Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Engineering: Nanotechnology Physics: General Physics: Optics Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

A nanocrystal shines on and off indefinitely      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Optical probes have led to numerous breakthroughs in applications like optical memory, nanopatterning, and bioimaging, but existing options have limited lifespans and will eventually 'photobleach.' New work demonstrates a promising, longer-lasting alternative: ultra-photostable avalanching nanoparticles that can turn on and off indefinitely in response to near-infrared light from simple lasers.

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

Crossing the ring: New method enables C-H activation across saturated carbocycles      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Chemists add another powerful tool to their 'molecular editing' toolkit for crafting pharmaceuticals and other valuable compounds.

Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

Color-changing material shows when medications get too warm      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Some foods and medicines, such as many COVID-19 vaccines, must be kept cold. As a step toward a robust, stable technique that could indicate when these products exceed safe limits, researchers report a class of brilliantly colored microcrystals in materials that become colorless over a wide range of temperatures and response times. As a proof of concept, the team packaged the color-changing materials into a vial lid and QR code.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Biology: Genetics Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Physics: Optics
Published

Evolution driving improvements in racehorse speed      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study has found that genetic improvement is underlying the increasing speed of Britain's thoroughbreds. This contrasts with earlier studies that suggested racehorses were showing no genetic improvement in response to selection by breeders.

Biology: Biochemistry Chemistry: Biochemistry Engineering: Nanotechnology Physics: General Physics: Optics
Published

Biological specimens imaged with X-rays without damage      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have managed to image delicate biological structures without damaging them. Their new technique generates high resolution X-ray images of dried biological material that has not been frozen, coated, or otherwise altered beforehand -- all with little to no damage to the sample. This method, which is also used for airport baggage scanning, can generate images of the material at nanometer resolution.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Molecular Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Engineering: Nanotechnology Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Protein-based nano-'computer' evolves in ability to influence cell behavior      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The first protein-based nano-computing agent that functions as a circuit has been created. The milestone puts them one step closer to developing next-generation cell-based therapies to treat diseases like diabetes and cancer.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Computer Science: General Engineering: Nanotechnology Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General
Published

Making the structure of 'fire ice' with nanoparticles      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Cage structures made with nanoparticles could be a route toward making organized nanostructures with mixed materials, and researchers have shown how to achieve this through computer simulations.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Engineering: Nanotechnology Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General
Published

Medical 'microrobots' could one day treat bladder disease, other human illnesses      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Engineers have designed a new class of 'microrobots' several times smaller than the width of a human hair that may be able to treat human illnesses like interstitial cystitis -- a painful bladder disease that affects millions of Americans.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Engineering: Nanotechnology Engineering: Robotics Research Offbeat: General Physics: Optics
Published

Physical chemists develop photochromic active colloids shedding light on the development of new smart active materials      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

In nature, the skin of cephalopods (animals with tentacles attached to the head) exhibits unparalleled camouflage ability. Their skin contains pigment groups that can sense changes in environmental light conditions and adjust their appearance through the action of pigment cells. Although intricate in nature, this colour-changing ability is fundamentally based on a mechanical mechanism in which pigment particles are folded or unfolded under the control of radial muscles. Inspired by this natural process, a research team forms dynamic photochromic nanoclusters by mixing cyan, magenta and yellow microbeads, achieving photochromism on a macro scale.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Genetics Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular Chemistry: General Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Fossil Fuels Energy: Technology Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Watch these cells rapidly create protrusions for exploration and movement      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

In order to move, cells must be able to rapidly change shape. A team of researchers show that cells achieve this by storing extra 'skin' in folds and bumps on their surface. This cell surface excess can be rapidly deployed to cover temporary protrusions and then folded away for next time.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Microbiology Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

An edible CBD coating could extend the shelf life of strawberries      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Soon, you'll be able to get a box of freshly picked, sweet strawberries from the grocery store or local farm stand. But it's disappointing when you get them home and find that the ones at the bottom have started to rot. To increase the berries' shelf life, researchers have incorporated cannabidiol -- a non-hallucinogenic compound from cannabis known as CBD -- and sodium alginate into an edible antimicrobial coating.

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

Scientists reveal breakthrough that could lead to cleaner hydrogen energy      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Chemists have taken a big step toward splitting hydrogen and oxygen molecules to make pure hydrogen -- without using fossil fuels. Results from pulse radiolysis experiments have laid bare the complete reaction mechanism for an important group of 'water-splitting' catalysts. The work means scientists are closer to making pure hydrogen from renewable energy, an energy source that could contribute to a greener future for the nation and world.

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

New priming method improves battery life, efficiency      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Engineers have developed a readily scalable method to optimize a silicon anode priming method that increases lithium-ion battery performance by 22% to 44%.

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

Metal-filtering sponge removes lead from water      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Engineers have developed a new sponge that can remove metals -- including toxic heavy metals like lead and critical metals like cobalt -- from contaminated water, leaving safe, drinkable water behind. In proof-of-concept experiments, the researchers tested their new sponge on a highly contaminated sample of tap water, containing more than 1 part per million of lead. With one use, the sponge filtered lead to below detectable levels.

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

Unlocking the power of photosynthesis for clean energy production      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers are embarking on a groundbreaking project to mimic the natural process of photosynthesis using bacteria to deliver electrons to a nanocrystal semiconductor photocatalyst. By leveraging the unique properties of microorganisms and nanomaterials, the system has the potential to replace current approaches that derive hydrogen from fossil fuels, revolutionizing the way hydrogen fuel is produced and unlocking a powerful source of renewable energy.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Microbiology Chemistry: Biochemistry Engineering: Nanotechnology Physics: Optics
Published

'Super-resolution' imaging technology      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers describe developing a super-resolution imaging platform technology to improve understanding of how nanoparticles interact within cells.