

Graphene is one of those material science breakthroughs that's so frequently described as a harbinger of technological revolution, it almost feels hackneyed. Almost, until an update like this rolls around: Scientists at Cambridge today demonstrated the first graphene-based flexible display. » 9/05/14 5:30pm 9/05/14 5:30pm

This 1D Graphene Switches from Conductor to Insulator When It Stretches


Video Explains What Graphene Is and Why It's a Magic Material

So what's the deal with graphene and why does everyone think it's the next big thing? Well, as SciShow says, it conducts electricity better than silver, it conducts heat better than diamonds and even though it's only one atom thick, it's even stronger than steel. So why isn't it more popular and everywhere? » 7/15/14 12:14am 7/15/14 12:14am

Berkeley Lab's 2D Transistor Could Supercharge Tomorrow's Electronics

Graphene is regularly touted as a "super material" in electronics manufacturing—one able to do everything that silicon does, except better. But that isn't good enough for one team at Berkeley Labs. They've combined graphene with two other cutting-edge materials to create the world's first 2D field effects transistor.… » 6/05/14 12:00pm 6/05/14 12:00pm

Cadmium Arsenide: A 3D Alternative to Graphene That's Way More Useful

There's no denying that graphene is a wonderful material—strong, flexible, and highly conductive—but it's taking a long time to become a commercial reality. Now, scientists working with a material called cadmium arsenide believe it offers many of the same benefits—but could actually be far easier to use in the real… » 6/04/14 5:07am 6/04/14 5:07am

The Cutting-Edge Tech That Will Finally Bring Desalination to the U.S.

In case you haven't heard, California is screwed. The drought has turned our perennially water-challenged state into a desiccated husk. In these dire times, we look toward desalination, an idea long-promised but never quite delivered in the U.S. But a spate of new technologies—graphene, solar mirrors, and more—could… » 6/03/14 6:40pm 6/03/14 6:40pm

New Method for Spray-On Graphene Makes the Supermaterial Even Stronger

An international team of researchers just announced a simple, inexpensive way to spray graphene onto substrates at supersonic speeds. Besides sounding absolutely awesome, the method also offers a solution to a crippling weakness with the supermaterial. In effect, spray-on graphene is simply stronger. » 5/28/14 2:40pm 5/28/14 2:40pm

Pouring Saltwater Over Graphene Generates Electricity

A team of Chinese scientists did an impossible-sounding thing. They created electricity simply by dragging a droplet of saltwater across a layer of graphene. No big fires, no greenhouse gases, no fuss. They created energy with just a miracle material and one of the most plentiful substances on Earth. » 4/15/14 11:15am 4/15/14 11:15am

Someday You Could Save Your Files With Nothing But a Sticky Note


The World's Thinnest LED Is Only 3 Atoms Thick
