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Category: chemistry – Page 80

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.

Researchers discover large protein-free RNA structures

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules may be best known for their job ferrying the genetic information encoded in DNA to a cell’s protein factories, but these molecules aren’t just a middleman for protein production. In fact, some RNA molecules don’t code for proteins at all and serve various other important functions in cells, such as regulating gene expression and catalyzing chemical reactions. However, the functions of many non-coding RNAs remain mysterious.

Soundwave recycling technology turns ‘forever chemicals’ into renewable resources

A new technique that uses soundwaves to separate materials for recycling could help prevent potentially harmful chemicals leaching into the environment.

Researchers at the University of Leicester have achieved a major milestone in recycling, advancing techniques to efficiently separate valuable catalyst materials and fluorinated (PFAS) from catalyst-coated membranes (CCMs). The articles are published in RSC Sustainability and Ultrasonic Sonochemistry.

This development addresses critical environmental challenges posed by PFAS—often referred to as “forever chemicals”—which are known to contaminate drinking water and have serious health implications. The Royal Society of Chemistry has urged government intervention to reduce PFAS levels in UK water supplies.

Benchmarking quantum gates: New protocol paves the way for fault-tolerant computing

Researchers have developed a new protocol for benchmarking quantum gates, a critical step toward realizing the full potential of quantum computing and potentially accelerating progress toward fault-tolerant quantum computers.

The new protocol, called deterministic benchmarking (DB), provides a more detailed and efficient method for identifying specific types of quantum noise and errors compared to widely used existing techniques.

The work is published in the journal Chemical Reviews.

Quantum effects in proteins: How tiny particles coordinate energy transfer inside cells

Protons are the basis of bioenergetics. The ability to move them through biological systems is essential for life. A new study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows for the first time that proton transfer is directly influenced by the spin of electrons when measured in chiral biological environments such as proteins. In other words, proton movement in living systems is not purely chemical; it is also a quantum process involving electron spin and molecular chirality.

The quantum process directly affects the small movements of the biological environment that support . This discovery suggests that energy and information transfer in life is more controlled, selective, and potentially tunable than previously believed, bridging with biological chemistry and opening new doors for understanding life at its deepest level—and for designing technologies that can mimic or control biological processes.

The work, led by a team of researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem collaborating with Prof. Ron Naaman from Weizmann Institute of Science and Prof. Nurit Ashkenasy from Ben Gurion University, reveals a surprising connection between the movement of electrons and protons in biological systems.

One timed-release capsule could replace taking multiple pills

Managing complex medication schedules could soon become as simple as taking a single capsule each day. Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a capsule that can be packed with multiple medications and release them at designated times throughout the day.

The advance, published in Matter, could help improve and by eliminating the need for patients to remember taking multiple drugs or doses at various times each day. It could potentially reduce the risk of missed doses or accidental overdoses.

“We want to simplify medication management with a single that is smart enough to deliver the right drug at the right dose at the right time,” said study first author Amal Abbas, who recently earned her Ph.D. in chemical engineering at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering. She spearheaded this work with Joseph Wang, a professor in the Aiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering at UC San Diego.

Scientists create a ‘brilliantly luminous’ nanoscale chemical tool

University of Missouri researchers developed the tiny clay-based materials that can be customized for a range of analytical, commercial and medical applications.

Imagine tiny LEGO pieces that automatically snap together to form a strong, flat sheet. Then, scientists add special chemical “hooks” to these sheets to attach glowing molecules called fluorophores.

Associate Professor Gary Baker, Piyuni Ishtaweera, Ph.D., and their team have created these tiny, clay-based materials—called fluorescent polyionic nanoclays. They can be customized for many uses, including advancing energy and sensor technology, improving medical treatments and protecting the environment.

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