How do you destroy a forever chemical?
3M offers $10.3 billion settlement over PFAS contamination in water systems. What's next? Enlarge (credit: Andrew Brookes) PFAS chemicals seemed like a good idea at first. As Teflon, they made pots easier to clean starti.....»»
Solar electric propulsion systems could be just what we need for efficient trips to Mars
There are many different ways to get to Mars, but there are always tradeoffs. Chemical propulsion, proven the most popular, can quickly get a spacecraft to the red planet. But they come at a high cost of bringing their fuel, thereby increasing the mi.....»»
Core-shell "chemical looping" boosts efficiency of greener approach to ethylene production
Ethylene is sometimes called the most important chemical in the petrochemical industry because it serves as the feedstock for a huge range of everyday products. It's used to produce antifreeze, vinyl, synthetic rubber, foam insulation, and plastics o.....»»
Venus" atmospheric chemical anomalies may motivate future astrobiology missions
When scientists detected phosphine in Venus' atmosphere in 2020, it triggered renewed, animated discussions about Venus and its potential habitability. It would be weird if the detection didn't generate interest since phosphine is a potential biomark.....»»
Scientists discover how ultraviolet light degrades coronavirus
New research has revealed how light can be used to destroy infectious coronavirus particles that contaminate surfaces. Scientists are interested in how environments, such as surgeries, can be thoroughly disinfected from viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 tha.....»»
Novel chemical recycling system for vinyl polymers of cyclic styrene derivatives
Chemical recycling of widely used vinyl polymers (VPs) is one of the key technologies required for realizing a sustainable society. In this regard, a team of researchers from Shinshu University have recently reported a new chemical process that facil.....»»
Transmitting a domino reaction using redox chemistry achieved for the first time
Domino reactions occur when the transformation of one chemical group stimulates the reaction of another attached group, or another molecule, leading to a rapid knock-on effect through the system like a row of falling dominoes. Researchers at Hokkaido.....»»
Creating novel amino acid nanoparticles with enhanced anticancer activity
Amino acids, such as tyrosine and tryptophan, are the fundamental building blocks that make up proteins. These biomolecules have different chemical groups on each end and side chain, and so, have the natural ability to form a chain through the format.....»»
A computer vision and machine learning system that monitors and controls workup processes
A team of chemists and engineers at the University of British Columba working with colleagues at pharmaceutical company Pfizer has developed a chemical processing system combining computer vision with a real-time machine-learning monitoring system fo.....»»
Research team combines two catalysts to make common chemical production safer, more environmentally friendly
The chemical industry has long been shadowed by unwelcome images of billowing smokestacks and pipes discharging toxic effluent. Modern manufacturing practices have done much to mitigate the industry's environmental impact, but there remains room for.....»»
Size and shape of inhaled asbestos nanofibers may be exclusively responsible for pulmonary fibrosis
The pathogenic potential of inhaling the inert fibrous nanomaterials used in thermal insulation (such as asbestos or fiberglass) is actually connected not to their chemical composition, but instead to their geometrical characteristics and size. The r.....»»
Pollution-tracking citizen science project offers New York students a breath of fresh air
Climate change is one of the biggest issues of the 21st century, a crisis that affects the fate of the entire world as well as our place in it. A warming Earth will destroy ecosystems, flood cities, and lead to countless suffering and death for peopl.....»»
High levels of mercury traced to particular cell types in brains of mammals
Exposure to mercury (Hg) is extremely neurotoxic in most chemical forms. Even scientists who study mercury compounds are at risk due to potential exposure to Hg. Renowned physicist Michael Faraday suffered from Hg poisoning due to prolonged exposure.....»»
Using electricity, scientists find promising new method of boosting chemical reactions
As the world moves away from gas towards electricity as a greener power source, the to-do list goes beyond cars. The vast global manufacturing network that makes everything from our batteries to our fertilizers needs to flip the switch, too......»»
Novel approach uses ionic liquids for diverse aptamer applications
Aptamers, nucleic acids capable of selectively binding to viruses, proteins, ions, small molecules, and various other targets, are garnering attention in drug development as potential antibody substitutes for their thermal and chemical stability as w.....»»
Powerful earthquakes leave at least 55 dead, destroy buildings along Japan"s western coast
A series of powerful earthquakes that hit western Japan have left at least 55 people dead and damaged thousands of buildings, vehicles and boats. Officials warned Tuesday that more quakes could lie ahead......»»
Powerful earthquakes leave at least 48 dead, destroy buildings along Japan"s western coast
A series of powerful earthquakes that hit western Japan have left at least 48 people dead and damaged thousands of buildings, vehicles and boats. Officials warned that more quakes could lie ahead......»»
Scientists discover new method for generating metal nanoparticles to use as catalysts
A team of researchers from the ITACA Institute of the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) and the Research Institute of Chemical Technology, a joint center of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the UPV, has discovered a new meth.....»»
A carbon-lite atmosphere could be a sign of water and life on other terrestrial planets, study finds
Scientists at MIT, the University of Birmingham, and elsewhere say that astronomers' best chance of finding liquid water, and even life on other planets, is to look for the absence, rather than the presence, of a chemical feature in their atmospheres.....»»
Light measurement enables estimation of the chemical attributes of spice extracts
Spices and other plant-derived products contain many active components, such as polyphenols and flavonoids. However, even the slightest variations in conditions can considerably affect the extraction efficiency of these active components, posing chal.....»»
Strategies for environmentally friendly and sustainable polyamide production
Global industries focused on carbon neutrality, under the slogan Net-Zero, are gaining increasing attention. In particular, research on the microbial production of polymers, replacing traditional chemical methods with biological approaches, is active.....»»