New calcium material functions as an ammonia synthesis catalyst
Researchers find calcium outshines chromium in the catalytic production of ammonia. Working together, a humble trio of calcium atoms have defied expectations to break apart one of the strongest chemical bonds known. The atoms form the key part of a c.....»»
Oceanic life found to be thriving thanks to Saharan dust blown from thousands of kilometers away
Iron is a micronutrient indispensable for life, enabling processes such as respiration, photosynthesis, and DNA synthesis. Iron availability is often a limiting resource in today's oceans, which means that increasing the flow of iron into them can in.....»»
Independent origins of frog glue and its role in predator evasion
Skin-secreted adhesives, or glues, are highly effective defense adaptations that have evolved recurrently in a small number of amphibians. From an ecological standpoint, this rapidly solidifying material—essentially, a sticky slime—encumbers the.....»»
Bioengineers create new substrate to study wood-decomposing enzyme
Researchers want to transform the natural and abundant resource wood into useful materials, and central to that is a molecular machine found in fungi that decomposes the complex raw material into its basic components......»»
Landmark AI deal sees Hollywood giant Lionsgate provide library for AI training
Runway deal will create a Lionsgate AI video generator, but not everyone is happy. Enlarge (credit: Benj Edwards / Malte Mueller via Getty Images) On Wednesday, AI video synthesis firm Runway and entertainment company Li.....»»
Reinventing the clock: NASA"s new tech for space timekeeping
Here on Earth, it might not matter if your wristwatch runs a few seconds slow. But crucial spacecraft functions need accuracy down to one billionth of a second or less. Navigating with GPS, for example, relies on precise timing signals from satellite.....»»
Template synthesis creates multilayered perovskites with unique ferroelectric behavior
A group of Nagoya University researchers in Japan has synthesized 4- and 5-layered versions of the important electrical material perovskite. Analyzing the mechanism of ferroelectricity in the material, they found it has a unique function: the materia.....»»
Scientists find new epigenetic switch, revealing how genes are regulated in early development
The team of Professor Christof Niehrs at the Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) in Mainz, Germany, has discovered that a DNA modification called 5-formylcytosine (5fC) functions as an activating epigenetic switch that kick-starts genes in early emb.....»»
Tiny robots and AI algorithms could help to craft material solutions for cleaner environments
Many human activities release pollutants into the air, water and soil. These harmful chemicals threaten the health of both people and the ecosystem. According to the World Health Organization, air pollution causes an estimated 4.2 million deaths annu.....»»
Greener pastures: Better ammonia production for a more sustainable future
Energy demands are at an all-time high, as is the need to be environmentally conscious. That's why chemical engineering professors Drs. Joseph Kwon and Mark Barteau have developed a strategy to predict the performance of new catalysts for greener amm.....»»
Scientists decipher the energy patterns in our cells
Our cells harness energy for essential functions such as division, wound healing, and our immune response to diseases including cancer. But until now, the mechanics of how that energy affects cell behavior—and how this relates to health outcomes—.....»»
Study sheds light on trade-off between noise and power in nanoscale heat engines
Thanks to nanoscale devices as small as human cells, researchers can create groundbreaking material properties, leading to smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient electronics. However, to fully unlock the potential of nanotechnology, addressing no.....»»
Printed engines propel the next industrial revolution
In the fall of 2023, NASA hot fire tested an aluminum 3D printed rocket engine nozzle. Aluminum is not typically used for 3D printing because the process causes it to crack, and its low melting point makes it a challenging material for rocket engines.....»»
Multifunctional phosphor developed for white LED lighting and optical thermometry
In the realm of lighting and temperature measurement, advancements in material science are paving the way for significant improvements in technology and safety. Traditional methods, which combine yellow phosphors with blue chips in LEDs, have limitat.....»»
Evidence of “snowball Earth” found in ancient rocks
An outcrop in Scotland has material from when the Earth went into a deep freeze. Enlarge / Artist's conception of the state of the Earth during its global glaciations. (credit: NASA) Earth has gone through many geologic.....»»
Enzyme-inspired catalyst puts chemicals in right position to make ethers
Taking inspiration from enzymes, chemists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign developed a catalyst to simplify the synthesis of ethers, key functional components of many drugs, foods, personal care items and other consumer goods. The catal.....»»
Researchers solve long-standing mystery of alumina surface structure
Aluminum oxide (Al2O3), also known as alumina, corundum, sapphire, or ruby, is one of the best insulators used in a wide range of applications: in electronic components, as a support material for catalysts, or as a chemically resistant ceramic, to na.....»»
Catalyzing environmental cleanup: A highly active and selective molecular catalyst and electrified membrane
Some chemicals create environmental problems; others, fortunately, can help clean them up. Chemists from Yale University and their colleagues have developed an electrochemical catalyst and membrane that offers an efficient and sustainable way to trea.....»»
New findings in a decade-long study of enzyme catalysis
Synthetic chemistry provides an essential material basis for our clothing, food, housing, transportation, and medicine and is an important driving force for economic development. However, traditional chemical synthesis has bottleneck problems such as.....»»
Denso goes workerless under new factory concept for Toyota Group
Denso's new ¥69 billion ($482.9 million) workerless plant will make advanced on-board computers that bundle together control of multiple functions in the car, accelerating the transition of Toyota's top supplier into a software-driven mobility compa.....»»
Chromium doping enhances catalyst performance for faster oxygen evolution
A group of researchers has made significant progress in developing cost-effective catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), a critical component in technologies such as water splitting and metal-air batteries......»»