Researchers estimate that copper and zinc reserves are not enough to meet future demands if all nations adopt modern technologies, threatening sustainable resource use. The study suggests that scarce metals like platinum risk depletion in this century due to lack of substitutes.
Researchers from Max Planck Institute for Metals Research and University of Hohenheim investigate the effect of two-layered crystalline wax on insect attachment. The upper layer contaminates insects' feet, while the lower layer reduces contact area between feet and substrate, resulting in slippery zone that traps insects.
Researchers found elevated tungsten and cobalt levels in Fallon's air, differing from nearby towns. The findings suggest a possible environmental cause for childhood leukemia cases in the area, prompting further research to examine the relationship between these metals and cancer development.
A study by Louisiana State University researchers has found that Katrina floodwaters were not as toxic as previously thought, but still contained high levels of certain metals and bacteria. The findings suggest that while the floodwaters posed some risks to human health, they were not the chemical catastrophe initially predicted.
British scientists have developed a new method of coating metals using sol-gel technology, which offers improved corrosion resistance and reduced costs. The technique uses nanoparticles to form a gel-like layer on the metal's surface, providing a safer alternative to traditional chrome electroplating.
Researchers have developed diamond-like carbon coatings for medical implants, reducing friction and corrosion while providing biocompatibility. The new method of coating plastics, metals, and collagen enables the production of harder-wearing implants and enhances patient outcomes.
X-ray spectromicroscopy allows scientists to study bacterial cells without staining or sectioning, providing insights into their molecular chemistry and interactions with metals and radionuclides. This technique may help detect weaponized bacteria and prevent disease outbreaks, making it a significant step towards environmental cleanup.
Researchers are studying the lipopolysaccharide outer membrane of P. aeruginosa to understand its interaction with minerals and heavy metals, which has significant implications for bioremediation applications.
Researchers have designed new cyclic alkyl amino carbenes (CAACs) that enhance stability and efficiency of metal catalysts. These carbene-based catalysts facilitate faster chemical transformations at lower temperatures, reducing costs in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
A study found high concentrations of arsenic in a sample of the King's hair, suggesting exposure to heavy metals may have exacerbated his porphyria attacks. The researchers believe antimonial medications containing arsenic were the probable source of the toxin.
Researchers found an enzyme in marine diatoms that uses cadmium, a scarce element in the ocean. This discovery has implications for understanding the global carbon cycle and climate change.
A research team from the Max Planck Institute for Metals Research and ESRF observes temporal structural fluctuations on an atomic scale in a crystalline material. The discovery sheds light on how materials respond to external perturbations like changes in temperature, pressure, magnetic or electric fields.
Researchers found that bacteria's worst enemy in nuclear waste sites may be toxic metals, contradicting conventional wisdom. Actinides are less toxic than other metals, suggesting bioremediation using naturally occurring bacteria can still be effective.
Researchers at Purdue University discovered that a group of plants called metal hyperaccumulators can store high levels of metal in their tissues, making them resistant to pathogens. This trait allows these plants to thrive in soils naturally enriched in metals without succumbing to diseases like powdery mildew.
A pilot study by Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory researchers gathers baseline information on subway workers’ exposure to airborne metals. The study aims to determine if the elevated metal levels pose a health concern for transit workers.
A new study by UC researchers identifies the Slc39a8 gene as a key player in transporting toxic heavy metals like cadmium, which can cause tissue death and damage. The discovery has significant implications for understanding how nonessential heavy metals contribute to cancer and other diseases.
Researchers from Rice University and international teams found a collapse of Fermi volume in quantum critical matters, leading to new insights into exotic electronic properties. This discovery may provide routes to new classes of material and shed light on high-temperature superconductivity.
A study found that 20% of Ayurvedic herbal medicine products sold in Boston-area stores contained lead, mercury, and/or arsenic, exceeding regulatory standards. The products were often recommended for children, raising public health concerns.
Researchers at Emory University have successfully created a unique metallic molecule, breaking the record for stable metal-oxo species. The breakthrough enables new insights into improving existing technology, particularly in automobile catalytic converters and fuel cells.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new metal alloy, BlastAlloy-160, with enhanced strength and resistance to blast damage. This breakthrough design could lead to improved safety in various industries, including construction and transportation.
Scientists discover new mineral that absorbs toxic metals like a sponge, revealing hidden reservoirs of lead, arsenic, and copper. The findings shed light on the migration patterns of these pollutants and could inform efforts to clean up contaminated sites.
Researchers will model the behavior of individual atoms to gain a better understanding of stress corrosion cracking in metals. The goal is to prevent damage and create more corrosion-resistant materials, leading to safer structures and potentially even improved comfort for travelers.
A Purdue University study found that an antioxidant, glutathione, plays a critical role in protecting plants from toxic metals. Glutathione helps to minimize oxidative stress, allowing certain plants to thrive on metal-enriched soils.
A new computational method developed by Widom and colleagues allows scientists to virtually predict the formation of amorphous metals and identify potential mixtures for metallic glass production. This approach has shown promising results in generating metallic glasses with remarkable corrosion resistance, strength, and elasticity.
Researchers at Temple University are developing metal oxide nanoparticles using ferritin protein to remove toxic metals like Chromium-6 and Technetium-7 from lakes, rivers, and groundwater. The nanoparticles can be activated by visible light, reducing chromium from hexavalent to trivalent, making it easier to filter out.
Researchers have developed new, non-toxic additives for poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) to improve its fire retardancy. The additives, which rely on copper atoms, work by creating chemical crosslinks that form an inert char on the surface of PVC, helping to block flammable gases.
Scientists have identified a prominent way in which nanocrystalline metals change shape by using dark-field imaging techniques. Researchers report that at very small dimensions, grain boundaries themselves move and slide past one another to allow deformation.
A new research center aims to investigate the links between environmental exposures and childhood health in the heavily contaminated Tar Creek area. The center will conduct integrated studies on toxic metals, epidemiology, and animal models to better understand their effects on neurological, behavioral, and mental development.
Research found that adults with high blood concentrations of lead or cadmium were almost three times more likely to develop peripheral artery disease, a condition similar to coronary artery disease. The study suggests that low-level exposure to these metals may be problematic in terms of cardiovascular disease risk.
A study of 2,125 adults found that those with the highest blood concentrations of lead or cadmium were almost three times more likely to develop PAD. The highest levels of the two metals were well within what is currently considered safe levels.
Researchers have decoded the genome of Desulfovibrio vulgaris, a microbe responsible for microbially-influenced corrosion. The analysis provides insights into the microbe's capacity and flexibility to reduce metals, potentially leading to new methods for preventing corrosion and remediating metallic pollutants.
Researchers developed a method to estimate background levels of heavy metals in soil, allowing for the estimation of manmade contamination worldwide. A new analysis of satellite data provided detailed information on tropical Atlantic surface current variability, which can be used to infer global ocean patterns. Additionally, a simple m...
Researchers found that exposure to thimerosal, a vaccine preservative, can interrupt growth factor signaling and cause adverse effects on methylation reactions. This can lead to disorders such as autism and ADHD in infants and children.
The study found that selling untreated used oil as fuel causes high levels of heavy metal emissions, including zinc and lead. Recycling and re-refining programs are recommended to reduce this environmental burden and promote safer alternatives.
A research team led by OHSU scientists is studying metal homeostasis and its disruption in human cells, focusing on copper and iron concentrations. The project aims to understand the regulation of metals in cells and their impact on disease progression.
Researchers have decoded the genome of Geobacter sulfurreducens, a microorganism that can clean up uranium contamination by precipitating radionuclides and metals from groundwater. The discovery opens up new strategies for bioremediation and the potential to generate electricity through bio-batteries.
Researchers have deciphered the genome of Geobacter sulfurreducens, a microbe that can remove dissolved uranium from groundwater and generate electricity. The study reveals new capabilities, including enhanced electron transport and metal reduction genes.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute and Leibniz Institute have identified key metal homeostasis proteins in a hyperaccumulator plant species, paving the way for cost-effective cleanup technologies. These proteins play a crucial role in detoxifying metals in roots and shoots, allowing plants to accumulate heavy metals in their leaves wh...
Materials scientist George Harman suggests using corrosion-resistant metals like gold and newer polymers to create microelectronic interconnections that can withstand extreme temperatures. He also proposes the use of flip chips with gold contacts to produce heat-resistant spacecraft electronics.
Research reveals early Andean cultures were advanced technologically, polluting the atmosphere with heavy metals and facing climate change challenges. The study suggests that several thousand tons of silver were produced in pre-Incan times, but most likely recycled or exported.
Contaminated water from abandoned mines in Colorado's Summit County is affecting artificial snowmaking and tourism, impacting $9 billion industry. Heavy metals are detected in headwater drainages, posing a risk to aquatic life and other sports.
Brookhaven chemist Mow Lin's team has developed bacteria that can use coal as a nutrient and adsorb or degrade contaminants, improving methane recovery. Laboratory tests have shown these microbes to absorb contaminant metals, degrade dissolved organics, and break down coal to release trapped methane.
Researchers at Northwestern University identified a molecular basis for the cell's detection of miniscule amounts of copper in bacteria. This discovery may lead to better methods for removing toxic metals from the environment and improving our understanding of diseases related to copper metabolism.
Research by Lehigh University engineer Wei-xian Zhang has shown that nanoscale iron particles can break down organic and heavy metals contaminants in the soil and groundwater. The treatment process is more effective and cheaper than traditional methods, making it a promising solution for cleaning up contaminated sites.
Researchers at UCSD have discovered a chemical that allows plants to transport phytochelatins from roots to stems and leaves, enabling them to detoxify heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and cadmium. This finding brings bioremediation, using plants to clean up contaminated soil, closer to reality.
Researchers have made significant progress in understanding the behavior of materials at quantum critical points, a stage where materials change phases. The new classification system has shed light on the relationship between quantum criticality and high-temperature superconductivity.
Johns Hopkins researchers found deformation twinning in nanocrystalline aluminum, explaining how it deforms under high loads. This discovery will help build models to predict the performance of these materials in real-world devices.
Research by Debra Fischer and Jeff Valenti found a correlation between star metal abundance and planet formation, with metal-rich stars having a 20% chance of harboring planets. The data suggest that a threshold metallicity exists, favoring the formation of planetary systems in stars with higher initial metal content.
Researchers used NASA's Electrostatic Levitator to prove a 50-year-old hypothesis on nucleation, a process crucial for materials and biological systems. The study showed that liquid metals resist turning into solids due to an atomic 'nucleation barrier', a fundamental mismatch in atom arrangement.
Researchers discovered niobium clusters exhibit ferroelectric behavior when cooled to ultra-cold temperatures, displaying negative and positive charges. The phenomenon is linked to superconductivity in transition metals, offering clues to this complex phenomenon.
Researchers pinpoint stellar production of helium, revealing it was 24-25% of matter in the primordial universe. The study's findings suggest metal-rich stars produce 2.1 times as much helium as metals, with implications for dark energy.
A Rochester chemist has developed a new method to activate hydrocarbons directly with small, extremely reactive metals, cutting out an inefficient middle step in the process. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient production of plastics and other products.
Researchers found liquid sewage sludge to be just as effective as traditional synthetic fertilizers in improving crop yields and nutrient content. The study also showed low levels of heavy metals in crops, groundwater, and soil, making it a promising environmentally safe alternative for waste disposal.
Researchers are studying the natural processes that clean up acid and heavy metal-contaminated water at a Massachusetts mine site. The UMass team is investigating the role of microorganisms in breaking down these pollutants, with the goal of demonstrating global importance of using bacteria to clean up the environment.
A team of international astronomers has identified an ancient star in the Milky Way Galaxy, dated to 14-15 billion years ago. The discovery provides direct knowledge of the elemental composition of the universe shortly after the Big Bang, offering insights into the formation of stars and the chemical recipe of the early universe.
The study reveals how aluminum floc forms in polluted streams, binding to toxic metals and transporting them downstream, harming fish and other aquatic animals. Understanding the molecular pathways of this process may lead to practical solutions to prevent the reactions.
Scientists developed an optical system to monitor drop sizes and trajectories at high spatial resolutions, finding rogue drops responsible for unscavenged metals. The technology has implications for nuclear waste treatment and design of cleaner-running engines.
Researchers discover that metals like iron are essential for the synthesis of a biological matrix in ocean mussels. This finding could lead to the development of powerful adhesives and antifouling coatings.
Chemical engineers have developed a novel process to grow crops of nanowires, which could lead to improved design of advanced military and space gear, fuel cells, sensors and solar devices. The process uses pools or thin films of low-melting metals like gallium to create the nanowires.
Researchers are enhancing genetically altered algae to maximize its ability to pick up trace metals in Lake Erie, a potential game-changer for Great Lakes bio-remediation. Meanwhile, efforts to eradicate invasive Spartina anglica in Puget Sound aim to support native birds and the seafood industry.