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Categories: Chemistry: General, Offbeat: General

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

First visualization of valence electrons reveals fundamental nature of chemical bonding      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

The distribution of outermost shell electrons, known as valence electrons, of organic molecules was observed for the first time. As the interactions between atoms are governed by the valence electrons, the findings shine light on the fundamental nature of chemical bonds, with implications for pharmacy and chemical engineering.

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

Quality control: Neatly arranging crystal growth to make fine thin films      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have succeeded in forming metal-organic framework thin films on a substrate while controlling the growth direction of crystals so that they are arranged neatly without gaps. The resulting thin films of unprecedented high quality can be expected for use as optical sensors, optical elements, and transparent gas adsorption sheets.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Zoology Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

The power of face time: Insights from zebra finch courtship      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study on songbirds sheds light on the power of social interaction to facilitate learning, insights that potentially apply to human development. Researchers discovered that zebra finches deprived of early social experiences could still form strong bonds with a partner later in life. Once placed into cohabitation with a male, females that had never heard a mating song before could quickly develop a preference for his melody.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry
Published

Unlocking the last lanthanide      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A team of scientists was recently able to observe how promethium forms chemical bonds when placed in an aqueous solution.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Microbiology Biology: Molecular Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Geoscience: Geochemistry
Published

Engineered Bacteria make thermally stable plastics similar to polystyrene and PET      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Bioengineers around the world have been working to create plastic-producing microbes that could replace the petroleum-based plastics industry. Now, researchers have overcome a major hurdle: getting bacteria to produce polymers that contain ring-like structures, which make the plastics more rigid and thermally stable. Because these molecules are usually toxic to microorganisms, the researchers had to construct a novel metabolic pathway that would enable the E. coli bacteria to both produce and tolerate the accumulation of the polymer and the building blocks it is composed of. The resulting polymer is biodegradable and has physical properties that could lend it to biomedical applications such as drug delivery, though more research is needed.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Energy: Nuclear Offbeat: General Offbeat: Space Physics: General Physics: Quantum Physics Space: Astrophysics Space: Cosmology Space: General Space: Structures and Features
Published

New heaviest exotic antimatter nucleus      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists studying the tracks of particles streaming from six billion collisions of atomic nuclei at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) -- an 'atom smasher' that recreates the conditions of the early universe -- have discovered a new kind of antimatter nucleus, the heaviest ever detected. Composed of four antimatter particles -- an antiproton, two antineutrons, and one antihyperon -- these exotic antinuclei are known as antihyperhydrogen-4.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Energy: Technology Engineering: Nanotechnology Physics: General
Published

Molecular wires with a twist      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have developed molecular wires with periodic twists. By controlling the lengths of regions between twists, the electrical conductivity of individual polymer chains can be enhanced. This work may lead to novel organic electronics or single-molecule wires.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General Environmental: General Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Humpbacks are among animals who manufacture and wield tools      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers suggest a new designation of the humpback whales they study: tool wielders. Researchers have known that humpback whales create "bubble-nets" to hunt, but they have learned that the animals don't just create the bubble-nets; they manipulate this unique tool in a variety of ways to maximize their food intake in Alaskan feeding grounds.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Evolutionary Biology: General Biology: Zoology Ecology: Extinction Ecology: Invasive Species Ecology: Nature Ecology: Trees Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

'Masters of shape-shifting': How darkling beetles conquered the world      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Large-scale genomic analysis of darkling beetles, a hyper-diverse insect group of more than 30,000 species worldwide, rolls back the curtain on a 150-million-year evolutionary tale of one of Earth's most ecologically important yet inconspicuous creatures, according to new research.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Molecular Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Deadly sea snail toxin could be key to making better medicines      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists are finding clues for how to treat diabetes and hormone disorders in an unexpected place: a toxin from one of the most venomous animals on the planet.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: General Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Organic Chemistry
Published

'Molecular compass' points way to reduction of animal testing      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Machine learning models have become increasingly popular for risk assessment of chemical compounds. However, they are often considered 'black boxes' due to their lack of transparency. To increase confidence in these models, researchers proposed carefully identifying the areas of chemical space where these models are weak. They developed an innovative software tool for this purpose, and the results of this research approach have just been published.

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

A new reaction to enhance aromatic ketone use in chemical synthesis      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers develop a one pot process to transform aromatic ketones to esters, offering advancements in pharmaceutical synthesis and materials science.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Botany Biology: Cell Biology Biology: Developmental Biology: General Biology: Genetics Ecology: Endangered Species Ecology: Nature Offbeat: General Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Researchers uncover the secrets of 'plant puberty'      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have identified the genetic changes linked to why plants go through a developmental change similar to 'puberty' at different rates, a discovery which could lead to better crop nutrition.

Offbeat: Computers and Math Offbeat: General
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Analyzing 'Finnegans Wake' for novel spacing between punctuation marks      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

James Joyce's tome 'Finnegans Wake' famously breaks the rules of normal prose through its unusual, dreamlike stream of consciousness, and new work in chaos theory takes a closer look at how Joyce's challenging novel stands out mathematically. Researchers compared the distribution of punctuation marks in various experimental novels to determine the underlying order of 'Finnegans Wake' and by statistically analyzing the texts, researchers found the tome exhibits an unusual but statistically identifiable structure. The wide singularity spectrum was perfectly symmetrical, meaning sentence length variability follows an orderly curve.

Offbeat: General Offbeat: Space Space: Exploration Space: General Space: The Solar System
Published

Spectacular increase in the deuterium/hydrogen ratio in Venus' atmosphere      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Our understanding of Venus' water history and the potential that it was once habitable in the past is being challenged by recent observations.

Chemistry: General Energy: Batteries Energy: Technology
Published

Development of a model capable of predicting the cycle lives of high-energy-density lithium-metal batteries      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have developed a model capable of predicting the cycle lives of high-energy-density lithium-metal batteries by applying machine learning methods to battery performance data. The model proved able to accurately estimate batteries' longevity by analyzing their charge, discharge and voltage relaxation process data without relying on any assumption about specific battery degradation mechanisms. The technique is expected to be useful in improving the safety and reliability of devices powered by lithium-metal batteries.