Scraping
pieces of graphite can produce sheets of carbon
only a few atoms thick. These ultrathin graphite
sheets turn out to be closely related to their
carbon nanotube cousins, electrically speaking.
If researchers can make large wafers of the
stuff, it could lead to ultrafast computer
chips. Full
story
DNA
machines take a walk
Scientists are telling DNA to take a hike. Researchers
have devised several DNA walking machines that move
along DNA tracks. The devices could eventually be
used in nanoscale manufacturing, in sophisticated
drug delivery systems, and for DNA computing.
DNA
in nanotubes sorts molecules
Selecting and sorting specific DNA segments is a
basic function of genetics research and other biotechnology
pursuits. Loops of DNA tucked inside gold nanotubes
could make parsing minuscule bits of genetic material
easier.
Single
field shapes quantum bits
Building chip-based quantum computers means controlling
manufacturing devices with atomic precision, which
is far beyond the reach of today's commercial technology.
Researchers are exploring ways of controlling sets
of electrons using a single magnetic field in order
to ease some of these requirements.
