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Rust never sleeps

Researchers at PNNL use APT to trace oxidation-reduction reactions and create the first 3D atomic maps of iron oxide crystals. These 'atomic maps' reveal a dynamic iron cycle, showing iron atoms filling in potholes on crystal surfaces and driving growth.

SourceDOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 4, 2019

Biotechnology to the rescue of Brussels sprouts

A team of European researchers has identified multiple genes that are resistant to Albugo candida, a disease causing white rust in Brassicaceae family plants. The discovery was made using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model plant and has the potential to design new genetic improvement strategies for different cultivated crop species.

SourceUniversity of Córdoba·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 4, 2019

Ground-breaking discoveries could create superior alloys with many applications

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have made significant breakthroughs in understanding how alloys behave at high temperatures. The new findings provide a better understanding of the role of reactive elements and water vapour in promoting the growth of an aluminium oxide scale, leading to faster-growing, nanocrystalline o...

SourceChalmers University of Technology·JournalNature Materials·DateJun 19, 2018

Rust stemmed for wheat

A team of experts has identified a gene that triggers resistance in wheat to the devastating fungal pathogen Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt). The breakthrough allows for DNA testing to identify whether a rust strain can overcome a resistance gene, enabling targeted treatment and reducing crop devastation.

SourceRothamsted Research·JournalScience·DateDec 21, 2017

The revolt of the Rust Belt may explain Trump's election

The article attributes Trump's victory to a rejection of the Democratic Party by working-class voters in the Rust Belt, citing institutions like labor unions as key factors. The author argues that regional characteristics and institutions connected these voters to national politics, explaining unusual voting behavior in 2016.

SourceWiley·JournalBritish Journal of Sociology·DateNov 8, 2017

Corrosion in real time

Researchers used the Surface Forces Apparatus to investigate crevice and pitting corrosion in confined spaces. They observed intense local corrosion resulting in sudden pit formation, highlighting the complexity of the process and its dependence on electric potential difference.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 14, 2017

Batteries from scrap metal

Researchers have developed a novel method to create stable and low-cost electrodes from discarded stainless steel mesh, ideal for potassium-ion batteries. The new electrode design uses a waste material to store potassium ions, overcoming the limitations of sodium ion batteries.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJun 9, 2017

A rusty green early ocean?

Researchers suggest ancient ocean had green rusty mineral, green rust, which could have delivered substantial proportion of iron to early ocean sediments. Green rust forms under low oxygen conditions and can transform into iron oxides over time.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalNature·DateApr 9, 2017

Three new uranium minerals from Utah

Researchers have identified three new uranium minerals, leesite, leószilárdite, and redcanyonite, found growing on the walls of old uranium mines in southern Utah. These minerals provide valuable insights into the chemistry and structure of uranyl compounds and their interactions with the environment.

SourceMichigan Technological University·JournalMineralogical Magazine·DateFeb 7, 2017

A closer look at what caused the Flint water crisis

Researchers analyzed galvanized iron pipes from Flint, Michigan's 'ground zero' house and found that high lead concentrations correlated with cadmium, zinc, and tin levels. The study suggests that corrosion inhibitors were necessary to prevent lead contamination, highlighting the need for long-term pipe replacement.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateFeb 1, 2017

Meteorites reveal lasting drought on Mars

New evidence from meteorites on Mars indicates a lasting drought on the planet, making it difficult for life to exist today. The study calculates a chemical weathering rate that shows rust formation takes thousands of times longer on Mars than in driest deserts on Earth.

SourceUniversity of Stirling·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 11, 2016

A new way to print 3-D metals and alloys

A team of Northwestern University engineers has created a new way to print three-dimensional metallic objects using rust and metal powders, expanding the types of metals, alloys, and architectures that can be additively manufactured. The method uses liquid inks and common furnaces, resulting in a cheaper, faster, and more uniform process.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateJan 11, 2016

Bacteria engineered with synthetic circadian clocks

Researchers designed synthetic microbes to learn what drives the bacterial circadian clock and how it might be manipulated. The findings indicate that the cyanobacteria's clock can synchronize to metabolism outside of photosynthesis, suggesting potential applications in engineered microbes.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Reports·DateDec 10, 2015

Chinese mosquitos on the Baltic Sea

Ancient insect inclusions in Baltic Sea amber reveal a surprising similarity with Asian forms, dating back 40-50 million years. This discovery fills a long-standing gap in the understanding of species migration between continents.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJul 30, 2014