A team of researchers from UC Davis has developed a simple model to predict the solubility of environmental contaminants in groundwater. The model uses hydrotalcites, layered compounds that can take up metals and other chemicals, to make predictions about contamination with chromium, carbon, iodine, and technetium isotopes.
A team of microbiologists has found that the bacterium Geobacter metallireducens can locate and home in on its metal food source using a built-in sensor. The bacteria can also grow flagella to swim towards the metal, allowing it to thrive in environments where other microorganisms cannot.
The UMass microbiology team found that Geobacter metallireducens has a built-in sensor to locate metals and can grow flagella to swim towards them. The bacteria use these strategies to survive in natural environments, and their genome revealed genes for flagella growth, allowing them to transform metal into an insoluble form.
Scientists at University of Toronto have discovered that copper oxide materials conduct heat and electricity independently, violating the Wiedemann-Franz law. This finding opens a new window into understanding superconducting materials and their potential to revolutionize industries like electronics and energy.
Researchers at Ohio State University have identified potential metal deposits in Saudi Arabia's western Shield area using GIS software. The analysis of over 2,100 known occurrences of gold, silver, copper, and other metals revealed large quantities of lower-grade metal, ideal for open-pit mining.
Researchers studied coral outbreaks off the island of Curacao, finding high concentrations of metals and human pathogens near major oil refineries. The team suggests that environmental stresses caused by pollution may be weakening corals' resistance to bacterial infection.
Physicists at Rice University have discovered a new class of critical point that marks a substantial advance in the study of phase transitions. They found that under suitable conditions, quantum critical metals contain 'critical local excitations' with very low energy, which could be applicable to a range of strongly correlated metals.
Hochella will analyze samples from acid-mine drainage sites in Germany and the US using advanced equipment to develop better models of metal transport. This work aims to improve understanding of toxic-metal-bearing phases and their distribution in drainage systems.
Researchers at Penn State University and SurroMed, Inc. have developed a novel method for encoding information on the submicron scale using microscopic metallic barcodes. These patterned metallic particles can simultaneously monitor multiple biological reactions in very small volumes of fluid.
Biologists at the University of Pennsylvania have discovered a biochemical pathway in animals responsible for detoxification of heavy metals. The discovery establishes a firm basis for determining its ubiquity in other animals and clarifies how animals eliminate, sequester and metabolize heavy metals.
A team of UMass microbiologists led by Derek Lovley has extracted solid gold from water containing dissolved gold using iron-reducing microbes. The process involves the transfer of electrons to form a more valuable metal form, resulting in the formation of gold deposits.
A new technology, developed by Ohio University engineers, uses membranes to capture fine air pollutants and toxic heavy metals from industrial exhaust. The membrane electrostatic precipitator can help coal, steel, paper, and other industries meet EPA emissions regulations and make high-sulfur coal a more viable energy source.
Researchers have deciphered the gene sequence of Ralstonia metallidurans, a bacterium that thrives in toxic metals, enabling potential bioremediation applications. The draft genome reveals resistance genes to various heavy metals, paving the way for genetic engineering and monitoring tools.
Researchers present innovative solutions for weight management, metal protection, and pharmaceutical advancements. A dietary supplement may help control weight, fat, and diabetes, while a new coating extends the life of metals tenfold. Additionally, a gentler form of aspirin is developed using polymers.
Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory have devised a method to combine chemical treatment with bacteria to remove cadmium from contaminated soil, leaving insoluble cadmium sulfide in place. This technique could be less costly than traditional methods and has potential for treating other metals like arsenic and cobalt.
The International Conference on Heavy Metals in the Environment will discuss successes and failures of research on human exposure to toxic metals. Major themes include risk assessment, environmental epidemiology, and human health effects, with a focus on protecting children from toxic metals.
Miller's work enables magnets to be made at relatively low temperatures, reducing energy requirements and costs. His development of molecule-based magnets has the potential to integrate manufacture with device production, introducing new properties and applications.
A team of Penn State researchers successfully used microwave sintering to produce machine components with improved mechanical properties in just 10-30 minutes, compared to traditional sintering methods which take long periods of time and large amounts of energy.
The new technology allows manufacturers to produce complex shapes out of high-strength and high-performance metals and alloys. Metal injection moulded parts are finding use in various industries, including office equipment, industrial machines, medical appliances, and household goods.
Researchers have engineered E. coli bacteria to scavenge heavy metals like mercury, cadmium, zinc, nickel, or manganese from very dilute solutions, reducing contamination to the lowest detectable level
Scientists experiment with materials in space to study structure, properties and processing methods. These experiments have led to new understanding of semi-conductors, metallic-electronic crystals and improved X-ray and infrared sensors.
Researchers have developed cost-effective methods for manufacturing ultralight porous metals that can be used in various applications including cooling motor drives and reinforcing aircraft parts. The new materials are lightweight, extremely heat resistant and strong in three dimensions.
Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory report a natural process that removes nearly all toxic metals and uranium from polluted soil, successfully cleaning incinerator ash. The patented process uses citric acid and sunlight to separate metal contaminants from radioactive elements, producing a concentrated and stable form.
Some smelter slags produce toxic elements like arsenic, lead, cadmium, and copper when exposed to natural weathering conditions. Researchers have found high levels of these elements in slag dumps, contaminating nearby water sources.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Metals Research have identified two temperature-dependent mechanisms controlling the brittle-to-ductile transition in materials. Dislocation mobility dominates fracture toughness above a characteristic temperature, whereas dislocation nucleation controls fracture toughness below this temperature.
Golfers can expect to hit longer shots and experience a softer yet solid feel with the new Liquidmetal alloy, absorbing less energy than conventional materials. This high-performance material is also attractive for replacing traditional metals in sporting goods and aerospace products.
Scientists have developed SAMMS, a self-assembled monolayer on mesoporous support that selectively binds toxic or precious metals like mercury and lead. The technology has shown promise in cleaning up contaminated waterways and recovering valuable metals.
Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a new process to create near-net-shaped ceramic parts without shrinking or changing shape. The method uses a mixture of ceramic and metal powders, which oxidize to form ceramics with desired properties.
Researchers at NASA have developed innovative methods to study molten metals in space, including electrodes and magnets to measure fluid flows and dendrite growth. These techniques will help improve manufacturing processes on Earth by understanding subtle phenomena affected by gravity.
Scientists have successfully demonstrated a technique to observe the dynamics of electrons as they move across the boundaries where metals and non-metals meet. The experiment showed that electrons can become delocalized, free to roam, before becoming localized and trapped in the interface.
The USMP-4 experiment has provided new data on metallic dendrite growth, revealing a closer correspondence between microgravity and theory. The findings are being used to improve computer casting models, reducing the design process from weeks to days.
A team of scientists discovered a special protein that encases copper to transport it through the cell and deliver it to specific enzymes. The finding provides clues to toxic mechanisms of other metals and rare diseases related to copper metabolism.
Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a new database to aid in the discovery of gold and silver deposits in three western states. The system combines geologic and related map information to provide a comprehensive overview of mineral content, allowing for more accurate assessments of potentially valuable areas.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have developed a modified filtration system that effectively traps heavy metals and improves water quality. The partial exfiltration trench (PET) system shows trapping efficiencies ranging from 82 to 97 percent, even in heavy rainstorms.
Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have developed two portable detection systems that can identify strategic metals used to make nuclear weapons. The Material Identification System uses eddy current technology to detect metals, while the Ultrasonic Pulse Echo instrument uses ultrasound to characterize container contents.
Researchers have identified a mechanism to trap key industrial metals such as nickel, copper and zinc in soils, reducing their mobility. This discovery could lead to more effective cleanup techniques using traditional methods.
Researchers at Purdue University have been working on phytoremediation, a process that uses plants to collect heavy metals and radioactive waste from polluted sites. By understanding how plants take up and store toxic metals, they aim to develop metal-mining plants that can clean up contaminated soil and water.
A study published in Neurology has identified long-term exposure to copper and manganese as a significant risk factor for developing Parkinson's disease. The study found that occupational exposure to these metals, either alone or in combination with other metals like lead and iron, increased the risk of acquiring the disease.
A new system called PET traps heavy metals in stormwater runoff, using a bed of oxide-coated sand and porous pavement concrete block. The system can virtually eliminate nickel, cadmium, lead and zinc from stormwater runoff for up to ten years.
Researchers have discovered a new type of bacteria that can produce magnetic iron oxides, which could be used to remove heavy metals from contaminated soils and groundwater. The bacteria were found in deep subsurface formations heated by compression and burial, and show potential for bioremediation applications.