Add BrightSurf on Google Email

New core-shell catalyst for ethanol fuel cells

Scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory and the University of Arkansas developed a highly efficient catalyst for extracting electrical energy from ethanol. The catalyst steers ethanol down an ideal chemical pathway, releasing its full potential of stored energy, enabling applications such as liquid fuel-cell-powered drones.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJun 7, 2019

Researchers improve description of defective oxides with first principles calculation

The researchers developed site-dependent +U correction parameters using self-consistent first principles calculations, which improves the structure of stoichiometric SrMnO3 and provides a more accurate description of defective systems. This approach can lead to lower computational cost and more precise predictions of defect energetics.

Gold recycling

A new gold recycling method has been developed using pyridinethiols and hydrogen peroxide, allowing for efficient extraction of gold from electronic waste. The process produces a stable cationic gold-containing product in organic solution, with nearly quantitative dissolution of gold after 20 minutes.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateDec 13, 2018

Novel strategy to transform a commercially available iboga alkaloid to post-iboga alkaloids

KAIST chemists have synthesized seven different iboga and post-iboga natural products from catharanthine, mirroring nature's biosynthetic post-modification of the iboga skeleton. The novel strategy involves selective oxidation and rearrangement reactions, offering a stepping stone for developing therapeutic medications against cancer a...

What's in the air? There's more to it than we thought

Scientists have discovered that organic aerosols in the atmosphere are more varied and complex than previously thought. Analyzing air samples from forests and urban environments, researchers found that up to 70% of compounds changed over consecutive samples, highlighting the need for improved air pollution control policies.

SourceYale University·JournalCommunications Chemistry·DateNov 2, 2018

Russian scientists obtain new results in the study of inorganic pigments with apatite structure

Researchers at Lobachevsky University have synthesized a high-purity sample of barium hypomanganate chloride and characterized its crystal structure and chemical environment. The study has stabilized the degree of manganese oxidation and measured its isobaric heat capacity, revealing anomalous behavior below 15K.

SourceLobachevsky University·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Thermodynamics·DateOct 30, 2018

New immunotherapy targeting blood-clotting protein

Scientists have developed an antibody that blocks the inflammatory and oxidative activity of fibrin, a blood protein that contributes to neurodegeneration in the brain. The treatment has shown promise in reducing inflammation and neurodegeneration in both mouse models of multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease.

SourceGladstone Institutes·JournalNature Immunology·DateOct 15, 2018

Garlic ingredient from the lab bench

Ajoene, a stable organosulfur compound in garlic oil extracts, has similar health-promoting effects to allicin and exhibits anticancer activity. Researchers have developed a total synthesis approach to produce ajoene with improved yields, paving the way for its further evaluation in medicinal research.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateAug 23, 2018

Hope for new catalysts with high activity

Researchers at Osaka University have elucidated the activation mechanism of nanoporous gold catalysts, making poisonous CO gas harmless. The study used atomic-scale resolution environmental transmission electron microscopy and computer simulations to reveal the role of residual impurities in catalyzing chemical reactions.

SourceOsaka University·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 2, 2018

Sunlight works against oil clean-up efforts

Researchers found that sunlight has a significant impact on oil clean-up efforts, decreasing dispersant effectiveness by four-fold. The study's findings suggest that photochemical oxidation, triggered by sunlight, is a dominant weathering process that should be considered in future field manuals and oil spill response guides.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology Letters·DateApr 25, 2018

Simple urine test could measure how much our body has aged

Researchers found a substance indicating oxidative damage increases in urine as people get older, potentially providing a method to measure biological age. The study measured 8-oxoGsn levels in human urine samples from Chinese residents aged 2-90 years old, finding an age-dependent increase in urinary 8-oxoGsn.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Aging Neuroscience·DateFeb 27, 2018

Maintaining canola oil quality

Researchers at Tohoku University developed a new technique to analyze isomers in edible oil using HPLC-MS/MS, revealing the specific oxidation compounds in canola oil resulting from heat and light. The study suggests packaging canola oil in dark containers and adding antioxidants like carotenoids to reduce oxidation.

SourceTohoku University·Journalnpj Science of Food·DateJan 12, 2018

Novel route to polyamide 6: Catalytic oxidation of cyclohexane with ferrocene in ionic liquid medium

Researchers have developed a novel route to produce polyamide 6 by catalytically oxidizing cyclohexane with ferrocene in an ionic liquid medium. The process is highly selective and efficient, achieving over 98% selectivity and high turnover frequencies. This method has the potential to replace traditional industrial production processes.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalLetters in Organic Chemistry·DateSep 26, 2017

How plants prevent oxidative stress

Researchers discovered the P700 oxidation system in plants to suppress reactive oxygen species production, allowing safe photosynthesis. The system starts functioning when excess light energy is present, serving as a warning marker for oxidative stress.

SourceKobe University·JournalThe Plant Journal·DateJun 8, 2017

Hypoxia signaling plays a physiological role in the formation of the heart

Scientists have discovered that hypoxia-inducible transcription factors (HIFs) establish metabolic boundaries between cardiomyocytes to regulate maturation and contraction of the muscle. This pathway challenges previous models on heart metabolism, playing a critical role in correct formation of ventricles.

Impact of sea smell overestimated by present climate models

Scientists from the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research have published a comprehensive study revealing that current climate models overestimate the impact of dimethyl sulfide on oceanic clouds. The study found that aqueous-phase chemistry significantly reduces sulfur dioxide emissions, contradicting earlier projections.

SourceLeibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 3, 2016

Stem cells also rust

A Lund University research team identified high levels of reactive oxygen species in newly generated blood stem cells from pluripotent stem cells, damaging their function. The researchers developed a cocktail to reduce oxidative damage, resulting in over twenty times more blood stem cells that could grow.

SourceLund University·JournalStem Cells·DateOct 25, 2016