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Breakthrough in understanding ice formation in clouds

Researchers at Bielefeld University have discovered that microcline's most common surface is sufficient for ice to form in an ordered manner, known as epitaxial growth. This finding provides a new perspective on the importance of uncommon ice faces for understanding ice nucleation.

SourceBielefeld University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 25, 2026

How life could arise from molecules

Complex systems exhibit emergent properties due to water's unique polarity, enabling DNA to store information and proteins to adopt specific structures. This order forms the basis for complex molecules to develop unpredictable properties, driving the evolution of life.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 5, 2026

Experimental discovery of a new critical point in water

Researchers at Stockholm University have found a new critical point in supercooled water at around -63 °C and 1000 atmosphere. This discovery explains the unusual properties of water, such as its density and viscosity responding to pressure and temperature changes in ways that are opposite to other liquids.

SourceStockholm University·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 26, 2026

Researchers uncover microscopic mechanism of alkali species dissolution in water clusters

Researchers have uncovered the microscopic mechanism of alkali species dissolution in water clusters using a new spectroscopy station. The study found that only three water molecules can separate Ba and OH in neutral BaOH clusters, and this process is facilitated by hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions.

SourceDalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy Sciences·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateMar 5, 2026

Plant-based hydrogel tames zinc dendrites, pushes aqueous batteries past 1 000 stable cycles

A new plant-based hydrogel has been developed to tackle the problem of metallic zinc growing needle-like dendrites that short-circuit cells within a few hundred cycles. The cellulose-nanofiber dual network boosts ion flow and mechanical strength, delivering a cheap and biodegradable electrolyte.

SourceJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·JournalJournal of Bioresources and Bioproducts·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 12, 2026

Calcium isotopic evidence for secondary carbonate precipitation in a large river catchment, Southeastern Tibetan Plateau

Researchers investigated the geochemical behavior of calcium isotopes during carbonate weathering in the Lancang River. The study found that dissolved Ca showed variations of δ44/40Ca values along the river flow, with suspended sediments enriched in light Ca isotopes controlled by mineralogy.

SourceScience China Press·JournalScience China Earth Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateDec 4, 2025

How do planets get wet? Experiments show water creation during planet formation process

Experimental tests demonstrate that interactions between magma oceans and primitive atmospheres during early years can produce significant amounts of water. This process has major implications for the physical and chemical properties of planets' interiors, with potential effects on core development and atmospheric composition.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 30, 2025

Reducing multiple tap water contaminants may prevent over 50,000 cancer cases

A new peer-reviewed study by the Environmental Working Group analyzed data from over 17,000 community water systems and found that treating multiple contaminants simultaneously can prevent tens of thousands of cancer cases. The study highlights the benefits of a multi-contaminant approach to drinking water treatment.

SourceEnvironmental Working Group·JournalEnvironmental Research·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 8, 2025

USC technology may reduce shipping emissions by half

A USC-developed shipboard system using limestone and seawater can remove up to half of carbon dioxide emitted from shipping vessels, cutting maritime CO2 emissions by 50%. The process mimics a natural chemical reaction in the ocean, where CO2 is absorbed into water pumped onboard and then neutralized through a bed of limestone.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 26, 2025

Creating ice layer by layer: the secret mechanisms of ice formation revealed

Researchers from the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, used molecular-scale simulations to understand ice formation. They found that the arrangement of water molecules in the two layers closest to the surface is crucial for nucleation, promoting a low-dimensional hexagonal crystal lattice at the surface.

SourceInstitute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo·JournalJournal of Colloid and Interface Science·DateJun 4, 2025

An iron oxide ‘oxygen sponge’ for efficient thermochemical hydrogen production

Researchers at Pohang University of Science & Technology have developed a novel iron-based catalyst that more than doubles the conversion efficiency of thermochemical green hydrogen production. The new catalyst, iron-poor nickel ferrite (Fe-poor NiFe2O4), enables significantly greater oxygen capacity even at lower temperatures.

Green ammonia powered by sunlight

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have successfully produced green ammonia using sunlight and atmospheric nitrogen, mirroring natural processes found in plants. The process uses two catalysts, one based on molybdenum and another on iridium, to activate water molecules and produce ammonia.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 22, 2025

Mitigating laughing gas emissions from wastewater

A recent study has identified a key factor contributing to nitrous oxide emissions in wastewater treatment plants: an imbalance between bacteria groups and oxygen levels. By increasing oxygen concentrations, the researchers suggest that emissions can be significantly reduced without requiring major infrastructural changes.

SourceDelft University of Technology·JournalNature Water·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMay 8, 2025

The science behind the foldable molecular paths

Researchers at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology developed foldable molecular paths using zeolitic imidazolate frameworks, which can adjust size, shape, and alignment in response to temperature, pressure, and gas interactions. This technology has potential applications in creating filters that adapt to capture harmful ...

SourceUlsan National Institute of Science and Technology(UNIST)·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJan 6, 2025

The Clues for Cleaner Water

Researchers at Pitt and Drexel have discovered that electrocatalysts can promote chemical reactions that generate ozone in water through corrosion and solution phase reactions. This breakthrough could lead to the development of more efficient and sustainable electrochemical ozone production technologies.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalACS Catalysis·TypeObservational study·DateMay 6, 2024

New ways to fine tune electrochemistry

Researchers developed new techniques to study acid-base chemistry at electrified interfaces, revealing the impact of hydrophobic layers and electric fields. These findings offer opportunities for optimizing electrochemical processes and designing novel catalytic strategies.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 11, 2024

Fast folding for synthetic peptides and microproteins

Researchers at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University developed a new method that enables the efficient production of cysteine-rich peptides and microproteins in their naturally folded 3D structure. The approach uses organic solvents to mimic nature's oxidative folding process, resulting in speeds of over 100,000 times faster than aqueous...

SourceXi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University·JournalAngewandte Chemie·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 21, 2024

Mapping chemical footprints in European streams

A study analyzing 610 chemicals found in European watercourses detected 504 substances, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and PFAS, with 74% of samples exceeding scientific limit values. The chemical footprint concept quantifies the impact of mixtures on aquatic organisms, highlighting the need for further monitoring and evaluation.

SourceHelmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ·JournalEnvironment International·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 7, 2024

Mining the treasures locked away in produced water

Researchers have discovered that produced water, often considered waste, contains nearly every element in the periodic table, including critical minerals like lithium and platinum group metals. A new approach using CO2 desalination can extract these valuable minerals, making it a lucrative means of offsetting reclamation costs.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalJournal of Petroleum Technology·DateMar 1, 2024

A new theoretical development clarifies water's electronic structure

Researchers from EPFL have made significant strides in deciphering the electronic structure of water using computational methods that go beyond current approaches. The study accurately determines water's ionization potential, electron affinity, and band gap, essential for understanding its interactions with light and substances.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 26, 2024