Articles tagged with Chemical Analysis
Scientists have developed novel methods to identify thousands of molecules formed during hydrogen cyanide reactions in laboratory experiments. These approaches confirm the potential for these techniques in future chemical analyzes, including exploring autocatalytic cycles and understanding life's origins on Earth and other planets.
A new analysis found that people across all social standings accumulate harmful chemicals in their bodies. The study shows strong associations between 18 different chemicals and poverty ratings, with individuals from higher incomes having larger amounts of toxicants like mercury and benzophenone-3.
The study analyzed chemical traces from the first complete Archaeopteryx feather, revealing a patterned plumage. The findings contradict previous assumptions that all feathers were black and provide crucial insights into the evolution of bird feathers.
Researchers have discovered biomolecular archaeological evidence of grape wine and winemaking in southern France, dating back to the 6th-5th century BCE. The findings confirm that ancient Etruscan amphoras introduced wine to the region, leading to the establishment of a native Celtic or Gallic vinicultural industry.
A study analyzing data from an international songwriting challenge revealed that common interests or skills do not cause collaborators to seek each other out. Instead, writers in one genre tend to collaborate with those in a less familiar genre. The researchers also found that work balance is crucial for collaboration success.
Researchers combined video imaging and gas analyzers to track bed bug chemical signals, revealing new insights into behavior and mating habits. The study found distinct increases in chemicals during defense against unwanted mating attempts and individual variations in emissions.
Researchers developed a technique for estimating grape composition and variety using computer imaging, identifying exact color and morphological characteristics. This new method can help vine-growers decide the best moment for picking grapes, while also providing automated quality control and inspection.
Cyanobacteria produce a previously unknown molecule called AEG, which is thought to be the first genetic material. This discovery challenges our understanding of the evolution of life on Earth and has potential applications in gene silencing.
A Wayne State University researcher has developed a new method for analyzing brain chemicals using carbon fiber microelectrodes. The technique, which meets four key criteria of size, speed, selectivity and sensitivity, enables researchers to measure serotonin levels in mice with antidepressants within five minutes.
Researchers developed a new diagnostic tool using atomic force microscope based infrared spectroscopy to characterize polymer nanostructures and identify integrated materials. The technique allows for chemical analysis of polymer lines as small as 100 nm, enabling critically needed metrology for nano-manufacturing.
A pilot study found that breath testing can accurately discriminate between benign and malignant pulmonary nodules. The technique, using volatile organic compounds and chemical nanoarrays, identified 53 malignant and 19 benign nodules with high accuracy.
Scientists have found proof of a caffeinated brew made from the leaves of a holly tree, dating back 700-900 years to the Cahokia settlement. This 'black drink' was used in rituals and was part of a broader cultural and trade network in North America.
Berkeley Lab's Laser Ablation Molecular Isotopic Spectrometry (LAMIS) technology enables remote chemical analysis on other planets, while the Compact Variable Collimator (CVC) improves X-ray beam shaping for protein crystallography. The Multinozzle Emitter Array (MEA) accelerates biomedical research by analyzing biomolecules in microfl...
The Lancet review finds that poor-quality antimalarial drugs are a major threat to global efforts to control and eliminate malaria. In Southeast Asia, over a third of analyzed drugs failed chemical testing, while in sub-Saharan Africa, nearly half were found to be fake or contained incorrect active ingredients.
Scientists analyze bones from 80 sailors buried in Royal Naval Hospitals to reveal their diet was mainly salt beef, sea biscuits, and beer; a 'naval average' diet was consistent across theaters
Researchers analyze ancient Mayan pottery using advanced technology to detect nicotine and its oxidation products, providing rare evidence of unsmoked tobacco leaves. The discovery represents new insights into the ancient roots of tobacco use in the Americas.
A University of Southampton professor has been awarded a European Research Council (ERC) grant to realise tools for fast, low-cost point-of-care clinical diagnostics and chemical analysis in water pollution and food safety. The £2.6m programme aims to advance biophotonics research in near- to mid-infra-red devices.
Junrong Zheng will use a five-year grant to develop a laser-based spectroscopic device for real-time, three-dimensional analysis of molecular conformations. This technology has the potential to revolutionize fields such as chemical reactions, protein folding, and drug interactions.
A Ghanaian PhD student has developed a new chemical analysis technique to determine the exact contents of drugs, helping to tackle uneven medicine quality and unauthorized drug sales in Africa. The technique will also be used for environmental investigations to combat antibiotic resistance in aquatic environments.
New life-detection tools up to 1,000 times more sensitive than previous instruments are being used to search for evidence of life on Mars. Researchers are also searching the planet's atmosphere for signs of methane, which could indicate biological activity.
A Kansas State University research team is conducting a three-year study to improve the genetic groundwork for turning sorghum into biofuel. The team aims to increase biomass yield by analyzing sorghum's genetic diversity and developing predictive models to optimize crop improvement.
The Hitachi Electron Microscopy Products Centre (HEMiC) has been established at Canada's National Institute for Nanotechnology, providing a wide range of electron microscopy services and research collaboration opportunities. The centre features cutting-edge microscopes, including the first H-95000 Environmental transmission electron mi...
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have successfully performed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) without the use of magnets, overcoming obstacles like polarization and chemical shifts. This breakthrough enables more portable and cost-effective NMR, with potential applications in medical diagnoses and field analyses.
The ACS National Meeting featured symposia on nanotechnology, bioactives, and regenerative medicine, including sessions on cell-based therapeutics and novel biomaterials for tissue engineering. The meeting also highlighted innovative approaches to address global energy demands through biotechnology.
Researchers at Purdue University have developed a technique to create microfluidic devices on paper strips, enabling more complex chemical assays and applications in medicine and research. The approach uses a laser to modify paper with patterns, allowing for the detection of specific chemicals and biological molecules.
A new chemical analysis technique developed by NIST uses quartz crystal microbalances to test the purity of small material samples. This technique measures reaction energy needed to decompose or oxidize a sample with heat, offering a more sensitive approach than conventional methods, enabling analysis of nanoparticles and thin films.
A new development in NMR/MRI technology enables scientists to image microscopic objects with high spatial and time resolutions, recording images up to one million times faster than conventional MRI experiments. This breakthrough paves the way for portable chemical and biomedical analysis.
Researchers have analyzed seven paintings by Leonardo Da Vinci without extracting samples, revealing the composition and thickness of each layer. The study confirms the use of thin glaze layers to achieve soft transitions and blend shadows like smoke.
Scientists have developed a method to distinguish between primary and secondary organic carbon in ancient sediments, providing insights into the earliest life forms on Earth. By analyzing chemical fossils from Neoproterozoic glacial sediments, researchers have revealed new information about the environment and ecosystems of this period.
Researchers at Jena University have identified oxylipins in moss that repel snails, a common garden enemy. The study's findings suggest a new organic repellent could be developed using these compounds, offering an eco-friendly alternative to existing pest control methods.
Researchers have found that lithium reduces brain inflammation by increasing levels of anti-inflammatory DHA and decreasing pro-inflammatory arachidonic acid. This dual mechanism may explain why lithium is effective in treating bipolar disorder, and could lead to additional therapeutic uses.
A study by Spanish chemists has detected up to 15 fragrance allergens in baby bathwater, including benzyl salicylate and hydroxycitronellal. The researchers found extremely high concentrations of these substances, exceeding 100ppm, raising concerns about their impact on children's health.
A new study provides direct evidence of significant fish consumption by early modern humans in China dating back 40,000 years. The analysis of collagen from a bone found in Tianyuan Cave near Beijing suggests that this individual was a regular fish consumer.
Researchers used DESI-MS to analyze seaweed surfaces for defensive chemicals, finding 28 compounds that inhibit fungal growth. These compounds have potential applications against cancer, HIV, malaria, and other diseases.
Researchers have invented a device called chemistrode that can stimulate, record and analyze molecular signals at high resolution. The device can be used on any surface and has the potential to study diseases such as diabetes and neurology disorders.
A new technology developed at Purdue University detects trace amounts of explosives, drugs, or other materials left behind in fingerprints. It can also distinguish between overlapping fingerprints, a difficult task for current optical forensic methods.
Scientists from the University of New Hampshire and University of Maine are heading to Denali National Park on an ice core expedition to gather climate records from glaciers in the Alaska wilderness. The mission aims to provide a comprehensive picture of regional climate variability in the Arctic, spanning 2,000 years.
Scientists have developed a technique that combines atomic force microscopy with spectroscopic imaging to analyze extremely small sample sizes. This new approach enables the analysis of samples down to femtogram levels, revolutionizing the field of nanoscale chemical analysis.
The Phoenix Mars Lander Mission aims to study the history of water and search for complex organic molecules in Martian soil. The team, led by Kounaves, will analyze the chemical record left in the soil to decipher the climatic history of Mars, which may hold vital clues on climate change on Earth.
A new report from NIST and EPA offers building owners retrofit options to improve safety against airborne chemical and biological hazards. The report evaluates 14 alternative techniques, including filtration and air cleaning systems, and provides a life-cycle cost analysis tool.
A team of researchers has developed a technique to identify and structurally characterize glycans, assemblies of sugars attached to proteins on cancer cell surfaces, which may lead to the development of diagnostic tools or therapeutic agents specifically targeting them.
A study published in PLoS Biology finds that low levels of toxic substances cause critical stem cells to prematurely shut down. The research identifies a common molecular trigger for the effects of toxicant exposure, offering new insights into damage caused by toxicant exposure and potential methods to evaluate chemical safety.
A new XRF Core Scanner will analyze sediment cores quickly without physical damage, providing fast insight into past geological events and current environmental state. This technology is based on a similar X-ray technology used to explain the collapse of the Classic Mayan civilization.
PNNL researchers have developed a continuous monitoring system that quickly generates real-time data and analysis of high-level radioactive waste. The system can quantify levels of various anions and is adaptable to harsh environments.
Researchers at Iowa State University are working on a project to purify fuel ethanol into beverage alcohol, reducing production costs. Two technologies – ozone gas treatment and granular activated carbon filtering – will be used to remove impurities from the fuel.
The IODP Arctic Coring Expedition has provided new evidence that the Arctic was extremely warm and ice-free up to 55 million years ago, during the Paleocene/Eocene thermal maximum. This period saw a massive release of greenhouse gases, leading to significant temperature rises and changes in ocean chemistry.
Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed new high-throughput ionization techniques to quantify the composition of counterfeit anti-malarials. These techniques, DESI and DART, allow for rapid screening and improved sensitivity, with potential applications in drug quality control and malaria control.
Researchers at Arizona State University and Vanderbilt University found that Peruvian trophy heads came from a greater variety of geologic zones than those buried in ancient tombs, suggesting they were victims of warfare or raiding. Meanwhile, stable isotope analysis revealed corn was cultivated in South America earlier than previously...
Dr. Culbertson is developing universally applicable methods for detecting and identifying proteins and peptides in very small sample volumes without tagging molecules. His goal is to miniaturize chemical analysis instrumentation for point-of-care diagnostics, improving disease detection and treatment.
Researchers found that acetaldehyde reacts with polyamines to produce crotonaldehyde, which then forms a mutagenic compound that can cause cancer. The reactions occur at concentrations of acetaldehyde found in human saliva and gastrointestinal tissues after drinking alcohol.
Researchers at NIST have developed an improved experimental X-ray detector that can detect X-rays across a broad range of energies with pinpoint energy resolution. The new detector uses quantum-level, transition edge sensors and improved temperature control systems, eliminating the need for constant recalibrations.
Researchers found that popular chemistry textbooks focus on abstract concepts and tools without discussing their application in practice. To address this, they developed a testable framework describing chemists' routine activities, including explaining phenomena, analyzing matter, and synthesizing new substances.
Dr. Eliades received the 2005 Wilmer Souder Award for his groundbreaking research on dental biomaterials surface analysis, including spectroscopic and electron optical methods. His work has advanced significant dental health through understanding molecular interactions and conformational changes of collagen with dentin-bonding agents.
Martin Bengtsson, a young Swedish physicist, has been awarded the first Best Paper Award by the Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry Journal. His paper introduces a method to decrease laminar flow in microchannels without adding moving parts, which could become an important tool in microreactor technology.
Richard Zare receives $100,000 Wolf Prize for his ingenious applications of laser techniques in analytical chemistry. He has developed novel methods for detecting single molecules and exploring chemical properties.
Researchers used high-energy X-ray fluorescence to analyze single living and dead bacterial cells, revealing differences in morphology, elemental composition, and sensitivity to heavy-metal contaminants. The study pioneers a technique for investigating microbiological systems in natural subsurface environments.
Purdue University chemists have improved mass spectrometers to analyze chemical samples quickly and efficiently. The new device uses desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) technique to test untreated samples right where they are found.
New electron microscopes will allow scientists to determine the chemical identity of individual atoms in crystalline materials, leading to insights into material properties and potential advances in technology. The instruments will also aid in understanding phenomena such as brittle fracture of steels and chemistry of catalytic nanopar...
New Jersey Institute of Technology chemists create a cheap, usable field test for detecting pollutants in water, air, and food. The test uses nanotechnology to concentrate materials and identify trace pollutants, paving the way for lab-on-a-chip devices that can be used by workers or homemaker to quickly detect toxic chemicals.
Spanish scientists have developed a technique to determine the color of ancient wine, revealing that King Tut's wine was made with red grapes. The analysis is the first extensive chemical analysis done on a jar from King Tut's tomb and provides evidence of the color of wine in an archaeological sample.