Engineered nanoparticles start up a conversation

An illustration of some gold nanoparticles

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Communicating particles a step towards co-operative behaviour 

Two-way molecular communication, analogous to the chemical signalling used by plants and animals to control their bodies and communicate with other organisms, has been demonstrated between inorganic nanoparticles by researchers in Spain. The research is a step towards producing co-operative nanoparticles, which could be useful in multiple areas of science and medicine.