AZoNano.com: Operating on a molecular level is no longer just a dream for the future. A newly approved Collaborative Research Centre (SFB) of the Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel is working on “molecular machines”. The project team will design and synthesize molecules and nanometer sized aggregates of molecules that will operate as pumps, rotors, actuators and “intelligent” materials. The German Research Foundation has approved a grant of more than EUR 5.5 million to the SFB 677 “Function by Switching” for its first four years. Spokesman of the project is Professor Rainer Herges (Chair of Organic Chemistry).
The finding that the Saturnian moon may host layers of icy slush instead of a global ocean could change how planetary scientists think about other icy moons as well.
Modeling the shapes of tree branches, neurons, and blood vessels is a thorny problem, but researchers have just discovered that much of the math has already been done.
January 29, 2026 12:52 PM
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