First of its kind study of single protein paves way to improving understanding of disease
Researchers have developed a proof of concept technology that could pave the way for ‘next-generation’ displays beyond current LCDs and Scientists have developed new technology which has made it possible to isolate and study how a single protein – 10,000 times thinner than a human hair – behaves and changes over time.
​
he Nottingham Trent University team says the work – the first of its kind – enables them to see how a protein behaves in its natural environment and that it could help better understand proteins linked to disease and how they might respond to certain therapies.
The research involves using a very high concentration of light which, when the beam is transmitted through a specifically engineered nano structure, generates the right amount of force to grasp and hold a single protein within the fluid without damaging it.
The technology is able to detect how the light is scattered and the researchers can analyse this unique data to reveal how the protein is behaving in real-time.
​
​
Research could spark ‘next generation’ flat screens, which are significantly thinner and cheaper to run
Researchers have developed a proof of concept technology that could pave the way for ‘next-generation’ displays beyond current LCDs and LEDs, enabling screens and electronic devices to become thinner, offer higher resolution and be much more energy efficient.
A team at Nottingham Trent University, the Australian National University and the University of New South Wales Canberra in Australia has engineered electrically tuneable arrays of nanoparticles called ‘metasurfaces’ which can offer significant benefits over current liquid crystal displays.
Today’s display market offers a large range of choices, each with its pros and cons. However factors including production costs, lifespan and energy consumption have kept liquid crystal technology the most dominant and popular technology for screens such as TV sets and monitors.
Liquid crystal cells are responsible for switching the transmitted light on and off and are lit by a backlight, with polarising filters in the front and behind the pixels. They determine the dimension of pixels – the resolution – and play a significant role in managing the device’s power consumption.
The newly-engineered metasurface cells – which have tunability and extraordinary light scattering properties – would replace the liquid crystal layer and would not require the polarisers, which are responsible for a large amount of wasted light intensity and energy use in displays.
The metasurfaces are 100-times thinner than liquid crystal cells, offer a tenfold greater resolution and consume 50% less energy.
​
​
New nanotech crystal film will allow people to see in the dark – and could revolutionise night vision
Researchers have developed a new proof of concept technology that will allow people to see clearly in the dark and could revolutionise night-vision.
The first-of-its-kind tech, created by an international team involving The Australian National University (ANU) and Nottingham Trent University, is ultra-compact and could one day work on standard glasses.
The work has involved developing a new thin film, consisting of nanometre-scale crystals – hundreds of times thinner than human hair – that can be directly applied to glasses to act as a filter, allowing the user to see in the dark.
The researchers say the new tech could one day be used for defence and security, as well as making it safer for people to drive at night and walk home after dark.
Current night vision devices capture the invisible light and project an image of surrounding objects on display in front of the viewer’s eyes. Such technology requires cryogenic cooling for high-end performance, making the night vision cameras and helmets bulky and costly.
The new technology, however, is extremely lightweight, cheap and easy to mass produce – making it accessible to everyday users.
​
​
