Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Chemistry: Thermodynamics Energy: Alternative Fuels
Published

Striking gold with molecular mystery solution for potential clean energy      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Hydrogen spillover is exactly what it sounds like. Small metal nanoparticles anchored on a thermally stable oxide, like silica, comprise a major class of catalysts, which are substances used to accelerate chemical reactions without being consumed themselves. The catalytic reaction usually occurs on the reactive -- and expensive -- metal, but on some catalysts, hydrogen atom-like equivalents literally spill from the metal to the oxide. These hydrogen-on-oxide species are called 'hydrogen spillover.'

Chemistry: Biochemistry Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering: Robotics Research
Published

An 'introspective' AI finds diversity improves performance      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

An artificial intelligence with the ability to look inward and fine tune its own neural network performs better when it chooses diversity over lack of diversity, a new study finds. The resulting diverse neural networks were particularly effective at solving complex tasks.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry
Published

A step closer to digitizing the sense of smell: Model describes odors better than human panelists      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A main crux of neuroscience is learning how our senses translate light into sight, sound into hearing, food into taste, and texture into touch. Smell is where these sensory relationships get more complex and perplexing. To address this question, a research team are investigating how airborne chemicals connect to odor perception in the brain. They discovered that a machine-learning model has achieved human-level proficiency at describing, in words, what chemicals smell like.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer Science: General Engineering: Robotics Research
Published

New AI technology gives robot recognition skills a big lift      (via sciencedaily.com) 

The day when robots can cook dinner, clear the kitchen table and empty the dishwasher is still a long way off. First, robots need to be able to recognize the many items of different sizes, shapes and brands in our homes. A team has now made a significant advance toward that technology with a robotic system that uses artificial intelligence to help robots better identify and remember objects.

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

Growing triple-decker hybrid crystals for lasers      (via sciencedaily.com) 

By controlling the arrangement of multiple inorganic and organic layers within crystals using a novel technique, researchers have shown they can control the energy levels of electrons and holes (positive charge carriers) within a class of materials called perovskites. This tuning influences the materials' optoelectronic properties and their ability to emit light of specific energies, demonstrated by their ability to function as a source of lasers.

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

Taking photoclick chemistry to the next level      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have been able to substantially improve photoclick chemistry. They were able to boost the reactivity of the photoclick compound in the popular PQ-ERA reaction through strategic molecular substitution. They now report a superb photoreaction quantum yield, high reaction rates and notable oxygen tolerance.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Engineering: Robotics Research Mathematics: Modeling
Published

Surpassing the human eye: Machine learning image analysis rapidly determines chemical mixture composition      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Machine learning model provides quick method for determining the composition of solid chemical mixtures using only photographs of the sample.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Direct formation of sulfuric acid in the atmosphere      (via sciencedaily.com) 

In the atmosphere, gaseous sulfuric acid can form particles that influence the physical properties of clouds. Thus, the formation of sulfuric acid in the gas phase directly affects the radiative forcing and Earth's climate. In addition to the known formation from sulfur dioxide, researchers have now been able to demonstrate through experiments that there is another formation pathway that has been speculated about for decades. Sulfuric acid in the atmosphere can also be formed directly by the oxidation of organic sulfur compounds. This new production pathway can be responsible for up to half of the gaseous sulfuric acid formation over the oceans and is thus of high importance for climate projections -- especially over the oceans of the Southern Hemisphere.

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

Tiny, shape-shifting robot can squish itself into tight spaces      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Imagine a robot that can wedge itself through the cracks in rubble to search for survivors trapped in the wreckage of a collapsed building. Engineers are working toward to that goal with CLARI, short for Compliant Legged Articulated Robotic Insect.

Biology: Biotechnology Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Energy: Technology
Published

New 'droplet battery' could pave the way for miniature bio-integrated devices      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have developed a miniature battery that could be used to power tiny devices integrated into human tissues. The design uses an ionic gradient across a chain of droplets -- inspired by how electric eels generate electricity. The device was able to regulate the biological activity of human neurons. This could open the way to the development of tiny bio-integrated devices, with a range of applications in biology and medicine.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Organic Chemistry
Published

Overcoming the challenges to synthesising iron--sulfur proteins outside the glovebox      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Iron--sulfur (Fe--S) proteins, essential to all life forms, are difficult to synthesise due to the complicated molecular machinery involved and sensitivity of Fe--S clusters to oxygen. In a new study, a team of researchers devised an innovative protocol for synthesising mature Fe--S proteins, by bringing together a recombinant sulfur assimilation (SUF) system and an oxygen-scavenging system, thereby, paving the way for new technologies and a better understanding of the evolution of life.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer Science: General Engineering: Robotics Research
Published

Sensors harnessing light give hope in rehabilitation      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A research team overcomes limitations of conventional strain sensors using computer vision integrated optical sensors.

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

A first for ferrocene: Organometallic capsule with unusual charge-transfer interactions      (via sciencedaily.com) 

An organometallic capsule that can reversibly assemble and disassemble in response to chemical stimuli was recently developed by chemists. Comprising ferrocene-based bent amphiphiles, this new capsule can act as a host for various types of guest molecules, such as electron acceptors and dyes. Thanks to the controllable release of its cargo, the capsule would find applications in catalysis, medicine, and biotechnology.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Fossil Fuels Energy: Technology Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Direct power generation from methylcyclohexane using solid oxide fuel cells      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Methylcyclohexane is very promising as a hydrogen carrier that can safely and efficiently transport and store hydrogen. However, the dehydrogenation process using catalysts has issues due to its durability and large energy loss. Recently, researchers have succeeded in using solid oxide fuel cells to generate electricity directly from methylcyclohexane and recover toluene for reuse. This research is expected to not only reduce energy requirements but also explore new chemical synthesis by fuel cells.

Chemistry: General Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geography Geoscience: Geology
Published

Enhanced chemical weathering: A solution to the climate crisis?      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Could blending of crushed rock with arable soil lower global temperatures? Researchers study global warming events from 40 and 56 million years ago to find answers.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer Science: General
Published

Brain signals transformed into speech through implants and AI      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have succeeded in transforming brain signals into audible speech. By decoding signals from the brain through a combination of implants and AI, they were able to predict the words people wanted to say with an accuracy of 92 to 100%.

Biology: Biotechnology Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer Science: General
Published

Pros and cons of ChatGPT plugin, Code Interpreter, in education, biology, health      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers see potential in educational settings for the newest official ChatGPT plugin, called Code Interpreter, they've found limitations for its use by scientists who work with biological data utilizing computational methods to prioritize targeted treatment for cancer and genetic disorders.

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

AI helps robots manipulate objects with their whole bodies      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A new AI technique enables a robot to develop complex plans for manipulating an object using its entire hand, not just fingertips. This model can generate effective plans in about a minute using a standard laptop.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer Science: General Offbeat: Computers and Math
Published

How artificial intelligence gave a paralyzed woman her voice back      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have developed a brain-computer interface (BCI) that has enabled a woman with severe paralysis from a brainstem stroke to speak through a digital avatar.