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New process narrows the gap between natural and synthetic materials

Researchers at EPFL create composite polymers with unique properties by encapsulating monomers in compartments and using UV radiation to polymerize them. The resulting material is exceptionally strong and can withstand heavy loads without damage.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateNov 19, 2020

Well oriented

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed new palladium catalysts for polymerization, enabling the efficient synthesis of isotactic polar polypropylene (iPPP) with high isotacticity. The discovery opens up new possibilities for creating specialty plastics with improved wettability or enhanced degradability.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateOct 30, 2020

Developing new smart soft materials

Researchers at Ehime University have successfully synthesized a new type of polymer with a carboxy-functionalized dendron structure. The polymer demonstrates pH-responsive behavior due to the dense accumulation of side chains, paving the way for the development of new functional poly(substituted methylene)s.

SourceEhime University·JournalMacromolecules·DateAug 4, 2020
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Chemists make tough plastics recyclable

Chemists at MIT have developed a way to modify thermoset plastics with a chemical linker that makes them easier to break down after use, retaining mechanical strength. They successfully produced a degradable version of pDCPD and reused the powder to form new material.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature·DateJul 22, 2020

Polymers self-assembling like links of a chain for innovative materials

Researchers have successfully created supramolecular poly-catenanes through molecular self-assembly, forming hierarchical structures composed of interconnected rings. The nano-poly[n]catenanes exhibit unprecedented physical properties and potential applications in molecular machines and active materials.

SourcePolitecnico di Torino·JournalNature·DateJul 16, 2020
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Understanding how monomer sequence affects conductance in 'molecular wires'

Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a method to precisely control the sequence in synthetic polymers, allowing them to study charge transport properties and measure conductance through single chains. This work has significant implications for designing and manipulating materials with designer properties.

SourceBeckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateMar 11, 2020

Potentially toxic chemicals from LCDs in nearly half of household dust samples tested

A study by the University of Saskatchewan has discovered that liquid crystal monomers from LCDs are present in nearly half of household dust samples, with 90% of these chemicals showing concerning properties. The findings raise concerns about the potential toxicity of these monomers to humans and the environment.

SourceUniversity of Saskatchewan·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 10, 2019

Bioaccumulation of liquid crystal monomers

87 LCMs show potential for persistent and bioaccumulative properties, affecting gene expression in embryonic chicken cells. Several LCMs found in indoor dust samples, highlighting environmental concerns.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 9, 2019

Freeze frame: Scientists capture atomic-scale snapshots of artificial proteins

Researchers at Berkeley Lab successfully image the atomic structure of peptoid nanosheets using cryo-EM, a breakthrough that could advance applications such as synthetic antibodies and self-repairing membranes. The study demonstrates unprecedented atomic precision and paves the way for designing soft materials at the atomic scale.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 4, 2019

Army project may lead to new class of high-performance materials

Researchers have developed a process to create synthetic polymers with precision of biology, enabling the production of advanced materials such as nanoelectronics, self-healing materials, and fuel cells. This breakthrough could lead to improved personal protective gear and sophisticated electronics for Soldiers.

SourceU.S. Army Research Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 18, 2019
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

Catalyst switching means four become one

Scientists at KAUST have successfully combined four polymers to form a single substance using a novel approach called catalyst switching. This breakthrough could lead to the development of materials with enhanced properties, such as improved energy storage and tissue engineering applications.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateNov 7, 2019

New synthesis method yields degradable polymers

Researchers at MIT have developed a new synthesis method to create polymers that can break down more readily in the body and environment. By adding a novel type of building block, they were able to create polymers with easier degradability under biologically relevant conditions.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Chemistry·DateOct 28, 2019

SciLifeLab and AstraZeneca use cryo-EM to advance biomedicine

A team of researchers from SciLifeLab and AstraZeneca have used cryo-EM to unravel the extracellular region of the receptor tyrosine kinase RET, which is involved in degenerative diseases. The study reveals how two large RET monomers dimerize on the membrane, leading to potential therapeutic targets for neuronal survival.

SourceScience For Life Laboratory·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 19, 2019
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

New synthetic polymer degradable under very mild acidic conditions

Researchers at Ehime University developed a new synthetic polymer with great potential for use as an environmentally friendly material. The polymer can be degraded into low molecular weight compounds under mild acidic conditions, making it useful for drug encapsulation and recyclable materials.

SourceEhime University·JournalMacromolecules·DateSep 24, 2019

Secret messages hidden in light-sensitive polymers

Scientists at CNRS have created polymers that can change information stored on a molecular level using specific wavelengths of light. This technology allows for the storage and decoding of secret messages, with potential applications in designing new materials.

SourceCNRS·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 4, 2019
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

Researchers can now predict properties of disordered polymers

Scientists use pattern recognition to understand and predict behavior of disordered strands of proteins and polymers. By analyzing the precise sequence of charged monomers, researchers can design new materials with improved properties.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalACS Central Science·DateJun 3, 2019

Alzheimer's therapy from Jülich passes another important test

PRI-002, a new Alzheimer's drug candidate, has successfully completed Phase I clinical research, demonstrating improved cognitive performance in human trials. The compound destroys toxic oligomers without involving the immune system, offering a promising approach to treating Alzheimer's disease.

SourceForschungszentrum Juelich·JournalMolecular Neurobiology·DateMay 13, 2019

Green plastic production made easy

Researchers have developed an energy-efficient method to synthesize bioplastic ingredients, overcoming a key limitation in large-scale production. The new technique uses a gold nanoparticle catalyst and achieves high conversion rates, making it more practical for commercial production of sustainable 'green products'.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalACS Catalysis·DateApr 16, 2019
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

Nanopores make portable mass spectrometer for peptides a reality

Researchers at University of Groningen developed nanopores that can measure peptide mass, offering a cheap and portable solution for proteomics research. The smallest pores produced have a resolution of around 40 Dalton, allowing for the identification of peptides with varying chemical compositions.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 19, 2019

Researchers find value in unusual type of plant material

Scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have discovered a novel type of lignin, C-lignin, that can be refined into various bioproducts with high yields and minimal processing. This breakthrough has the potential to transform agricultural markets by utilizing a previously underutilized plant biomass.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalScience Advances·DateSep 28, 2018

Getting in Shape

Scientists have developed a novel approach to synthesize highly crystalline triazine frameworks, which demonstrate exceptional thermal stability and high photocatalytic efficiency. This method could be the starting point for industrial production of these frameworks.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateAug 21, 2018

An elastic puff of air

Researchers at Kyoto University have developed a new class of highly elastic aerogels with adjustable network density, allowing for tailored porosity. These materials exhibit excellent thermal insulation, surpassing conventional materials like polyurethane foam, and can be bent, rolled, twisted, and cut into desired shapes.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJul 25, 2018
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Tailored polymers from a printer

Researchers develop a novel approach to create tailored, tough polymers for 3D printing. The new method uses an ester-activated vinyl sulfonate ester as a chain transfer agent, reducing the risk of shrinkage cracks and increasing material flexibility.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJul 6, 2018

New ID pictures of conducting polymers discover a surprise ABBA fan

Conjugated polymers have been studied for their electrical conductivity, but determining their structure was challenging. A new technique developed by the University of Warwick has produced high-resolution images of their structure, revealing gaps and defects in an ABBA pattern.

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalScience Advances·DateJun 15, 2018

Developing a method for synthesizing a novel polyester with alternating arrangement

Researchers at Toyohashi University of Technology developed a method to synthesize a novel polyester with an alternating arrangement of L- and D-lactic acids, leading to improved productivity and crystallization rate. This achievement is expected to facilitate the development of polyesters with unprecedented characteristics.

SourceToyohashi University of Technology (TUT)·JournalPolymer Chemistry·DateMay 10, 2018

'Infinitely' recyclable polymer shows practical properties of plastics

Chemists at Colorado State University have discovered a polymer with high molecular weight, thermal stability, and mechanical properties comparable to conventional plastics. The new material can be recycled back to its original state under mild lab conditions, paving the way for a circular materials life cycle.

SourceColorado State University·JournalScience·DateApr 26, 2018
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

A polymer that puts plastic on a better path toward recyclability

Researchers have developed a family of synthetic polymers that can be repeatedly recycled with great efficiency. These new polymers overcome the challenges faced by existing biodegradable plastics and mechanical approaches to reusing plastic, offering a highly desirable chemical recycling method.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateApr 26, 2018

Custom sequences for polymers using visible light

The team developed a process to make sequential polymers by switching light on and off, allowing precision control over physical properties. This method simplifies existing synthesis methods and has potential for creating new polymers with desired functionality.

SourceTokyo Metropolitan University·JournalOrganometallics·DateMar 22, 2018

Quantum dots display promise for polymers

Rice University scientists have developed a stable and economical method to make polymers through photo-controlled atom-transfer radical polymerization. The process uses photosensitive quantum dots as a catalyst, which can be triggered by light sources such as the sun or a household lamp.

SourceRice University·JournalACS Macro Letters·DateFeb 8, 2018

Fluorine-containing molecules from cell cultures

Researchers genetically engineered a microbial host to produce fluorinated metabolites and bioplastics, leveraging the potential of living systems to create complex chemical compounds. The breakthrough enables controlled incorporation of fluorine into polyhydroxyalkanoates, resulting in more durable and targeted bioplastics.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateSep 28, 2017
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

Macromolecules: Light to design precision polymers

Chemists at KIT have developed a method to control the setup of precision polymers by light-induced chemical reactions. This allows for precise arrangement of chain links, leading to defined properties and potential applications as storage systems or synthetic biomolecules. The new synthesis reaction is reported in Nature Communications.

SourceKarlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 15, 2016

Visual pigment rhodopsin forms two-molecule complexes in vivo

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have determined the most likely configuration of rhodopsin in a living organism, finding it exists as a dimer, a two-molecule complex. This discovery may help develop future treatments for retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disease with no known cure.

SourceBaylor College of Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 25, 2016
GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Origins of life: New model may explain emergence of self-replication on early Earth

A new model suggests that template-assisted ligation could have enabled the leap from monomers to self-replicating polymer chains in primordial soup. The model proposes a cycle between 'day' and 'night' phases, driven by environmental changes, where polymers join together to form longer chains via template-assisted ligation.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateJul 28, 2015

KAIST develops ultrathin polymer insulators key to low-power soft electronics

Researchers at KAIST developed an ultrathin polymeric insulator using initiated chemical vapor deposition, overcoming limitations of traditional techniques. The resulting insulator enables the creation of low-power, high-performance field-effect transistors on flexible substrates.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalNature Materials·DateMar 9, 2015

Fine-tuned supramolecular polymerization

The researchers demonstrated a chain-growth process to assemble supramolecular polymers at room temperature and pressure. They were able to create polymers with controlled chirality, length, and sequence, opening the way for precision engineering of macromolecules. The findings also suggest potential applications in electronics and sus...

SourceRIKEN·JournalScience·DateFeb 5, 2015
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

'Unzipping' poplars' biofuel potential

Researchers at Michigan State University have engineered poplar trees to break down more easily, improving their viability as a sustainable source of biofuel. The innovative approach reduces energy usage and cost in the production of biofuels.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalScience·DateApr 3, 2014

Bio-inspired polymer synthesis enhances structure control

Researchers develop a new method of polymer synthesis based on segregation and templating to achieve precise control over polymer structure. This approach enables tailored polymers with specific properties for applications in nanomedicine, nanotechnology, and materials chemistry.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalNature Chemistry·DateMay 1, 2012

New guide for research on multiblock polymers emerges

A new guide addresses the challenges of researching multiblock polymers, which can result in a wide range of materials customizable to various specifications. The approach combines predictive computer simulation methods with advanced synthetic and structural characterization tools to address the vast number of possible combinations.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalScience·DateApr 26, 2012
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Research sheds light on how immune system's 'first responders' target infection

Researchers discovered that IL-8 monomers and dimers interact differently with cell-surface molecules in different body tissues, influencing neutrophil recruitment. This fundamental mechanism regulates neutrophil function and could help control runaway inflammation and related tissue damage in diseases such as sepsis.

SourceUniversity of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston·JournalJournal of Leukocyte Biology·DateFeb 27, 2012

Startling results in synthetic chemistry presented in Nature Chemistry

Researchers at ETH Zurich successfully created two-dimensional polymers for the first time using a novel synthesis method. The resulting 'molecular carpets' have potential applications in filtering tiny molecules and could lead to the development of new materials with unique properties.

SourceSwiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA)·JournalNature Chemistry·DateFeb 13, 2012

Detailed picture of how myoV 'walks' along actin tracks

Researchers used single-molecule fluorescence microscopy to visualize myoV molecules walking along actin filaments in real-time. The study found that myoV can take multiple hand-over-hand steps without falling off its track, making it well-suited for intracellular cargo transport.

SourceRockefeller University Press·JournalJournal of General Physiology·DateJan 30, 2012
Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Video captures cellular 'workhorses' in action

Scientists at Yale University used fluorescent stains to create movies of cellular actin filaments disassembling, shedding light on their mysterious process. The study reveals the location of breaks along the filaments, crucial for cell movement and maintenance.

SourceYale University·JournalCurrent Biology·DateApr 28, 2011

Nanoribbons for graphene transistors

Researchers successfully grow graphene ribbons with adjustable properties by creating narrow ribbons with well-defined edges. The new method enables the production of components with specific optical and electronic properties, paving the way for the development of future nanoelectronics.

SourceSwiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA)·JournalNature·DateJul 21, 2010

CSIRO grants global license for new polymer technology

The CSIRO has granted a global license to Monomer-Polymer for its patented RAFT technology, a powerful polymerization process that enables the creation of complex molecules. This agreement will allow Monomer-Polymer to market the technology worldwide and strengthen their position in material development.

SourceCSIRO Australia·DateJul 19, 2010

Researchers figure out what makes a simple biological clock tick

An interdisciplinary team of researchers analyzed the simplest known biological clock and found that the protein KaiC, combined with KaiA and KaiB, creates a complex system to regulate biochemical processes. The study reveals that the proteins form a dynamic mixture of complexes at different stages of their cycles.

SourceVanderbilt University·JournalPLOS Biology·DateMar 26, 2007

UD scientists discover new class of polymers

Researchers at UD University discovered a new class of polymers that can be transformed into ultra-thin films with potential applications in coatings, optics, and electronics. The discovery was made possible by a novel polymerization technique developed by the team, which eliminates the need for solvents.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalMacromolecules·DateJan 2, 2007
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

3-D forms link antibiotic resistance and brain disease

Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital used computer-generated images of enzyme pantothenate kinase to unlock mysteries of antibiotic resistance and rare brain degeneration. The study found that despite differences in enzyme structure, types II and III can perform the same job as type I, leading to antibiotic resistance.

SourceSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital·JournalStructure·DateAug 17, 2006