Researchers at The University of Manchester discovered that intense electronic excitation can trigger rapid structural changes in metals, driven by electronic entropy. The study found that almost all elemental metals undergo solid-to-solid phase transitions driven solely by this effect.
Researchers discovered a previously unknown damage mechanism in metals under shear loading, where stiff particles inhibit material movement and boost void growth. The study used synchrotron computed laminography and 3D simulation methods to investigate an aluminum alloy and found significant damage growth up to sixfold.
Researchers discovered bio-metals in the jaws of ancient sea worms, exhibiting properties like hardness and strain mechanics. The unique materials show similarities to metals but also have distinct mechanical properties.
Researchers at Penn State found that adjusting the atomic arrangement of structural metals in molten salt reactors can significantly affect corrosion rates. The study's findings highlight the importance of material stability and chemical interactions between salts, metals, and mechanical stress.
Research found bumblebees accumulate higher levels of toxic metals in bodies and pollen, affecting foraging efficiency, navigation, and reproductive success. The study highlights the vulnerability of bumblebees to metal pollution, even in relatively safe areas.
A new analysis model predicts plastic deformation behavior of sheet metals based on microstructural characteristics, reducing calculation time from hours to seconds. The technology improves process design efficiency for automotive and battery applications by predicting forming issues like tearing and wrinkling.
The UJI Institute of Advanced Materials has developed a new methodology for producing advanced catalytic materials with improved catalytic activity and efficiency. The process uses transition metals, reducing the need for expensive noble metals and generating high-purity hydrogen.
Colorado State University researchers propose strategies to immobilize toxic metals and prevent plant uptake in rice grains, protecting food security and public health. The approach aims to reduce arsenic, cadmium, and mercury contamination in rice paddies using nanomaterials and chemical reactions.
Researchers at KIT develop an iron(I) source for catalytic reactions, offering a sustainable alternative to noble metals. The new compound is well-suited as the source for an active iron catalyst, extending its range of potential applications.
Researchers found that wildland-urban interface fires release distinct pollutants, including toxic metals and PFAS, which can penetrate deep into lungs. These particles differ from ordinary urban pollution and biomass-only wildfire aerosols, highlighting the need for monitoring and cleanup strategies tailored to fire composition.
A new study reveals that even the most remote corners of the ocean are contaminated with zinc from human sources, surpassing natural zinc levels. Zinc from fossil fuel combustion and industrial emissions dominates the upper layer of the South Pacific, posing a potential threat to marine life and nutrient balances.
Researchers at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History analyzed 18 scorpion species and found striking patterns in metal concentration and distribution among their pincers and stingers. The study reveals that zinc plays a role beyond hardness, possibly enhancing durability, and provides insight into how organisms adapt to pr...
Scientists at the University of Minnesota have discovered a powerful new method for controlling the electronic behavior of metals by adjusting film thickness at the nanometer scale, which can tune surface work function by over 1 eV.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered a new way to enable pi interactions between dioxygen and f-block metals like neodymium, creating lanthanide-oxos. This breakthrough could lead to the development of highly reactive molecules as synthetic replacements for iron-oxo.
Researchers have discovered high levels of forever chemicals like PFAS in Svalbard reindeer, while toxic metals such as cadmium and lead have shown a decrease. The study suggests that PFAS levels have skyrocketed over the past decade, with implications for human consumption of the animals.
Scientists have created a new hybrid metallic implant that combines two metals with complementary properties, providing high strength while using less material. The implant's slow degradation rate supports natural bone regeneration and reduces post-implantation complications.
Researchers developed a phosphorus-modified biochar that can simultaneously immobilize harmful metals and enhance soil fertility. The material showed remarkable adsorption capacity for lead and cadmium, with potential applications in soil remediation and sustainable agriculture.
Recent scientific progress in nanotechnology has led to the development of engineered nanomaterials that can remove, transform, or immobilize heavy metals in contaminated environments. These nanomaterials possess unique properties that make them highly reactive and efficient at interacting with contaminants.
Researchers from ETH Zurich have developed a single-atom catalyst that enables more efficient CO2-based methanol synthesis. The new catalyst, composed of isolated indium atoms on hafnium oxide, allows for the use of precious metals in an economically viable manner.
Researchers have discovered a new reactivity mode for phosphorus that mimics a mode performed by precious metal catalysts. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient and cost-effective methods for creating complex nitrogen-containing compounds in the pharmaceutical industry.
Researchers at King's College London have developed highly reactive aluminium molecules that can break apart tough chemical bonds. The team discovered a new compound called cyclotrialumane, which exhibits unprecedented reactivity and retains its structure in various solutions.
Researchers have made a breakthrough in understanding the chemical process linked with Alzheimer's disease by observing real-time interactions between metals and proteins. They discovered a method to selectively grasp copper ions that promote protein aggregation, offering hope for potential reversible treatments.
The US Department of Energy has launched a national research program on liquid metals for fusion, with Princeton University at the forefront. The program aims to develop liquid metal technology that can protect components from intense heat and improve fusion system performance.
Researchers at Northwestern University found that heat strengthens pure metals under extreme conditions, challenging long-held assumptions. The study revealed a stark divide between pure and alloyed metals, with pure metals becoming stronger and harder as temperatures increased.
Researchers found that aged vape plumes in indoor environments contain fine particles with metals and highly reactive compounds, producing radicals that might damage lung tissue if inhaled. Repeated exposure to these plumes could negatively impact lung health, especially for individuals with pre-existing conditions.
Research finds that children with higher levels of copper in their bodies are 16 times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD. Exposure to heavy metals like lead and mercury also increases the risk of developing the disorder or worsening symptoms.
A UCLA-led research team has discovered a new metallic material that conducts heat nearly three times more efficiently than copper, opening up new pathways for cooling electronics and AI hardware. The material, theta-phase tantalum nitride, boasts an ultrahigh thermal conductivity of approximately 1,100 W/mK.
A new review highlights the challenges of composite pollution in facility agriculture, where heavy metals, microplastics, and antibiotic resistance genes interact to affect soil organisms, crop growth, and consumer health. The authors call for more integrated assessment frameworks and sustainable control strategies.
A comprehensive analysis of 503 fish found high levels of 13 heavy metals and toxic substances, making consumption inadvisable due to health risks. The study highlights the persistence of contamination in the Doce River basin, with ongoing mineral exploitation and industrial activities contributing to pollution.
Researchers at the University of Illinois developed a machine learning approach to analyze diffraction patterns and capture an alloy's microstructure in unprecedented detail. This method accelerates alloy property prediction by orders of magnitude, enabling rapid fundamental understanding of structure properties in metals.
Mosses have been found to remove metals from water by utilizing the help of their microbial symbionts. The key to this process is the cooperation between the moss and its endophytes, which enhance metal tolerance. Mosses from polluted environments were found to host more beneficial microbes that facilitate metal removal.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute present efficient and low-CO2 process to extract copper, nickel, and cobalt from deep-sea ore nodules. The method generates significantly less waste and deforestation compared to traditional land-based mining.
Researchers found elevated levels of lead, arsenic, copper, cadmium, and antimony in metal recycling workers' blood and urine, highlighting the need for better cleaning practices and respiratory protection. The study's results emphasize the importance of monitoring rare earth metals and implementing measures to reduce workplace exposure.
Heavy metals in soil can overestimate real risk to crops, ecosystems, and human health due to low bioavailability. A new review provides a practical framework using tools such as chemical extractants, biological assays, and models to estimate the accessible fraction of metals.
A new study shows that lithium can be recovered from battery waste using an electrochemically driven recovery process, which demonstrates economic viability with the potential to simplify operations. The method has been tested on commonly used types of lithium-containing batteries and produces recovered lithium at a cost comparable to ...
Researchers have successfully grown platinum crystals in liquid metal using a powerful X-ray technique. The study reveals the formation and growth of crystals within liquid metals like Gallium, which could be used to create new materials for hydrogen extraction and quantum computing applications.
The NIST report identifies five strategies to tackle challenges in the metals processing industry, including improving standards for recycled content and diversifying supply chains. The report also highlights the importance of critical materials and their potential impact on supply chain disruptions.
Researchers at Penn State developed seven new high-entropy oxides by removing oxygen during synthesis, stabilizing iron and manganese in ceramics that wouldn't otherwise stabilize. The team used machine learning to identify six additional combinations of metals forming the new materials.
Researchers discovered a simple method to synthesize diverse and performant supported catalysts by alloying metals via gas-switch-triggered reduction. The new approach demonstrated 18 times higher catalytic performance than monometallic catalysts, making it suitable for industrial processes.
Researchers found that abandoned oil and gas wells in Pennsylvania can leak methane and metals into groundwater, contaminating nearby aquifers. The study's findings suggest that the interaction between methane and rock near wellbores releases metals into groundwater.
Engineered biochar emerges as a powerful tool to combat water pollution, removing hazardous substances from wastewater. Its tailored surface chemistry and structure make it an ideal candidate for environmental cleanup, capturing both heavy metals and organic contaminants simultaneously.
Researchers at Texas A&M University have developed a new heat-resistant material made entirely of metals, creating a gel-like substance that can withstand extreme temperatures. This breakthrough could revolutionize energy storage and enable the use of liquid metal batteries in mobile applications.
A new post-processing route improves tensile strength and ductility in 3D-printed alloys by combining deep cryogenic treatment and laser shock peening. This method transforms the microscopic structure of 3D-printed metals, relieving internal stresses and enhancing mechanical resilience.
Researchers developed sulfated yeast to adsorb targeted elements from solutions, absorbing 2.3 times more copper than previous phosphate-modified baker's yeast. The new method effectively desorbs and re-adsorbs metals using hydrochloric acid, providing a sustainable solution for rare earth recovery.
Researchers have developed flexible electrodes that mimic skin's softness and stretchability, enabling stable high-quality signals. Composite designs combining metallic systems are being explored to balance flexibility, conductivity, and transparency.
A study reveals that the Mar Menor lagoon has sediments with excessive levels of lead, arsenic, and other toxic metals accumulated over centuries due to mining activities. The research highlights the ongoing risk these metals pose to aquatic organisms and ecosystems, even after the closure of mines in the 1990s.
Researchers at MIT have found a hidden atomic order in metals that changes their properties, including mechanical strength and heat capacity. The discovery reveals a new physical phenomenon explaining the persistent patterns and provides a simple model to predict chemical patterns in metals.
Researchers at the University of Houston have published a review in Science that could transform battery technology by exploring alternative metals for battery anodes. The study highlights similarities and differences between monovalent and multivalent metals, which could lead to longer-lasting batteries with improved charging speeds.
Researchers at Nagoya University solved the puzzle of loop current switching in kagome metals, a special group of quantum metals. Weak magnetic fields reverse tiny loop currents, changing the material's macroscopic electrical properties and reversing current flow direction.
Researchers at the University of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering have developed a single-step battery cathode recycling process that simultaneously extracts metals from old cathodes and creates new ones. The method outperforms existing techniques in terms of economic efficiency, environmental impact, resource usage, and human ...
A study reveals that climate-driven freeze-thaw and wet-dry cycles control the fate of heavy metals in straw-amended soils, impacting pollution risks. Climate-driven cycles influence the binding and mobility of lead in soil organic matter.
Phosphorus-modified biochar dramatically reduces heavy metal pollution, improving soil quality and microbial communities. The innovation offers a promising approach for cleaning up contaminated farmland and securing the food supply.
A new review warns of growing heavy metal threats in reservoirs, highlighting the need for smarter monitoring and greener cleanup solutions. Researchers identify sources, risks, and promising solutions to tackle this global challenge.
Atomically thin 2D metals exhibit unique properties, making them suitable for applications in electronics, electrochemistry, and catalysis. Five synthesis methods, including confinement techniques and van der Waals squeezing, are explored to fabricate 2D metals with distinct properties.
Researchers found that repeated freeze-thaw cycles can damage biochar and release heavy metals such as zinc, copper, and lead. Biochar made at higher production temperatures were more vulnerable to cracking and oxidation during freeze-thaw stress.
Researchers have developed a promising strategy to tackle soil pollution using element-doped biochar. The approach involves enhancing plain biochar with elements like nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and phosphorus to improve its ability to stabilize heavy metals.
Researchers at the University of Würzburg have discovered that boron can form π complexes with olefins, similar to transition metals, opening up new possibilities for industrial catalytic processes. The finding aims to replace toxic and costly heavy metals with main group elements.
A team of researchers at Rice University has developed a faster and cleaner method for recovering aluminum from bauxite residue, or red mud, by using a brief electrical pulse and chlorine gas. The process, called flash Joule heating, selectively vaporizes toxic metals while retaining almost all the aluminum.
Jay Tiley, head of Materials Structures and Processing section at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, receives the TMS Distinguished Scientist award. He is recognized for his long-lasting contributions to engineering materials with significant industrial applications.