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

Bringing out the color in zinc      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have synthesized a zinc complex based on two zinc centers that absorbs visible light. They demonstrated that this capability depends on the proximity of the zinc ions, where the complex responds to visible light when the zinc atoms are closer. This new property is expected to expand the utility of zinc, which already offers advantages including biological relevance, cost effectiveness, and low toxicity.

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

Ecotoxicity testing of micro- and nano-plastics      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

An international team of researchers has published the first harmonized exposure protocol for ecotoxicity testing of microplastics and nanoplastics.

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

Ionic crystal generates molecular ions upon positron irradiation, finds new study      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The interaction between solid matter and positron (the antiparticle of electron) has provided important insights across a variety of disciplines, including atomic physics, materials science, elementary particle physics, and medicine. However, the experimental generation of positronic compounds by bombardment of positrons onto surfaces has proved challenging. In a new study, researchers detect molecular ion desorption from the surface of an ionic crystal when bombarded with positrons and propose a model based on positronic compound generation to explain their results.

Anthropology: General Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Microbiology
Published

Evidence from the remains of 1918 flu pandemic victims contradicts long-held belief that healthy young adults were particularly vulnerable      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

New analysis of the remains of victims of the 1918 influenza pandemic, which killed an estimated 50 million people worldwide, contradicts the widespread belief the flu disproportionately impacted healthy young adults. 

Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Physics: Optics
Published

Groundbreaking study shows defects spreading through diamond faster than the speed of sound      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Settling a half century of debate, researchers have discovered that tiny linear defects can propagate through a material faster than sound waves do. These linear defects, or dislocations, are what give metals their strength and workability, but they can also make materials fail catastrophically ­– which is what happens every time you pop the pull tab on a can of soda. The fact that they can travel so fast gives scientists a new appreciation of the unusual types of damage they might do to a broad range of materials in extreme conditions.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Physics: Optics
Published

Physicists find evidence for magnetically bound excitons      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Physicists have experimentally detected how so-called Hubbard excitons form in real-time. 

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry Geoscience: Severe Weather
Published

Two-dimensional compounds can capture carbon from the air      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Some of the thinnest materials known to humankind -- MXene and MBene compounds -- may provide solutions to scientists in their quest to curb the effects of global warming. These substances are only a few atoms thick, making them two-dimensional. Because of their large surface area, the materials have the potential to absorb carbon dioxide molecules from the atmosphere, which could help reduce the harmful effects of climate change by safely sequestering carbon dioxide, according to a review study.

Anthropology: Early Humans Anthropology: General Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: Water Geoscience: Geography
Published

Early human migrants followed lush corridor-route out of Africa      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have found early human migrants left Africa for Eurasia, across the Sinai peninsula and on through Jordan, over 80-thousand years ago. Researchers have proved there was a 'well-watered corridor' which funneled hunter-gatherers through The Levant towards western Asia and northern Arabia via Jordan.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Physics: General Space: Cosmology Space: General
Published

New 'Assembly Theory' unifies physics and biology to explain evolution and complexity      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

An international team of researchers has developed a new theoretical framework that bridges physics and biology to provide a unified approach for understanding how complexity and evolution emerge in nature. This new work on 'Assembly Theory' represents a major advance in our fundamental comprehension of biological evolution and how it is governed by the physical laws of the universe.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry
Published

Electronic sensor the size of a single molecule a potential game-changer      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have developed a molecular-sized, more efficient version of a widely used electronic sensor, in a breakthrough that could bring widespread benefits.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Microbiology Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Energy: Technology
Published

Metal-loving microbes could replace chemical processing of rare earths      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have characterized the genome of a metal-loving bacteria with an affinity for rare earth elements. The research paves the way towards replacing the harsh chemical processing of these elements with a benign practice called biosorption.

Anthropology: General Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Marine Biology: Zoology Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Sea Life
Published

DNA from discarded whale bones suggests loss of genetic diversity due to commercial whaling      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Commercial whaling in the 20th century decimated populations of large whales but also appears to have had a lasting impact on the genetic diversity of today’s surviving whales, new research shows.

Anthropology: Early Humans Anthropology: General Ecology: General Environmental: General Environmental: Wildfires Geoscience: Geochemistry Geoscience: Severe Weather Paleontology: Climate
Published

Climate and human land use both play roles in Pacific island wildfires past and present      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

It’s long been understood that human settlement contributes to conditions that make Pacific Islands more susceptible to wildfires, such as the devastating Aug. 8 event that destroyed the Maui community of Lahaina. But a new study from fire scientist shows that climate is an undervalued part of the equation.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry
Published

Making elbow room: Giant molecular rotors operate in solid crystal      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Concave, umbrella-like metal complexes provide space to enable the largest molecular rotor operational in the solid-state.

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

Intense lasers shine new light on the electron dynamics of liquids      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The behavior of electrons in liquids is crucial to understanding many chemical processes that occur in our world. Using advanced lasers that operate at the attosecond, a team of international researchers has revealed further insights into how electrons behave in liquids.

Anthropology: General Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Biology: Zoology Paleontology: Fossils Paleontology: General
Published

Insights into early snake evolution through brain analysis      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Recent study sheds new light on the enigmatic early evolution of snakes by examining an unexpected source: their brains. The results emphasize the significance of studying both the soft parts of animals’ bodies and their bones for understanding how animals evolved.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Energy: Technology Engineering: Graphene Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

Researchers dynamically tune friction in graphene      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The friction on a graphene surface can be dynamically tuned using external electric fields, according to researchers.

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

3D-printed plasmonic plastic enables large-scale optical sensor production      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have developed plasmonic plastic -- a type of composite material with unique optical properties that can be 3D-printed. This research has now resulted in 3D-printed optical hydrogen sensors that could play an important role in the transition to green energy and industry.

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

Toxic formaldehyde's dual nature to be probed with new chemical tool      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Newly developed ompounds aim to reveal the dual nature of formaldehyde, a chemical that is known to cause cancer but is also believed to play important roles in our biology.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Fossil Fuels Offbeat: General
Published

Scientists unveil fire-safe fuel      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Chemical engineers have designed a fuel that ignites only with the application of electric current. Since it doesn't react to flames and cannot start accidental fires during storage or transport, it is a 'safe' liquid fuel.