An ultrathin coating for electronics looked like a miracle insulator − but a hidden leak fooled researchers for over a decade

A new study investigated the source of a leak in a ‘miracle measurement’ from 2010 – and engineers found a potential solution.

By: Mahesh Nepal, Binghamton University, State University of New York, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: January 19, 2026

Words: 1,431

Last Updated: 2 months ago

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By Mahesh Nepal, Binghamton University, State University of New York

When your winter jacket slows heat escaping your body or the cardboard sleeve on your coffee keeps heat from reaching your hand, you’re seeing insulation in action. In both cases, the idea is the same: keep heat from flowing where you don’t want it. But this physics principle isn’t limited to heat.

Electronics use it too, but with electricity. An electrical insulator stops current from …

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