An RNA-making molecule crystallizes on magnetite, which can bias the process toward a single chiral form. S. FURKAN OZTURK Topics: Biology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Magnetism, Materials Science In 1848, French chemist Louis Pasteur discovered that some molecules essential for life exist in mirror-image forms, much like our left and right hands. Today, we know biology choosesContinue reading “Magnetic Chirality…”
Category Archives: Chemistry
X-rays, Bond Breaks, and Climate…
An X-ray flash illuminates a molecule. Credit: Raphael Jay Topics: Chemistry, Climate Change, Green Tech, High Energy Physics, Research, X-rays The use of short flashes of X-ray light brings scientists one big step closer to developing better catalysts to transform the greenhouse gas methane into a less harmful chemical. The result, published in the journal Science,Continue reading “X-rays, Bond Breaks, and Climate…”
Organic Solar Cells…
Prof. Li Gang invented a novel technique to achieve breakthrough efficiency with organic solar cells. Credit: Hong Kong Polytechnic University Topics: Chemistry, Green Tech, Materials Science, Photonics, Research, Solar Power Researchers from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) have achieved a breakthrough power-conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.31% with organic solar cells (OSCs), also known asContinue reading “Organic Solar Cells…”
Nano Sanitizer…
The disinfectant powder is stirred in bacteria-contaminated water (upper left). The mixture is exposed to sunlight, which rapidly kills all the bacteria (upper right). A magnet collects the metallic powder after disinfection (lower right). The powder is then reloaded into another beaker of contaminated water, and the disinfection process is repeated (lower left). (Image credit: TongContinue reading “Nano Sanitizer…”
A Charge For All Seasons…
The new composition for fluorine-containing electrolytes promises to maintain high battery charging performance for future electric vehicles even at sub-zero temperatures. (Image by Shutterstock.) Topics: Battery, Chemistry, Climate Change, Global Warming, Lithium, Materials Science Scientists developed a new and safer electrolyte for lithium-ion batteries that work as well in sub-zero conditions as it does atContinue reading “A Charge For All Seasons…”
TEG…
The new self-powered thermoelectric generator device uses an ultra-broadband solar absorber (UBSA) to capture sunlight, which heats the generator. Simultaneously, another component called a planar radiative cooling emitter (RCE) cools part of the device by releasing heat. Credit: Haoyuan Cai, Jimei University. Topics: Alternate Energy, Battery, Chemistry, Energy, Materials Science, Thermodynamics Researchers have developed aContinue reading “TEG…”
Strange Metals II…
Credit: CC0 Public Domain Topics: Applied Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Metamaterials, Quantum Mechanics The behavior of so-called “strange metals” has long puzzled scientists—but a group of researchers at the University of Toronto may be one step closer to understanding these materials. Electrons are discrete, subatomic particles that flow through wires like molecules of water flowingContinue reading “Strange Metals II…”
Green Transition…
Photo: Getty Images Topics: Battery, Chemistry, Climate Change, Economics, Global Warming Welcome back to The Green Era, a weekly newsletter bringing you the news and trends in the world of sustainability. Click subscribe above to be notified of future editions. The shift to renewable energy has caused consternation over the fate of workers in theContinue reading “Green Transition…”
Catalysis and Energy Savings…
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Topics: Chemistry, Computer Modeling, Environment, Materials Science In an advance, they consider a breakthrough in computational chemistry research. University of Wisconsin–Madison chemical engineers have developed a model of how catalytic reactions work at the atomic scale. This understanding could allow engineers and chemists to develop more efficient catalysts and tune industrialContinue reading “Catalysis and Energy Savings…”
Zombie CFCs…
Researchers detected a surprising rise in levels of chlorofluorocarbons between 2010 and 2020 using a monitoring network that includes the Jungfraujoch research station in Switzerland. Credit: Shutterstock Topics: Chemistry, Civilization, Climate Change, Environment, Global Warming From my resume: “I eliminated ozone-depleting materials using Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and Taguchi Methods of Quality EngineeringContinue reading “Zombie CFCs…”
Physics and Nano 