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Could this enzyme help remove “zombie” cells from our tissues?

Aging cells become more susceptible to ferroptosis due to elevated levels of acid ceramidase, a previously targeted therapeutic candidate. This vulnerability can be passed to neighboring cells, impacting overall tissue health. The discovery offers new hope for supporting healthy aging and treating age-related diseases.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalCell Death and Disease·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 23, 2026

Tea powered iron nanoparticles help biochar fertilizers feed crops more slowly and sustainably

A new study presents a greener way to make slow-release fertilizers that reduce nutrient loss and improve crop growth. The tea-based fertilizer, made with iron nanoparticles, biochar, and biodegradable materials, slows down nutrient release, retains soil moisture, and improves fertilizer efficiency.

SourceBiochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University·JournalBiochar·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 5, 2026

Iron-modified biochar turns soil oxygen into a cleaner for antibiotic pollution

A new iron-modified biochar catalyst activates natural oxygen and iron cycling in farmland soil, breaking down sulfamethoxazole at a 4.2-fold increase under laboratory conditions. The material also achieved strong pollutant removal, with degradation reaching 81.2% under favorable soil moisture conditions.

SourceBiochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University·JournalBiochar·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 3, 2026

Study: New class of catalysts could dramatically change playing field in nickel catalysis

Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have developed a new method for synthesizing thermally stable Ni(I) compounds that opens new avenues for building complex molecules. The new catalysts exhibit rapid ligand substitution, exceptional performance in key reactions, and chemo-selectivity.

How a 3000-year-old copper smelting site could be key to understanding the origins of iron

Researchers from Cranfield University discovered that ancient copper smelters at a 3000-year-old site in southern Georgia were using iron oxide as a flux to increase copper yield. This finding supports the theory that iron was invented by copper metalworkers, who experimented with iron-bearing materials in a metallurgical furnace.

SourceCranfield University·JournalJournal of Archaeological Science·TypeCase study·DateSep 26, 2025

Beneath 300 kilometers: Natural evidence for nickel-rich alloys in the mantle

Researchers confirm nickel-rich metallic alloys in diamonds from South Africa's Voorspoed mine, revealing a 'redox-freezing' reaction between oxidized melts and reduced mantle rock. The study provides new insights into mantle dynamics and the formation of kimberlites, ocean island basalts, and volcanic magmas.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalNature Geoscience·TypeObservational study·DateSep 22, 2025

New play in the chemical-reaction playbook uncovered

A team of Penn State researchers has discovered a fundamental reaction in transition metal chemistry that can proceed through a different order of events, achieving the same outcome. This finding raises questions about whether this new pathway has been occurring all along and potentially opens up new avenues for chemical design.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 25, 2025

Tapping into the World’s largest gold reserves

Scientists from the University of Göttingen have made a groundbreaking discovery, finding ruthenium in volcanic rocks on the islands of Hawaii. The finding suggests that material from the Earth's core is leaking into the mantle above, challenging previous assumptions about the planet's internal dynamics.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 22, 2025

Atomically dispersed barium hydride catalysts developed for deuteration of nonactivated alkylarenes

Researchers developed atomically dispersed barium hydride catalysts for the synthesis of deuterated alkylarenes, showcasing high turnover frequencies and regioselectivity. The catalyst's efficiency surpasses both homogeneous and heterogeneous counterparts, with applications in tritium labeling.

SourceDalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy Sciences·JournalNature Communications·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateApr 27, 2025

Improving density functional theory one flaw at time

The study identifies a new area where a correction for the self-interaction error breaks down, allowing researchers to pinpoint flaws and develop solutions. By refining DFT, scientists can design better catalysts, leading to improvements in fields such as food production and technology.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 11, 2025

A new state between metal and insulator

Researchers at TU Wien discovered a new energy band that remains connected by an 'umbilical cord' when one allowed energy range splits into two separate bands. This phenomenon is bound to occur in materials with large electron interaction, opening up a new perspective on technologically highly interesting classes of materials.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 20, 2025

Leveraging machine learning to find promising compositions for sodium-ion batteries

A team of scientists leveraged machine learning to find promising compositions for sodium-ion batteries, achieving exceptional energy density. The study trained a model on a database of 100 samples to predict the optimal ratio of elements needed to balance properties like operating voltage and capacity retention.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry A·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 5, 2024

Novel fabrication technique takes transition metal telluride nanosheets from lab to mass production

Researchers have developed a novel technique to produce high-quality transition metal telluride nanosheets using chemical solutions, overcoming the challenges of scalability and toxicity. The technique enables the mass production of these ultra-thin materials with potential applications in electronics, energy storage, and sensing.

SourceDalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy Sciences·JournalNature·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateApr 3, 2024

One-step synthesis of the most common, yet highly intricate, antibiotic molecular scaffold

Researchers from Osaka University have developed an operationally simple way to synthesize the intricate beta-lactam scaffold characteristic of beta-lactam antibiotics. The new catalytic system generates Fischer-carbene complexes in small quantities, eliminating toxic chromium waste and requiring only a small amount of catalyst.

SourceOsaka University·JournalNature Catalysis·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 15, 2024

New transactions of nonferrous metals society of china study uncovers low-temperature deformation mechanism of pure titanium

Researchers investigate grain size and temperature effects on Ti deformation at extremely low temperatures, finding that cryogenic temperatures trigger deformation twinning, boosting strength and ductility. The study proposes a modified Hall-Petch relationship to explain strengthening mechanisms at cryogenic temperatures.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalTransactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 10, 2024

The little things matter: Chemists develop new sensor for microvolume pH detection

Researchers at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University have developed a sensitive and robust pH sensor that can detect pH variation in just a few microliters of samples. The new sensor uses novel materials and methods to overcome the current method's limitations, which are not sensitive enough or fragile for commercial-scale use.

SourceXi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University·JournalMicrochimica Acta·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 3, 2023

Scientists discover ‘flipping’ layers in heterostructures to cause changes in their properties

Researchers found that changing the stacking order of layers in transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) semiconductors creates new optoelectronic devices with tailor-made properties. The study reveals dark excitons exclusively located in the top layer, which can be utilized for optical power switches in solar panels.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 10, 2023

How does zeolite-encapsulated metal catalysts act on hydrogen-related catalytic reactions?

Zeolite-encapsulated metal catalysts show improved hydrogen-related catalytic reactions due to confinement effect, reducing sintering and leaching. Advanced characterization techniques are used to study fine structure of metal sites, enabling better understanding of catalytic performance.

SourceIndustrial Chemistry & Materials·JournalIndustrial Chemistry and Materials·TypeLiterature review·DateSep 20, 2023

Valleytronics is warming up at Brookhaven Lab

Scientists have discovered a method for maintaining valley polarization at room temperature using transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and chiral lead halide perovskites. This breakthrough could lead to the development of devices that store and process information in novel ways without the need for ultra-low temperatures.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 8, 2023

The correlation between the structures of bimetallic tartrate complexes in solutions for laser-induced synthesis and sensor characteristics of microbiosensors materials

Researchers discovered bimetallic tartrate complexes with unique structures, formed by insufficient ligand, leading to improved sensor characteristics for microbiosensors. The study showcases the potential of laser-induced chemical liquid phase deposition for creating nanostructures with various applications.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalCurrent Organocatalysis·DateJul 11, 2023

Rensselaer researcher uses artificial intelligence to discover new materials for advanced computing

A Rensselaer researcher has used artificial intelligence to discover novel van der Waals (vdW) magnets with large magnetic moments. These two-dimensional vdW magnets have the potential to advance science and technology in data storage, spintronics, and quantum computing.

SourceRensselaer Polytechnic Institute·JournalAdvanced Theory and Simulations·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 11, 2023

Unveiling the mechanism of the metal-to-insulator transition in ruthenium phosphide suggests a new way of looking at solids

Researchers at Nagoya University have uncovered the mechanism behind ruthenium phosphide's transition from metal to insulator, revealing a unique crystal structure and molecular bonding. This discovery could lead to the development of faster responding sensors and smart windows that change light transmittance depending on temperature.

SourceNagoya University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateNov 29, 2022

New hafnium polyhydrides are discovered superconductivity above 80K

Researchers at Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences have discovered new hafnium polyhydrides exhibiting superconductivity above 80K, a temperature threshold previously unattained by any 5d transition metal hydride. The study reveals these compounds display high critical fields and Ginzburg-Landau superconducting coherent l...

SourceInstitute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalMaterials Today Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 29, 2022