Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

Nanoparticles for optimized cancer therapy      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest types of cancers in humans. It is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the western world. The early stages of the disease often progress without symptoms, so diagnosis is usually very late.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Organic Chemistry
Published

AI programs spat out known data and hardly learned specific chemical interactions when predicting drug potency      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Artificial intelligence (AI) is on the rise. Until now, AI applications generally have 'black box' character: How AI arrives at its results remains hidden. A cheminformatics scientist has now developed a method that reveals how certain AI applications work in pharmaceutical research. The results are unexpected: the AI programs largely remembered known data and hardly learned specific chemical interactions when predicting drug potency.

Chemistry: General Energy: Batteries Engineering: Graphene Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

Template for success: Shaping hard carbon electrodes for next-generation batteries      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Sodium- and potassium-ion batteries are promising next-generation alternatives to the ubiquitous lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, their energy density still lags behind that of LIBs. To tackle this issue, researchers explored an innovative strategy to turn hard carbon into an excellent negative electrode material. Using inorganic zinc-based compounds as a template during synthesis, they prepared nanostructured hard carbon, which exhibits excellent performance in both alternative batteries.       

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Fossil Fuels Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry Physics: Optics
Published

Solar-powered device produces clean water and clean fuel at the same time      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A floating, solar-powered device that can turn contaminated water or seawater into clean hydrogen fuel and purified water, anywhere in the world, has been developed by researchers.

Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Mathematics: Modeling Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General
Published

How to use AI for discovery -- without leading science astray      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

In the same way that chatbots sometimes 'hallucinate,' or make things up, machine learning models designed for scientific applications can sometimes present misleading or downright false results. Researchers now present a new statistical technique for safely using AI predictions to test scientific hypotheses.

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

Chemists image basic blocks of synthetic polymers      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have developed a new method to image polymerization catalysis reactions one monomer at a time. 

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: Thermodynamics Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

Understanding the dynamic behavior of rubber materials      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Rubber-like materials can exhibit both spring-like and flow-like behaviors simultaneously, which contributes to their exceptional damping abilities. To understand the dynamic viscoelasticity of these materials, researchers have recently developed a novel system that can conduct dynamic mechanical analysis and dynamic micro X-ray computed tomography simultaneously. This technology can enhance our understanding of the microstructure of viscoelastic materials and pave the way for the development of better materials.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Environmental: General Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Liquid metals shake up century-old chemical engineering processes      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Liquid metals could be the long-awaited solution to 'greening' the chemical industry, according to researchers who tested a new technique they hope can replace energy-intensive chemical engineering processes harking back to the early 20th century.

Chemistry: General Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

Scaling up nano for sustainable manufacturing      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A research team has developed a high-performance coating material that self-assembles from 2D nanosheets, and which could significantly extend the shelf life of electronics, energy storage devices, health & safety products, and more. The researchers are the first to successfully scale up nanomaterial synthesis into useful materials for manufacturing and commercial applications.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Engineering: Nanotechnology Offbeat: General Physics: General Physics: Optics
Published

'Hot' new form of microscopy examines materials using evanescent waves      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A team of researchers has built a prototype microscope that does not rely on backscattered radiation, instead uses passive detection of thermally excited evanescent waves. They have examined dielectric materials with passive near-field spectroscopy to develop a detection model to further refine the technique, working to develop a new kind of microscopy for examining nanoscopic material surfaces.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Batteries
Published

Photo battery achieves competitive voltage      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have developed a monolithically integrated photo battery using organic materials. The photo battery achieves an unprecedented high discharge potential of 3.6 volts. The system is capable of powering miniature devices.

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

Charged 'molecular beasts' the basis for new compounds      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Mass spectrometers are high-tech machines that play an important role in our society. They are highly sensitive analytical instruments that are indispensable in areas such as medical diagnostics, food quality control and the detection of hazardous chemical substances. A research group is working to modify mass spectrometers so that they can be used for a completely different purpose: the chemical synthesis of new molecules.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Energy: Technology Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Self-powered microbial fuel cell biosensor for monitoring organic freshwater pollution      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Biodegradable waste from plant and animal sources released into freshwater ecosystems is a significant environmental concern. Nonetheless, current methods for assessing water quality seem more or less impractical due to their complexity and high costs. In a promising development, a team of researchers has successfully constructed a self-sustaining and buoyant biosensor using inexpensive carbon-based materials for monitoring water quality at the inlets of freshwater lakes and rivers.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Engineering: Graphene Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

Researchers discover new ultra strong material for microchip sensors      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have unveiled a remarkable new material with potential to impact the world of material science: amorphous silicon carbide (a-SiC). Beyond its exceptional strength, this material demonstrates mechanical properties crucial for vibration isolation on a microchip. Amorphous silicon carbide is therefore particularly suitable for making ultra-sensitive microchip sensors.

Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Chemistry: Biochemistry Engineering: Nanotechnology Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Researchers engineer colloidal quasicrystals using DNA-modified building blocks      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study unveils a novel methodology to engineer colloidal quasicrystals using DNA-modified building blocks. The implications of this breakthrough are far-reaching, offering a potential blueprint for the controlled synthesis of other complex structures previously considered beyond reach.

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

Chemists make breakthrough in drug discovery chemistry      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Chemists offer two new methods to develop a way to easily replace a carbon atom with a nitrogen atom in a molecule.  The findings could make it easier to develop new drugs.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry
Published

Breakthrough discovery sheds light on heart and muscle health      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The human heart, often described as the body's engine, is a remarkable organ that tirelessly beats to keep us alive. At the core of this vital organ, intricate processes occur when it contracts, where thick and thin protein-filaments interact within the sarcomere, the fundamental building block of both skeletal and heart muscle cells. Any alterations in thick filament proteins can have severe consequences for our health, leading to conditions such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and various other heart and muscle diseases.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: Thermodynamics Computer Science: General Engineering: Nanotechnology Physics: Optics
Published

New twist on optical tweezers      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Optical tweezers use laser light to manipulate small particles. A new method has been advanced using Stampede2 supercomputer simulations that makes optical tweezers safer to use for potential biological applications, such as cancer therapy. 

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry
Published

New Nijmegen method reveals hidden genetic variations      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Many hidden genetic variations can be detected with Chameleolyser, a new method. The information is already yielding new patient diagnoses and may also lead to the discovery of as yet unknown disease genes.