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Molecular chains line up to form protopolymer

Scientists at Penn State have observed extended chains of phenylene molecules that align and interact without forming chemical bonds, paving the way for controlling growth and assembly of molecules. This discovery could lead to manipulating nanostructured materials with unprecedented precision.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateDec 7, 2004

Dancing molecules on the make

Researchers at Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research successfully observed the formation and dynamics of coordination compounds on a copper surface. They directly imaged single molecules and monitored their movements, revealing how rotating molecules act as dynamic atom traps for individual Cu atoms.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateDec 16, 2002

'Back at square one' to find culprit in familial ALS

Researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine found that removing copper had no effect on the pace of disease in mice with familial ALS-like paralysis. The study used CCS chaperone-deficient mice to rule out copper's role in the disease, suggesting alternative pathways may be responsible for the mutant enzyme's effects on motor neurons.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateMar 12, 2002

Battling the barnacle

The U.S. Navy is seeking non-toxic solutions to combat barnacle infestations, which cost billions of dollars annually due to drag on ship hulls. Researchers are exploring flexible and textured coatings that may repel or deter barnacles without harming marine organisms.

Deadly copper disease in infants targeted

Menkes' disease is a fatal illness caused by copper deficiency, affecting male infants typically, causing death by age 3. Researchers now study the normal function of the gene involved in development and what causes its absence or defect., The disease is named for John Menkes who first described it at Columbia University in 1962.

Stripes or no stripes?

Scientists report evidence that high-temperature superconductivity in copper oxides is linked to two-dimensional spin excitations, contradicting the long-held idea that stripes are responsible. This finding sheds new light on the mechanism behind this phenomenon.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalScience·DateMay 18, 2000

Copper-lowering drug stabilizes advanced cancer in anti-angiogenesis trial

A new trial found that lowering copper levels with a cheap compound called tetrathiomolybdate stabilized tumors and prevented their growth in five out of six patients. The copper strategy targets angiogenesis, a process allowing tumors to expand beyond a cluster of cells. Researchers hope it could contribute to cancer eradication in th...

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalClinical Cancer Research·DateJan 19, 2000

New technology tracks missing billions

A new dating method, uranium-helium thermochronology, has shed light on the mystery of missing copper ore at the giant Chuquicamata mine in Chile. The study suggests that part of the rich deposit may have been displaced millions of years ago by tectonic movement along a fault.

SourceCSIRO Australia·JournalEconomic Geology·DateNov 13, 1999

New way to write to magnetic chips

Researchers at Cornell University have developed a method to switch the orientation of magnetic domains in thin layers, allowing for the creation of high-density computer memory chips. The effect works by passing an electric current through a 'sandwich' of cobalt and copper layers, resulting in non-parallel magnetic moments.

SourceCornell University·JournalScience·DateAug 25, 1999

Future Supersonic Jets Pose Problems For Jet Fuel

Scientists are developing a solution to cool advanced supersonic jets by using jet fuel as a coolant, which can also circulate through the wings and fuselage. The research aims to address the problem of fuel degradation and carbon deposition that could cause maintenance issues with coal-derived jet fuels.