Chemistry: Biochemistry
Published

High-resolution brain created with 3D printer      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A 3D-printed 'brain phantom' has been developed, which is modeled on the structure of brain fibers and can be imaged using a special variant of magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI). The scientific team has now shown in a study, these brain models can be used to advance research into neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Say hello to biodegradable microplastics      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Finding viable alternatives to traditional petroleum-based plastics and microplastics has never been more important. New research shows that their plant-based polymers biodegrade -- even at the microplastic level -- in under seven months.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Energy: Fossil Fuels
Published

New reactor could save millions when making ingredients for plastics and rubber from natural gas      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new way to make an important ingredient for plastics, adhesives, carpet fibers, household cleaners and more from natural gas could reduce manufacturing costs in a post-petroleum economy by millions of dollars, thanks to a new chemical reactor.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Engineering: Nanotechnology Physics: General
Published

In-situ observation of nanoscale heat propagation      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A research team has developed a technique that enables the nanoscale observation of heat propagation paths and behavior within material specimens. This was achieved using a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) capable of emitting a pulsed electron beam and a nanosized thermocouple -- a high-precision temperature measurement device.

Chemistry: Biochemistry
Published

Healing eyes with contact lenses      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A cross-disciplinary team has developed a new contact lens material that could act as a bandage for corneal wounds while releasing drugs in a controlled manner to help the eye heal faster.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Physics: Optics
Published

Researchers add swept illumination to open-top light-sheet microscope      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have incorporated a swept illumination source into an open-top light-sheet microscope to enable improved optical sectioning over a larger area of view. The advance makes the technique more practical for nondestructive 3D pathology.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering: Nanotechnology Engineering: Robotics Research Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General
Published

Robotic metamaterial: An endless domino effect      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

If it walks like a particle, and talks like a particle... it may still not be a particle. A topological soliton is a special type of wave or dislocation which behaves like a particle: it can move around but cannot spread out and disappear like you would expect from, say, a ripple on the surface of a pond. Researchers now demonstrate the atypical behavior of topological solitons in a robotic metamaterial, something which in the future may be used to control how robots move, sense their surroundings and communicate.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Ecology: Animals Energy: Batteries Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Crawfish could transfer ionic lithium from their environment into food chain      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries are showing up in ever more devices, and the increasing use of this technology means more lithium is expected to find its way into the environment as a contaminant. In new research, a team has explored how this ion accumulates in a common Southern crustacean, the crawfish, with implications for the environment and public health.

Energy: Technology Engineering: Nanotechnology Physics: Optics
Published

Metamaterials and AI converge, igniting innovative breakthroughs      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists unveil next-generation research trends in metaphotonics platforms with AI.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Environmental: General
Published

ChatGPT is an effective tool for planning field work, school trips and even holidays      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study suggests anyone looking to shake off the winter blues by planning the perfect getaway should turn to ChatGPT.

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

Toxic metal particles can be present in cannabis vapes even before the first use, study finds      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Though vapes have been heralded as a 'safer' way to consume either nicotine or cannabis, they present their own suite of risks that are being revealed through increasing regulation. Now, scientists have discovered that nano-sized toxic metal particles can be present in cannabis vaping liquids even before any heating occurs, and the effect is worse in illicit products.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Cell Biology Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Is food waste the key to sustainable, plastic-free diapers and sanitary pads?      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Once thrown away, disposable diapers and sanitary pads can take hundreds of years to decompose, because they contain plastics and other synthetic polymers. But now, researchers are replacing these materials with components made from protein biomass that is often discarded. They are sustainable and biodegradable, and they could potentially allow future diapers and pads to be flushed down a toilet or used as fertilizer.

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

Molecular crystal motors move like microbes when exposed to light      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

At first glance, Rabih Al-Kaysi's molecular motors look like the microscopic worms you'd see in a drop of pond water. But these wriggling ribbons are not alive; they're made from crystallized molecules that perform coordinated movements when exposed to light. With continued development, these tiny machines could be used as drug-delivery robots or engineered into arrays that direct the flow of water around submarines.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

Sustainable solution for wastewater polluted by dyes used in many industries      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Water pollution from dyes used in textile, food, cosmetic and other manufacturing is a major ecological concern with industry and scientists seeking biocompatible and more sustainable alternatives to protect the environment. A new study has discovered a novel way to degrade and potentially remove toxic organic chemicals including azo dyes from wastewater, using a chemical photocatalysis process powered by ultraviolet light.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

Bendable energy storage materials by cool science      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Imaging being able to wear clothes that charge your gadgets just by wearing them. New research has brought us a step closer to achieving this reality.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Computer Science: General Energy: Technology Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General
Published

Brain-inspired wireless system to gather data from salt-sized sensors      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

In a new study, researchers describe a novel approach for a wireless communication network that can efficiently transmit, receive and decode data from thousands of microelectronic chips that are each no larger than a grain of salt.

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

Artificial nanofluidic synapses can store computational memory      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

In a step toward nanofluidic-based neuromorphic -- or brain-inspired -- computing, engineers have succeeded in executing a logic operation by connecting two chips that use ions, rather than electrons, to process data.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Genetics Chemistry: Biochemistry
Published

Empty 'backpacks' activate the immune system against cancer      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have discovered that the mere act of attaching their microparticle 'backpacks' to neutrophils is enough to activate them against cancer -- no drugs needed. In experiments, backpack-bearing neutrophils shrank tumors and extended the survival of mice with cancer, and treated animals retained an immune memory of the disease. This approach opens the door to a new class of drug-free immunotherapy for cancer.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Physics: Acoustics and Ultrasound
Published

New ultrasound technology may revolutionize respiratory disease diagnoses      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

By evaluating sound vibrations produced by the airflow induced within the lungs and bronchial tree during normal breathing as well as those produced by the larynx during vocalizations, doctors can identify potential disease-related abnormalities within the respiratory system. Researchers demonstrate the efficacy of ultrasound technology to detect low-amplitude movements produced by vocalizations at the surface of the chest. They also demonstrated the possibility of using the airborne ultrasound surface motion camera to map these vibrations during short durations so as to illustrate their evolution.

Engineering: Nanotechnology Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals Physics: General Physics: Optics
Published

Backyard insect inspires invisibility devices, next gen tech      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Leafhoppers, a common backyard insect, secrete and coat themselves in tiny mysterious particles that could provide both the inspiration and the instructions for next-generation technology, according to a new study. In a first, the team precisely replicated the complex geometry of these particles, called brochosomes, and elucidated a better understanding of how they absorb both visible and ultraviolet light.