Scientists access new types of nanocrystals by leveraging simple acid-base concepts. The take-home message: always remember the basics!
Carcinogens, Scientific Disagreement, and the Role of Scientists
When it comes to scientific disagreement, how do we, as readers, scientists, and consumers, analyze conflicting publications?
Looking into the crystal bubble
Protein crystallisation is an important technique in drug discovery, and storage of proteins in the biopharmaceutical industry but can sometimes be regarded as a dark-art. Read how researchers use air-bubbles to improve protein crystal growth.
The Montreal Protocol – a policy saving lives by closing the Antarctic ozone hole
Since it’s ratification in 1987, the Montreal Protocol has saved millions of people from skin cancer and cataracts. This success is due to global collaboration and an effective use of science in policy.
The metal your gut craves
Tungsten helps your gut microbiome remove toxic chemicals. Without a major source of tungsten in our diets, it might be the metal your gut has been craving.
Adding fluorines to small molecules
Enzymes incorporating fluorine into compounds
Could cleaning our drinking water produce hazardous byproducts?
Adding chlorine to drinking water is a prominent method of disinfection. However, new research suggests many potentially harmful byproducts could be created.
Where is the calcium? First steps toward a new MRI brain-imaging technique
Calcium is important in bones and in brains. But which brain regions have a lot of calcium? Do disease states affect calcium levels? A new tool is being developed to find out.
Turning Sludge into Building Materials
Safely handling hazardous waste generated from industrial processes is crucial to preventing environmental contamination. Chemists handle their heavy metal hazardous waste by transforming the sludge into useful construction materials
µMap ID – a new technique for identifying the targets of drug candidates
Finding the target of drug candidates is often challenging. A new technique called µMap ID may speed up this process.
Outsmarting the cancerous activity of cathepsin B with pH-selective peptides
Scientists showed that by modulating cathepsin B’s cleavage activity with pH-selective peptides, they can irreversibly and selectively stop its cancerous activity.
Flying through an extraterrestrial ice plume in search of life
Searching the icy plumes at Enceladus for signs of life is not an easy task, but we may now have the technology to do it.
Progress towards detecting aliens?
E.T. may be able to phone home – or “home phone” if we’re quoting the little guy correctly – but humans require a little more info using extraterrestrial biosignatures to figure out where aliens come from.
Promising fuel cell catalyst for renewable future
Metal catalyst that may greatly improve feasibility of ethanol fuel cell
More than just genes: looking for disease markers in methylated DNA
A tiny methyl group (one carbon bound to three hydrogen atoms) can be a big marker for disease.
Enzymes upcycle harmful plastics into helpful antimicrobial agents
Enzymes and bacteria can be used to degrade plastics into chemicals useful for antibacterial coatings
FINDING A DIVERSE ANTI-INFLUENZA MOLECULE
We will continue coming across new viral proteins and viruses, so it doesn’t hurt to be prepared for those. The work of White et al helps in giving a starting point for medicines against the Influenza viruses.
Upcycling Plant Matter
Avocado peels and uprooted invasive plants can become a source for anti-inflammatories. I’ll toast to that!
Using seawater and the sun to make safe drinking water
Supplying safe drinking water to the world’s population remains a persistent challenge. In a new paper, researchers have developed a simple distillation device made of paper that can turn seawater into fresh drinking water using just the heat from the sun.
Looking into the past: How our gut microbiomes differ from our ancient ancestors
The human gut microbiome is essential for digestion and nutrient absorption. With industrialisation having dramatically changed the way we eat, what effects has this had on our intestinal flora?
Using Polymers for Data Storage
Rather than storing data in binary code, could polymers be used to encode data in hexadecimal?
Quantum Computing for electronic structure calculations
Simulations assisted by Quantum computers are the future. They could provide highly accurate and fast solutions to problems considered intractable for most powerful classical computers.
#InMyElement: Black Chemists Organization Convenes Members, Allies for 2nd Annual Virtual Celebration Week
BlackChemistsWeek features discussions on critical scientific and social issues, including DEI, STEM education, and intersectionality.
Working out what worked (or didn’t) in a work-up
In organic chemistry, once your reaction is over you generally “work-up” the mixture. But what happens if the work-up changes the outcome?
Combining Biomass and Carbon Dioxide Feedstocks Can Cut Polyurethane Emissions
Carbon dioxide and biomass combinations can reduce the carbon emissions of polyurethane production, but has negative effects on other environmental parameters.