Articles tagged with Oxygen
A study published in PNAS found that powerful volcanoes depleted oceans of oxygen millions of years ago, driving mass extinctions. The researchers reconstructed Early Jurassic ocean oxygen levels and linked the event to massive volcanic activity and carbon dioxide increases.
Scientists from Shinshu University and PSL University have theoretically proved a new mechanism for separating air molecules using nanowindows in graphene. The study shows that the atomic vibration of the nanowindow-rim changes the effective nanowidow size, selectively allowing oxygen from air to pass through, with separation efficienc...
Astronomers discover faint signal of oxygen in galaxy MACS1149-JD1, which is 13.28 billion light-years away and contains chemical maturity that suggests stars were forming as early as 250 million years after the Big Bang. This detection pushes back our understanding of cosmic dawn and the earliest phases of star formation.
Researchers at Bar-Ilan University have identified a family of indoline compounds with potent activity against pro-inflammatory cytokines and ROS toxicity. These novel substances show promise in treating acute pancreatic inflammation, fatty liver damage, and diabetes.
Researchers propose a two-stage system converting urban waste into gas under reducing conditions, then burning the gas efficiently in optimized equipment. This method minimizes toxic substance generation and reduces CO2 emissions by up to 300 kg per ton of treated waste.
The Gulf of Oman has been found to have a vast and growing oxygen minimum zone, with an area larger than Scotland having almost no oxygen left. Climate change and pollution are exacerbating the issue, threatening marine life and human reliance on the oceans.
A new implantable device could help insulin-producing cells live longer after transplant and improve treatment of type 1 diabetes. The device, developed by MIT researchers, supplies oxygen to transplanted islet cells, allowing them to remain viable for several months and maintain normal blood glucose levels.
The study of a two-billion-year-old salt mineral deposit provides new insights into the Earth's atmosphere following the Great Oxidation Event. Marine sulfate concentrations were significantly lower in ancient oceans, indicating large amounts of oxygen reacted with sulfur, accumulating in the oceans as sulfates.
A new catalyst developed by Georgia Institute of Technology researchers can significantly improve the efficiency of fuel cells by speeding up oxygen processing. This breakthrough could enable the widespread adoption of clean energy technology and reduce costs associated with producing hydrogen fuel, a key ingredient for fuel cells.
The discovery suggests that the increase in oxygen in the biosphere triggered the addition of supplementary amino acids to form more functional proteins. The newer amino acids have systematically softer chemistry, making them more reactive and prone to undergo chemical changes.
A University of Washington study identifies a new combination of gases that could provide evidence of life: methane plus carbon dioxide minus carbon monoxide. This imbalance signals life, and the method is doable and may lead to the historic discovery of an extraterrestrial biosphere.
Scientists have found that urban road dust reacts with sunlight to produce singlet oxygen, a reactive form of oxygen that can influence other chemical reactions. The study aims to understand the impact of these reactions on human health and the environment.
Researchers found that high atmospheric oxygen levels were not critical to the origin of animals, but rather occurred between 540 and 420 million years ago. The transition to a world with an oxygenated deep ocean required significant changes in atmospheric O2 levels, which approached modern levels around 400 million years ago.
Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a process to transform shale gas into products like methanol and gasoline while consuming carbon dioxide. The technology, known as chemical looping, uses metal oxide particles to burn fossil fuels without oxygen in the air.
Researchers at The University of Tokyo's Institute of Industrial Science used advanced TEM to study gas dynamics and vibrational changes in simple gases at high temperatures. They found that some gases vibrated faster with increasing temperature, while others did not, highlighting the importance of chemical bonding in these processes.
Researchers found that water in minerals can split up under extreme pressure, liberating oxygen to combine with iron and create a novel mineral. This discovery could have implications for the Earth's geologic history and potentially explain the Great Oxygenation Event.
Researchers found a three-fold increase in biodiversity during the Ordovician Period, coinciding with a significant rise in oxygen levels. The study suggests that atmospheric oxygen levels did not reach modern levels for millions of years after the Cambrian explosion.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have demonstrated that certain ligands can create signals similar to those of molecular oxygen, potentially masking true discoveries. The study highlights the tool's limitations and emphasizes the need for careful interpretation in specific cases.
Researchers suggest hunting for cruder signatures of potentially habitable worlds, which would be easier to detect with current resources in less time. They look for atmospheres rich with water vapor and nitrogen, and oxygen, as these are basic molecules that are biologically friendly and have strong infrared emitting power.
The study presents a novel catalyst for metal-air batteries with excellent electrochemical performance, close to that of precious metal catalysts. The new catalyst, PBSCF-NF, exhibits high surface areas and improves the bi-functionality of oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction.
A geochemist from MSU has assessed the oxidative environment and its changes inside asteroids from core to surface. The study reveals that variations in asteroid composition and structure significantly impact oxygen pressure.
Researchers found that changes in the Earth's crust led to the accumulation of oxygen in the atmosphere around 2.4 billion years ago. This period, known as the Great Oxidation Event, paved the way for the evolution of complex life on Earth.
Researchers at Cardiff Catalysis Institute have developed a new method to produce methanol from methane using oxygen and hydrogen peroxide at low temperatures. This breakthrough has major implications for cleaner industrial processes worldwide.
Researchers measure exceptionally high oxygen absorption in the Labrador Sea during winter 2014/2015. The study suggests that while this region may absorb more oxygen than lost, the global decrease in surface water oxygen content due to climate change cannot be compensated.
The researchers successfully converted 90% of water into hydrogen gas and over 98% of CO2 into carbon monoxide using new materials and processes. These advancements have significant implications for extracting valuable feedstock from resources like greenhouse gases.
Researchers in Japan and China create a way to isolate solid carbon dust from gaseous carbon dioxide, yielding a promising approach to fix carbon in a stable form. The method also shows potential for treating atmospheric CO2 and scrubbing other harmful gases.
Researchers from the University of Edinburgh analyzed naturally carbonated springs and found that oxygen's chemical fingerprint is influenced by CO2 gas, not heat from below. This discovery may help scientists narrow their search for sustainable geothermal energy sources.
Researchers developed a model predicting heart cells' ability to produce ATP and stay alive under low oxygen conditions. The study found that even severely depleted regions of the heart can maintain ATP levels using energy reserves until oxygen approaches zero, but eventually crash when backup reserves shut down.
A two-year-old girl who suffered cardiac arrest after a cold water drowning accident showed significant neurological improvement with normobaric oxygen and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. After 39 sessions, she exhibited near-normal motor function, speech level greater than pre-drowning, and normal cognition.
Researchers discovered that stretching and compressing ceria increases its oxygen storage capacity, overturning conventional wisdom on oxide materials. This finding has significant implications for developing solid oxide fuel cells and green-energy technologies.
A Caltech engineer explains how comets produce oxygen gas, a rare finding in space, through dynamic molecular oxygen production. The discovery challenges previous theories and has implications for searching for life on exoplanets.
Researchers found that the closure of Union Pacific railway culverts led to a 88% decrease in methylmercury levels in the lake's deep brine layer and sediments. However, waterfowl carcasses showed no significant change in mercury levels, indicating that the source of methylmercury in wetlands remains unknown.
Researchers at TU Graz have found that superoxide dismutase enzyme function can prevent ageing in non-aqueous batteries by eliminating singlet oxygen. This discovery could lead to the development of more efficient and sustainable battery systems.
A team of UNIST researchers has developed a new method to enhance the catalytic activity of provskite, a potential substitute for platinum in metal-air batteries. By physically mixing provskite with polypyrrole, they were able to achieve a synergistic effect that rivals that of platinum.
Researchers at MIT have found that some catalysts produce oxygen from within their crystal structure, contrary to previous assumptions. The study's findings could help fine-tune metal-oxide catalysts for enhanced energy storage processes.
Researchers have designed a molecule that can trap and remove carbon monoxide from the bloodstream, protecting mice from poisoning. The engineered neuroglobin binds CO about 1,000 times more tightly than hemoglobin, selectively targeting the dangerous compound.
A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that long-term oxygen treatment does not improve survival or reduce hospital admissions for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and moderately low blood oxygen levels. Researchers say these results underscore the need for new treatments for COPD.
Scientists developed a method to measure the oxygen coefficient of uranium in complex oxides using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The new technique provides accurate information on uranium oxidation state, essential for creating nuclear reactor fuel, waste disposal templates, and environmental rehabilitation technologies.
Researchers used advanced instrument MOSFIRE to quantify oxygen in COSMOS-1908, a galaxy 12 billion years old. The measurement provides insights into how matter cycles in and out of galaxies, allowing for better understanding of galaxy evolution and formation.
A new battery concept, called nanolithia cathode battery, promises similar theoretical performance as lithium-air batteries while reducing heat waste and improving charging speed. The new design could overcome issues with volume changes and auxiliary components, enabling faster charging and longer lifetimes.
Purdue University researchers have successfully controlled the electron spin of a levitated nanodiamond using lasers in a vacuum, enabling potential applications in quantum information processing, sensors, and fundamental physics studies. The technique could also be used to detect and measure gases, such as oxygen, with improved accuracy.
A new method to increase the robustness and energy storage capability of lithium-rich cathode materials has been discovered. Researchers found that introducing oxygen vacancies at the surface of the material using a carbon dioxide-based gas mixture improved its performance, particularly in high-energy applications like electric vehicles.
Researchers used quantum mechanics and supercomputing to study the surface structure of rutile TiO2, a promising photocatalyst. The study identified new structures and processes that can enhance its chemical reactivity.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have discovered a previously unknown strategy that allows photosynthetic organisms like Chlorobaculum tepidum to survive exposure to oxygen, which could harm them. The 'photosynthetic volume control' mechanism involves two normal amino acids and works by dissipating excess energy as har...
The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) has observed oxygen in a galaxy 700 million years after the Big Bang, providing evidence for cosmic reionisation. The findings suggest that many brilliant stars have formed in the galaxy, emitting intense ultraviolet light to ionise gas.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory discovered a new way to control oxygen vacancies, dramatically changing the conductivity of thin oxide films. The technique uses a small electric current to introduce oxygen voids, which can be reversed without affecting other material properties.
A new study by Georgia Tech researchers shows that air pollution from East Asia has a devastating impact on oxygen levels in tropical waters. The pollutants kick off a chain reaction contributing to falling oxygen levels thousands of miles away.
Researchers used foraminifera, tiny ocean dwellers, to reconstruct past oxygen levels and determine how much carbon dioxide was stored in the oceans during ice ages. The study provides insight into natural climate cycles and may help predict future environmental changes.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have designed the world's most efficient catalyst for storing energy in chemical form. The new catalyst enables the efficient conversion of sunlight into hydrogen, which can be converted back into energy using hydrogen fuel cells. The study demonstrates a more efficient and highly scalable means...
Researchers have found evidence of small oxygen concentrations in the Earth's atmosphere 3.8 billion years ago, contrary to previous thought that oxygenation occurred later. This discovery sheds light on the evolution of life on our planet and has significant implications for understanding the pace of life's emergence.
Researchers use oxygen isotope analysis to confirm Earth and moon had similar chemical composition after collision, suggesting a head-on impact. The study also suggests the early Earth may have lost water due to subsequent asteroid collisions.
Two MIT researchers have developed a thin-film material that can be switched between metallic and semiconducting properties by applying a small voltage. The discovery could lead to new types of computer memory chips and energy conversion devices.
Researchers studying oxygen toxicity among Navy divers have found that exposure to high levels of oxygen can cause cardiovascular and muscular performance to deteriorate between dives. The study aims to identify a treatment for this condition, which could also benefit astronauts and aviators relying on breathing high-oxygen mixtures.
Researchers developed a detailed chemical zonation model for oxygen-deficient oceans prior to 520 million years ago. The model suggests that early life was influenced by the heterogeneous and dynamic chemical conditions of these ancient oceans.
Researchers discovered that backswimmers can extract oxygen from the surrounding water using their air bubbles, extending dives by up to 20%. The insects adjust the buoyancy of their bubble by replacing nitrogen with gases like helium and sulphur hexafluoride.
Researchers have detected how nature produces key chemicals similar to those in drugs that fight malaria, bacterial infections and cancer. The discovery sheds light on a complicated chemical process in nature that synthetic biologists can now borrow to engineer a whole new class of synthetic medicines.
A Florida State University researcher has discovered an artificial material that efficiently captures sunlight and breaks it down into oxygen and hydrogen. This process could be used to forge new energy sources in a carbon-neutral way.
Researchers at Tohoku University developed a new idea to improve proton mobility in rare-earth doped BaZrO3 perovskite-type proton conductors. By creating pairs of oxygen vacancies and rare-earth elements, the team found that this inhibits proton trapping, leading to higher proton concentration around Zr
Researchers have developed a less painful treatment approach for Pneumothorax by analyzing gas pressure in the thoracic cavity. The new diagnostic strategy allows physicians to update treatment strategies accordingly, often switching from chest tube drainage to more conservative or needle aspiration methods.
Researchers found a thin layer of oxygen in Lake Fryxell, Antarctica, which could be a modern replica of ancient oxygen oases. This discovery sheds light on the Great Oxidation Event, a major turning point in Earth's history when oxygen became more prevalent.