What gives gold nanoparticles their color?

In a previous post, Can gold melt at room temperature? Melting temperature depression!, we talked about how the color of gold changes from shiny yellow to dark red when it is shrunk down to the nanoscale. We know that lots of materials have interesting properties when they get that small, but why do gold nanoparticles have …

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

Take a look at your wrist.  Have you ever wonder what makes your watch tick with such precision?  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?  Sounds crazy right?! Well, I promise it’s not crazy!  The …