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Portable and precise gas sensor could monitor pollution and detect disease

A team of Princeton and Rice University researchers has developed a new method to identify nitric oxide using lasers and sensors, making it possible for large-scale deployment. The device can detect tiny amounts of the gas in the air or human breath, monitoring pollution and detecting disease such as asthma.

SourcePrinceton University, Engineering School·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 18, 2009

A safe approach to nanotechnology

Researchers developed a non-toxic method to synthesize zinc oxide nanorods using water and ultrasound. The approach produces uniform nanorods of 30-100 nm in diameter, suitable for large-scale production. It enables safe use in medical applications, food products, dentistry, and electronics.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Nanoparticles·DateAug 19, 2009

New way to make sensors that detect toxic chemicals

Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a new synthesis method to create highly pure and small nickel oxide nanoparticles for gas sensors. The material reacts quickly and reliably to various toxic industrial chemicals and biological warfare agents, enabling the detection of these substances.

SourceOhio State University·JournalMaterials Chemistry and Physics·DateJul 8, 2009

Novel light-sensitive compounds show promise for cancer therapy

Researchers have developed novel compounds that absorb by cancer cells and release nitric oxide upon specific light wavelengths, inducing apoptosis and killing tumor cells. The compounds, called dye-sensitized ruthenium nitrosyls, offer a localized delivery of high concentrations of nitric oxide without causing inflammation.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJun 16, 2009

Bacteria from the deep can clean up heavy metals

A species of bacteria, Brachybacterium sp Mn32, has been found to effectively remove manganese and absorb zinc and nickel from solutions. The bacterium's manganese oxides have a greater surface area, enabling more metal ions to be absorbed, making it a promising candidate for bioremediation and cleaning up heavy metal pollution.

SourceMicrobiology Society·JournalMicrobiology·DateJun 4, 2009

U-M researcher's idea jells into potential new disease-detection method

Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a new method to detect nitric oxide in exhaled breath, a potential indicator of diseases such as lung cancer and tuberculosis. The technique uses molecular gels that congeal when exposed to nitric oxide and oxygen, allowing for simpler and less subjective detection methods.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateMar 22, 2009

Water lilies inspire scientists to create large-scale graphene films

Researchers at Northwestern University developed a novel method to assemble graphite oxide sheets into continuous membranes, overcoming conventional thin-film processing limitations. This breakthrough enables the creation of high-quality graphene devices with high successful yields and potential applications in energy-related fields.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJan 29, 2009

People are more suggestible under laughing gas

A new study at University College London found that nitrous oxide enhances imagination vividness and imaginary suggestibility in participants, which could lead to improved pain relief for dental patients. The study's findings suggest that combining laughing gas with instructions and suggestions might enhance the pain-relieving effect.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalPsychopharmacology·DateJan 9, 2009

Nitric oxide can alter brain function

Research from the University of Leicester reveals that nitric oxide can alter brain function, impacting neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. The finding suggests a potential new approach for treating these conditions and gaining a deeper understanding of brain function.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalNeuron·DateNov 26, 2008

New small-scale generator produces alternating current by stretching zinc oxide wires

The new flexible charge pump generator can produce an oscillating output voltage of up to 45 millivolts, converting nearly seven percent of the mechanical energy applied into electricity. This advancement resolves key issues with previous generators, such as moisture infiltration and wear, enabling more robust designs.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology Research News·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateNov 9, 2008

Progress toward new storage media

Researchers have created reliable nanopatterns of a spin-transition compound on silicon oxide chips, paving the way for new molecular storage media. The development uses special unconventional micro- and nanolithographic techniques to print neutral iron(II) complexes onto silicon wafers in the form of fine lines.

SourceWiley·DateOct 27, 2008

Halting methane squanderlust

Scientists have determined the structure of a catalytic material that can convert methane into benzene, laying the foundation for converting excess methane into various useful fuels and chemicals. The breakthrough was achieved using an ultra-high field nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer to analyze the active catalyst.

SourceDOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateMay 21, 2008

New efficiency record for solar cells

Researchers at Eindhoven University of Technology and Fraunhofer Institute achieved an unprecedented 6% improvement in solar cell efficiency by depositing a thin layer of aluminum oxide on the front of a silicon solar cell. This breakthrough brings the industrial application of high-efficiency solar cells closer, with costs expected to...

SourceEindhoven University of Technology·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateMay 14, 2008

Rock: Electrons run through it

Scientists have discovered that a chunk of hematite can conduct electrons when exposed to the right chemical conditions. This phenomenon, linked to mineral surfaces, has important implications for understanding soil evolution and environmental cleanup. The discovery challenges long-held assumptions about electron conduction in minerals.