Mucus is critical to human health. To explore how, researchers synthesized its major component, sugar-coated proteins called mucins, and discovered that changing the mucins of healthy cells to be more cancer-like made cells act more cancer-like. They will present their results at ACS Spring 2024.
Tag: Chemistry
New composite decking could reduce global warming effects of building materials
Building materials are major contributors to global carbon dioxide emissions. So scientists have designed a composite decking material that stores more carbon dioxide than is required to manufacture it, providing the first “carbon-negative” option. They will present their results at ACS Spring 2024.
Mimicking exercise with a pill
Could a pill replicate the benefits of exercise? Researchers have identified new compounds that seem to mimic some benefits of exercise in rodent cells. This discovery could help treat those with muscle wasting and other conditions. The scientists will present their results at ACS Spring 2024.
Better kombucha brewing through chemistry
These chemists are investigating ways to reliably minimize alcohol and tailor taste profiles during the kombucha fermentation process to help home and commercial producers optimize their funky brews. They will present their results at ACS Spring 2024.
The many flavors of edible ants
Ants are commonly eaten in some parts of the world, roasted and eaten whole or ground and used to add flavor and texture to dishes. Each species has its own unique flavor, and researchers now report the aroma profiles of four species of edible ants. They will present their results at ACS Spring 2024.
Animal hair structure changes from summer to winter to fend off freezing weather
Some animals can withstand frigid weather, thanks to the insulating properties of the hollow hairs that make up their coats. Little was known about the hairs, but researchers have now discovered that their inner structure changes with the seasons. They will present their results at ACS Spring 2024.
You don’t need glue to hold these materials together — just electricity
A study in ACS Central Science shows that applying voltage to certain objects forms chemical bonds linking the objects together. Reversing the direction of electron flow separates the materials. This could help create biohybrid robots, improve biomedical implants and enable new battery technologies.
Want fewer microplastics in your tap water? Try boiling it first
Want to remove microplastics from water? Try brewing it for a cup of tea or coffee! Research reported in Environmental Science & Technology Letters shows that by boiling then filtering tap water, up to 90% of the nano- and microplastics present could be removed.
Light stimulates a new twist for synthetic chemistry
Molecules that are induced by light to rotate bulky groups around central bonds could be developed into photo-activated bioactive systems, molecular switches, and more.
Tattoo inks don’t match the ingredients listed on the bottle
When you get a tattoo, do you know what you’re putting under your skin? According to new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York, the ingredient labels on tattoo ink don’t match the actual substances in the bottle.
C.M. Tokë Vandervoort selected as ACS General Counsel
The American Chemical Society (ACS) is pleased to announce the appointment of C.M. Vandervoort, who goes by Tokë, as its next General Counsel. She will succeed Flint Lewis, Secretary and General Counsel, who will retire on April 1 after nearly 30 years of service to ACS.
Compounds in female ginseng could lead to new osteoporosis treatments
Drugs for treating osteoporosis can be expensive and have side effects. In the search for alternative drug candidates, researchers reporting in ACS Central Science have discovered and fully replicated a compound from female ginseng that had potent anti-osteoporotic activity in cellular tests.
Mercury levels in tuna remain nearly unchanged since 1971, study says
Tuna can build up high levels of methylmercury from feeding on contaminated prey. Despite efforts to reduce mercury emissions, researchers report in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology Letters that levels in tuna appear to be unchanged.
Highways through historically redlined areas likely cause air pollution disparities today
Historically “redlined” areas – neighborhoods with primarily Black or immigrant communities – are exposed to more air pollution than other urban neighborhoods. According to research published in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology, the cause could relate to nearby highways or industrial parks.
Membrane Technology: Looking Deep into Smallest Pores
Membranes of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VaCNT) can be used to clean or desalinate water at high flow rate and low pressure. Recently, researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and partners carried out steroid hormone adsorption experiments to study the interplay of forces in the small pores. They found that VaCNT of specific pore geometry and pore surface structure are suited for use as highly selective membranes. The researchers report in Nature Communications. (DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44883-2)
Plasma Technology for More Effective Lithium Extraction
Korea Institute of Fusion Energy(KFE) announced revealed that their researchers have successfully increased the lithium extraction rate by three times compared to pre-existing methods by applying CO2 microwave plasma technology.
Nanomedicine paves the way for new treatments for spinal cord injury
A Study by Politecnico di Milano and Istituto Mario Negri has been published in Advanced Materials.
Pesticides to help protect seeds can adversely affect earthworms’ health
Research published in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology Letters reveals that worms are affected by small amounts of chemicals from pesticide-treated seeds.
New process allows full recovery of starting materials from tough polymer composites
In a win for chemistry, inventors at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have designed a closed-loop path for synthesizing an exceptionally tough carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer and later recovering all of its starting materials.
Researchers uncover potential non-opioid treatment for chronic pain
Among the most difficult types of pain to alleviate is neuropathic pain, pain that is usually caused by damage to nerves in various body tissues, including skin, muscle and joints.
Device ‘smells’ seawater to discover, detect novel molecules
Researchers in ACS Central Science report a proof-of-concept device that “sniffs” seawater, trapping dissolved compounds for analyses. The team showed that the system could easily concentrate molecules that are present in underwater caves and holds promise for drug discovery in fragile ecosystems, including coral reefs.
A step to prevent opioid overdose deaths with light-activated naloxone treatment
In a proof-of-concept in ACS’ Nano Letters, a team has designed injectable nanoparticles that released naloxone ― which rapidly reverses opioid overdose effects ― when triggered by blue light. In experiments with mice, this system was activated a month after injection.
Incheon National University scientists develop new hydrogels for wound management
By leveraging the power of oxygen, these gelatin patches can act as effective tissue adhesives that accelerate the healing of wounds
Diapers can be recycled 200 times faster with light
Water and UV radiation rapidly and efficiently degrade crosslinked polymers of diaper liners without needing any chemicals – recycled plastic molecules can be used in various ways
Cathode active materials for lithium-ion batteries could be produced at low temperatures
Layered lithium cobalt oxide, a key component of lithium-ion batteries, has been synthesized at temperatures as low as 300°C and durations as short as 30 minutes.
Electrons are quick-change artists in molten salts, chemists show
In a finding that helps elucidate how molten salts in advanced nuclear reactors might behave, scientists have shown how electrons interacting with the ions of the molten salt can form three states with different properties.
Orange Photonics Unveils LightLab 3 Psy Analyzer, Revolutionizing Analytical Testing for Psychedelic Mushrooms and Infused Products
Orange Photonics, a pioneer in analytical testing solutions, is pleased to introduce LightLab 3 Psy Analyzer
AI identifies antimalarial drug as possible osteoporosis treatment
Artificial intelligence is being harnessed by some scientists to predict which molecules could treat illnesses. Researchers reporting in ACS Central Science have used one such deep learning algorithm, and found that an antimalarial drug could treat osteoporosis.
Transforming wastewater into valuable chemicals with sunlight
Researchers led by Prof. GAO Xiang from the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Prof. LU Lu from the Harbin Institute of Technology have proposed a novel method to transform wastewater contaminants into valuable chemicals using sunlight, thus paving the way for sustainable and eco-friendly chemical manufacturing.
Novel catalyst for green production of fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals
Scientists from the National University of Singapore have developed an innovative catalyst that achieves a significantly lower carbon footprint, paving the way for greener chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing processes.
Killer whales’ diet more important than location for pollutant exposure, study says
Killer whales are some of the oceans’ top predators, but even they can be exposed to environmental pollution. In the largest study to date on North Atlantic killer whales, researchers in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology report the levels of pollutants in 162 individuals’ blubber.
‘Ultrashort’ PFAS compounds detected in people and their homes, study shows
Smaller, fluorinated compounds are becoming replacements for PFAS, though research suggests these versions could also be harmful. A study in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology reports that levels of these substances indoor and human samples are similar to or higher than those of legacy PFAS.
Metal-organic frameworks could someday deliver antibacterial nitric oxide
Researchers still need to get a better understanding of how metal-organic frameworks function, especially when embedded in polymers. Reporting in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, researchers have now developed and characterized nitric oxide-storing MOFs embedded in a thin film with novel antibacterial potential.
A real “rock star” moment: New mineral named after Argonne materials scientist Kanatzidis
Mercouri Kanatzidis, an Argonne and Northwestern University materials scientist, has studied sulfur-containing materials called chalcogenides for more than 30 years. A new chalcogenide mineral has just been named for him.
UAlbany Chemist Receives $1 Million in Federal Support to Commercialize Forensic Investigation Tool
The funding will be used to advance a novel technology, which combines Raman spectroscopy and machine learning to identify body fluid traces at crime scenes.
American Chemical Society’s president comments on award of 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
On behalf of the American Chemical Society (ACS), President Judith C. Giordan, Ph.D., congratulates today’s winners of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry: Moungi G. Bawendi, Ph.D., of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Louis E. Brus, Ph.D., of Columbia University; and Alexei I. Ekimov, Ph.D., of Nanocrystals Technology Inc.
Water makes all the difference
In order to fulfil their function, biological cells need to be divided into separate reaction compartments. This is sometimes done with membranes, and sometimes without them: the spontaneous segregation of certain types of biomolecules leads to the formation of so-called condensates.
Chemistry Student Studies Sustainable Energy Solutions at National Lab
Chemistry graduate student Oliver Solares is working toward finding solutions for clean energy and mitigating the impacts of climate change.
Department of Energy funds new center for decarbonization of steelmaking
The DOE recently announced $19 million in funding for Argonne to lead the Center for Steel Electrification by Electrosynthesis. The center’s aim is to develop a cost-effective process for steel making that would greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Biological Particles Play Crucial Role in Arctic Cloud Ice Formation
An international team of scientists from Sweden, Norway, Japan, and Switzerland, has presented research findings that reveal a crucial role of biological particles, including pollen, spores, and bacteria, in the formation of ice within Arctic clouds.
Solar cell material can assist self-driving cars in the dark
Material used in organic solar cells can also be used as light sensors in electronics. This is shown by researchers at Linköping University, Sweden, who have developed a type of sensor able to detect circularly polarised red light.
Making elbow room: Giant molecular rotors operate in solid crystal
Concave, umbrella-like metal complexes provide space to enable the largest molecular rotor operational in the solid-state.
Light-activated acid drives energy-efficient, on-demand release of captured CO2
Using light instead of heat, Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers found a way to release carbon dioxide from a solvent used in direct air capture to trap this greenhouse gas.
Chameleon-inspired coating could cool and warm buildings through the seasons
By mimicking a desert-dwelling chameleon, a team reporting in ACS’ Nano Letters has developed an energy-efficient, cost-effective coating. The material could keep buildings cool in the summers — or warm in the winters — without additional energy.
Gotcha! New technology speeds up bacterial testing in food
It is said that there is waste in haste, but researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University have proven that doing things rapidly does not necessarily mean working ineffectively.
Some spiders can transfer mercury contamination to land animals, study shows
Aquatic insects can pass mercury in contaminated waterways along to the spiders that feed on them.
Rubber plumbing seals can leak additives into drinking water, study says
Rubber seals inside some plumbing devices contain additives that contribute to their flexibility and durability, but these potentially harmful compounds can leak into drinking water, according to a small-scale study in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology Letters.
Machine learning tool simplifies one of the most widely used reactions in the pharmaceutical industry
University of Illinois researchers and a Swiss pharmaceutical company have developed a machine learning model that eliminates the need for extensive experimentation to determine the best conditions for an important carbon-nitrogen bond forming reaction known as the Buchwald-Hartwig reaction.
Applications Open for Graduate Programs in Chemistry and Green Chemistry & Sustainability (Semester 2/2023)
The Master and Doctoral Degrees Programs in Chemistry and Green Chemistry & Sustainability, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University are now accepting applications for the second semester of academic year 2023.
Florida State University Earth scientist reveals how the Arctic is changing
A Florida State University scientist has helped uncover through a multidecadal study how changing water chemistry in Arctic rivers could impact the entire planet.