Sponges, not just their microbes, make biologically potent compounds
Soft and immobile, sea sponges may appear inert, but these simple animals are rich with chemistry. From them, scientists have uncovered plenty of biologically active compounds, some of which have gone on to become medications. All of these small mole.....»»
Synthesis of nanoparticles by microorganisms: Exploring the green power of fungi
They are used as medicines, drug carriers and to combat microbes in hospitals, destroy plant pathogens and reduce the amount of traditional fertilizers used in agriculture—nanoparticles are taking over medicine and the agri-food industry......»»
Optimizing carbonate classification on Mars
The Perseverance rover, successfully deployed to Jezero crater on Mars in 2021, has many jobs as it bumps along the planet's surface. These jobs include sampling organic compounds in rock and sediment to look for the building blocks of life......»»
Extending the playing field for organosulfur: A new way to synthesize sulfonate esters
Organosulfur compounds are organic molecules that contain one or more sulfur atoms bonded to carbon atoms. They not only play fundamental roles in biological processes but also have wide applications in many industries, such as pharmaceuticals, agroc.....»»
Genetic tools probe microbial dark matter
Patescibacteria are a group of puzzling, tiny microbes whose manner of staying alive has been difficult to fathom. Scientists can cultivate only a few types, yet these bacteria are a diverse group found in many environments......»»
Methane emissions in LA are decreasing more slowly than previously estimated
Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, 80 times more potent at warming the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. In 2014, a California law required statewide methane emissions to be cut by 40% by 2030 from 2013 levels. Currently, the local natural gas utili.....»»
Rubber plumbing seals can leak additives into drinking water, study says
As drinking water flows through pipes and into a glass, it runs against the rubber seals inside some plumbing devices. These parts contain additives that contribute to their flexibility and durability, but these potentially harmful compounds can leak.....»»
Measuring and predicting collision cross section values for unknown compounds
Researchers at Auburn University are seeking ways to identify unknown compounds using collision cross section (CCS) measurements paired with prediction methods including computational models and machine learning. Their study in the Journal of Mass Sp.....»»
Scientists synthesize new organometallic "sandwich" compound capable of holding more electrons
Organometallic compounds, molecules made up of metal atoms and organic molecules, are often used to accelerate chemical reactions and have played a significant role in advancing the field of chemistry......»»
Chemical engineers draft a roadmap for research into metallic "sponges" for clean hydrogen
Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) could deliver a major efficiency boost to the photocatalytic production of clean hydrogen. Chemical engineers have drafted a comprehensive overview of the state of their field and a plan for where it needs to focus......»»
Spelt or common wheat? Their diversity of nutritional components prevents identification of which species is healthier
After comparing 90 varieties of spelt with 9 varieties of modern, common wheat, a study by the UCO concluded that the marked heterogeneity characterizing the nutritional compounds of the different varieties makes it impossible to state that one speci.....»»
Newly-engineered versions of bacterial enzyme reveal how antibiotics could be more potent
Modern medicine depends on antibiotics to treat infections by disabling targets inside bacterial cells. Once inside these cells, antibiotics bind to certain sites on specific enzyme targets to stop bacterial growth. Randomly occurring changes (mutati.....»»
Drought stress found to alter the function of rainforest soil
Prolonged drought has a significant impact on the extent to which rainforest soils can emit and consume biogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This was the finding of an international research team, including scientists from University of Freibu.....»»
Researchers discover tin hydride with properties of strange metal
Scientists from Skoltech, the Shubnikov Institute of Crystallography, and the Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research (HPSTAR) in Beijing, China, are exploring the superconductivity of polyhydrides—compounds of metals and.....»»
What makes Idalia so potent? It"s feeding on intensely warm water that acts like rocket fuel
Feeding on some of the hottest water on the planet, Hurricane Idalia is rapidly strengthening as it bears down on Florida and the rest of the Gulf Coast. It's been happening a lot lately......»»
Study: Wnt signaling pathway inhibitor promotes mesenchymal stem cell differentiation into cardiac progenitor cells
Cardiovascular diseases, particularly myocardial infarction (MI), are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity around the globe. Because cardiac tissue possesses very limited regeneration potential, use of a potent small molecule, inhibitor Wnt p.....»»
Research team leverages power of ribosomes to develop chemical libraries
A research team led by University of California, Irvine scientists has developed an innovative method for quickly and efficiently creating vast collections of chemical compounds used in drug discovery by harnessing the power of ribosomes, the molecul.....»»
Whale shark health relies on habitat, diet—and the right mix of microbes
Loss of habitat and human activities such as fishing and shipping pose a grave threat to wildlife but diseases driven by the smallest organisms in the ocean are a less understood side of marine conservation......»»
Can soil microbes survive in a changing climate?
Organisms across the globe are facing unprecedented levels of stress from climate change, habitat destruction, and many other human-driven changes to the environment. Predicting and mitigating the effects of this increasing stress on organisms, and t.....»»
Electrochemical flow aziridination of terpenes
Due to the inherent physiological properties of nitrogen-containing heterocyclic moieties, the construction of nitrogen-containing compounds has emerged as one of the central issues in contemporary synthetic chemistry over recent decades. Among these.....»»
Mapping methane emissions from rivers around globe reveals surprising sources
Freshwater ecosystems account for half of global emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. Rivers and streams, especially, are thought to emit a substantial amount of that methane, but the rates and patterns of.....»»