https://phys.org/ en-us Phys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. Whether on a windowpane at home or during the industrial cleaning of computer chips: droplets sliding over solid surfaces become electrically charged. Yet the physical mechanism behind this charging remains a subject of debate. This charging is usually attributed to the exchange of charged particles (ions) at the interface between the droplet and the surface. https://phys.org/news/2026-09-droplets-mechanism-mobile-ions.html Condensed Matter Wed, 16 Sep 2026 14:40:04 EDT news708779461 Fast identification of bacteria is important in health care, food safety, environmental monitoring and infection control. One of the most common first steps is gram classification, which separates bacteria into gram-positive and gram-negative groups. This information can help guide early treatment decisions and safety responses. However, conventional Gram staining requires several chemical steps, trained personnel and manual interpretation. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-robot-bacteria-chemical.html Nanomaterials Sat, 11 Jul 2026 13:00:03 EDT news702724810 A research team in China has reported a significant piezoelectric effect in ultrathin and ultra-flexible polycrystalline diamond membranes. This pioneering discovery challenges a century-long scientific dogma that diamonds are strictly non-piezoelectric. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-piezoelectric-effect-diamond-membranes-century.html Condensed Matter Thu, 21 May 2026 12:20:05 EDT news698578321 Professor Kyungwho Choi's team of the School of Mechanical Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University, in collaboration with Professor Jinsoo Kim's team in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Kyung Hee University, have proposed a strategy that simultaneously overcomes the limitations of conventional hydrogel-based triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs)—namely low output performance, poor mechanical strength, and insufficient transparency—by utilizing biomimetic stevia. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-everyday-sweetener-powerful-transparent-stretchable.html Materials Science Mon, 11 May 2026 11:20:06 EDT news697713363 Two microscopic grains collide and produce a tiny spark. This phenomenon may have provided the energy to kick off life on Earth. But if these solid particles have the same composition, what factor causes the charge to flow in a given direction? In a study published in Nature, physicists from the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) identify the key factor as environmental carbon-based molecules that adhere to the materials' surface. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-colliding-creation-carbon-coated-grains.html Astrobiology Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:00:15 EDT news692980261 Basketball shoes on a gym floor, bicycle brakes in need of a tune-up, or the squeal of tires are everyday examples of squeaking sounds. Such sounds have long been attributed to stick-slip friction, or a cycle of intermittent sticking and sliding between surfaces. While this framework explains many rigid-on-rigid systems such as door hinges, it does not fully capture the physics of soft-on-rigid interfaces, like shoes on a floor. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-physics-sneaker-high-imaging-supersonic.html General Physics Wed, 25 Feb 2026 11:00:12 EST news691161061 Researchers from Guangxi University, China have developed a new gas sensor that detects ammonia with a record speed of 1.4 seconds. The sensor's design mimics the structure of alveoli—the tiny air sacs in human lungs—while relying on a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. The sensor uses a process that is driven by A-droplets, which are tiny water droplets containing a trapped air bubble. These droplets exploit ammonia's affinity for water to rapidly capture NH₃ when it is present. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-ammonia-leaks-seconds-alveoli-droplet.html Analytical Chemistry Wed, 11 Feb 2026 12:00:01 EST news690031091 Nano-sensors that work without batteries or wires could pave the way for more comfortable, less obtrusive sleep and health care monitoring at home, according to scientists at the University of Surrey. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-battery-free-nano-sensors-pave.html Bio & Medicine Thu, 22 Jan 2026 10:11:50 EST news688299061 As they roll across shadowed regions of the moon's surface, future lunar rovers could develop hazardous buildups of electric charge on their wheels. Through new analysis published in Advances in Space Research, Bill Farrell at the Space Science Institute in Colorado, together with Mike Zimmerman at Johns Hopkins University, outline realistic precautions for mitigating this risk—offering valuable guidance for engineers designing future lunar missions. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-buildup-lunar-rover.html Space Exploration Sun, 18 Jan 2026 12:30:01 EST news687615218 Mars, often depicted as a barren red planet, is far from lifeless. With its thin atmosphere and dusty surface, it is an energetic and electrically charged environment where dust storms and dust devils continually reshape the landscape, creating dynamic processes that have intrigued scientists. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-electrifying-science-martian.html Planetary Sciences Thu, 08 Jan 2026 16:26:33 EST news687111961 An international team has discovered a simple and environmentally friendly way to power the next generation of self-charging electronics. The work is published in Nano Energy. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-polymer-beads-generate-electricity-devices.html Nanophysics Fri, 28 Nov 2025 09:15:20 EST news683543702 Scientists have detected what they believe to be lightning on Mars by eavesdropping on the whirling wind recorded by NASA's Perseverance rover. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-scientists-capture-crackling-lightning-mars.html Planetary Sciences Thu, 27 Nov 2025 12:00:04 EST news683386402 On Mars, winds constantly stir up whirlwinds of fine dust. It was at the center of two of these dust devils that the SuperCam instrument's microphone, the first ever to operate on Mars, accidentally recorded particularly strong signals. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-electric-discharges-mars.html Planetary Sciences Wed, 26 Nov 2025 13:14:28 EST news683385241 Researchers at Boise State University have developed a novel, environmentally friendly triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) that is fully printed and capable of harvesting biomechanical and environmental energy while also functioning as a real-time motion sensor. The innovation leverages a composite of Poly (vinyl butyral-co-vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl acetate) (PVBVA) and MXene (Ti3C2Tx) nanosheets, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional TENGs that often rely on fluorinated polymers and complex fabrication. https://phys.org/news/2025-06-mxene-polymer-composite-enables-eco.html Nanomaterials Mon, 16 Jun 2025 17:10:06 EDT news669312601 The behavior of water at hydrophobic interfaces has perplexed scientists for over a century, spanning chemistry, biology, materials science, geology, and engineering. Recent discoveries—such as the anomalous chemistry of water microdroplets and contact electro-catalysis—highlight the pivotal role of interfacial water. https://phys.org/news/2025-03-unfamiliar-familiar-substance-extraordinary-interfacial.html Analytical Chemistry Wed, 19 Mar 2025 17:02:03 EDT news661622521 An international team of researchers has discovered a new method to generate electricity using small plastic beads. By placing these beads close together and bringing them into contact, they generate more electricity than usual. This process, known as triboelectrification, is similar to the static electricity produced when rubbing a balloon against hair. https://phys.org/news/2025-03-scientists-smart-generate-energy-tiny.html Nanophysics Tue, 11 Mar 2025 12:25:03 EDT news660914701 For centuries, static electricity has been the subject of intrigue and scientific investigation. Now, researchers from the Waitukaitis group at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) have uncovered a vital clue to this enduring mystery: the contact history of materials controls how they exchange charge. https://phys.org/news/2025-02-static-electricity-materials-contact-history.html Condensed Matter Wed, 19 Feb 2025 11:00:13 EST news659091661 Zaps of static electricity might be a wintertime annoyance, but to certain scientists, they represent an untapped source of energy. Using a device called a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), mechanical energy can be converted into electrical energy using triboelectric effect static. Many TENGs contain expensive, specially fabricated materials, but one team has instead used inexpensive store-bought tape, plastic and aluminum metal. The researchers report an improved version of their tape-based TENG in ACS Omega. https://phys.org/news/2025-01-generating-electricity-tacky-tape-version.html Nanophysics Thu, 30 Jan 2025 12:38:43 EST news657463120 Anyone who has ever pet a cat or shuffled their feet across the carpet knows that rubbing objects together generates static electricity. But an explanation for this phenomenon has eluded researchers for more than two millennia. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-petting-cat-static-electricity.html Nanophysics Wed, 18 Sep 2024 15:10:27 EDT news645891019 A striking landmark in Vancouver, Canada, "The Big Yellow Sulfur Pile" is a testament to the massive amounts of elemental sulfur produced from the hydrodesulfurization process of petroleum refining. https://phys.org/news/2024-08-petroleum-high-sustainable-triboelectric-nanogenerator.html Polymers Mon, 12 Aug 2024 16:26:04 EDT news642698762 In a study published in Device has reported a new self-powered electrostatic tweezer that offers superior accumulation and tunability of triboelectric charges, enabling unprecedented flexibility and adaptability for manipulating objects in various working scenarios. The research team was led by Dr. Du Xuemin from the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences https://phys.org/news/2024-07-powered-electrostatic-tweezer-microfluidics.html Soft Matter Fri, 26 Jul 2024 13:43:31 EDT news641220201 Researchers have unveiled a pioneering breeze wake-up anemometer (B-WA), employing a rolling-bearing triboelectric nanogenerator (RB-TENG) that provides a new strategy for low-energy consumption environmental monitoring. The ability of the B-WA to operate autonomously and efficiently in varying wind conditions marks a substantial advancement in the field of sustainable environmental monitoring. https://phys.org/news/2024-05-sensor-minimal-power-advanced-weather.html Nanomaterials Wed, 29 May 2024 16:24:26 EDT news636218664 Researchers at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) have created a new kind of triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) that produces electricity through the use of limestone putty, promising considerable cost savings over conventional manufacturing methods. https://phys.org/news/2023-12-limestone-putty-nanogenerator-harvest-energy.html Nanomaterials Mon, 04 Dec 2023 16:42:50 EST news620930568 In a rare collaboration, two scientists, who are brothers working in unrelated disciplines, combined complementary expertise to tackle a chemical problem relating to the use of silicon in electronic devices. https://phys.org/news/2023-11-properties-silicon-hydrogen-deuterium-surface.html Analytical Chemistry Fri, 24 Nov 2023 09:46:03 EST news620041561 The story of Qi Chen's research is full of serendipity. In the first year of her Ph.D., she was hanging out with friends at the University's Zernike campus, discussing the topics of their research. Chen told them she was going to study foam-like materials. A friend was casually peeling the stem of a grass-like plant, thereby revealing its insides that appeared to have an open and airy structure. He suggested jokingly that Chen might want to study it. She put it in her backpack and then forgot all about it. https://phys.org/news/2023-09-self-powered-sensor.html Materials Science Tue, 12 Sep 2023 16:37:23 EDT news613755440 Corrosion causes significant losses to various industries. Cathodic protection is used to protect steel in marine industries. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) converts mechanical energy into electricity based on triboelectrification and electrostatic induction. TENG cathodic protection is in line with the requirements of contemporary low-carbon energy conservation. https://phys.org/news/2023-09-team-sponge-based-triboelectric-nanogenerator-corrosion.html Nanomaterials Tue, 05 Sep 2023 10:34:52 EDT news613128889 Case Western Reserve University researchers are leading the development of a "smart packaging" system to monitor temperature fluctuations, moisture changes and pathogens in perishable food products during transportation. https://phys.org/news/2023-08-team-perishable-food-smart-packaging.html Nanomaterials Mon, 21 Aug 2023 15:49:03 EDT news611851741 Nanoscientists have developed a wearable textile that can convert body movement into useable electricity and even store that energy. The fabric potentially has a wide range of applications from medical monitoring to assisting athletes and their coaches in tracking their performance, as well as smart displays on clothing. https://phys.org/news/2023-06-wearable-textile-captures-energy-body.html Nanomaterials Mon, 05 Jun 2023 15:30:04 EDT news605197802 Controlling mosquito populations, especially in isolated or remote areas, is a global public-health priority. In a new study, a team of Chinese researchers advanced this agenda with a more efficient design of safe, self-powered triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) to zap mosquitos and mitigate the mosquito-borne diseases. https://phys.org/news/2023-05-mosquito-zappers-boost-static-electricity-harvester.html Nanomaterials Wed, 31 May 2023 09:22:18 EDT news604743735 Although many measures are in place to prevent contamination, pollutants such as mercury and lead can still end up in the environment. Sensing them often requires complicated processes, but what if you could detect them with the tap of a fingertip? Researchers reporting in ACS Nano have developed a self-powered nanosensor that can discover small amounts of mercury ions and immediately report the result. https://phys.org/news/2023-02-sensor-mercury-ions.html Bio & Medicine Wed, 22 Feb 2023 16:28:24 EST news596305702