancer screening often calls for expensive equipment and trips to the clinic, which may not be feasible in some rural or developing areas. Now scientists have developed a simple and sensitive urine test that can produce a color change in urine to signal growing tumors in mice.

Tools that detect cancer in its early stages can increase patient survival and quality of life. But cancer screening often calls for expensive equipment and trips to the clinic, which may not be feasible in some rural or developing areas. Now scientists have developed a simple and sensitive urine test that can produce a color change in urine to signal growing tumors in mice.