'Ultra-tiny gadgets' make science news headlines

The latest science news headlines to come out of Arizona State University offer an innovative approach to creating "ultra-tiny gadgets" such as sensors for use in the laboratory.

Nongjian Tao, a researcher at the university's Biodesign Institute, has developed a new way to control conductance in individual molecules.

The scientist explains: "Some molecules have unusual electromechanical properties, which are unlike silicon-based materials.

"A molecule can also recognise other molecules via specific interactions."

Putting such quantum characteristics to work can create flexibility in nanoscale design, the researcher adds.

In particular, altering the angle between a pentaphenylene molecule and two gold electrodes alongside it can substantially raise its conductance.

At 90 degrees to the electrodes, maximum conductance was seen in testing, decreasing as the molecule rotated away from the gold nanoparticles.

Other recent science news from the institution includes a discussion of the deep-tissue imaging techniques that promise to revolutionise medicine in the years to come.