Articles tagged with Cellular Energy
Researchers at UCLA Samueli School of Engineering created a highly efficient thin-film solar cell that generates more energy from sunlight than typical solar panels. The device converts 22.4 percent of incoming energy, surpassing the previous record set in 2015.
A research team at UNIST introduced a novel method to solve issues associated with the thickness of photoactive layers in OSCs, achieving an efficiency of 12.01% using a non-fullerene acceptor.
A new method to create single-atom catalysts for fuel cells has been developed at Washington State University, potentially making clean energy technology more economically viable. The catalysts, made from iron or cobalt salts and glucosamine, show improved stability and activity compared to commercial platinum catalysts.
Researchers found Dectin-1 critical for onset of pain in fungal infection, with inhibition blocking pain and resolving inflammation. A novel signaling mechanism was identified, from Dectin-1 to TRP channels, which could lead to new treatments for severe fungal pain.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes identify 156 genes affecting ATP levels in cells, shedding light on cellular energy production. The findings could lead to the development of new therapies for diseases such as mitochondrial disorders, heart disease, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Scientists have identified key defects in perovskite solar cells that limit their efficiency. The most harmful defects are found at the interfaces between the perovskite layer and charge transport layers, leading to recombination of charge carriers and energy losses.
A team of scientists has uncovered a previously undescribed geometric shape, the scutoid, adopted by epithelial cells during embryonic development. This discovery could lead to advancements in tissue engineering by understanding the three-dimensional organization of epithelial organs.
Researchers at Linköping University have formulated design rules to minimize energy losses in organic solar cells, achieving low energy losses and high power conversion efficiencies. The new theory challenges previous beliefs and agrees with experimental results.
A recent study sequenced the genome of a Pacific tidepool crustacean and found that mitochondrial genes differ widely between populations. Hybrid offspring suffer from lowered fitness due to incompatibility. The research suggests that rapid mitochondrial evolution may be an early stage of one species becoming multiple species.
Researchers have confirmed a new mechanism for energy conservation in cells, called hydrogen cycling, which was previously thought to be impossible. This discovery sheds light on how organisms conserve energy and function as part of the global carbon cycle.
A team of physicists has captured the behavior of a five-atom molecule's atomic nuclei and chemical bonds in response to a laser, revealing the clearest glimpse yet of a photochemical reaction. The study marks a significant advancement in understanding these light-fueled molecular transformations.
Researchers have created a window-compatible material that can generate electricity and insulate against heat, leading to potential savings of over 50% on household energy costs. The dual-function material could pave the way for new technologies such as self-powered greenhouses.
Researchers at FAU and ANSER Center investigate singlet fission mechanism, gaining insights into its potential for increasing solar cell efficiency. They find that SF efficiency correlates with the coupling of molecular sub-units, providing a promising approach to boost performance.
Researchers at Ural Federal University have discovered that controlling intrinsic defects in nanoparticles can enhance their energy conversion capabilities. This breakthrough could lead to improved solar cell efficiency by up to 50%.
Scientists from FAU are investigating a novel approach to storing solar energy in a single molecule, enabling the creation of an 'energy-storing solar cell'. The research focuses on the use of norbornadiene-quadricyclane storage system and intramolecular reactions to store and release electrical energy efficiently.
Researchers at UC Riverside successfully used electric dipoles to accelerate electron transfer in one direction while suppressing it in the other. This breakthrough could lead to improved solar cells and energy-conversion devices.
Researchers at Aalto University and Université de Montréal study the feasibility of flexible solar cells for industrial-scale production. The main challenges include encapsulation, durability, and environmental impact.
Researchers have fabricated a new kind of dye sensitized solar cell using zinc oxide-graphene composites, exhibiting enhanced photoluminescence and increased conversion efficiency compared to bare ZnO devices. The polyol synthesis method is also shown to be environmentally friendly and cost-effective.
Researchers found that the yeast protein Nhp6 helps unfold nucleosomes in humans, similar to its function in yeast. The study suggests that humans may possess a homologue of Nhp6 that assists the FACT complex in regulating gene transcription and detecting damaged chromatin.
Researchers from University of Bristol and Cambridge created polymeric semiconductor nanostructures that absorb light and transport its energy further than previously observed. Lightweight semiconducting plastics can now be used to convert sunlight into electricity more efficiently.
A team at TUM has shown that phase separation is an efficient way of selecting and stabilizing chemical building blocks, allowing them to survive longer. This process can be used to create self-replicating information carriers with life-like properties.
A research team led by Alexander G. Zestos has identified a key signaling pathway that activates beige fat cells to burn energy. The CHRNA2 pathway is crucial for understanding the communication between the immune system and beige fat cells, which could lead to obesity therapies.
Researchers have discovered a molecule directly linked to thermogenesis in beige fat cells, which can be activated by nicotine and acetylcholine molecules. The study suggests that CHRNA2 receptor proteins play a role in energy metabolism, potentially leading to new approaches for combating weight gain after smoking cessation.
A study at Osaka University has identified Sema6D as a crucial protein in the activation of macrophages that protect against inflammatory disorders. The research found that Sema6D plays a key role in the metabolic reprogramming necessary for M2-type macrophages to function properly, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target.
Researchers at Linköping University have developed a lignin-based fuel cell that converts the chemical energy of forest fuels into electricity without emitting carbon dioxide. The use of conducting polymer PEDOT:PSS as both electrode and proton conductor enables efficient proton-coupled electron transfer reactions.
Researchers at UMass Amherst have developed a molecular switch that uses light to control the release of compounds. The system consists of a thin membrane made up of chemical bonds, which can be compromised by the movement of a single chemical bond to allow the compounds to react with each other.
Researchers have developed a novel microchip called BATLESS, which can continue to operate even when the battery runs out of energy. The chip uses a small on-chip solar cell to harness energy from the environment, allowing it to switch between minimum-energy and minimum-power modes.
Variation potential, a unique electrical signal, influences light absorption and electron transfer in plant cells. The signal causes acidification, increasing light energy absorption but also dissipation, and rapidly increases electron flow through the chloroplast electron transport chain.
In two-dimensional crystals, researchers identified the nature of interlayer excitons, which consist of positive and negative charge particles separated by space. This discovery enables stronger binding and potentially leads to highly efficient solar cells.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have demonstrated organic solar cells that can achieve 15 percent efficiency, comparable to conventional solar panels. The new design combines specialized layers to absorb visible and infrared light, increasing efficiency by 5 percentage points.
Pancreatic cancer cells rely on autophagy for fuel, a process that can be blocked with an ERK inhibitor. Researchers at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center report a synergistic effect when combining the ERK inhibitor with a compound that blocks autophagy to starve cells completely.
Researchers at Iowa State University have discovered a new class of low-cost and environmentally friendly semiconductors using sodium, bismuth, and sulfur. The materials exhibit ideal properties for solar cells, including a stable band gap and resistance to air and water exposure.
Researchers have created hybrid solar cells that can harness energy from both sunlight and falling raindrops. The innovative design uses textured polymers to increase the performance of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) in rainy conditions.
Researchers discovered that the fission protein Drp1 is controlled by an internal biological clock, which determines the design of mitochondrial networks and their energy capacity. Impairing this rhythm leads to a decline in energy production, with potential therapeutic applications for diseases like Alzheimer's.
Researchers have found that chaperones actively maintain proteins in a non-equilibrium but transiently stable state, even when thermodynamically unstable. This discovery challenges the long-held view that evolution has optimized protein function for thermodynamic stability.
Researchers at KAIST developed a hybrid energy storage device that can be charged in less than half a minute using aqueous electrolytes and graphene. The device facilitates rapid charging and high energy density, making it suitable for portable electronic devices.
A study published in Nature Communications found that an oxygen sensor in the body reduces inflammation by activating HIF-1α, which inhibits excessive immune responses. This molecular mechanism could lead to new approaches for treating chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
Researchers have identified the protein SLC25A3 as the copper carrier into mitochondria, where it plays a crucial role in energy conversion. This discovery has implications for understanding metabolic diseases related to copper transport and energy production.
Researchers at the University of Tsukuba have developed a new kind of thermoelectric system that can harness small energy differences at low temperatures, producing an electrical energy of 2.3 meV per cycle. The device has shown promising prospects for large-scale heat energy recovery and could help industries become more efficient.
Scientists discover two new feedback loops that regulate energy expenditure, with TBK1 inhibiting AMPK's role in burning fat. Deleting TBK1 from fat cells increases inflammation and weight loss.
A study found that Americans spent more time at home in 2012, saving 1,700 trillion BTU in energy consumption. This increase was driven by decreased travel and non-residential space use, resulting in a net 1.8% national energy savings. The research highlights the impact of advances in information technology on American lifestyle patterns.
Scientists at the University of Freiburg have elucidated the mechanism of protein insertion into the mitochondrial outer membrane. The discovery sheds light on the formation and function of mitochondria, which play a crucial role in cellular energy production.
Scientists at Berkeley Lab have unraveled the mystery of a multiplier mechanism in an organic crystal, which holds promise for dramatically boosting the efficiency of organic solar cells. The discovery explains how this reaction can occur in just tens of femtoseconds, avoiding loss of energy as heat.
Researchers find that beta amyloid protein disrupts mitochondria function, leading to early disease symptoms. Human cells can be protected from damage with a custom-designed compound, offering an exciting avenue for future drug development.
Researchers have discovered a new material that slows down the decay of hot electrons in solar cells, allowing for more energy to be harvested. This could lead to a significant increase in solar cell efficiency, from 33% to 66%, and make a major contribution to providing clean and sustainable energy.
A new study suggests that specific bile acids can turn white fat cells into beige fat cells, which burn energy and help maintain body temperature. The discovery provides a potential new therapeutic intervention for obese individuals, bypassing the need for invasive treatments.
Researchers discover J147, an Alzheimer's treatment that reverses aging by targeting ATP synthase, a protein found in mitochondria. The compound has shown promising results in treating Alzheimer's and potentially other age-associated diseases.
A research team led by Tanya Prozorov has demonstrated the first high-resolution mapping of magnetic fields in bacterial cells and magnetic nano-objects in liquid. This capability has vast potential for scientific breakthroughs in physics, nanotechnology, biofuels conversion, biomedical engineering, catalysis, batteries, and pharmacology.
Researchers have developed an open-source tool predicting solar cell energy output based on location and technology, highlighting the importance of environmental factors. The study found that certain materials can produce up to 5% more energy in hot, humid locations like Singapore.
Researchers have developed an 'ionic analog to the electronic pn-junction solar cell' that harnesses light to generate ionic electricity, with potential applications in desalination and brain-machine interfaces. The technology shows promise for producing electricity to turn brackish water drinkable upon exposure to sunlight.
A recent study at Berkeley Lab's Advanced Light Source used X-ray-based imaging to investigate the effects of temperature and moisture on fuel-cell performance. The research found that even slight saturation produces nearly double thermal conductivity, while water evaporation increases dramatically at 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
A Danish research team has uncovered new basic insights into the workings of a biomolecular mechanism crucial to life: the calcium pumps in our cells. They have successfully tracked how a single molecule of the protein 'engine' known as the calcium pump works, revealing its one-way nature and importance for cell function.
Mice subjected to a calorie-restricted diet experienced improved skin and hair health, including increased fur production and reduced body fat. Skin vascularization also changed, with more blood vessels and increased blood flow to skin cells.
Researchers have captured the first atomic-level images of finger-like growths called dendrites that can pierce the barrier between battery compartments and trigger short circuits or fires. The images revealed that each lithium metal dendrite is a long, beautifully formed six-sided crystal.
Researchers at UNIST have developed highly stable perovskite solar cells using fluorine-functionalized graphene nano-platelets, overcoming the material's notorious instability. This breakthrough could lead to next-generation solar cells with high efficiencies and low costs.
A new synthetic compound, E260, has been developed to target the energy generation system of cancer cells, inhibiting an enzyme that supports their survival and dissemination. This approach has shown promising results in treating mice with metastatic cancer, completely curing them with no toxic effects.
Researchers at Kyushu University developed a metal complex catalyst that mimics two natural energy processes, hydrogenase and photosystem II. The catalyst produces electrical power by accepting electrons from hydrogen and generates power from sunlight through oxidation of water.
The Southwest Telehealth Resource Center, funded by a $975,000 grant, assists healthcare providers in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada in connecting with rural patients. The center provides training, technical assistance, and business planning support to help start-up and existing telehealth programs expand their services.
Perovskite solar cells could generate electricity more efficiently by harnessing the kinetic energy of electrons moving at high speeds. The study found that electrons retain their highest levels of energy for up to 10 quadrillionths of a second, limiting the time frame for extraction.
Researchers from RIKEN and University of Tokyo created ultra-thin photovoltaic devices coated with stretchable and waterproof films. The new device has shown strong energy efficiency, resistance to water, and durability under compression, opening the way for wearable solar cells.