Scientists developed zinc-modified aluminum oxide membranes for heavy metal removal, achieving high efficiency rates. The membranes showed antifouling properties and were reusable up to three cycles.
Researchers analyzed tool fragments, raw materials, and complete objects excavated from two sites in Ribe, Denmark, to understand the evolution of Viking metalwork. They found rapid technological advances in combining metals into mixes and refining their process over time.
Researchers create nanostructured bimetallic catalysts with enhanced activity and stability, offering a cost-effective alternative to noble metal-based catalysts. The new material is stabilized on a conductive surface using a polymeric material, enabling predictable catalysis performance.
A new desalination technique using polymer membranes with absorbent nanoparticles simplifies the removal of toxic metals during the process. The technology can remove nearly 100% of toxic metals, including mercury and arsenic, producing clean water along with a pure brine.
High-entropy carbides offer improved thermal and energy resistance due to their unique composition of multiple metals and carbon. TPU researchers successfully synthesized this material using a vacuum-free electric arc method.
Diversifying seafood with multiple species can increase nutrient intake targets and reduce required portion sizes for key nutrients like calcium, iron, zinc, and fatty acids. However, this increased biodiversity also raises concerns about higher exposure to different heavy metals in various seafood species.
Researchers investigate fundamental aspects of topological semimetals, enabling access to matter's physics and attractive platforms for electronic devices. A new family of semimetals has sparked interest due to their potential to revolutionize technology.
Researchers at the University of Ottawa have debunked the myth that metals are useless in photonics with their findings, recently published in Nature Communications. They demonstrated ultra-high-Q resonances in a metasurface comprised of metal nanoparticles embedded inside a flat glass substrate, showing metals can be useful in photonics.
Researchers found that exotic metallic materials exhibit poor electrical conductivity due to tiny amounts of impurities or defects. These defects cause electrons to remain localized, hindering current flow at low frequencies, but allowing it at high frequencies.
Scientists from Tokyo Metropolitan University have developed a scalable method to create ordered porous metallic oxide thin films using a range of transition metals. The process enables the production of highly ordered nanohole arrays ideal for various industrial applications.
Researchers at FAU have discovered a way to find previously unknown deposits of rare earths worldwide using fayalite crystals in sediment of granite-like magma. This discovery is crucial for addressing the scarcity of heavy rare earth elements on the global market.
A recent study found that China's Clean Air Act led to a significant decline in atmospheric deposition of heavy metals, with beneficial effects on soil pollution. The act reduced fine particles and sulfate aerosols, resulting in lower levels of toxic metals like cadmium in the environment.
Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology have found a promising alternative to expensive electrocatalysts used in hydrogen production. Calcium iron oxide (CaFe2O4) has shown exceptional oxygen evolution reaction performance and durability, offering a cost-effective solution for water splitting.
Researchers create a 'ship-in-a-bottle structure' by slowly moving reactive components to the surface, where they form stalagmite-like spikes of metal oxides. This process enables purification and recovery of pure and precious metals from alloys in electronic waste.
Isabel Barton is developing a more proactive approach to extraction by applying detailed characterization methods to quantify relevant ore properties. Her research aims to link these properties to leaching results, leading to more efficient mining operations worldwide.
Researchers have synthesized a rare metal complex of nitrous oxide, demonstrating its strong binding ability to metals, potentially opening new avenues for using it in synthetic chemistry. The findings could also help degrade N2O to harmless substances, mitigating its impact on the atmosphere.
Scientists have discovered rare metals in 24 of 31 products tested, including single-use food packaging and children's toys. The study suggests REEs are ubiquitous and pervasive contaminants of consumer plastics.
Researchers at PNNL develop new detection method for ultra-trace elements like uranium and thorium, allowing for precise measurement in valuable metals like gold. The technique enables detection limits as low as 10 parts per trillion in gold, revolutionizing the semiconductor industry and sensitive particle detection.
Researchers at Brown University have developed a method to create solid metal structures by smashing individual metal nanoclusters together. The technique, which involves chemical treatment and pressure, produces metals with uniform grain sizes that can be precisely tuned for enhanced properties.
Researchers at TU Wien have developed a new approach to single-atom catalysis, which can lead to more effective and cost-efficient catalysts. The study reveals that customized properties through tailored surfaces can change the reactivity of individual atoms, making expensive metals like platinum less necessary.
Chemists at the University of Jena have successfully created a bimetallic main-group complex using gallium, demonstrating cooperative bond activation that can remove fluorine atoms from hydrocarbon compounds. The breakthrough paves the way for further development of sustainable catalytic reactions.
Physicists at Princeton University have observed quantum oscillation in an insulator, a phenomenon typically seen in metals. The discovery hints at the existence of neutral fermions and challenges the long-held distinction between metals and insulators.
Researchers at POSTECH developed a new liquid metal ink that can withstand harsh deformation and maintain electrical conductivity, enabling the creation of flexible electronics. The ink was successfully printed on various substrates, displaying negligible resistance changes even when stretched up to 500%.
Scientists from Jülich researchers found an alternative cause for the dip in energy spectrum attributed to the Kondo effect. They propose new experiments based on their predictions, suggesting that much of what was thought about the Kondo effect needs re-examination.
Researchers have designed an effective material for speeding up the extraction of hydrogen from alcohols, using earth-abundant metals instead of precious ones. The catalyst, made from tiny clusters of nickel metal, accelerates the reaction efficiently and cleanly.
A Rutgers University study found that exposure to metals like nickel, arsenic, and lead can disrupt a woman's hormones during pregnancy. This disruption may contribute to children's later health risks and disease outcomes.
Researchers at Princeton University discovered Weyl nodes in bulk CoS2, enabling predictions about its surface properties. The material hosts Fermi-arc surface states, which may enable exotic phenomena and places it among materials candidates for use in spintronic devices.
Researchers at Kanazawa University developed a simple and cost-effective way to extract palladium and silver from industrial waste. The new method uses ultrasmall particles of cellulose to selectively adsorb metal ions, resulting in high metal ion adsorption capacities and efficient recovery of pure and elemental metals.
Researchers found that applying an ultra-thin layer of organic film from markers or glue significantly improves the machinability of metals like aluminum, stainless steel, nickel, copper, and tantalum. This discovery reduces cutting forces, energy consumption, and manufacturing costs.
Scientists at Chalmers University of Technology have created a unique method to extract valuable metals like zinc from fly ash produced by incinerating solid waste. This innovative approach can help reduce environmental pollution and increase the profitability of waste incineration, while also promoting a more circular economy.
Advanced metal alloys are crucial in modern life, but creating new ones with specific properties has been limited by researchers' understanding of grain boundary behavior. A team at MIT used computer simulations and machine learning to predict alloy properties, showing that many previously ruled-out combinations are feasible.
Researchers have developed a new instrument that can analyze the chemical signatures of distant quasars, providing insight into the origins of metals like iron. By studying these ancient galactic cores, scientists hope to refine their understanding of the early universe and its role in forming the elements necessary for life.
Researchers from Kanazawa University have developed a new procedure to reduce the use of rare metals in pharmaceutical and chemical syntheses. The study found that benzylic organoborates can perform tertiary alkylative cross-coupling reactions without using rare elements, paving the way for a more sustainable chemical industry.
Researchers have found a closer look at the behavior of electrons in strange metals, which could allow them to understand a mechanism for superconductivity at higher temperatures. This work is crucial for designing high-temperature superconductors that can power cities and levitate cars.
Researchers developed a nanopowder made of sodium titanate nanofibers that can efficiently capture Co2+ ions, increasing surface area for improved removal efficiency. The seaweed-like morphology enhances the filter's ability to remove hazardous heavy metals and radionuclides from water.
A study found that dairy cows exposed to contaminated water carried more pathogens with antimicrobial-resistance genes, which can tolerate various antibiotics. The research highlights a threat to human health and supports the World Health Organization's declaration of antimicrobial resistance as a global public health threat.
A new theory developed by scientists at SISSA has established a relationship between the presence of 'handles' in the space of atom and molecule arrangements and a material's electrical conductivity. The research found that materials equipped with handles, previously thought to be insulators, can conduct electricity like metals.
Researchers discovered that 'bad metals' transform into quasiparticles, allowing them to pair up and superconduct current without resistance. This explains their unusual behavior in low-temperature superconductors.
Residents of Kabwe Town, Zambia, exhibit high blood levels of lead and cadmium, leading to clinical symptoms of toxicity. The study found significant correlations between metal exposure and health effects, particularly in adults.
Scientists have solved the Casimir puzzle by accounting for energy losses of conduction electrons in metals, leading to agreement between theory and high-precision measurements. The new approach takes into account both real and virtual fluctuations, enabling reliable calculation and creation of miniature nanodevices.
A new study by a USC-led research team reveals that emissions from Chinese coal-fired power plants are fertilizing the North Pacific Ocean with iron and other metals, which could impact marine life. The researchers found peak iron concentrations in surface seawater corresponding to big wind events over east Asia.
A nanocatalyst made from zinc oxide and niobium can produce N-heterocycles with almost 100% efficiency, replacing expensive noble metal-based catalysts. The catalyst is derived from orange peel without additional chemical agents.
A joint research team has solved the puzzle of non-Fermi liquid behaviour in interacting electrons systems through quantum many-body computation and analytical calculations. The findings provide a protocol for establishing new paradigms in quantum metals, with potential applications in solving the energy crisis.
The Membrane Solvent Extraction (MSX) process developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory allows for the recovery of highly pure cobalt, nickel, lithium, and manganese from spent lithium-ion batteries. This technology contributes to a circular economy by recycling end-of-life products without generating hazardous waste.
Researchers found that human activities since 1940 have increased the risk of acidification in the Murray estuary during droughts. The study uses historical data and geological records to understand the estuary's formation and evolution. Improved management of the Murray-Darling system is crucial for water resource sustainability.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have developed a new method to pinpoint cracks in metals long before they cause disasters. By testing metals at a microscopic scale, they can rapidly inflict repetitive loads and track damage progression into cracks.
Cornell engineers developed a modular process for designing elastomers with metals like iron and calcium, creating a wide range of mechanical properties. The framework allows for the creation of biodegradable and elastic materials for soft tissue reconstruction and regeneration.
Researchers have discovered a large family of 2D ferroelectric metals using machine learning, finding 60 stable materials with unique properties. The discovery could lead to new applications in magnetoelectric and magnetostrictive devices.
Research led by Queen Mary University of London finds air pollution particles, including metals, in placentas of 15 London women, suggesting a link between maternal inhalation and fetal exposure. The study highlights the need for further research to fully understand the effects of air pollution on fetal development.
The center is focused on quantum devices and biosensing, creating materials with exceptional optical properties. Researchers are also exploring new crystal chemistry techniques to develop sustainable energy materials.
Researchers from the University of Würzburg have developed a method to convert nitrogen to ammonium at room temperature without using transition metals. The key to this process is the use of boron and water, which enables sequential reactions that bring the team close to producing ammonia.
Research reveals that babies born with higher levels of cadmium may be at increased risk of developing childhood asthma and allergies. Cadmium exposure has been found to interfere with immune systems and increase allergic reactions.
Soil enzymes play a crucial role in chemical reactions, cellular metabolism, and organic matter decomposition. Heavy metals like lead and cadmium reduce enzyme activity by 3-3.5 times, particularly affecting carbon and sulfur cycles.
Researchers at NTU Singapore have developed a novel method using fruit peel waste to extract and reuse precious metals from spent lithium-ion batteries. The process creates minimal waste and can be scaled up for industrial use, offering a more sustainable alternative to traditional methods.
Researchers created oxygen-insensitive protein-based fluorescent sensors to study gut bacteria responses to metal imbalances. The sensors will reveal molecular mechanisms governing essential metals' impact on the human gut microbiota.
Researchers developed a new method to synthesize unconventional nanoalloys composed of immiscible metals, which showed superior performances in electrocatalytic reactions. The approach uses vapor-source technology and allows for control over composition and size, enabling the creation of cost-effective, highly active, and durable elect...
Researchers develop new machine learning methods to predict polymeric carbon nitride compounds suitable for sustainable photocatalytic water splitting. This process splits water into hydrogen and oxygen without using rare earths or expensive metals.
A University of Georgia study found a strong correlation between antibiotic resistance and heavy metal contamination in the environment. Soils contaminated with heavy metals had higher levels of specific bacterial hosts carrying antibiotic-resistant genes.
A study published in Advanced Science has revealed that joint implants can release metals into the surrounding bone tissue, leading to osteolysis and premature loosening. The researchers used a unique synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence imaging setup to determine the concentration and distribution of metallic degradation products.
Researchers at Idaho National Laboratory and University of California San Diego discovered a rare glassy metal during studies on lithium recharging. The discovery could lead to improved battery life and new applications for glassy metals, which are difficult to produce but offer powerful material properties.