A study by the Paul Scherrer Institute finds that blue hydrogen can play a positive role in the energy transition under certain conditions, especially when carbon capture and storage is used effectively. However, methane leakage along the supply chain can reduce its climate benefits.
Researchers from the Paul Scherrer Institute found that CO2 electrolysis can produce formic acid, a promising product for various industries, but generates more CO2 than it consumes. The production process is commercially viable, but depends on a renewable energy mix to have a positive climate effect.
Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute have identified a chemical compound, parabulin, that can inhibit the protein tubulin in unicellular parasites, including those that cause malaria and toxoplasmosis. The substance blocks successful cell division by preventing tubulin from forming long, stable protein filaments.
Scientists harness light to alter solid properties and create new applications for high-speed information processing, lossless energy transfer, and quantum technologies. The team reviews the latest developments in ultrafast materials science and explores unifying themes for controlling materials with light.
A team of researchers from the Paul Scherrer Institute has discovered that the brachiopod shell can become extremely soft in water due to the absorption of liquid, allowing it to be folded without breaking. The transformation is reversible, and the shell returns to its hard state upon drying.
Researchers developed a new X-ray study method to understand correlated metals, promising for superconductors and quantum computers. The method, resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXs), excites electrons, providing information about electronic structure.
Scientists at the Paul Scherrer Institute have developed a new experimental method to investigate the ageing process of vanadium phosphorus oxides (VPO) catalysts. The method allows for precise measurement of chemical properties in three dimensions, revealing changes in the material's structure and chemistry over time.
A team of scientists at the Paul Scherrer Institute has discovered 27 binding sites on tubulin, a critical protein in the cell cytoskeleton. Eleven of these sites were previously unknown and hold promise for developing new cancer-fighting agents.
For the first time, scientists have successfully used transient grating spectroscopy with ultrafast X-rays to explore material properties at the atomic level. This method allows for the observation of individual atoms and selective measurement of specific chemical elements in a mixture of substances.
Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute have found that isoprene, a dominant non-methane organic compound emitted into the atmosphere, can form up to 20% of secondary organic aerosols in clouds. This process affects Earth's radiation balance and climate change.
A recent study at the Paul Scherrer Institute has revealed that airborne particulate matter can generate additional oxygen radicals, which can cause oxidative stress and damage lung tissue. The formation of these radicals is triggered by the interaction of iron and organic compounds under typical weather conditions.
To achieve its goal, Switzerland must double its photovoltaic capacity every decade, with power from wind, hydrogen fuel cells, and imports also contributing. Electric vehicles and heat pumps will become crucial, while energy savings through building renovation are essential for meeting the target.
Researchers at PSI have measured the helium nucleus radius five times more precisely than before, allowing for better understanding of fundamental physics and natural constants. The new method uses low-energy muons to create exotic atoms, enabling precise measurements of atomic properties.
The researchers propose creating quantum bits by implanting magnetic atoms into a crystal lattice, enabling faster and more defined qubits. This design concept addresses the stability issue of traditional quantum computers, making them less error-prone and up to ten times faster.
Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute report the discovery of three-dimensional magnetic 'vortex rings' within a tiny pillar made of gadolinium cobalt. These structures, consisting of doughnut-shaped vortices, provide fundamental insight into intricate nanoscale structures inside bulk magnets.
Researchers found that particulate matter's oxidative potential, not just its amount, is the main health risk. The study suggests urban areas have higher oxidative potential and more harmful effects on health than rural areas.
Researchers at PSI have successfully created and visualised antiferromagnetic skyrmions with a unique property: critical elements arranged in opposing directions. This discovery is a major step towards developing new technologies, such as more efficient computers.
PSI scientists investigate strontium-iridium oxide, an antiferromagnetic material, to systematically control its magnetic and electronic properties. By manipulating thin films, they can fine-tune the material's properties, leading to potential applications in data storage.
The researchers recommend returning to classic zeolites, which are efficient catalysts that can be modified and adapted for specific purposes. The team found inconsistencies in the literature on how aluminium atoms catalyse reactions, highlighting the need for further understanding of these active centres.
Researchers have observed that palladium gallium (PdGa) reaches the maximum allowed Chern number of four, a fundamental aspect yet to be settled in topological physics. The team also demonstrated control over the sign of the Chern number by manipulating the crystal's handedness during growth.
The study successfully captured images of the sodium pump in action, documenting molecular changes necessary for sodium transport. The findings have implications for advancing optogenetics and improving experiments in neurobiology.
Researchers found that price increases rarely impact short-term energy consumption, but have a significant effect after about five years. The study developed two scenarios for future development: E-POL and CLI, which focus on increasing electricity use and reducing greenhouse gas emissions through energy-efficient technologies.
A yellowish solid compound has been found to emit an intense green glow when excited by an electric current, making it a hot candidate for producing OLEDs. The substance's chemical structure allows for high light yields due to its stiff molecule and minimal changes in structure upon excitation.
Scientists at PSI analysed chemical compounds directly in aerosols and observed dissociation and release of gaseous formic acid. The findings will improve understanding of global processes involved in cloud formation and air pollution.
Researchers at PSI measured a property of the neutron more precisely than ever before, finding it has a significantly smaller electric dipole moment. This challenges the long-held assumption that this dipole moment could help explain the excess of matter in the universe.
Physicists at the Paul Scherrer Institute recorded a short 'film' of the three-dimensional magnetic structure inside a material with nanoscale resolution. This reveals intricate patterns and domain walls that could be used to pack data more tightly than current methods.
Researchers at Paul Scherrer Institute have improved a method for small angle X-ray scattering to investigate fibre orientation in composites, enabling faster analysis with conventional X-ray tubes. This innovation has potential applications in medicine and security.
The Paul Scherrer Institute has developed a micromachine that can perform different actions using magnetic fields. The robot measures only a few micrometres across and can be reprogrammed to flap its wings, hover, turn, or side-slip. This technology is an important step towards micro- and nanorobots that can carry out various tasks.
Scientists at the Paul Scherrer Institute deciphered the structure of CCR7 receptor, which plays a crucial role in cancer cell migration. They identified an artificial molecule that blocks this receptor, preventing signaling protein from triggering a chain reaction leading to cell migration.
Researchers at PSI have developed a new method to precisely measure strong magnetic fields using polarized neutrons. This allows them to visualize and quantify inhomogeneous and anisotropic magnetic fields, with applications in alternators, MRI systems, and other devices.
Researchers at Paul Scherrer Institute successfully prove existence of Weyl fermions in a paramagnetic material with slow magnetic fluctuations, expanding possibilities for spintronics and future electronics. This discovery could lead to more efficient transportation of information, potentially revolutionizing computer technology.
The study reveals the largest real-time structural changes in a molecule ever, showing how bacteriorhodopsin pumps protons from inside to outside through the cell membrane. This process creates a concentration gradient that the cell uses to gain energy for its metabolism.
Scientists at the Paul Scherrer Institute elucidated the structure of enzymes that remove tyrosine from α-tubulin, revealing a key regulatory cycle in microtubule formation. This discovery holds promise for developing inhibitors to treat diseases like cancer and neurological disorders.
Researchers developed a new composite material with magnetic shape memory activated by magnetism, offering advantages in medicine and robotics. The material consists of polymer and droplets of magnetorheological fluid, increasing stiffness up to 30 times.
Scientists at PSI investigate a novel material exhibiting electronic properties never seen before, including Rarita-Schwinger fermions and quadruple topological Fermi arcs. The crystal is a chiral topological semimetal with exotic physical phenomena, such as phase transitions at its surface.
Researchers at PSI have produced the most detailed image to date of a type of membrane protein involved in signal transmission. They discovered that this protein inhibits itself, preventing overproduction of cAMP, an important secondary messenger in cell signaling.
At the level of nanoscopic structures made of magnetic layers, researchers at PSI have discovered a special magnetic interaction that enables the development of planar magnetic networks. These interactions allow for the creation of synthetic antiferromagnets and logical gates suitable for constructing computer memories and switches.
Researchers at PSI develop a new method that uses a small but efficient lens to create high-resolution images of X-ray microscopes, providing absorption and phase contrast information. This technique has the potential to reveal material properties and improve image quality for biological samples.