How gut microbes produce lipid plasmalogens
Category: Research Bites
Environmentally Safe Pesticides Made from Copper and Paper-Making Waste Products
Copper concentration in pesticides can be decreased by combining copper with lignin, a waste product from paper manufacturing.
A Bright New Method to Survey RNA-Small Molecule Interactions
With a growing interest in the field of RNA-targeted therapeutics, robust platforms to study RNA small-molecule interactions are needed. Read about the latest endeavor here!
Pathogenic E. coli Can Survive Stomach Acid…For Now
Infected cattle can transmit E. coli to humans through contaminated ground beef, but scientists are looking for a solution.
Harnessing bacteria to become royalty
Engineering bacteria to make the dye ‘royal purple’
Science of Soot
A new look on the chemistry occurring inside a flame!
Hitting a Moving Target: Searching for Weak Points in the Glycan Shield of HIV
Primary Source Info: Title: Visualization of the HIV-1 Env Glycan Shield Across Scales Authors: Zachary T. Berndsen, Srirupa Chakraborty, Xiaoning Wang, Christopher A. Cottrell, Jonathan L. Torres, Jolene K. Diedrich, Cesar A. López, John R. Yates III, Marit J. van Gils, James C. Paulson, Sandrasegaram Gnanakaran,…
Copper ion in organic framework detects antibiotics dissolved in groundwater
A metal organic framework housing a copper atom can be used to detect antibiotic in waterways.
Lighting the way: Molecular beacon provides high-res images of Alzheimer’s protein cleavage
The onset of Alzheimer’s disease is still not well understood. Researchers have developed a high-resolution visualization technique that could lead to improved treatment outcomes. Check it out!
Want more fertile crops this harvest? Add animal bones to your cauldron
Sustaining the world’s population requires finding creative new ways to boost food production
Reactions in Droplets: New Ways of Producing Hydrogen Gas
Developing new ways to produce clean alternative energy sources is of paramount importance. Let’s find out how researchers are using reactions within droplets to produce hydrogen gas, a clean energy source.
Masked Entry – Increasing cell permeability of large molecules
Developing a drug that is able to enter the cell and interact with its target is no mean feat, especially for large molecules. Read about how this group ‘masked’ large molecules to improve their cell permeability.
Molecular tweezers pick viral membranes apart
While most scientists search for specific treatments for viruses like Ebola, Zika and SARS-Cov-2, non-specific methods can have broad impact. Researchers from the United States and Germany joined forces to make molecular “tweezers” that pick apart viruses to death.
When common plants hold uncommon abilities
The story of a research team in Botswana that joined forces with local traditional healers for a powerful scientific collaboration.
Can chemistry overcome incompatibility?
A new way to have incompatible reactions occur in spatially separate regions of a liquid to create methanol from methane.
The Smell of Rain Has a Biological Function
The earthy smell of soil originates from the bacteria that live there. But why do they produce this particular scent?
DNA-based Nanocarriers to Improve the Preciseness of Drug Delivery
Tired of consuming 5 different medications a day? Read how the researchers are developing new ways to load different drugs in a single delivery system.
How augmented reality can improve tumour removal
Scientists developed a platform to assist cancer removal during surgery
Unveiling cryptic compounds
How do you get microbes to produce cryptic compounds?
In Thin Air: Studying Reactions in Levitating Water Droplets
The power of levitation isn’t just for magicians anymore. Learn about a new way of examining water droplets as they float in midair using just sound!
Bug to bug on a bubble
How do pheromones travel from one insect to another? Humidity may change the answer to this question.
Boiling mulberry juice increases its anti-cancer properties
Black mulberry juice is a known antioxidant – compounds that can consume free radicals before they can harm your cells. Researchers at Guangdong University also show that boiling mulberries increases its ability to treat colon cancer in cell culture, but not through antioxidant mechanisms.
#BlackInChem: The Unstoppable Ashley Walker
Ashley Walker, founder of #BlackInAstro and co-founder of #BlackInChem, explores her experiences and motivations. Having overcome many barriers and obstacles, she shares her unique journey as a Black woman in physical chemistry, what she’s learned, and her advice to others.
#BlackInChem: Chemistry should be as diverse as the world we live in
Armed with the belief that chemistry should be as diversified as the world that we all live in, Joy Rutherford tells us how this motivates her to overcome the odds that come with being a PoC PhD student. However, these challenges don’t stop her from becoming a multi-faceted academic success!
#BlackinChem: Finding your feet as an international student
Zweli Hlatshwayo shares his experiences as a Black international student at Ohio State University, and his struggles with impostor syndrome after he started his PhD.