Producing gold nano-particles (and hydrogen) in water without the need for toxic chemicals
In a surprise discovery, Flinders University nanotechnology researchers have produced a range of different types of gold nanoparticles by adjusting water flow in the novel vortex fluidic device—without the need for toxic chemicals. The article, "Na.....»»
Exploring self-healing mechanisms for stable photoelectrochemical water splitting
Achieving stability poses a significant challenge in the practical implementation of photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. The main factors affecting the long-term stability of PEC devices are chemical- and photo-corrosion of the semiconductor.....»»
Strange metal state discovered in hydrogen-rich compound of lanthanum under pressure
Researchers from Skoltech, Jilin University and Beijing HPSTAR in China, and their German colleagues have synthesized and studied a new type of hydrogen-rich superconductor. Technically referred to as an A15-type lanthanum superhydride, with the form.....»»
Water crisis batters war-torn Sudan as temperatures soar
War, climate change and man-made shortages have brought Sudan—a nation already facing a litany of horrors—to the shores of a water crisis......»»
Low snow on the Himalayas threatens water security: Study
Millions of people dependent on Himalayan snowmelt for water face a "very serious" risk of shortages this year after one of the lowest rates of snowfall, scientists warned Monday......»»
Illegal gold mining eats into Peruvian Amazon
On the banks of the Madre de Dios river, dredges work day and night in search of gold, part of a scourge of illegal mining that is slowly devouring the Peruvian Amazon......»»
Apple planning redesigned iPhone, MacBook Pro, and Apple Watch that are significantly thinner
Last month, Apple unveiled its thinnest product ever with the new M4 iPad Pro. Measuring in at 5.1mm, the 13-inch M4 iPro Pro is even thinner than the iPod nano. As it turns out, Apple has plans to give the rest of its product lineups a similar tr.....»»
Novel photocatalyst enables efficient ester reduction with blue light
The sweet smell of strawberries and other fruits is thanks to a chemical compound called ester, which is also found in many fats and polyesters. The ubiquitous compound can be broken down to produce desirable alcohols and other chemicals for use acro.....»»
Physicists confirm quantum entanglement persists between top quarks, the heaviest known fundamental particles
An experiment by a group of physicists led by University of Rochester physics professor Regina Demina has produced a significant result related to quantum entanglement—an effect that Albert Einstein called "spooky action at a distance.".....»»
Upper surface of coastal waters can accumulate bacteria and antibiotics, study finds
Antibiotics in the uppermost water surface, known as the sea surface microlayer, can significantly affect the number of bacteria present and contribute to the adaptation of marine bacteria against widely used antibiotics. In new research presented at.....»»
Remember they said Miami would be under water? A preview of the future
It's like an unspoken social contract. When people choose to live in South Florida, they must make peace with the possibility that, thanks to hurricanes, there will be flooding and they may incur thousands of dollars to fix their homes post storm......»»
Popular Virginia lake being tested after swimmers report E. coli infections and hospitalizations
Environmental officials are testing lake water at a popular recreational destination in central Virginia after at least 20 people reported E. coli infections......»»
Watery planets orbiting dead stars may be good candidates for studying life—if they can survive long enough
The small footprint and dim light of white dwarfs, remnants of stars that have burned through their fuel, may make excellent backdrops for studying planets with enough water to harbor life......»»
Giant deep-sea vent tubeworm symbionts use two carbon fixation pathways to grow at record speeds
In the deep-sea environment of the East Pacific Rise, where sunlight does not penetrate and the surroundings are known for their extreme temperatures, skull-crushing pressures, and toxic compounds, lives Riftia pachyptila, a giant hydrothermal vent t.....»»
Researchers develop new electrochemical biosensor for cancer prognosis
Researchers at Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University report in Biosensors and Bioelectronics: X a novel approach for detecting a particular biomolecule associated with several diseases. The results show good sensitivity and s.....»»
The US is losing wetlands at an accelerating rate—how the private sector can help protect these valuable resources
Wetlands aren't the most eye-catching ecosystems. They include swamps, bogs, fens and other places where soil is covered by water most of the time. But they perform a huge range of valuable services, from soaking up floodwaters to filtering out pollu.....»»
Nanosized blocks spontaneously assemble in water to create tiny floating checkerboards
Researchers have engineered nanosized cubes that spontaneously form a two-dimensional checkerboard pattern when dropped on the surface of water. The work, published in Nature Communications, presents a simple approach to create complex nanostructures.....»»
Rural India runs dry as thirsty megacity Mumbai sucks water
Far from the gleaming high-rises of India's financial capital Mumbai, impoverished villages in areas supplying the megacity's water are running dry—a crisis repeated across the country that experts say foreshadows terrifying problems......»»
Researchers develop piezocatalytically-induced controllable mineralization scaffold with bone-like microenvironment
Inspired by nature, the researchers developed a piezocatalytically-induced controlled mineralization strategy using piezoelectric polymer poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) fibers with ordered micro-nano structures to prepare biomimetic tissue engineering sca.....»»
Western agricultural communities need water conservation strategies to adapt to future shortages
The Western U.S. is heavily reliant on mountain snowpacks and their gradual melt for water storage and supply, and climate change is expected to upend the reliability of this natural process. Many agricultural communities in this part of the country.....»»
A route to scalable Majorana qubits
Researchers at QuTech have found a way to make Majorana particles in a two-dimensional plane. This was achieved by creating devices that exploit the combined material properties of superconductors and semiconductors. The inherent flexibility of this.....»»