Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Physics: General Space: Astrophysics Space: Cosmology Space: Exploration Space: General
Published

Carbon atoms coming together in space      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Lab-based studies reveal how carbon atoms diffuse on the surface of interstellar ice grains to form complex organic compounds, crucial to reveal the chemical complexity in the universe.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Energy: Alternative Fuels Engineering: Graphene Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Making hydrogen from waste plastic could pay for itself      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have found a way to harvest hydrogen from plastic waste using a low-emissions method that generates graphene as a by-product, which could help offset production costs.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Thermodynamics Energy: Technology Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Researchers make strides in harnessing low-grade heat for efficient energy conversion      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A research team has achieved significant breakthroughs in harnessing low-grade heat sources (<100 °C) for efficient energy conversion.

Chemistry: General Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
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Breakthrough: Highly efficient electrocatalyst for clean energy      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A research team has achieved a groundbreaking advancement in nanomaterials by successfully developing a highly efficient electrocatalyst which can enhance the generation of hydrogen significantly through electrochemical water splitting. This major breakthrough has great application potential for the clean energy industry.

Chemistry: General Energy: Technology Environmental: General Geoscience: Earth Science Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
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Electrifying vehicles in Chicago would save lives, reduce pollution inequities      (via sciencedaily.com) 

If the Chicago region replaced 30% of all on-road combustion-engine vehicles -- including motorcycles, passenger cars and trucks, buses, refuse trucks and short- and long-haul trucks -- with electric versions, it would annually save more than 1,000 lives and over $10 billion, according to a new study.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
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Scientists invent a bright way to upcycle plastics into liquids that can store hydrogen energy      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Scientists have created a process that can upcycle most plastics into chemicals useful for energy storage, using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and a commercially available catalyst, all at room temperature. The new process is very energy-efficient and can be easily powered by renewable energy in the future, unlike other heat-driven recycling processes like pyrolysis. Currently, only nine per cent of plastics globally are recycled and the rest are typically discarded in landfills or incinerated.

Biology: Zoology Chemistry: General Ecology: Animals Ecology: Sea Life Environmental: Biodiversity Environmental: General Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry Geoscience: Geography
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Some spiders can transfer mercury contamination to land animals      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Sitting calmly in their webs, many spiders wait for prey to come to them. Arachnids along lakes and rivers eat aquatic insects, such as dragonflies. But, when these insects live in mercury-contaminated waterways, they can pass the metal along to the spiders that feed on them. Now, researchers have demonstrated how some shoreline spiders can move mercury contamination from riverbeds up the food chain to land animals.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Energy: Batteries Engineering: Nanotechnology Environmental: General Geoscience: Geochemistry
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Pixel-by-pixel analysis yields insights into lithium-ion batteries      (via sciencedaily.com) 

By mining X-ray images, researchers have made significant new discoveries about the reactivity of lithium iron phosphate, a material used in batteries for electric cars and in other rechargeable batteries.

Biology: Cell Biology Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry
Published

Chemist uses nature as inspiration for a sustainable, affordable adhesive system      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A chemist drew inspiration from the natural world, from his experiences scuba diving to studying shellfish in his lab. He has developed a sustainable adhesive system -- an alternative to toxic, permanent, traditional adhesives.

Biology: Microbiology Chemistry: General
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Gotcha! New technology speeds up bacterial testing in food      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have developed a measurement technique that rapidly measures the number of viable bacteria in food products. They have succeeded in drastically reducing the inspection time from 2 days to about 1 hour. With this technology, it will be possible to confirm food safety before shipment from factories and prevent food poisoning.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Thermodynamics Environmental: Water Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry Geoscience: Severe Weather Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General
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Hot summer air turns into drinking water with new gel device      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have focused on the moisture present in the air as a potential source of drinking water for drought-stressed populations. They reached a significant breakthrough in their efforts to create drinkable water out of thin air: a molecularly engineered hydrogel that can create clean water using just the energy from sunlight.

Chemistry: General Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
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Urban parks built on former waste incineration sites could be lead hotspots      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A new study finds that surface soil in parks and playgrounds built on former waste incineration and ash disposal sites may contain levels of lead exceeding EPA safety standards for areas where children play. The contamination, which can persist long after an incinerator is closed, stems from burning paint, pipes and other products that contained lead. Sites in hundreds of U.S. and Canadian cities could be contaminated. Increased monitoring is needed to pinpoint hotspots.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry
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Researchers discover iron-targeting approaches to halt proliferation of cancer cells      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers discovered a new class of iron-targeting compounds that hamper the proliferation of cultured malignant cells in a laboratory setting.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry
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Important connectivity of metal oxides with hydrogen      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A recent article proposes a new way to understand how materials interact with hydrogen.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Energy: Alternative Fuels Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
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New ionic materials boost hydrogen fuel cell efficiency!      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A research team has made a groundbreaking advancement in improving the efficiency of hydrogen fuel cells, which are gaining significant attention as eco-friendly next-generation energy sources.

Chemistry: General
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Improving transistor performance through perovskite-cation incorporation      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A team advances transistor performance through perovskite-cation incorporation.

Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Microbiology Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Energy: Technology
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Bacteria generate electricity from wastewater      (via sciencedaily.com) 

In a breakthrough for the field of bioelectronics, researchers have enhanced the ability of E. coli bacteria to generate electricity. The innovative approach only offers a sustainable solution for organic waste processing while outperforming previous state-of-the-art technologies, opening new horizons for versatile microbial electricity production.

Chemistry: General
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Benchtop NMR spectroscopy can accurately analyse pyrolysis oils      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A team of researchers has demonstrated that benchtop spectrometers are capable of analyzing pyrolysis bio-oils just as well as far more expensive, high-field spectrometers.

Chemistry: General Energy: Technology Geoscience: Environmental Issues Geoscience: Geochemistry
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New study highlights feasibility and optimization of ammonia-based power generation for carbon neutrality      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A research team has evaluated the feasibility of ammonia-based power generation through techno-economic and carbon footprint analyses.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: Water Geoscience: Geochemistry
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New bio-based glues form adhesive bonds that grow stronger in water      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Patent-pending adhesive formulations developed from fully sustainable, bio-based components establish bonds that grow stronger when underwater or exposed to wet conditions.