Scientists found that relatively slow electrons are produced when intense lasers interact with small clusters of atoms, upturning current theories. Intense laser cluster interactions occur when small clusters of atoms, nanometers (billionths of a meter) in size, are struck with intense lasers. This happens, for example, when imaging biomedical samples on ultrafast timescales. However, the…
Artificial and Biological Cells Unite to Form Mini Chemical Factories
Researchers have fused living and non-living cells for the first time in a way that allows them to work together, paving the way for new applications. The system, created by a team from Imperial College London, encapsulates biological cells within an artificial cell. Using this, researchers can harness the natural ability of biological cells to…
Basic Arsenic Sensor is an Inexpensive Life-Saver
A low-cost, easy-to-use sensor which can test drinking water for arsenic in just one minute has been developed by Imperial and UCL researchers. Worldwide, 140 million people drink water containing unsafe levels of arsenic, according to the World Health Organisation. Short-term exposure causes skin lesions, skin cancer and damage to the cognitive development of children,…
Bacteria Turbocharge their Nanometer-Sized Motors
Using detailed 3D images, researchers have shown how bacteria have evolved molecular motors of different powers to optimize their swimming. The discovery, made by a team from Imperial College London, provides insights into evolution at the molecular scale. Bacteria use molecular motors just tens of nanometers wide to spin a tail (or “flagellum”) that pushes…
New Way to Predict When Electric Cars and Home Batteries Become Cost Effective
The future cost of energy storage technologies can now be predicted under different scenarios, thanks to a new tool created by Imperial College London researchers. Using a large database, the team can predict how much consumers will have to pay in the future for energy storage technologies based on cumulative installed capacity, current cost and…
Next-Gen Solar Cells Improved by Redesign at Atomic Scale
Researchers have uncovered the exact mechanism that causes new solar cells to break down in air, paving the way for a solution. Solar cells harness energy from the Sun and provide an alternative to non-renewable energy sources like fossil fuels. However, they face challenges from costly manufacturing processes and poor efficiency — the amount of…
Nanomaterial Has Secret Power to Harvest Sunlight
Using sunlight to drive chemical reactions, such as artificial photosynthesis, could soon become much more efficient thanks to nanomaterials. This is the conclusion of a study led by researchers in the Department of Physics at Imperial College London, which could ultimately help improve solar energy technologies and be used for new applications, such as using…