Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Engineering: Graphene
Published

New adhesive tape picks up and sticks down 2D materials as easily as child's play      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A research team has developed a tape that can be used to stick two-dimensional (2D) materials to many different surfaces, in an easy and user-friendly way. Their finding will aid research into and boost production of 2D materials for next-generation devices.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Physics: General Physics: Optics
Published

Molecular manganese complex as superphotooxidant      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Highly reducing or oxidizing photocatalysts are a fundamental challenge in photochemistry. Only a few transition metal complexes with Earth-abundant metal ions have so far advanced to excited state oxidants, including chromium, iron, and cobalt. All these photocatalysts require high energy light for excitation and their oxidizing power has not yet been fully exploited. Furthermore, precious and hence expensive metals are the decisive ingredients in most cases. A team of researchers has now developed a new molecular system based on the element manganese. Manganese, as opposed to precious metals, is the third most abundant metal after iron and titanium and hence widely available and very cheap.

Biology: General Biology: Zoology Ecology: Animals Ecology: General Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Nature Ecology: Research Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography
Published

Alien invasion: Non-native earthworms threaten ecosystems      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Analysis reveals imported earthworm species have colonized large swaths of North America, and represent a largely overlooked threat to native ecosystems. The researchers warn of the need to better understand and manage the invaders in our midst.

Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry Geoscience: Geography
Published

Industrial pollution leaves its mark in Mediterranean corals      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

For the first time, pollutants from burning fossil fuels have been found embedded in corals, offering scientists a potential new tool to track the history of pollution, finds a new study.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Physics: General
Published

New process allows full recovery of starting materials from tough polymer composites      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

In a win for chemistry, inventors have designed a closed-loop path for synthesizing an exceptionally tough carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer and later recovering all of its starting materials.

Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Thermodynamics Physics: General Physics: Quantum Physics Space: Astrophysics Space: General
Published

Physicists capture the first sounds of heat 'sloshing' in a superfluid      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

For the first time, physicists have captured direct images of 'second sound,' the movement of heat sloshing back and forth within a superfluid. The results will expand scientists' understanding of heat flow in superconductors and neutron stars.

Biology: Microbiology Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Scientists develop artificial 'worm gut' to break down plastics      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A team of scientists has developed an artificial 'worm gut' to break down plastics, offering hope for a nature-inspired method to tackle the global plastic pollution problem.

Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry
Published

A new 'metal swap' method for creating lateral heterostructures of 2D materials      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Heterostructures of two-dimensional materials have unique properties. Among them, lateral heterostructures, which can be used to make electronic devices, are challenging to synthesize. To address this, researchers used a new transmetallation technique to fabricate heterostructures with in-plane heterojunctions using Zn3BHT coordination nanosheet. This simple and powerful method enables the fabrication of ultrathin electronic devices for ultralarge-scale integrated circuits, marking a significant step forward for 2D materials research.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Zoology Ecology: Nature Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Geography
Published

Replacing animal-based foods with alternative proteins would unlock land for carbon removal      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers report that replacing 50% of animal products with alternative proteins by 2050 could free up enough agricultural land to generate renewable energy equivalent in volume to today's coal-generated power while simultaneously removing substantial CO2 from the atmosphere.

Biology: Biochemistry Ecology: Nature Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

New study sheds new light on forests' role in climate and water cycle      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Forests, which cover a third of Earth's land surface, are pivotal in carbon storage and the water cycle, though the full scope of their impact remains to be fully understood. In a new study, researchers provide new insights into the complex role forests play in the climate system and water cycle.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry
Published

BESSY II: Molecular orbitals determine stability      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Carboxylic acid dianions (fumarate, maleate and succinate) play a role in coordination chemistry and to some extent also in the biochemistry of body cells. A team has now analyzed their electronic structures using RIXS in combination with DFT simulations. The results provide information not only on electronic structures but also on the relative stability of these molecules which can influence an industry's choice of carboxylate dianions, optimizing both the stability and geometry of coordination polymers.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Engineering: Nanotechnology Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Researchers reveal elusive bottleneck holding back global effort to convert carbon dioxide waste into usable products      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Think of it as recycling on the nanoscale: a tantalizing electrochemical process that can harvest carbon before it becomes air pollution and restructure it into the components of everyday products. The drive to capture airborne carbon dioxide from industrial waste and make it into fuel and plastics is gaining momentum after a team of researchers uncovered precisely how the process works and where it bogs down.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General Ecology: General Ecology: Nature Ecology: Research Ecology: Trees Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General
Published

Complex tree canopies help forests recover from moderate-severity disturbances      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Extreme events wipe out entire forests, dramatically eliminating complex ecosystems as well as local communities. Researchers have become quite familiar with such attention-grabbing events over the years. They know less, however, about the more common moderate-severity disturbances, such as relatively small fires, ice storms, and outbreaks of pests or pathogens.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Engineering: Nanotechnology Physics: General Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Structural isomerization of individual molecules using a scanning tunneling microscope probe      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

An international research team has succeeded in controlling the chirality of individual molecules through structural isomerization. The team also succeeded in synthesizing highly reactive diradicals with two unpaired electrons. These achievements were made using a scanning tunneling microscope probe at low temperatures.

Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

New study points to more climate extremes      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study has found similarities between long-term climatic changes in South Australia and temperate agricultural areas in Argentina -- highlighting similarities across these Southern Hemisphere countries. As temperature records tumble, and the threat of bushfires and dry conditions looms large, researchers renew the urgency of calls to make more concerted efforts to prepare for climate extremes in South Australia.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Energy: Batteries
Published

Chemists decipher reaction process that could improve lithium-sulfur batteries      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Lithium-sulfur batteries have exceptional theoretical capacity and performance in combination with an element in abundant supply. But the intricate reaction mechanism, particularly during discharge, has been challenging to solve. Researchers have identified the key pathways to a complex sulfur reduction reaction that leads to energy loss and reduced battery life span. The study's findings establish the whole reaction network for the first time and offer insight into electrocatalyst design for improved batteries.

Biology: Biochemistry Ecology: Animals Ecology: General Ecology: Research Environmental: Ecosystems
Published

Apex predators not a quick fix for restoring ecosystems      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

An experiment spanning more than two decades has found that removal of apex predators from an ecosystem can create lasting changes that are not reversed after they return -- at least, not for a very long time. The study challenges the commonly held belief that the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park restored an ecosystem degraded by their absence.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry
Published

Solving an age-old mystery about crystal formation      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A crystals expert has published an answer to how crystals are formed and how molecules become a part of them, solving an age-old mystery about crystal formation.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Engineering: Nanotechnology Physics: General Physics: Optics
Published

Unveiling the generation principles of charged particles 'trion' in 2D semiconductor      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers pioneer dynamic manipulation and the generation principles of trion at the nanoscale using tip-enhanced cavity-spectroscopy.