A tiny, transparent device that can fit into a contact lens has a bright future, potentially helping a range of scientific endeavors from biomedicine to geology. Developed by Northwestern University scientists, the device, called the Micro-ring resonator detector, can determine the speed of the blood flow and the oxygen metabolic rate at the back of […]
Imaging Stroke Risk In 4-D
Affecting 33.5 million patients worldwide, atrial fibrillation is the most common form of cardiac arrhythmia. As if having an irregular heart beat wasn’t troubling enough, patients with atrial fibrillation are also much more likely to have a stroke. “Atrial fibrillation is thought to be responsible for 20 to 30 percent of all strokes in the […]
New Electrical Energy Storage Material Shows Its Power
A powerful new material developed by Northwestern University chemist William Dichtel and his research team could one day speed up the charging process of electric cars and help increase their driving range. An electric car currently relies on a complex interplay of both batteries and supercapacitors to provide the energy it needs to go places, […]
Light-powered 3-D Printer Creates Terahertz Lens
From visible light to radio waves, most people are familiar with the different sections of the electromagnetic spectrum. But one wavelength is often forgotten, little understood, and, until recently, rarely studied. It’s called terahertz, and it has important applications in imaging and communications. “Terahertz is somewhat of a gap between microwaves and infrared,” said Northwestern […]
Light-Powered 3D Printer Creates Terahertz Lens
From visible light to radio waves, most people are familiar with the different sections of the electromagnetic spectrum. But one wavelength is often forgotten, little understood, and, until recently, rarely studied. It’s called terahertz, and it has important applications in imaging and communications. “Terahertz is somewhat of a gap between microwaves and infrared,” said Northwestern […]
Exfoliating Thinner Flakes of Phosphorene at Higher Yield
In the past two years, phosphorene has attracted increased attention due to its potential in thin, flexible electronics. And because it is naturally a semi-conductor, phosphorene holds promise where miracle material graphene falls short. “There has been a decade-long attempt to make graphene semi-conducting,” said Northwestern Engineering’s Mark Hersam. “Our group and others have tried […]
Dynamic Detection System Could Protect Smartphones From Malicious Content
The danger of acquiring a computer virus or spyware used to come with the risk of visiting the dark, sketchy corners of the Internet. But now trusted and harmless smartphone apps like MyFitnessPal and Candy Crush carry their own risks. “Even reputable apps can lead users to websites hosting malicious content,” said Yan Chen, professor of […]
Using Plasmonics To Transmit More Data
Merely a decade ago, people were amazed that their cellular phones could send a simple text message. Now smartphones send and receive high-resolution photographs, videos, emails with large attachments, and much more. The desire for endless data has become insatiable. “The ability to deliver information from one location to another has played a very important […]
Increasing Oil’s Performance With Crumpled Graphene Balls
When an automobile’s engine is improperly lubricated, it can be a major hit to the pocketbook and the environment. For the average car, 15 percent of the fuel consumption is spent overcoming friction in the engine and transmission. When friction is high, gears have to work harder to move. This means the car burns more […]
Single-Chip Laser Delivers Powerful Result
From their use in telecommunication to detecting hazardous chemicals, lasers play a major role in our everyday lives. They keep us connected, keep us safe, and allow us to explore the dark corners of the universe. Now a Northwestern University team has made this ever-important tool even simpler and more versatile by integrating a mid-infrared […]