One of the most important types of chemicals in agriculture is fertilizer. This paper shows a new way to cleanly make fertilizer from a very common mineral!
A Road Map for Targeting Specific Materials Properties
Wouldn’t it be great if we could create any material we want, and that material would behave exactly as we would like it to? Here’s how chemists are trying to do that!
Scan your barcode, the molecular one!
What comes to your mind when you think of barcodes and plastics? This post will enlighten you on a new kind of barcode, molecular barcode, encrypted within the plastic itself!
Assembling Gold Nanoparticles into 3D Structures Using DNA
How can DNA be used to enhance applications in nanotechnology? The authors here create never-before-seen optical systems by combining DNA origami with plasmonic nanoparticles.
The Frustrations of Dihydrogen Activation
Dihydrogen stores a lot of energy. How can we control the release of energy so we can use dihydrogen as a fuel of the future? A little frustration can help.
Using measurements and models to build a better picture of Arctic methane emissions
Methane is a molecule in our atmosphere that is contributing to climate change. This research looks at Arctic methane emissions through the use of a model and measurements to allow for a more complete understanding of the global distribution.
Unveiling the Mystery of Nanomaterials
Ever wondered how and why the world of ‘nanomaterials’ is fueling the ‘big’ technological advances! Let us travel past the layers of sophisticated ingenious performance of nanomaterials and learn the fundamental reason behind their properties.
3D Mass Spectrometry to Discover Novel ANTibiotics
Researchers have developed a novel technique to perform mass spectrometry “imaging” of 3D objects. This method is used to identify novel natural products on whole ants when exposed to a pathogen.
Novel Materials for Next-Generation LEDs: Embedding Light-emitting Quantum Dots in a Perovskite Matrix
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) already bring cheap and versatile lighting to people across the world, but the latest technological advances are even more promising, embedding nanocrystals in a perovskite matrix for better LEDs.
Cheap and Efficient Solar Energy: Flexible Quantum Dot Solar Cells
Solar energy is often touted as too expensive for large-scale energy production. This work gives insight into making one component of next gen solar cells, the metal oxide layer, significantly easier to fabricate.
The First Chemical Synthesis of Griffipavixanthone: Bringing out Intellectual and Artistic Virtuosity in Synthetic Chemistry
How do synthetic chemists use fundamental, yet robust reactions to chemicals stitch together smaller fragments large and complex natural products? The Porco’s Lab latest work might give you a taste of what it’s like to exercise the art of total synthesis with a hint of inspiration from biology.
Efficient Water Splitting Brought to You by Nickel Foam
We’d love to run cars on hydrogen, spitting only water out of the tailpipe. To produce cheap hydrogen in a green way, these researchers have developed a surprising new material to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.
Testing for HIV using only a smartphone
Fast, cheap, and easy medical testing devices can help diagnose diseases across the world. Let’s learn about one recently developed to detect HIV!
Say No to Drugs: Fast and Efficient Drug Detection in Biofluids
How are Olympic doping agents similar to environmental water contaminants? It all relates back to chemical detection methods!
Alternative Fuel Production by a Cu-Zr Inorganic Sponge
This works explains the design principle of a novel methane oxidation catalyst by putting together Cu and NU-1000, a Metal Organic Framework with heightened structural stability. It also uses various spectroscopic technique to assign the oxidation state of the active catalyst which in turn is the source of higher selectivity in the catalytic reaction.
Carbon Monoxide: Future Therapeutic?
Carbon monoxide is probably one of the last things you would expect to see touted as a new therapeutic. How could this compound be used in medicine?
A pass to the cell: designing peptides for drug delivery.
Antibodies can be used as medicines, but they need some help to enter the cell.
In this paper, the help that they need arrives from another molecule that works as a ticket for the cell taxi.
Titan chemistry – insights from Cassini’s grand mission
In celebration of Cassini’s grand finale, this bite features the discoveries of Titan’s chemistry as revealed by Cassini.
The Persistence of Memory
How do cells “decide” whether they proliferate or enter quiescence? Recent trials on cells’ reproductive behavior may answer this question.
Drawing a map with chemicals!
Buildings and natural preserves create geographical maps. And now, molecules could build a molecular map! By investigating the presence of molecules in the environment, researchers have built some 3D molecular maps, which are the story tellers of our interactions with our living places!
Buckle Up: The Nanobelt has Arrived
What’s so special about a nanobelt? Let’s find out.
What do solar eclipses teach us about Chemistry!
Solar Eclipses are not a subject in Astronomy only! Let’s explore what they teach us in Chemistry!
Next generation of carbon dioxide sorbents
Let’s explore the next generation of CO2 sorbents!
Build a motor, with molecules!
Finding blades and a shaft to build a motor? How about trying out with fluorene and alkene? Yes, it’s the molecular motor! Let’s see how it works!
Beyond paper and furniture: Modern chemical applications of wood
How can chemists use wood to make blue jeans blue and parachutes strong? Check it out!
