Metallic complexes made from cyclic molecules
In polymetallic complexes, two or more metal atoms combine with organic molecules into larger, complicated molecular structures. Such complexes are used in the development of e.g. new catalysts, molecular magnets and sensors. In the past, polymetalli.....»»
Space company develops centrifuge to test impact of gravity on crystalline-structured drug molecules
Kanjakha Pal and Adrian Radocea, a pair of engineers at Varda Space Industries, a company working to develop space-based drug facilities, has developed a centrifuge-based device to test the impact of gravity on crystalline-structured drug molecules a.....»»
How to upcycle low-energy light: A new design for highly efficient conversion materials
To combine two low-energy photons into one high-energy photon efficiently, the energy must be able to hop freely, but not too quickly, between randomly oriented molecules of a solid. This Kobe University discovery provides a much-needed design guidel.....»»
Webb finds ethanol and other icy ingredients for new worlds
An international team of astronomers using the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope have discovered a variety of molecules, ranging from relatively simple ones like methane to complex compounds like acetic acid and ethanol, in early-stage protosta.....»»
Video: Complex chemistry in the cold depths of space
For years, scientists thought some complex molecules could only be formed on Earth......»»
Scientists develop deep learning method to design bilin-binding proteins
David Baker's group at the University of Washington, Seattle, U.S., have developed a novel deep learning method, RoseTTAFold All-Atom (RFAA), for prediction and design of complexes of proteins, small molecules, and nucleic acids. Subsequently, they d.....»»
Quantum-mechanical "molecules" spotted in superconducting devices
Electronic states that resemble molecules and are promising for use in future quantum computers have been created in superconducting circuits by physicists at RIKEN......»»
New biology unveiled for fundamental cellular machinery
Cellular communication relies on receptor molecules on the cell surface. The periodic uptake and sorting of these receptors, critical for their degradation or recycling, are governed by an elaborate machinery prominently featuring the Commander compl.....»»
Saturn"s moon is a testing ground to gain a better understanding of the methane molecule
Titan is the second-largest moon in the solar system and the only one with a dense atmosphere. At the top of this atmosphere, rich in nitrogen and methane, the sun's radiation produces a great diversity of organic molecules, some of which we also fin.....»»
Optically trapped quantum droplets of light can bind together to form macroscopic complexes
Condensed matter systems and photonic technologies are regularly used by researchers to create microscale platforms that can simulate the complex dynamics of many interacting quantum particles in a more accessible setting. Some examples include ultra.....»»
Ultraviolet spectroscopy: A leap in precision and accuracy at extremely low light levels
Ultraviolet spectroscopy plays a critical role in the study of electronic transitions in atoms and rovibronic transitions in molecules. These studies are essential for tests of fundamental physics, quantum-electrodynamics theory, determination of fun.....»»
Scientists use a new type of nanoparticle that can both deliver vaccines and act as an adjuvant
Many vaccines, including vaccines for hepatitis B and whooping cough, consist of fragments of viral or bacterial proteins. These vaccines often include other molecules called adjuvants, which help to boost the immune system's response to the protein......»»
Chemists break barriers and open up super-resolution molecule mass analysis
A team of chemists led by Prof. Albert Heck puts a new spin on analyzing and understanding molecules. By ingeniously improving current measuring equipment, the team was able to trap and observe individual molecules for a much longer period—up to 25.....»»
Weird electron behavior gets even weirder: Charge fractionalization observed spectroscopically
A research team led by the Paul Scherrer Institute has spectroscopically observed the fractionalization of electronic charge in an iron-based metallic ferromagnet. Experimental observation of the phenomenon is not only of fundamental importance. Sinc.....»»
Research team develops protein-based microcapsule for point-of-care diagnostics
Aptamers, the nucleic acid-based biosensors with the ability to bind specific proteins or small molecules, offer a way to identify target molecules without the complexity of analytical apparatuses. While being increasingly used in diagnostic applicat.....»»
Novel RNA- or DNA-based substances can protect plants from viruses, scientists show
Individually tailored RNA or DNA-based molecules are able to reliably fight off viral infections in plants, according to a new study by the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences......»»
How molecular "handedness" emerged in early biology
Molecules often have a structural asymmetry called chirality, which means they can appear in alternative, mirror-image versions akin to the left and right versions of human hands. One of the great mysteries about the origins of life on Earth is that.....»»
Light stimulates a new twist for synthetic chemistry
Molecules that are induced by light to rotate bulky groups around central bonds could be developed into photo-activated bioactive systems, molecular switches, and more......»»
Trapping and excitation of the simplest molecule: Precise measurement matches theoretical predictions
The simplest possible molecule H2+ was one of the very first molecules to form in the cosmos. This makes it significant for astrophysics, but also an important object of research for fundamental physics. However, it is difficult to study in experimen.....»»
Diamonds are a chip"s best friend: Research determines spin-orbit effects on exciton complexes
Besides being "a girl's best friend," diamonds have broad industrial applications, such as in solid-state electronics. New technologies aim to produce high-purity synthetic crystals that become excellent semiconductors when doped with impurities as e.....»»
New molecules, inspired by space shuttles, advance lipid nanoparticle delivery for weight control
Inspired by the design of space shuttles, Penn Engineering researchers have invented a new way to synthesize a key component of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), the revolutionary delivery vehicle for mRNA treatments including the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moder.....»»