American Chemical Society

Ultimate smell test: Device sends rotten food warning to smartphone

When it comes to the "smell test," the nose isn't always the best judge of food quality. Now scientists report that they have developed a wireless tagging device that can send signals to smartphones warning consumers and food distributors when meat and other perishables have spoiled.

Carbon nanotubes for flexible, fingertip-wearable terahertz imagers

Researchers have developed flexible terahertz imagers based on chemically "tunable" carbon nanotube materials. The findings expand the scope of terahertz applications to include wrap-around, wearable technologies as well as large-area photonic devices.

Crumple up this keyboard and stick it in your pocket

Bendable portable keyboards for use with computers and other electronic devices are already on the market, but they have limited flexibility, and they're fairly sizable when rolled up for transport. Now researchers have crafted an inexpensive keyboard that is so tough, flexible and thin that it can be crumpled up and tucked in a pocket without damaging it.

E-textiles control home appliances with the swipe of a finger

Electronic textiles could allow a person to control household appliances or computers from a distance simply by touching a wristband or other item of clothing — something that could be particularly helpful for those with limited mobility. Now researchers have developed a new type of e-textile that is self-powered, highly sensitive and washable.

3D-printed smart gel walks underwater, moves objects

Engineers have created a 3D-printed smart gel that walks underwater and grabs objects and moves them. The watery creation could lead to soft robots that mimic sea animals like the octopus, which can walk underwater and bump into things without damaging them. It may also lead to artificial heart, stomach and other muscles, along with devices for diagnosing diseases, detecting and delivering drugs and performing underwater inspections.

Jelly implant keeps an eye on body oxygen levels

Although smaller than a grain of rice, a phosphorescent hydrogel implant that monitors tissue oxygen could end amputations in people with blocked blood vessels or help athletes design better training programmes. The first of these tiny but durable devices has survived more than four years - implanted in the foot of the researchers who created it.

Knitting electronics with yarn batteries

Researchers have developed a rechargeable yarn battery that is waterproof and flexible. It also can be cut into pieces and still work.

New 4-D printer could reshape the world we live in

Scientists report that they have developed a powerful printer that could streamline the creation of self-assembling structures that can change shape after being exposed to heat and other stimuli. They say this unique technology could accelerate the use of 4-D printing in aerospace, medicine and other industries.

Solar cells could work come rain or shine

Despite the numerous advances in solar cells, one thing remains constant: cloudy, rainy conditions put a damper on the amount of electricity created. Now researchers reporting have developed hybrid solar cells that can generate power from raindrops.

Patterned graphene onto food, paper, cloth, cardboard

Scientists who introduced laser-induced graphene have enhanced their technique to produce what may become a new class of edible electronics.

MXene material could improve sensors that sniff

Sensors that sniff out chemicals in the air to warn us about everything from fires to carbon monoxide to drunk drivers to explosive devices hidden in luggage have improved so much that they can even detect diseases on a person's breath.

Flexible vertical micro LED

A research team has developed flexible vertical micro LEDs using anisotropic conductive film (ACF)-based transfer and interconnection technology.

New biosensor could monitor glucose levels in tears and sweat

Constantly tracking a person's glucose levels through their tears or sweat could be one step closer to providing people with diabetes an improved monitoring tool.

Lab unlocks secrets of nanoscale 3D printing

Researchers have discovered novel ways to extend the capabilities of two-photon lithography, a high-resolution 3D printing technique capable of producing nanoscale features smaller than one-hundredth the width of a human hair.

Carbon nanotubes devices may have a limit to how 'nano' they can be

Carbon nanotubes bound for electronics not only need to be as clean as possible to maximize their utility in next-generation nanoscale devices, but contact effects may limit how small a nano device can be, according to researchers.