Articles tagged with Chemical Physics
Researchers create glycine, an essential amino acid, from simple molecules in a laboratory experiment that mimics astrophysical conditions. The study suggests that the combination of star dust and radiation could have formed life's building blocks in space, leading to their arrival on Earth via comet or meteorite impact.
Researchers create simulated space environments where small organic molecules form under radiation, potentially offering an alternative explanation for the origin of life. The study used advanced techniques to analyze icy films containing methane and oxygen, producing a variety of complex organic molecules.
Researchers discovered increasing emissions of short-lived ozone-depleting chemicals in East Asia, threatening the recovery of the ozone layer. The study found dichloromethane and 1,2-dichloroethane in large amounts, which can be carried up into the stratosphere and cause damage.
A team of researchers from Northeastern University has discovered a new mechanism that causes cracks to behave strangely in brittle materials, leading to catastrophic failure. The study's findings have the potential to help designers create stronger materials by understanding how fragile materials like glass and bone break.
Researchers developed an algorithm to identify the stress-induced breakdown of molecular bonds, enabling efficient chemical synthesis and catalysis. The algorithm can be applied to any molecule, including biological ones, and has implications for various applications such as molecular machines and catalyst design.
Researchers have observed giant charge reversal for the first time, where excess counter ions adsorb to oppositely charged surfaces. The study suggests that dielectric response of the solvent enhances correlation of multivalent ions with surface groups, leading to the formation of Bjerrum pairs.
Researchers at Stockholm University have found that water can exist as two different liquids at low temperatures, with large differences in structure and density. The discovery was made possible through experimental studies using X-rays, which revealed the existence of these two liquid phases.
A new method using a semilocal density functional produces more accurate estimates of excitation energy compared to other commonly used functionals, while requiring less computing power.
Scientists use ultra-cold helium droplets to align single molecules with lasers, achieving better precision than traditional gas-phase approaches. This technique enables real-time study of chemical reactions in complex systems.
Using molecular simulations, researchers have developed an approach called inverse design that allows them to identify simpler interactions between particles that can spontaneously self-assemble into complex structures. This method enables the discovery of new materials with desired properties, reducing the time and cost required for t...
Researchers have developed a new experimental technique to take 3D images of molecules in action, combining two technologies to probe the structure and behavior of molecules. This tool enables experiments with larger molecules that were previously impossible, allowing for better understanding of quantum mechanics in complex systems.
A new modeling technique determines the parameters that control glass relaxation fluctuations, helping to guide future glass composition development. Fluctuations in this behavior introduce uncertainty into the manufacturing process and can lead to misalignment of pixels within displays.
A team of researchers has created a fully biocompatible motility engine using synthetic active filaments, outperforming conventional methods in transporting tiny cargo. The design's efficiency and speed capabilities have significant implications for targeted drug delivery, insemination, and therapeutic interventions.
Researchers discovered that a simple physical mechanism governs the formation of protein filaments, which are associated with diseases such as Alzheimer's and Type 2 diabetes. Understanding this process could lead to new therapies and materials for nanotechnology.
Researchers propose a nanosized dipole photomotor controlled by a laser, capable of directed motion at record speed. The device has potential applications across the natural sciences and medicine, including delivering drugs to diseased tissues.
Researchers find that longer polymer chains exhibit higher fragility due to incomplete molecular scale relaxation, leading to new insights for material design. The study resolves a long-standing puzzle in polymeric materials, shedding light on their unique properties.
Researchers found that small imprecisions in surface lattice sites can affect the density of deposited particles, leading to less efficient deposition processes and lower ultimate coverage. This study suggests that a certain degree of relaxation may be more effective in improving dense structures.
A team of theoretical chemists at Queen's University compared experimental and theoretical methods for interpreting the rotational-vibrational CH5+ spectra. They were able to develop a new assignment of the experimental results, reducing errors from 30 cm-1 to 2 cm-1.
A total of 697 applications were received for 75 HFSP postdoctoral fellowships, with 69 Long-Term Fellowships awarded to life scientists extending their expertise into another field and 6 Cross-Disciplinary Fellowships supporting young scientists from non-life science backgrounds
A new theory explains how ice becomes slippery when a hard material slides across it, improving ski design and understanding glacier movement. The study uses experimental data to connect temperature and sliding speed to friction on ice.
Researchers are combining physics, chemistry and mathematics to unlock the secrets of caves, a field known as speleophysics. Key areas include karst landform formation, evolution and movement, which affects approximately 20% of US fresh water supply and 10% in Europe.
Researchers from California Institute of Technology found that heat can shorten dendrites by up to 36% and possibly extend battery lifetimes. By analyzing the effect of temperature on individual lithium atoms, they discovered that increased temperatures trigger atomic motion, leading to the breakdown of dendrite structures.
A pioneering ultrasonic device called StarStream has been developed to improve the cleaning of medical instruments using cold water, eliminating biological contamination and bacterial biofilms. The device has shown significant effectiveness in removing complex contaminants such as brain tissue from surgical steel.
The Mainau Declaration 2015 on Climate Change states that nations must limit future global emissions and approve a new international agreement. The declaration warns of the consequences of unchecked climate change, which will overwhelm the Earth's ability to satisfy humanity's needs, leading to wholesale human tragedy.
James Brogan, a double major in physics and chemistry, has been awarded a Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship for his research on aerosol behavior and its effects on human health. He plans to combine physics and medicine to advance techniques in medical physics.
Louis Nirenberg, a NYU mathematician, and John Nash, a Princeton professor, have been awarded the Abel Prize for their work on nonlinear partial differential equations. Their contributions significantly impact geometric analysis, with far-reaching consequences felt more strongly today than ever before.
Researchers at NYU have developed a method to monitor microscopic particles' properties during chemical reactions, enabling improved product design and production. This technique offers benefits for various industries, including food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.
Researchers discovered a counterintuitive effect where structural disorder counters thermal disorder in certain systems, leading to lower overall disorder. The study focused on charged fluids and found that disordered charges interact strongly with mobile ions to oppose the effects of thermal disorder.
Researchers have devised a model of DNA's close environment under threat from low-energy electrons, revealing their effects on DNA in natural conditions. The study aims to improve current uses of radiation, such as in cancer treatments and diagnostic procedures.
Researchers have developed a new method for exerting control over the arrangement of polymer molecules in plastic solar cells, enabling them to produce more electrical current. This breakthrough could lead to cheaper and more efficient solar panels, making renewable energy more accessible.
Researchers at Doshisha University have discovered a new mechanism to propel micromotors, which can move forward, spin, or circle depending on their shape. The discovery could lead to the creation of easily controllable machines with a versatile range of motions.
The study analyzed over 400 geoscience student exit survey responses, identifying that 70% of participants took Calculus I and II, with a drop in further mathematics coursework after those classes. PhD candidates pursued multiple courses beyond Calculus II, while all three groups took at least one chemistry and physics course.
A thermodynamic theory of osmosis was published in 1897, but its explanation has not been fully adopted by chemistry and biology. Key findings include the misconception that osmosis only applies to liquids, and the need for an attractive force to drive the process.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University developed self-assembling particles inspired by origami that can be manipulated to fold and seal or open and close. These particles have potential applications in drug delivery, mechanical sensing, bio-sensing technologies, and more.
The National Science Foundation grant will support the teachHOUSTON program, which recruits and prepares physics and chemistry teachers for urban schools. The five-year grant aims to increase the number of qualified STEM teachers in Houston's school districts.
A team of scientists proposes a new theory of evolution that combines emergent fitness landscape and curl flux to explain evolutionary dynamics. The theory provides a physical foundation for general evolution dynamics, offering insights into the Red Queen Hypothesis and the benefits of sexual reproduction.
JoVE launches a new section in physics and engineering, featuring experimental disciplines and interdisciplinary fields. The first article showcases a method to fabricate thin-film solar cells, increasing potential by 45% while reducing thickness.
Researchers identified the 32-atom 'baby crystal' through computer simulations and experimentally confirmed its structure using scanning tunneling microscope images. The discovery provides insight into how small crystals form larger units.
Top bartenders are ditching trial and error for a more measured approach to cocktail making, inspired by physics techniques. Rotary evaporators and thermocouples help extract flavors and balance the taste of cocktails, such as martinis and manhattans.
A study of Nobel Laureates from 1901 to 2008 found that the majority of breakthroughs in chemistry and physics were made after age 40, with great achievements by age 30 nearly never occurring. The trend toward youthful achievement in early 20th century physics may be attributed to the development of quantum mechanics.
A five-year federally funded effort aims to increase the number of local high school girls who enter college prepared to study health-related science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The intervention comprises summer academies, academic year cafes, and continuous mentoring support.
A new study by Ohio State University researchers found that Nobel Prize-winning ideas in science don't always gain more acceptance over time. Instead, many laureates see a decrease in acceptance for their later work related to the Nobel idea.
A new theoretical model reported in the Journal of Chemical Physics investigates protein unfolding under smaller forces, revealing a previously uncharacterized sequential loss of structure involving fluctuation between two intermediates. The researchers discovered more steps and complexity compared to previous experiments and models.
Researchers have developed a new method to analyze neutron reflection to identify buckyballs within polymer-based photovoltaic cells. This breakthrough technique allows for more efficient and cost-effective production of solar cells, which could lead to widespread adoption.
A theoretical model compares the transport characteristics of straight- and branched-chain polymers in channels, shedding light on how deformability affects their movement. The findings could aid in developing carrier molecules for targeted drug delivery.
Physicists at Rice University report a simple scaling behavior in electronic excitations of a related material, providing direct evidence of large-scale electronic consequences of quantum critical effects. The study reveals that variables from classical physics cannot explain all observed macroscopic properties at quantum critical points.
Researchers at CIN2 have developed a way to make artificial materials that control water condensation, leading to the formation of 'room-temperature ice' at ambient conditions. This breakthrough has significant implications for snowmaking, improved freezer systems, and new coatings for skating rinks.
Scientists have observed the first real-time measurements of a rare gas atom and halogen molecule dissociation. The study found that adding vibrational energy to the bromine-stretching vibration led to rapid direct dissociation, while higher excitation resulted in a more complex mechanism.
Researchers improved a theoretical model for polymer movement through nanopores, addressing the motion of polymers inside pores and introducing significant increases in total time in the pore. This improvement has potential technological applications in DNA sequencing and biosensors.
Researchers have developed a new method to manufacture highly stable glass films with properties equivalent to those of conventionally aged glasses. This breakthrough uses physical vapor deposition and alternating current nanocalorimetry, enabling the production of 'impossible materials' in a matter of minutes.
A new study published in the Journal of Chemical Physics suggests that decompression sickness is caused by the formation and loss of small gas bubbles in soft tissues. The researchers propose a model where these bubbles are stabilized by pockets of reduced pressure, allowing them to persist despite their expected collapse.
The NIST team has built an ultra-stable instrument for tugging on chains of atoms, achieving results that require heroic efforts at vibration isolation. The new instrument enables the direct measurement of force between two gold atoms, giving researchers a direct method to calibrate their equipment.
Chemists have successfully designed and observed custom-shaped microparticles interacting and self-assembling in a controlled manner within a liquid crystal. The discovery opens up possibilities for the creation of larger-scale assemblies with various applications in photonics, optical communication networks, and other fields.
Scientists investigate Hořava's quantum gravity model, which modifies Lorentz symmetry. The team finds that the modifications only reproduce general relativity on unobservable scales.
Scientists have developed a way to train proteins to line up neatly on the surface of water in thin layers called nanofilms. This technique should allow biochemists to better see and study the molecules, leading to new generations of molecular electronics and ultra-thin materials.
Carlos Ordonez, a UH professor, recruits up-and-coming scientists from Latin America for two-year fellowships at UH's top researchers. The program enhances scientific partnerships between the US and Latin America, empowering promising young scientists to tackle problems in their home countries.
A team of University of Toronto researchers has discovered that heating gold at extremely high rates can make it harder, rather than softer. The study used a technique called 'femtosecond electron diffraction' to observe the effects of rapid heating on the material's atomic structure.
Researchers have discovered a new mathematical framework, superadiabaticity, to optimize magnetic resonance pulse sequences in MRI scans. This breakthrough could lead to sharper images, more informative scans, and potentially even portable MRI machines.
Researchers used the Petersburg Paradox to predict how force required to break two types of strings varied with length. Their findings suggest that longer strings require less force to break in a unique pattern.
Researchers found that high school math preparation significantly improves college performance in biology, chemistry, and physics. However, no correlation was seen between scientific disciplines, challenging the 'Physics First' movement's arguments.