ScienceJuly 14, 2026
nanowire
/ˈneɪnoʊˌwaɪər/
Definition
A microscopic conductive filament, typically only a few nanometers in diameter, used here as a primary component in highly sensitive photon detection arrays.
Etymology
Derived from the prefix 'nano-' (from Greek 'nanos', meaning dwarf) and the Old English word 'wir' (meaning a slender metal rod or thread). It combines these to describe structures engineered at a scale one-billionth of a meter.
In the news
The article mentions superconducting nanowires as part of the detector array at the Palomar Observatory, which allows the system to capture and decode extremely faint laser signals from deep space.
IEEE study presents operational results from NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communications Project
Read the full article ↗EurekAlert!