Aalto University

Researchers have developed a photovoltaic device that has an external quantum efficiency of 132 percent. This impossible-sounding feat was achieved using nanostructured black silicon, and could represent a major breakthrough for solar cells.

Among other things, hydrophobic (water-repelling) surfaces can be used to keep medical devices germ-free, to help airplane wings shed ice, and to keep solar panels clean. A new process could soon make those surfaces much more durable.

For many cavity-prone people, tooth-brushing often just isn't enough. It was with such folks in mind that a new mouthwash-based system was recently developed, which reportedly uses light to kill problematic bacteria.

Although superglues can be quite useful, they're typically made from harsh chemicals, plus it's very difficult to "unstick" them once they've set. Now, however, scientists have created a plant-based superglue that can easily be removed when needed.

Scientists are getting good results from an eco-friendly waterproof coating made of wax and starch.

A new substance is claimed to combine strength and toughness, by mixing wood fibers with spider silk.

Quantum entanglement is the idea that two distant atoms can become so entwined that changes to one can instantly affect the other. Now scientists have managed to demonstrate it on a much larger scale, which is beginning to cross over into our everyday world.

​You don't need to touch type to become a faster typist, according to new research. Some of the benefits of touch typing date back to mechanical typewriters. But with modern keyboards, which require less force to press keys, typists who use fewer than 10 fingers can be as fast as touch typists.

Ball lightning has been consistently reported for centuries, and yet we still know very little about it. Now, scientists have created quantum ball lightning by knotting together the magnetic spins of atoms, which could help unlock the secrets of the phenomenon, or make more stable fusion reactors.

The next big breakthrough for electronics is likely to be quantum computers, but there are still plenty of hurdles to jump before they become a reality. A team from Aalto University in Finland may have cleared one of those obstacles, developing a “nanorefrigerator” to help cool components down.

We've recently seen attempts at extending smartwatch user interfaces off of the screen, and onto the wearer's body. One of the latest, known as WatchSense, allows users to control a mobile device by moving the fingers of one hand on and above the back of the other.​

​​When it comes to clothing, being both environmentally-conscious and fashionable can be tricky. Old clothes can be given away, of course, but they still ultimately end up in the landfill. That's why scientists have devised a method of essentially "melting down" old clothes to make new material.​