Highlights
Semiconductors
Touching moments with a radiant outcome
26 March 2013Microstructures made of adjoining semiconductor disks could lead to powerful nanoscale sensors
Materials
Magnetic mystery solved
26 March 2013Defects in metal–organic frameworks induce low-temperature ferromagnetism and could yield novel materials for industry
Piezoresistive Sensor
No batteries required
26 March 2013Microscale medical sensors inserted under the skin can be powered wirelessly by an external handheld receiver
Information Technology
Improving the health of machines
12 March 2013A novel adaptive management system boosts the efficiency of wireless sensor networks that monitor surrounding environments
Circuit
Model makes light work of nanocircuits
12 March 2013A numerical simulation predicts the behavior of a component that controls light for faster computing
Immunology
How one protein accelerates lupus
12 March 2013A protein implicated in lupus promotes disease progression by distinct mechanisms in different immune cells
Biochemical Engineering
Waste not, want not
12 March 2013A simple fermentation treatment can convert a by-product of biofuel production into a valuable chemical feedstock for a wide range of biomedical products
Microchip
Look-up tables to shoulder the processing load
12 March 2013Computing tasks for signal processing could be performed more quickly with less power by using look-up tables
Differentiation
Keeping differentiation in check
26 February 2013A repressor protein that blocks differentiation-specific genes helps maintain stem cells' ability to develop into any cell type
Hepatitis B Virus
Hepatitis B could be treatable in children
26 February 2013Contrary to conventional wisdom, exposure to the hepatitis B virus activates immunity in young people, suggesting benefits for earlier treatment
Glass
Bubble impacts caught on film
26 February 2013High-speed cameras reveal the complex physics at work as air meets water and glass
Microelectronics
A tougher seal for rugged environments
26 February 2013An aluminum–germanium alloy forges a tough, hermetic seal for electronics in extreme environments
Nanoparticles
Light’s magnetism shows its true colors
26 February 2013Tiny spheres of silicon can control the magnetic side of light, paving the way to novel optical devices
