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A research group at the International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA) of NIMS discovered an intriguing phenomenon in which an inorganic layered crystal expanded and contracted by 100 times its original size in a few seconds in an aqueous solution, displaying a behavior similar to a living cell.

Read more of the article entitled 'Discovery of New Gigantic Swelling Phenomenon of Layered Crystal Driven by Water'

The NIMS Global Research Center for Environment and Energy based on Nanomaterials Science (GREEN) and Tokyo Metropolitan University have measured the volumetric expansion of single particles of silicon accompanying the charging reaction. This finding demonstrated the importance of electrode design from the viewpoint of volumetric energy density.

Read more of the article entitled 'Success in Observation of Swelling of Single-Particle of Silicon Electrode for Lithium Ion Batteries during Charging Reaction'

Tsukuba, Japan 26 April - Nanoparticles are used in many commercial products catalysts to cosmetics. A review published today in the Science and Technology of Advanced Materials by researchers in Sweden and Spain describes recent work on the 3 main nanoparticles used in photocatalytic, UV-blocking and sunscreens.

Read more of the article entitled 'Optimizing nanoparticles for commercial applications'

Tsukuba, Japan & Los Angeles, Ca. 12 April - A new study by researchers at UCLA suggests that the elasticity of the physical matrix used for growing heart muscle cells outside of the body may be critical to the success of cardiac tissue engineering. The results were published in the journal Science and Technology of Advanced Materials this week.

Read more of the article entitled 'Rigid growth matrix: a key to success of cardiac tissue engineering'

A research group at NIMS International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA) have succeeded in developing a gel material which is capable of releasing drugs in response to pressure applied by the patient.

Read more of the article entitled 'Novel Drug Delivery System Releases Drugs in Response to Compression by the Patient’s Hand'