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Chemists design the least dense crystals known to man for applications in clean energyChemists at UCLA have designed new organic structures for the storage of voluminous amounts of gases for use in alternative energy technologies.
Device uses solar energy to convert carbon dioxide into fuelChemists at the University of California, San Diego have demonstrated the feasibility of exploiting sunlight to transform a greenhouse gas into a useful product.
Scientists design new super-hard materialUltra-hard materials are used for everything from drills that bore for oil and build new roads to scratch-resistant coatings for precision instruments and the face of your watch.
Everything starts with recognitionA human body has more than 10 to the power of 27 molecules with about one hundred thousand different shapes and functions. Interactions between molecules determine our structure and keep us alive. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research in Stuttgart in collaboration with scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute in Freiburg and the King's Collage London have followed the interaction of only two individual molecules to show the basic mechanism underlying recognition of dipeptides.
Bucky's brother: the boron buckyball makes its debut
A new study by Rice University scientists predicts the existence and stability of another "buckyball" consisting entirely of boron atoms.
Newly discovered plant enzymes could lead to more efficient -- and less costly -- ethanol production from celluloseIn a breakthrough that could make the production of cellulosic ethanol less expensive, Cornell researchers have discovered a class of plant enzymes that potentially could allow plant materials used to make ethanol to be broken down more efficiently than is possible using current technologies.
Work with nanoparticles may lead to 'on-the-spot' virus detector
Chemical engineers from the University at Buffalo have collaborated with scientists from other institutions to solve a critical bottleneck in the transport and capture of virus nanoparticles, making possible a device that could rapidly sample and detect infectious biological agents, such as viruses.
A newcomer in the treatment of mood disorders: nitric oxide
A team of researchers from the Institut de génomique fonctionnelle (Inserm / CNRS / Universités Montpellier 1 and Montpellier 2) has discovered the key role played by the enzyme nitric oxide synthase in the activity of the transporter of serotonin, a compound used in mood regulation treatment. This is a particularly valuable demonstration because nitric oxide is also known for its role in anxiety. This research work, to be published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science could open up new paths for therapy among patients for whom standard antidepressants prove ineffective.
Cell splits water via sunlight to produce hydrogenEngineers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a unique photocatalytic cell that splits water to produce hydrogen and oxygen in water using sunlight and the power of a nanostructured catalyst.
Researchers 'hammer' proteins
A team of chemists, led by an ASU professor, has come up with an elegant method for cutting proteins into more manageable pieces for analysis. The method, which uses industrial fillers commonly found in paint and light, could significantly aid the development of bioanalysis tools that identify human remains – and might aid ushering in the age of personalized medicine.
X-ray holograms reveal secret magnetismThe May 2 issue of the journal Nature reveals how collaboration between scientists in the United States and the United Kingdom has led to a major breakthrough in the understanding of antiferromagnets, which could help spur their exploitation for information technology or other products.
Platinum nanocrystals boost catalytic activityA research team composed of electrochemists and materials scientists from two continents has produced a new form of the industrially-important metal platinum: 24-facet nanocrystals whose catalytic activity per unit area can be as much as four times higher than existing commercial platinum catalysts.
Agent protects cells from lethal effects of radiation even if given after exposureNo drugs exist to protect the public from the high levels of radiation that could be released by a "dirty" bomb or nuclear explosion. Such excessive exposure typically causes death within weeks as the radiation kills blood cells vital to clotting and fighting infection, along with the stem cells needed to replenish their supply. But now researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis report they have developed an agent that protects cells from the lethal effects of radiation, regardless of whether it is given before or after exposure.
Freeze! Scientists film proteins at work by freezing them in different states last modifiedIt is difficult to find similarities between Grenoble and Hollywood or between the researchers at the ESRF and the Institut de Biologie Structural (IBS) and world-known filmmakers. However, scientists from these institutes based in Grenoble (France) have managed to produce a movie. The actors are not celebrities but a protein whose role is to eliminate toxic molecules. They filmed this protein in action by freezing it at several states.
Two-protein team would be lost without each otherJust as a hard-charging person sometimes needs a calming partner to be more effective, so it is with a pair of critical proteins that promote cell division and growth in the rapidly expanding root tip of plants.
Protein enables discovery of quantum effect in photosynthesisWhen it comes to studying energy transfer in photosynthesis, it's good to think "outside the bun."
Ucla scientists combine Chopin and molecular biology, converting protein sequences into classical musicUCLA molecular biologists have turned protein sequences into original compositions of classical music.
Iowa state scientists demonstrate first use of nanotechnology to enter plant cellsA team of Iowa State University plant scientists and materials chemists have successfully used nanotechnology to penetrate plant cell walls and simultaneously deliver a gene and a chemical that triggers its expression with controlled precision. Their breakthrough brings nanotechnology to plant biology and agricultural biotechnology, creating a powerful new tool for targeted delivery into plant cells.
Inexpensive nanoglue can bond nearly anything together Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a new method to bond materials that don't normally stick together. The team's adhesive, which is based on self-assembling nanoscale chains, could impact everything from next-generation computer chip manufacturing to energy production.
The longest carbon nanotubes you've ever seenUsing techniques that could revolutionize manufacturing for certain materials, researchers have grown carbon nanotubes that are the longest in the world. While still slightly less than 2 centimeters long, each nanotube is 900,000 times longer than its diameter.