Articles tagged with Oxygen
Engineers at University of Wisconsin-Madison have revealed new insights about the chemical reactions that power fuel cells, shedding light on their degradation issues. The study found that the rate-limiting step in fuel cell efficiency is not oxygen splitting, but rather how oxygen atoms find and enter vacancies at the surface.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have discovered and characterized oxygen-11, the lightest-ever form of oxygen with three neutrons to its eight protons. This discovery opens a new avenue for studying nuclear symmetry by comparing it to its mirror nucleus lithium-11.
A team of UFZ researchers has discovered an archaeon that oxidises ethane, a major component of natural gas, on the seabed. The single-celled organism, Candidatus Argoarchaeum ethanivorans, was found to degrade ethane into carbon dioxide through a unique metabolic pathway.
Stanford researchers have devised a way to generate hydrogen fuel from seawater using solar power, electrodes, and saltwater from San Francisco Bay. The new method uses electrolysis to separate hydrogen and oxygen gas from seawater via electricity, overcoming the limitations of existing methods that rely on purified water.
Researchers at TU Dresden develop programmable transparent organic luminescent tags that can be written, read, and erased using light. The tags use a thin layer of organic molecules that can emit light when exposed to ultraviolet radiation.
Researchers at Kyoto University have designed a temperature-controllable copper-based material that can dynamically change pore sizes, allowing for improved gas separation and storage. The material can selectively adsorb gases based on temperature, opening channels to separate gases with different molecular sizes.
Researchers created both organic compounds and oxygen in the lab without life. The simulations, published by Johns Hopkins University, suggest that oxygen and organics can be produced abiotically, leading to false positives for life.
Researchers at the University of British Columbia have developed a plasma treatment method that modifies electrode surfaces to facilitate efficient water transport in fuel cells. This innovation enables fuel cells to operate effectively without excessive moisture, improving overall performance and energy conversion rates.
A new study suggests that nitrous oxide, a powerful greenhouse gas, played a significant role in keeping early Earth warm. The research found that nitrous oxide could have reached ten times today's levels, providing an extra boost of global warming under the Faint Young Sun Paradox.
Meteorite chondrules reveal that oxygen and volatile elements increased in the inner Solar System until around 4.567 billion years ago. Volatile element delivery continued to increase after this point, supporting a model of Mars' early formation under oxidizing conditions and Earth's accretion under reducing conditions.
Researchers found low oxygen levels in early Earth rocks, indicating significant atmospheric variations during early life development. Oxygen concentrations were around 0.1% of present levels, affecting the evolution of complex organisms.
The study successfully uses an air-pressure control furnace to rapidly synthesize Li2O-Nb2O5-TiO2 solid solutions, achieving material synthesis in a shorter period than conventional electric furnaces. The researchers attribute this success to the oxygen diffusion mechanism involving interstitial 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.