Articles tagged with Atomic Structure
Physicists use high-resolution spectroscopy to study and control matter, enabling precise control over atomic transitions and revealing hidden information about atom structure. The technique has applications in quantum computing, where it could offer significant boosts in computing power and improve computer security.
The study provides high-resolution pictures of two closely related enzymes, lysosomal phospholipase A2 (LPLA2) and lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), which play crucial roles in metabolizing cholesterol and other lipids. The findings offer new insights into the mechanisms underlying these disorders and suggest potential thera...
Researchers have developed a technique to observe minute distortions in the atomic structure of complex materials, influencing their properties. By mapping atomic organization, including distortions, they've found weaker chemical bonds make atoms more susceptible to variations.
Scientists successfully predicted the thermal expansion of metastable liquid metals by analyzing atomic structures with just one thousand atoms. This breakthrough reveals a connection between microscopic information and macroscopic material properties.
A research team led by UWM physicists used an ultra-short X-ray pulse to produce
Researchers at Vienna University of Technology have redefined the atomic structure of magnetite, a crucial component in electronic devices and medical applications. The study reveals that the surface of magnetite is governed by missing iron atoms, leading to an efficient catalyst for chemical reactions.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have discovered a new form of crystalline order that exhibits both crystal and polycrystalline properties. The 'interlaced crystals' arrangement has ideal properties for thermoelectric applications, which could increase power generation efficiency and reduce energy costs.
Chemists at Scripps Research Institute developed a new method to modify organic compounds, overcoming a major limitation in previous techniques. The technique generates a reactive catalyst at the desired site on a molecule, allowing for the modification of a wide range of chemical structures.
New research reveals the complete structure and movement of HIV spikes, shedding light on how the virus evades detection by the immune system. The findings suggest a ground-state, pre-fusion form of the spike should be targeted in an effective HIV vaccine.
Researchers at MIT have discovered that crumpling graphene can create a stretchable supercapacitor that can store energy in flexible electronic devices. The material can be folded and stretched up to 1,000 times without losing performance.
Scientists used a probe to study boron atoms in glass under pressures up to 2.5 Gigapascal, revealing the transition from flat triangular configuration to a four-sided tetrahedron shape.
Researchers use X-rays and a new apparatus to compare behavior of glass-forming liquids as they approach the glass transition. The results show that bulk properties are linked to microscopic structure, providing insight into the mysterious process of glass formation. This study has potential applications in pharmaceutical industry.
Researchers have successfully imaged gold nanoparticles at atomic resolution using high-resolution electron microscopy, revealing a crystalline structure with 68 gold atoms. The breakthrough opens the way for understanding and practical applications of nanoparticle structures.
Materials scientist Scott X. Mao successfully creates metallic glasses from pure metals by applying ultrafast cooling rates, solving a long-standing issue in the field. The process involves a novel technique that enables transformation of liquefied elemental metals into glass.
Researchers at Carnegie Institution found that molybdenum disulfide undergoes structural changes when subjected to high pressure, resulting in a metallic state. The compound's transformation occurs above 197,000 times normal atmospheric pressure and is reversible upon decreasing pressure.
Researchers successfully manipulate 20 single bromine atoms on a sodium chloride surface to form the smallest 'Swiss cross' at room temperature. The achievement marks an important step towards next-generation atomic-scale storage devices and logic circuits.
The team created a crystal that can form a paper-like sheet just three atoms thick and exhibits remarkable ability to behave like a switch. It can be mechanically pulled and pushed, back and forth, between two different atomic structures.
Scientists have discovered a density wave structure in copper-oxide high-temperature superconductors, shedding light on their exotic properties. The breakthrough could lead to significant improvements in electricity delivery and technology.
Researchers have identified a protein that regulates calcium levels in cells, which could be a promising strategy for fighting cancers. The study reveals how this protein serves as a molecular safety valve to maintain steady calcium levels.
The team of researchers produced a stable porous membrane that is thinner than a nanometre, consisting of two layers of graphene on which tiny pores were etched. The membrane can permeate tiny molecules and may be used for waterproof clothing, water filtration, or gas separation.
Researchers are exploring strain engineering to alter materials' properties, which could improve energy storage and conversion rates in devices like batteries and fuel cells. By applying and managing stresses within known materials, scientists can achieve exponential improvements in key reaction rates.
Scientists at Scripps Research Institute developed a method to modify organic molecules, expanding possibilities for new pharmaceuticals and improving old ones. The innovation makes it easier to attach biologically active functional groups to drug molecules.
Researchers created CNT structures with optimal blend of characteristics required in thermal stress junctures. Longer, less entangled CNTs showed best combination of flexibility, heat conductivity and strength.
Researchers have determined the atomic-level structure of the tripartite HIV envelope protein, a complex target for vaccines. The findings provide insights into the process by which the Env trimer assembles and undergoes shape changes during infection.
Scientists at Xiamen University and the University of Jyväskylä have successfully synthesized stable metal nanoclusters containing 44 metal atoms. The unique electronic structure of these clusters enables peaked absorption in a wide region of ultraviolet and visible parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. This breakthrough has significa...
Researchers at USC have developed a breakthrough method to control the atomic structure of carbon nanotubes, enabling the growth of nanotubes with specific attributes. The study's findings have significant implications for the development of next-generation materials and computers.
VCU physicists have discovered the theoretical possibility of creating large, hollow magnetic cage molecules that could be used for targeted non-invasive drug delivery. The molecules, which are larger than the original Buckminster fullerene, carry giant magnetic moments and could serve as effective vehicles for delivering drugs to tumors.
Scientists at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have clocked the fastest-possible electrical switching in magnetite, a naturally magnetic mineral. The results could drive innovations in tiny transistors that control electricity across silicon chips.
Researchers at the University of Chicago have discovered that just 12 water molecules are responsible for the long recovery period of potassium channels. This finding has significant implications for understanding fundamental biology and designing pharmaceuticals.
Researchers have discovered a unique structure that takes unusual material properties to new heights, expanding more than 10% under compression. Zinc dicyanoaurate's giant negative linear compressibility makes it promising for optical pressure sensor applications and artificial muscle design.
A new study suggests that scientists can create a stable structure with manganese and gallium nitride, which could be used in spintronics devices at or above room temperature. By incorporating a uniform layer and heating the sample, researchers were able to form a manganese-nitrogen bond that remains stable even at high temperatures.
Researchers at UC Berkeley use a state-of-the-art atomic force microscope to take the first atom-by-atom pictures of chemical bonds, revealing how a molecule's structure changes during a reaction. This breakthrough technique will help chemists fine-tune reactions and study heterogeneous catalysis.
A team of scientists discovered the ionization potential of astatine, filling a long-standing gap in its atomic structure. This finding has implications for targeted alpha therapy in cancer treatment and helps to benchmark theories on super-heavy elements.
Researchers from Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and University of Wisconsin-Madison discover the crystalline secrets of vaterite with the help of a needlelike spicule from a sea squirt. They found that vaterite is composed of two different crystal structures coexisting within a pseudo-single crystal.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have recorded atomic motions in real time, revealing a glimpse into the essence of chemistry and biology. The breakthrough, described in a study published in Nature, uses ultra-bright electron sources to capture atomic motions with unprecedented clarity.
Scientists have directly visualized and tracked the movement of silicon atoms in a graphene sheet, revealing a 'dancing' behavior caused by energy transfer from an electron beam. This breakthrough could lead to new approaches for tuning electronic and optical properties in materials.
Researchers have uncovered the microscopic atomic structure of water at high temperatures and pressures, revealing a homogeneous molecular arrangement throughout. The findings provide insights into the unique properties of supercritical water, which may play a key role in geological processes such as ore deposits and volcanic activity.
Researchers from North Carolina State University have solved the mystery of how two unlikely materials, bismuth telluride and gallium arsenide, are held together. They found that van der Waals bonds, a weaker force than chemical bonding, hold the materials together.
Researchers used spectroscopic imaging scanning tunneling microscopy to visualize the electronic properties around individual dopant atoms in an iron-based superconductor. The study found that dopants introduce elongated impurity states that scatter electrons in an asymmetric way, explaining most of the material's unusual properties.
Researchers identify common characteristics of molecules that form good contacts with metals, enabling improvements to organic electronic devices. They found that oxygen atoms on the molecule's backbone play a crucial role in forming soft metallic contacts.
A new technique has been developed to grow graphene without defects, enabling the creation of larger sheets with aligned flakes and improved electron flow. This breakthrough has significant implications for industrial-scale graphene manufacturing and the development of graphene-based technologies in electronics, energy, and healthcare.
Theoretical physicists created models to study van der Waals-Casimir-Polder (vdW-CP) force, which depends on electron diffusion. This finding could contribute to designing minimally invasive surface probes for quantum computer hardware architectures.
Researchers from the Institute of Solid State Physics found that superconductivity is intrinsic to a bismuth-based layered material when doped with silver. The material's characteristics were measured using x-ray diffraction, magnetic susceptibility, electrical transport, and thermal transport.
Researchers at University of Texas at Austin synthesize stable anti-aromatic compound and intermediate state, enabling comparison between aromatic and anti-aromatic properties. The discovery has potential implications for industry, medicine, and information storage.
The UK government has awarded £6 million to the XMaS facility at the European Synchrotron Radiation in Grenoble, allowing it to continue delivering world-class science. This funding will enable researchers to study the atomic and magnetic structures of materials and their properties under different conditions.
A new code solves crystal structures automatically and sheds light on solids' fundamental properties. By integrating prediction and solution methods, Northwestern University researchers have developed a promising algorithm to understand the arrangement of atoms in solids.
A new diffraction spectrometer uses a webcam and diffraction grating to achieve sub-picometer accuracy in laser tuning. The instrument is simple enough for undergraduate physics labs, providing training in optics and the wave nature of light.
Researchers have developed a 'solar energy funnel' that uses materials under elastic strain to produce unprecedented properties. This concept takes advantage of the varying strain across different wavelengths of light, allowing for more efficient energy production.
Scientists have developed a method to prevent 'light shifts' in atomic energy levels using pulsed radiation. The 'hyper' Ramsey excitation scheme suppresses the effect, allowing for more accurate measurements and potentially greater accuracy in optical clocks.
Graphene crystals offer unprecedented stiffness, electrical and thermal properties due to their two-dimensional atomic structure. Researchers are now able to study the bonding characteristics of individual impurities in graphene, enabling them to optimize materials for specific applications.
A Finnish research team has uncovered the protein structure that regulates cell signalling and blood cell formation, shedding light on haematological disorders. The study provides new opportunities for disease-specific treatment and may lead to targeted therapeutics for common myeloproliferative diseases.
Scientists at Monash University have deciphered the atomic structure of PlyC, a powerful anti-bacterial lysin that kills bacteria causing infections from sore throats to pneumonia. PlyC's unique 'saucer' shape and eight docking sites make it 100 times more efficient than other lysins at killing certain bacteria.
Researchers have unraveled the mystery of a unique virus-coping mechanism, revealing a crucial role for motif D in accurately replicating genetic material. This discovery holds promise for improving existing vaccines and designing new ones against RNA viruses that eluded vaccination strategies.
Scientists have successfully imaged biomolecules at individual atom level using X-ray lasers, enabling new avenues for biological research. The technique, known as serial femtosecond crystallography, has been used to study a small protein called lysozyme and holds promise for understanding complex biological systems.
Scientists have developed a new technology to mass-produce high-precision molds for making tiny plastic components using bulk metallic glasses. The components can be used in computer memory devices, microscale testing kits, and chemical reactors with microscopic surface patterns.
Researchers have elucidated the structure of type III secretion system needles at atomic resolution, revealing similarities in their inner part while surface variability evades host recognition. This discovery enables new insights into pathogen immune evasion and prospects tailored antiinfectives to block needle assembly.
Scientists at University of Wisconsin-Madison and Iowa State University have discovered a new nanometer-scale atomic structure in solid metallic materials known as metallic glasses. The findings provide insight into the properties of these materials, including ductility and formability.
Researchers at DOE's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a carbon nanotube sponge that can soak up oil in water with unprecedented efficiency. The material's unique structure and properties make it an attractive solution for oil spill cleanup, offering advantages over existing substances.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute have determined the three-dimensional atomic structure of a human opioid receptor, a molecule that binds to opioids and is involved in pain, pleasure, addiction, depression, and related conditions. The findings could lead to the development of better medicine for these conditions.
Researchers at UCLA have developed a new method for directly measuring the atomic structure of nanomaterials, enabling 3D imaging of individual atoms. The technique, known as electron tomography, allows scientists to visualize the interior structure of nanoparticles in unprecedented detail.