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Category: chemistry – Page 40

DNA-like molecule may survive Venus-like cloud conditions

Punishing conditions in the clouds of Venus could be home to a DNA-like molecule capable of forming genes in life very different to that on Earth, according to a new study.

Long thought to be hostile to complex organic chemistry because of the absence of water, the clouds of Earth’s sister planet are made of droplets of , chlorine, iron, and other substances.

But research led by Wrocław University of Science and Technology shows how peptide nucleic acid (PNA)—a structural cousin of DNA—can survive under lab conditions made to mimic conditions that can occur in Venus’ perpetual clouds.

Startling New Research Links Plastic Chemical to Hundreds of Thousands of Heart Disease Deaths

A global study estimates that exposure to the plastic additive DEHP caused over 356,000 heart disease deaths in 2018, with most deaths occurring in rapidly industrializing regions. A new analysis of global population data suggests that daily exposure to certain chemicals used in plastic household

Physicists discover an unusual chiral quantum state in a topological material

Chirality—the property of an object that is distinct from its mirror image—has long captivated scientists across biology, chemistry, and physics. The phenomenon is sometimes called “handedness,” because it refers to an object possessing a distinct left- or right-handed form. It is a universal quality that is found across various scales of nature, from molecules and amino acids to the famed double-helix of DNA and the spiraling patterns of snail shells.

Mapping memory: Protein tracking technique reveals synaptic changes during learning

A team of Harvard researchers have unveiled a way to map the molecular underpinnings of how learning and memories are formed, a new technique expected to offer insights that may pave the way for new treatments for neurological disorders such as dementia.

“This technique provides a lens into the synaptic architecture of memory, something previously unattainable in such detail,” said Adam Cohen, professor of chemistry and and of physics and senior co-author of the research paper, published in Nature Neuroscience.

Memory resides within a dense network of billions of neurons within the brain. We rely on synaptic plasticity—the strengthening and modulation of connections between these neurons—to facilitate learning and memory.

Next-generation membrane cuts toluene crossover to boost hydrogen storage performance

A Korean research team has developed a new proton exchange membrane (PEM) that significantly enhances the performance of electrochemical hydrogen storage systems. The work was published as a cover article in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A.

Dr. Soonyong So of the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT) and Professor Sang-Young Lee of Yonsei University have developed a next-generation PEM for LOHC-based electrochemical hydrogen storage using a hydrocarbon-based polymer called SPAES (sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone)).

This SPAES membrane reduces toluene permeability by over 60% compared to the commercially available perfluorinated PEM Nafion and improves the Faradaic efficiency of hydrogenation to 72.8%.

Vapor-deposited perovskite semiconductors power next-generation circuits

A research team led by Professor Yong-Young Noh and Dr. Youjin Reo from the Department of Chemical Engineering at POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology) has developed a technology poised to transform next-generation displays and electronic devices.

The project was a collaborative effort with Professors Ao Liu and Huihui Zhu from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), and the findings were published in Nature Electronics.

Every time we stream videos or play games on our smartphones, thousands of transistors operate tirelessly behind the scenes. These microscopic components function like , regulating electric currents to display images and ensure smooth app operation.

Study Introduces an AI Agent That Automates Quantum Chemistry Tasks From Natural Language Prompts

A new study introduces a language-agent framework that translates plain English into quantum chemistry computations, signaling a shift toward more accessible and automated scientific workflows.

Researchers have built an AI system called El Agente Q that integrates large language models (LLMs) with quantum chemistry software to autonomously plan, execute, and explain computational chemistry tasks. The system is capable of understanding general scientific queries, breaking them into step-by-step procedures, selecting the right tools, and solving quantum mechanical problems with minimal human intervention.

A new AI agent uses large language models to autonomously interpret natural language prompts and carry out quantum chemistry computations.

Carbon nanotubes made from waste carbon dioxide produce surprising plasma when microwaved

Plasma is the fourth state of matter and is often referred to as an electrified gas. A plasma will form when a neutral gas is heated to the point where electrons are freed from their atoms. These free electrons allow current to flow through the gas so that it reacts to both electric and magnetic fields. Plasmas have many applications across materials science, medicine and manufacturing, however, specialised equipment is usually needed to maintain the plasma state.

The mostly widely used method for synthesising carbon nanotubes and other graphene nanocarbons is chemical vapour deposition, which requires substantial energy and material, and produces large quantities of carbon dioxide emissions. In 2009, Licht showed that a molten carbonate electrolysis method could be a more sustainable alternative. It involved directly splitting carbon dioxide into oxygen gas and carbon in the form of graphene nanocarbons.2

Now, Licht’s group has employed molten carbonate electrolysis to convert carbon dioxide into carbon nanotubes. Microwaving these carbon nanotubes in a regular microwave oven ignites a striking yellow-white plasma within seconds and reaches temperatures exceeding 800°C.

Biochemical method offers view into earliest stages of RNA production

When RNA molecules are synthesized by cells—a critical process in the creation of proteins and other cellular functions—they typically undergo a series of “folding” events that determine their structure and the role they will play in expressing genetic information in living organisms.

Until recently, however, not much was known about these folding processes that occur very early in the life of RNA molecules.

But Yale researchers have now developed a method to map and measure the structure of RNA as it develops, an advance that may help scientists design more effective treatments for a host of diseases. Their findings are described in the journal Molecular Cell.

Okra and fenugreek extracts remove most microplastics from water, finds research

The substances behind the slimy strings from okra and the gel from fenugreek seeds could trap microplastics better than a commonly used synthetic polymer. Previously, researchers proposed using these sticky natural polymers to clean up water. Now, they report in ACS Omega that okra and/or fenugreek extracts attracted and removed up to 90% of microplastics in ocean water, freshwater and groundwater.

Rajani Srinivasan and colleagues have been exploring nontoxic, plant-based approaches to attract and remove contaminants from water. In one set of lab experiments, they found that polymers from okra, fenugreek and tamarind stick to microplastics, clumping together and sinking for easy separation from water.

Srinivasan spoke about successful demonstrations of the plant extracts in freshwater and at ACS Spring 2022, a meeting of the American Chemical Society. In this next stage of the research, they have optimized the process for okra and fenugreek extracts in various types of water.

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