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Science of sandcastles is clarified, finally

Researchers at the University of Manchester have clarified the science behind sandcastle building by resolving a century-old mystery. They created artificial capillaries where water vapor can condense under ambient conditions, showing that the 150-year-old Kelvin equation remains surprisingly accurate even at an atomic scale.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalNature·DateDec 9, 2020

Two liquids of water exist

Scientists have observed the transformation between two liquid states of water at extremely low temperatures and pressures. This breakthrough discovery sheds light on water's unusual behavior and has significant implications for various fields, including biology and desalination.

SourceStockholm University·JournalScience·DateNov 19, 2020

A biomimetic membrane for desalinating seawater on an industrial scale

Researchers have developed a hybrid membrane that combines artificial water channels with a polyamide matrix, resulting in higher flow rates and reduced energy needs for seawater desalination. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient and cost-effective desalination processes on an industrial scale.

SourceCNRS·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateNov 9, 2020

How octopus suckers "taste by touch"

Researchers have discovered how octopuses can taste objects by touch using their suckers, which include discrete populations of sensory cells. The study found that distinct chemotactile receptors form ion channel complexes that detect specific signals and send them to the nervous system.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell·DateOct 29, 2020

Identifying biomolecule fragments in ionising radiation

A new study reveals the precise energies at which secondary electrons produce certain biomolecule fragments when living cells are irradiated with heavy ions. The research could lead to more effective cancer therapies by understanding how biomolecules such as DNA are damaged by ionising radiation.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateOct 29, 2020

Highly selective membranes

A team of researchers from the University of Tokyo has discovered a feedback system between water molecules that opens up new design possibilities for highly selective membranes. These membranes, which can filter out viruses and other contaminants, could also be used to improve lithium-ion battery performance.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateOct 20, 2020

First detailed look at how molecular Ferris wheel delivers protons to cellular factories

Researchers have figured out a key step in how molecular Ferris wheels work in yeast proton pumps, providing insight into a fundamental process that could be harnessed to thwart disease. The study uses high-resolution images and computer simulations to confirm the role of water molecules in conveying protons through the membrane.

SourceDOE/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 7, 2020

A self-erasing chip for security and anti-counterfeit tech

Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a self-erasing chip that can store authentication information or secret messages. The chip uses a new material that emits light in specific frequencies, which can be erased with a flash of blue light, making it suitable for anti-counterfeit measures and secure data transmission.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalAdvanced Optical Materials·DateSep 24, 2020

Water trapped in star dust

A research team from Friedrich Schiller University Jena has proven that dust particles and ice are mixed in the interstellar medium. This finding suggests complex organic molecules may be present on dust particles, which can contribute to planetary formation. The study also reveals a hidden reservoir of oxygen in solid-state water.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalNature Astronomy·DateSep 22, 2020

Earth may always have been wet

Scientists analyzed enstatite chondrites, rare meteorites with primitive composition, to estimate the Earth's initial water content. Their findings indicate that the planet's rocks probably contained enough water to supply three times the amount of oceans, with only a small percentage delivered by comets or asteroids.

SourceCNRS·JournalScience·DateAug 27, 2020

Ultrafast hydrogen bond dynamics of liquid water revealed by THz-induced Kerr effect

A team of scientists used THz pulses to study the intermolecular motion of liquid water, revealing a hydrogen bond harmonic oscillator model and polarizability anisotropy on sub-picosecond scales. The results provide insights into the transient structure of liquid water and its interaction with solvent molecules.

Water molecules are gold for nanocatalysis

Researchers from Ruhr-Universität Bochum have discovered that water molecules facilitate oxygen dissociation in aqueous solutions, reducing energy costs by 25%. This breakthrough helps explain the high catalytic activity of gold nanoparticles on metal oxides for selective oxidation.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalACS Catalysis·DateJul 27, 2020

Limitations of super-resolution microscopy overcome

Researchers have overcome the limitation of super-resolution microscopy by combining dSTORM and expansion microscopy, achieving a distance error reduction to just five nanometers. This enables fluorescence imaging with molecular resolution for the first time, allowing detailed insights into molecular function and architecture.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 7, 2020

Integrating nanomaterial with light-absorbing molecule powers hydrogen production from water and sun

Researchers have developed a new photocatalyst that can generate hydrogen from water with high efficiency, using nanoscale metal oxide sheets and a ruthenium dye molecule. The material works under visible light, the main component of sunlight, and has a record-breaking turnover frequency and external quantum yield.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJun 8, 2020

Water molecules dance in three

Researchers have accurately described the interaction energy among three water molecules for the first time. The study uses advanced spectroscopy and quantum calculations to analyze the intermolecular vibrations of water trimers.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateApr 24, 2020

Unique structural fluctuations at ice surface promote autoionization of water molecules

Scientists have found that hydrate protons on the ice surface are generated through autoionization of water molecules, leading to a significant enhancement in proton activity. This discovery has implications for understanding various phenomena such as charge generation and ozone layer destruction.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters·DateMar 30, 2020

The shape of water: What water molecules look like on the surface of materials

Researchers used persistent homology and molecular dynamics simulations to study water molecules on graphene surfaces. They found that water molecules form stable polygonal shapes, which evolve into 3D tetrahedral structures after three layers are added. This discovery provides insights into the transition between surface and free water.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalJapanese Journal of Applied Physics·DateFeb 5, 2020

Superfast insights into cellular events

Researchers at Goethe University have developed a new NMR method that allows them to follow tiny structural changes in RNA chains in real-time. This breakthrough enables the study of RNA refolding and its role in regulating transcription processes, which are crucial for cellular functions.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 27, 2020

Mars: Water could disappear faster than expected

Researchers found large atmospheric pockets of water vapour at an altitude of over 80 km, accumulating in unexpected proportions. The capacity for water to escape increases during certain seasons due to the observed supersaturation rates.

SourceCNRS·JournalScience·DateJan 9, 2020

Fundamental discoveries for future nanotools: Chemists distinguish multiple weak forces

Chemists at the University of Tokyo have made groundbreaking discoveries about how molecules bind together, using a tiny cube structure to study dispersion forces. The team has found that polarizable atoms can create stronger dispersion forces, leading to increased stability in complex structures and potential applications in drug design.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalCommunications Chemistry·DateDec 12, 2019