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.....»»
Microplastic pollution: New device uses wood dust to trap up to 99.9% of microplastics in water
Could plants be the answer to the looming threat of microplastic pollution? Scientists at UBC's BioProducts Institute found that if you add tannins—natural plant compounds that make your mouth pucker if you bite into an unripe fruit—to a layer of.....»»
What makes those pandemic-era sourdoughs so deliciously, uniquely, sour?
A few years ago, amid lockdown boredom, it seemed like everyone was perfecting their sourdoughs. A simple, fermented mixture of flour and water, the bread is powered by microbes that provide its one-of-a-kind tangy flavor. For over a hundred years, s.....»»
Scientists pinpoint the microbes essential to making traditional mozzarella
Mozzarella is far more than just a pizza topping. A unique Italian cheese, buffalo mozzarella from Campania has been recognized as a delicacy and protected under EU law for nearly 30 years. But what makes this mozzarella so special? The ingredients a.....»»
Scientists develop efficient spray technique for bioactive materials
Rutgers University scientists have devised a highly accurate method for creating coatings of biologically active materials for a variety of medical products. Such a technique could pave the way for a new era of transdermal medication, including shot-.....»»
Microbe-stuffed soil crusts menaced by climate change
Using a novel method to detect microbial activity in biological soil crusts, or biocrusts, after they are wetted, a Penn State–led research team in a new study uncovered clues that will lead to a better understanding of the role microbes play in fo.....»»
Chemical contamination on International Space Station is out of this world, study shows
Concentrations of potentially harmful chemical compounds in dust collected from air filtration systems on the International Space Station (ISS) exceed those found in floor dust from many American homes, a new study reveals......»»
Current estimates of Lake Erie algae toxicity may miss the mark
There is more to a harmful algal bloom than the green stuff in water that meets the eye—specifically, a changing hazard level of toxins produced by the microbes that make up the scummy mess......»»
Experiments identify important new role of chemical compounds in plant development
Researchers who manipulate lignin, a molecular fiber that allows plants to grow tall and transport water, unexpectedly discovered its synthesis has more far-reaching effects on plant development than previously suspected......»»
Boron nitride-based nanocomposites have unexpected properties, researchers discover
Just as carbon makes up both the brittle core of a No. 2 pencil and the harder-than-steel diamond in a cutting tool, boron nitride gives rise to compounds that can be soft or hard. Yet, unlike carbon, far less is known about boron nitride's forms and.....»»
Ancient lake microbes caused global warming during ice age
Global warming is not just a modern issue, but has occurred numerous times over Earth's history, with one such event happening 304 million years ago during the Late Paleozoic Ice Age (which spanned from 340 to 290 million years ago). Studies have dis.....»»
Scientists develop novel method to synthesize azide compounds for wider industrial applications
Azide compounds play a pivotal role for subsequent synthesis of organonitrogens such as amines and triazoles that are essential compounds in organic and materials chemistry. Triazoles that can be synthesized by the 'click' reaction have attracted att.....»»
Biosphere 2 experiment reveals that soils in drought stress leak more volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere
Microbes are doing a lot under the soil surface that can't be seen with the naked eye—from sequestering carbon to building the foundation of Earth's crust. But even tiny microbes are feeling the stress of a hotter, drier future......»»
Nanorings: New building blocks for chemistry
Sandwich compounds are special chemical compounds used as basic building blocks in organometallic chemistry. So far, their structure has always been linear......»»
Novel metric examines the role of organic matter and microbes in ecological communities
Ecological researchers study the relationships among different organisms and between organisms and their surroundings. It is important to understand how individual features in a community, like microbes or types of chemicals, affect the overall commu.....»»
How a Microbial Evolutionary Accident Changed Earth"s Atmosphere
An extra membrane that once had digestive functions let marine microbes boost their yield from photosynthesis. Today, they're responsible for locking carbon in the ocean and putting oxygen in the air......»»
Unique Mexican black and pinto bean varieties shown to be high in healthy compounds
Common beans are important food sources with high nutritional content. Bean seeds also contain phenolic compounds, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that promote health. A study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign a.....»»
A demonstration of substituent effects in anti-aromatic compounds
Circularly conjugated compounds with 4n+2 pi-electrons are known as aromatic compounds. They are generally stable and are found in our surroundings. Conversely, anti-aromatic compounds with 4n pi-electrons have been conventionally considered unstable.....»»
Imaging shows how solar-powered microbes turn carbon dioxide into bioplastic
When considering ways to sustainably generate environmentally friendly products, bacteria might not immediately spring to mind......»»
Making renewable, infinitely recyclable plastics using bacteria
Plastic waste is a problem. Most plastics can't be recycled, and many use finite, polluting petrochemicals as the basic ingredients. But that's changing. In a study published in Nature Sustainability, researchers successfully engineered microbes to m.....»»
Soil microbes help plants cope with drought, but not how scientists thought
There's a complex world beneath our feet, teeming with diverse and interdependent life. Plants call out with chemical signals in times of stress, summoning microbes that can unlock bound nutrients and find water in soil pores too small for the finest.....»»