The atomic force microscope (AFM) is used by scientists to resolve features as small as individual atoms. Instead of magnifying with a lens, AFMs use a flexible cantilever with a tiny tip to 'feel' the surface. As a nanoscale feature is passed, interactions between the atoms on the tip and on the object's surface cause the cantilever to...

As part of the wider attempts to create smaller batteries that can be recharged for longer and which offer more power, researchers at the University of Cambridge, along with a team from the Beijing Institute of Technology, have developed what is described as a 'novel multifunctional sulphur electrode'.The device, which combines an energ...

Engineering related research and education charity Lloyd's Register Foundation has offered a conditional grant of £10million over five years to support research by the Alan Turing Institute into the engineering applications of big data. The offer, subject to specific areas of research being finalised, follows the Foundation's Foresigh...

Nanoelectronics research centre imec, in partnership with Ghent University, has developed an integrated graphene optical electro absorption modulator (EAM) capable of modulating at 10Gbit/s. According to the organisation, this is an important milestone in the development of high density, low power integrated optical interconnects. Imec'...

Researchers from IMDEA Nanoscience, the Autonomous University of Madrid, the Madrid Institute of Materials Science (CSIC) and the University of the Basque Country have used lead atoms and graphene to create a powerful magnetic field. The team believes this could have application in spintronics. The scientists laid a layer of lead on anothe...

Despite economic growth running at 3% the UK electronic components market remains tough. The core industrial markets, where the majority of purchasers of electronics components in the UK operate, started to show signs of recovery in the second quarter of 2014, only for that recovery to be overshadowed by weakness in Europe."The past twelve...

FPGAs are becoming an increasingly important tool in the electronics designer's armoury. But while the devices are being applied in a wide range of markets, there is a suspicion that FPGA skills across UK industry may not be matched to the application needs.In order to find out more about how FPGAs are used, as well as the associated challe...

A systems engineering framework developed by the EU funded ADVANCE programme is said to have the potential to 'revolutionise' the design, verification and validation of complex cyber physical systems. The ADVANCE toolset upgrades the existing Rodin platform by adding more powerful and innovative verification and simulation capabili...

Molex has made what it calls a strategic investment in NuCurrent, a US based developer of wireless power antenna technology. "NuCurrent's wireless power antenna capabilities dovetail with our business strategy of helping customers bring pioneering products to market," said Lily Yeung, director of business development for Mole...

A novel type of 'smart' textile that turns garments into active motion sensors has been developed by Cambridge Consultants. Acccording to the company, XelfleX features a fibre optic thread which acts as a sensor. "Our aim was to create wearables that people actually want to wear," said XelfleX inventor Martin Brock. "...