Leiden University

Electric genes hope to fix a broken heart

Broken hearts have long influenced songsters and poets, but scientists have also been occupied by its literal meaning and are now hoping to use electric gene therapy as a revolutionary new treatment for cardiac conditions.

Old mining techniques make a new way to recycle lithium batteries

Professor's idea to adapt 20th century mining technology to recycle lithium ion batteries, from the small ones in cell phones to the multi-kilowatt models that power electric cars, the same technologies used to separate metal from ore could be applied to spent batteries.

Nissan to sell electric battery business to Envision Group

Nissan Motor Co. Ltd announced it has entered into a definitive agreement with Envision Group for the sale of Nissan's electric battery operations and production facilities to Envision.

Mimetas

IDTechEx analyst Nadia Tsao interviewed Mimetas Managing Director and Co-Founder Dr Paul Vulto. Mimetas is an organ-on-a-chip company providing microfluidic well plates and 3D cell cultures based on their platform.

New malleable electronic skin: self-healable, recyclable

Researchers have developed a new type of malleable, self-healing and fully recyclable "electronic skin" that has applications ranging from robotics and prosthetic development to better biomedical devices.

Shift in wind power by end of the century

In the next century, wind resources may decrease in many regions of the Northern Hemisphere and could sharply increase in some hotspot regions down south, according to a study by University of Colorado Boulder researchers.

Graphene sensors detect HIV DNA

These so-called 'next generation graphene electronic biochemical sensor devices' are able to detect very low amounts of HIV DNA thanks to their very low electronic noise.

Bouncing gel balls for energy and robotics

Water droplets float in a hot pan because of the so-called Leidenfrost effect. Physicists have discovered a variation: the so-called Elastic Leidenfrost effect.

Flexible, organic and biodegradable

As electronics become increasingly pervasive in our lives - from smart phones to wearable sensors - so too does the ever rising amount of electronic waste they create.

New low-cost technique converts bulk alloys to oxide nanowires

A simple technique for producing oxide nanowires directly from bulk materials could dramatically lower the cost of producing the one-dimensional nanostructures. That could open the door for a broad range of uses in lightweight structural composites, advanced sensors, electronic devices - and thermally-stable and strong battery membranes able to withstand temperatures of more than 1,000 degrees Celsius.

Grant to produce nuclear radiation energy-harvesting device

Research grant to develop nuclear radiation energy harvesting and through-wall wireless communication for enclosed metal containers in nuclear environments, like pressure reactor vessels or nuclear spent-fuel canisters.

Army grant for energy harvesting backpack

By using innovative technology designed by researchers, soldiers will soon have a lighter, more energy-efficient load to bear.

Flexible building blocks of the future

New mechanical "metamaterial" may revolutionize prosthetics and wearable technologies.

Scale up on ocean wave energy harvesting

The Mechanical Motion Rectifier, a novel power takeoff that uses the up and down and back and forth oscillation of wave energy and turns it into a unidirectional rotation to drive the generator.

Transparent metal films for smartphone, tablet and TV displays

A new material that is both highly transparent and electrically conductive could make large screen displays, smart windows and even touch screens and solar cells more affordable and efficient.

Perovskite solar cells made stable by metal oxide sandwich

UCLA professor Yang Yang, member of the California NanoSystems Institute, is a world-renowned innovator of solar cell technology whose team in recent years has developed next-generation solar cells constructed of perovskite, which has remarkable efficiency converting sunlight to electricity.

Guinness record for world's largest 3D printed structure

On the 30th September in Beijing, China the Guinness World Record for the largest 3D printed structure was awarded.

Progress in harvesting energy from bumps in the road

This energy-harvesting shock absorber works by translating the vertical vibrations of the suspension into rotational motion that turns a generator.

Ultra-thin hollow nanocages reduce platinum use in fuel cell electrode

A new fabrication technique that produces platinum hollow nanocages with ultra-thin walls could dramatically reduce the amount of the costly metal needed to provide catalytic activity in such applications as fuel cells.

Unlocking the energy stored in plant cell walls

By virtue of their chloroplasts, plants are superb harvesters of solar energy. They use it to build leaves, flowers, fruits, stems, and roots. We harvest a small percentage of that energy in the form of food and a smaller amount in the form of wood for heating.