Science Daily August 19, 2021 Researchers in Singapore have provided data showing that potent cross-clade pan-sarbecovirus neutralizing antibodies are induced in survivors of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 1 (SARS-CoV-1) infection who have been immunized with the BNT162b2 messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine. The antibodies are high-level and broad-spectrum, capable of neutralizing not only known variants of concern but also sarbecoviruses that have been identified in bats and pangolins and have the potential to cause human infection. These findings show the feasibility of a pan-sarbecovirus vaccine strategy…read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Tag Archives: S&T Singapore
Scientists make highly maneuverable miniature robots controlled by magnetic fields
EurekAlert June 14, 2021 Researchers in Singapore created miniature robots by embedding magnetic microparticles into biocompatible polymers which are ‘programmed’ to execute their desired functionalities when magnetic fields are applied. They discovered the third and final principal vector of the magnetic fields, which is critical for controlling such machines. The robots have six degrees of freedom, rotate 43 times faster and they can be made with ‘soft’ materials hence replicate important mechanical qualities, ability to grip and precisely pick and place miniature objects. Other features include the remote control, ability to swim through barriers, and assemble structures, precise orientation control, […]
Wireless, ultra-thin and battery-free strain sensors that are 10 times more sensitive
EurekAlert December 15, 2020 Performance of conventional strain sensors has always been limited by the nature of sensing materials used, and users have limited options of customizing the sensors for specific applications. Researchers in Singapore have developed flexible, stretchable, and electrically conductive nanomaterials called MXenes and fabricated strain sensors which are ultra-thin, battery-free and transmit data wirelessly. The sensors are 10 times more sensitive when measuring minute movements of industrial robotic arms, compared to existing technology. In precision manufacturing it helps improve the overall safety of robotic arms by providing automated feedback on precise movements with an error margin below […]
Using the ‘shadow effect’ to generate electricity
Techxplore May 21, 2020 Researchers in Singapore used Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy to experimentally validated that a shadow-effect energy generator (SEG) scavenges the illumination contrast that arises on the device from shadow castings, and generates a direct current, simply by placing a part of the generator in shadow. The SEG is capable of harvesting energy from illumination contrasts arising under weak ambient light. Without any optimization, the generator has a power density of 0.14 μW cm−2 under indoor conditions 0.001 sun, where shadows are persistent. It performs 200% better than that of commercial silicon solar cells under the effects of […]
Quantum dot lasers move a step closer with electric-pumping development
Phys.org November 29, 2019 Colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) are highly promising materials for light amplification. But band-edge state degeneracy demands multiple excitons to achieve population inversion increasing the lasing threshold and limits the gain lifetime. Researchers in Singapore have demonstrated that the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) threshold is controllable in a device where CQD film is exposed to an external electric field. Specifically, singly charged CQDs lower the threshold due to the preexisting electron in the conduction band, while strongly enhanced Auger recombination in doubly charged CQDs stymies the ASE. According to the researchers the next big challenge in laser […]
This humidity digester breathes in atmospheric water and exhales energy
Science Daily November 20, 2019 Researchers in Singapore have developed a humidity digester composed of a moisture hydrogel based zinc and cobalt, cathode, photoanode, and a solar cell. Just like batteries, it generates power from atmospheric humidity instead of an electrolyte. The photoanodes, acting as a photo-electrocatalyst, oxidize the absorbed water in the presence of light to split water and produce energy. The hydrogel constantly replenishes the system with water that is pulled out from the air to sustain the energy generation process. The assembly generates electricity while dehumidifying the room. The second-generation cobalt hydrogel absorbs moisture faster than any […]
On the cusp of valleytronics
Nanowerk November 30, 2018 According to researchers in Singapore information can be transmitted by controlling an electron’s association with a valley — a manipulation that can be achieved using electric fields, magnetic fields and circularly polarised light. As the valley is a property of the whole material, the valley states are destroyed only if the material is significantly modified or ceases to exist. Therefore, encoding information onto valley states should be more enduring due to the unique coupling of electron spin to valley. They are engineering a number of new and useful 2D semiconductors for this technology by adjusting their […]
Using a crystal to link visible light to infrared opens a window on infrared sensing
Phys. org November 1, 2018 Researchers in Singapore have developed a method that allows changes in the infrared beam to be analyzed via the visible beam, it provides more information than conventional spectroscopy. They fed laser light into a lithium niobate crystal that split some of the laser photons into two quantum-linked photons of lower energies through parametric down-conversion, one in the infrared, and one in the visible parts of the spectrum. When the original laser beam re-entered the crystal, it created a new pair of down-converted beams that interfered with the light created in the first pass. A sample […]
Another step closer to tunable liquids
Phys.org September 12, 2018 When a liquid is confined between closely spaced surfaces, it may form ordered layers, leading to changes in the liquid’s viscosity and molecular structure. Understanding the mechanical properties of these ordered layers is important for the development of nanotechnology devices and lubricants. Using lubricants undecanol and tetradecane researchers in Singapore were able to produce highly ordered layers of hydrocarbons along the surface of graphite by applying a strong electric field. Even after removing remaining trace amounts of water the oscillatory forces remained present even at high electric field strengths. The research could lead to new applications […]
Light, finely sliced
Nanowerk July 16, 2018 Current technology for polarization beam splitters is limited to extinction ratio of around 25 decibels which is high enough to affect high-speed data transmission. Researchers in Singapore conceptualized design for a three-waveguide device and verified its feasibility on computer simulation. They confirmed its vastly improved extinction ratio of 40 decibel, representing a further 30-fold reduction in polarization crosstalk. The research is a breakthrough in improving high-performance data transmission systems, as well as applications in quantum computing… read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE