Chemists develop reaction cascade to produce fluorinated molecules
Fluorine is rarely found in naturally occurring organic molecules. However, this chemical element is indispensable for the production of pharmaceuticals or agrochemicals. Synthetic chemistry has an important role to play in the development of new flu.....»»
Graphene oxide and chitosan sponge found to be ten times more efficient at removing gold from e-waste
A team of chemists and materials scientists at the National University of Singapore, working with colleagues from Manchester University, in the U.K., and Guangdong University of Technology, in China, has developed a type of sponge made of graphene ox.....»»
A new spectroscopy method reveals water"s quantum secrets
For the first time, EPFL researchers have exclusively observed molecules participating in hydrogen bonds in liquid water, measuring electronic and nuclear quantum effects that were previously accessible only via theoretical simulations......»»
Synthesis method improves catalytic activity by controlling the surface structure of metal particles
Fine-tuning the reactions that produce hydrogen (H2) for use as a clean fuel is an important endeavor to fight against climate change. Researchers at Tohoku University and the Tokyo University of Science have succeeded in improving the catalytic acti.....»»
Chemists develop a metal-free way to selectively convert symmetrical diols into one of two mirror-image isomers
A team of chemists at the University of Cambridge has developed a metal-free way to convert symmetrical diols selectively into one of two mirror-image isomers. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group took advantage of the ability o.....»»
Research on how gut bacteria breaks down dietary fiber could lead to helpful new probiotics
There are trillions of bacteria in the human gut microbiome. When we eat fruits and vegetables, some of these bacteria break down the dietary fiber and provide us with metabolites, small molecules our body can use for energy or cell repair......»»
Newly developed methodology breaks molecular symmetry to back one theory about life"s origin
The vast majority of organic molecules (based on a carbon structure) are not flat, but have a three-dimensional geometry. Various results can be obtained depending on the way the atoms are arranged inside each molecule. In some cases, a molecule and.....»»
Compost produced from organic solid waste could replace 21% of industrial fertilizers in urban agriculture
The organic solid waste that citizens deposit in brown recycling bins could currently produce the amount of compost needed to satisfy 8% of the nutrients demanded by urban and peri-urban agriculture, reducing environmental impacts such as soil eutrop.....»»
Through the looking glass: A cross-chiral reaction challenges our definition of life
Just like your left and right hand exist as mirror images of each other, many biological molecules have their own form of left- and right-handedness, called chirality. Our DNA, for example, is made of right-handed chiral molecules which combine to fo.....»»
Trump says he"ll make interest on car loans tax deductible for vehicles made in U.S.
Trump has not specified if the tax breaks would be available to many foreign-owned automakers who produce millions of vehicles in the U.S., including Volkswagen Group, Toyota and Hyundai......»»
Tesla, Warner Bros. sued for using AI ripoff of iconic Blade Runner imagery
"That movie sucks," Elon Musk said in response to the lawsuit. Elon Musk may have personally used AI to rip off a Blade Runner 2049 image for a Tesla cybercab event after produce.....»»
X-ray spectroscopy study maps ultrafast charge delocalization in aqueous environments
The movement of electron density is a subject of interest for chemists worldwide, as substances interact through electrons. These processes are ultrafast and traditionally require time-resolved experiments at the attosecond level to study and describ.....»»
Amorphous nanosheets created using hard-to-synthesize metal oxides and oxyhydroxides
Researchers at Nagoya University in Japan have addressed a significant challenge in nanosheet technology. Their innovative approach employs surfactants to produce amorphous nanosheets from various materials, including difficult-to-synthesize ultra-th.....»»
Creating a simplified form of life: Scientists build modules for a synthetic cell
It is one of the most fundamental questions in science: how can lifeless molecules come together to form a living cell? Bert Poolman, Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Groningen, has been working on this problem for over 20 years. He aim.....»»
Q&A: Experts discuss the beaver, a controversial mammal
When an endangered species succeeds in repopulating its former habitat, the immediate reaction is one of joy. In the long term, however, its spread is often associated with conflict. One example is the beaver, a keystone species. Other keystone speci.....»»
How to spot AI deepfakes that spread election misinformation
Generative AI systems, such as ChatGPT, are trained on large datasets to create written, visual or audio content in response to prompts. When fed real images, some algorithms can produce fake photos and videos known as deepfakes......»»
Single-molecule imaging reveals aberrant DNA-binding dynamics of cancer-linked chromatin remodelers
Biophysical chemists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have uncovered a previously hidden landscape that governs the intracellular organization and dynamics of SWI/SNF chromatin remodelers, an important class of protein complexes that c.....»»
New fabrication strategy enhances graphene aerogel sensitivity and durability for human-machine interfaces
In recent years, researchers have synthesized various new materials that could be used to develop more advanced robotic systems, devices and human-machine interfaces. These materials include graphene aerogels, ultralight, porous and graphene-based ma.....»»
New benchmark helps solve the hardest quantum problems
From subatomic particles to complex molecules, quantum systems hold the key to understanding how the universe works. But there's a catch: when you try to model these systems, that complexity quickly spirals out of control—just imagine trying to pre.....»»
"Old" star could provide new insights into star evolution
A newly discovered star could challenge some models of how stars evolve and the way they produce elements as they age......»»
La Nina could soon arrive. Here"s what that means for winter weather
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center says there is a 60% chance that a weak La Niña event will develop this autumn and could last until March......»»