Quantum Dots and Lipid Rafts: Analytical Chemistry Solves a Nanoscale Mystery

Remember all those great Black Friday deals on QLED televisions? You may not realize it, but they were all about nanotechnology! The Q in QLED stands for quantum dots, which are not only being used to enhance the displays of TVs, but also are used in solar cells, medical imaging, and sensing.1-3 However, the disposal …

How Natural Organic Matter May Change How Nanoparticles Affect Bacteria

Almost 4 years ago now (wow I’m getting old) I wrote a blog post about the Invisible Remnants of Dead Stuff Hiding in the Water called natural organic matter, or NOM. Well, some colleagues and I recently published a new paper entitled ā€œNatural organic matter concentration impacts the interaction of functionalized diamond nanoparticles with model …

Game Day Green: Sustainability in College Football

Camp Randall

If you’re anything like me, the holiday season is a time for relaxation, family, food, and of course football! If you turned on the television during the New Year’s Day weekend, I’m sure you found yourself with a choice of many different college football games to watch. Personally, I tuned in to watch the University …

The Atomic Force Microscope – Probing to ā€œSeeā€ at the Nanoscale

Take a look around – do you see a surface that looks a little bumpy?Ā  Now close your eyes, reach out your hand, and feel that surface. Got an idea of what it feels like? Great! Now, could you use what you’ve learned with your sense of touch to draw a picture of this bumpy …

One of the Most Sensitive Balances on the Planet – Quartz Crystal Microbalance

Take a look at your wrist.Ā  Have you ever wonder what makes your watch tick with such precision?Ā  What if I told you the same technology that causes your watch to work is also key to one of the most sensitive balances on the planet?Ā  Sounds crazy right?! Well, I promise it’s not crazy!Ā  The …

Kids Learn About Nanodiamonds and I Learn About Kids

ā€œHey do you guys want to see some fluorescent nanodiamond water?!ā€ I eagerly yelled out as two little boys walked by. Honestly, they probably had no idea what I was talking about, but they still excitedly wandered over. I handed them an ultraviolet flashlight and encouraged them to take a look underneath the black drape …