WEB DESK, June 25(ABC): Single-use diagnostic tests often aren’t practical for health professionals or patients in resource-limited areas, where cost and waste disposal are big concerns. So, researchers reporting in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces have turned to a surprising material, Tootsie Roll candy, to develop an inexpensive and low-waste device. The candy was used as an electrode, the part of …

WEB DESK, June 25(ABC): In pursuit of batteries that deliver more power and operate more safely, researchers are working to replace the liquids commonly used in today’s lithium ion batteries with solid materials. Now, a research team from Brown University and the University of Maryland has developed a new material for use in solid-state batteries that’s derived from an unlikely …

WEB DESK, June 25(ABC): Northwestern University researchers have invented a new high-resolution camera that can see the unseen — including around corners and through scattering media, such as skin, fog, or potentially even the human skull. Called synthetic wavelength holography, the new method works by indirectly scattering coherent light onto hidden objects, which then scatters again and travels back to a …

WEB DESK, June 25(ABC): 5G stands for fifth-generation cellular network technology. It’s the technology that enables wireless communication – for example, from your cellular phone to a cell tower, which channels it to the internet. 5G is a network service provided by telecommunications carriers and is not the same thing as the 5 GHz band on your Wi-Fi router. 5G …

WEB DESK, June 22(ABC): The US is hoping to combat the growing criminal use of drones with new rules that will allow local law enforcement agencies and other organisations to have counter-drone systems. At present, legal restrictions in the US hamper efforts to tackle such activity. The Federal Aviation Administration bans anyone from interfering with an aircraft in flight, including …

WEB DESK, June 22(ABC): A sweater embedded with a coil filled with liquid metal can wirelessly charge wearable or portable electronic devices, including medical sensors, movement trackers and smartphones. Wireless charging technology is growing in popularity, and it has the potential to be built into clothing to charge small electronics devices while they are being worn. However, this potential has yet to …

WEB DESK, June 22(ABC): A material made from recycled wood is five times stronger than natural wood and can be made from any timber by-product, including shavings and sawdust. Wood is a hugely versatile material, but millions of tonnes go into landfill each year. To build a truly circular economy, wood will need to be re-used on a grander scale. Orlando …

WEB DESK, June 22(ABC): Temporary tattoos made using graphene can continuously monitor blood pressure for days. The approach is very different from standard blood pressure cuffs, which haven’t changed much since they were first invented around a hundred years ago. Akinwande and his colleagues created the tattoo, which consists of 12 nearly invisible graphene strips placed in two rows along …

WEB DESK, June 22(ABC): The popular messaging application WhatsApp is planning to roll out a new animation update for one of the most frequently used chat emojis. WhatsApp is working on bringing its larger animated heart emojis feature in a future version of the app. Though the update is a small visual addition, it will make WhatsApp chats more expressive …

WEB DESK, June 20(ABC): The device, which is about the size of a suitcase, needs less power to operate than a cell phone charger. It can also be driven by a small, portable solar panel, which can be purchased online for around $50. It automatically generates drinking water that exceeds World Health Organization (WHO) quality standards. The technology is packaged …