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How molecular footballs burst in an x-ray laser beam

Researchers observed how football molecules made of carbon atoms burst in X-ray laser beam. The study reveals the temporal course of bursting process and contributes to a more detailed protein analysis with X-ray free-electron lasers.

SourceDeutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY·JournalNature Physics·DateSep 23, 2019

Can't get thinner than this: synthesis of atomically flat boron sheets

A research team at Tokyo Institute of Technology successfully synthesized atomically flat oxidized borophene sheets through a simple solution-based method. The resulting material exhibits anisotropic conducting behavior, with different conductivity types depending on current flow direction.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateAug 23, 2019

Machine learning for damaging mutations prediction

Scientists developed a machine-learning method to analyze protein structures and predict pathogenic mutations. This approach helps identify disease-associated amino acid substitutions in membrane proteins, which account for 25-30% of all cellular proteins.

SourceSkolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech)·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 12, 2019

New synthesis method opens up possibilities for organic electronics

Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology have developed a new synthesis method for producing high-performance n-type semiconducting polymers using the DArP method. The resulting polymers, P1 and P2, exhibit significant improvements in electron mobility and stability compared to existing materials.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateAug 7, 2019
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Gold glue really does bond nanocages 'contradicting' logic

Researchers have successfully created molecular nanocages with unprecedented properties using gold atoms as a binding agent. The gold-bonded cages exhibit chemical and thermal stability while being sensitive to acidity, making them ideal for biomedical applications such as targeted drug delivery.

SourceThe Henryk Niewodniczanski Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences·JournalNature·DateAug 7, 2019

Expanding the palette

A team of UC Santa Barbara researchers have discovered a new phase in block copolymers, expanding the range of possible options for material design. The newly found phase, known as A15, belongs to a class of tetrahedrally close-packed structures and has been observed in both metal and polymer materials.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 30, 2019

Atomically precise models improve understanding of fuel cells

Researchers at Kyushu University developed computer simulations using realistic atomic-scale models to understand reaction pathways in solid-oxide fuel cells. The study found that reactions are more likely to occur in layers with smaller pore sizes, but also identified a new degradation pathway that could impact performance.

SourceKyushu University·JournalCommunications Chemistry·DateJul 19, 2019

Optimizing the growth of coatings on nanowire catalysts

Researchers chemically treat zinc oxide nanowires to apply a uniform coating of titanium dioxide, enhancing catalytic activity and stability for the water-splitting reaction. The resulting nanowire-shell structures exhibit an amorphous structure with crystalline domains limited to a few nanometers.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalNano Letters·DateJul 8, 2019

Organosilicon in circumstellar envelopes

A mechanism for bicyclic silicon tricarbide formation has been identified in the circumstellar envelopes of carbon stars. Electronically excited silicon atoms react with allene and methylacetylene to form SiC3H2, which is then converted into c-SiC3 via stellar wind and UV light

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 1, 2019
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

A new 'golden' age for electronics?

Scientists at Nagoya University have created materials with negative thermal expansion, which can compensate for the expansion of components during heating and cooling cycles. This reduces stresses and increases component lifetime, making them ideal for use in electronics.

SourceNagoya University·JournalAPL Materials·DateJun 25, 2019

Artificial atomic scale materials: Discovering how electrons fatten!

Researchers fabricated nanoscale artificial materials by manipulating atoms one after the other, discovering heavy electrons that exhibit unique electronic and magnetic properties. This breakthrough paves the way for designing novel materials with customized electronic behavior and exploring critical quantum processes.

SourceElhuyar Fundazioa·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 23, 2019
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Moving the needle on nanoscale imaging with single-molecule magnets

Researchers have created a sensor that can measure and image magnetic structures at the atomic scale, enabling new directions in atomic-scale research. The sensor uses a single molecule magnet as a scanning magnetometer to detect spin-spin interactions between molecules.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateMay 16, 2019

Driving chemical reactions with light

Scientists from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and Rice University have discovered that the chemical nature of surface molecules affects plasmon resonance in metal nanoparticles. This finding could lead to new methods for harnessing light-driven processes like photocatalysis.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 6, 2019

Tracking small things in cells

Researchers created SCOTfluors, a class of small fluorophores that can be attached to common metabolites and emit light in the visible to near-infrared range. This allows for the observation of metabolite trafficking in living cells without destroying them.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateApr 30, 2019

Making glass more clear

Researchers have developed an energy renormalization algorithm to predict glass' mechanical behavior at varying temperatures. This approach enables the design of dynamic materials with optimal properties, scaling molecular simulations up by roughly a thousand times.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 30, 2019
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

Rice, Northwestern find new ways to image, characterize unique material

Scientists at Rice and Northwestern universities have developed a method to image and characterize 2D borophene crystals, which can exhibit unique lattice configurations that determine their characteristics. The research could help manufacturers incorporate borophene into products with desirable electronic, thermal, optical properties.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 11, 2019

Elements can be solid and liquid at the same time, study reveals

Researchers have found that extreme pressure and temperature conditions can create a state in which atoms form both solid and liquid structures. This new state, known as the chain-melted state, has been discovered in several elements, including potassium, sodium, and bismuth.

SourceUniversity of Edinburgh·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 8, 2019

Golden ball in a golden cage

Scientists have successfully synthesized a 32-gold atom nanocluster with a core of 12 atoms surrounded by a shell of 20 atoms, demonstrating unusual stability. The cluster's geometry and electronic structure rely heavily on interactions with ligands, particularly amido and phosphine groups.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateMar 21, 2019
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Scientists identify atomic structure of catalytically active copper-ceria interface

Researchers at Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters identified the atomic structure of the catalytically active copper-ceria interface, proposing a copper bilayer model. The copper-ceria interface was found to be responsible for efficient hydrogen production through low-temperature water-gas shift reactions and CO/CO2 hydrogenation.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalNature Catalysis·DateFeb 19, 2019

Researchers wild about zigzags

A team of researchers from FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg has successfully synthesized large, stable pieces of zigzag-shaped graphene using a novel method. The process delivers high yields and is suitable for large-scale production, paving the way for further investigation into the material's electronic properties.

SourceFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 29, 2019
Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Reviewing advanced applications in drug delivery and medicine

Researchers have explored graphene family of materials for their potential use in targeted drug delivery and cellular imaging. These nano-biomaterials exhibit excellent physicochemical properties, making them suitable for various biomedical applications.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalCurrent Drug Delivery·DateJan 11, 2019

Predicting the properties of a new class of glasses

Researchers at Penn State used modeling methods to predict properties of ZIF glasses, combining transparency and metallic glass nonbrittle quality, with potential applications in gas storage and energy, promising breakthroughs in transparent and bendable glass

SourcePenn State·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters·DateDec 20, 2018

Disordered materials could be hardest, most heat-tolerant carbides

Researchers at Duke University and UC San Diego have discovered a new class of carbides that are harder and lighter than current materials, with high melting points. The five-metal carbides, which rely on disorder for stability, may find use in industries such as machinery, hardware, and aerospace.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 26, 2018
Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

Scientists bring polymers into atomic-scale focus

Researchers at Berkeley Lab and UC Berkeley create high-resolution images of individual atoms in synthetic polymers, revealing 35 arrangements of crystal structures. The discovery could inform polymer fabrication methods and lead to new designs for materials and devices.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalMacromolecules·DateNov 12, 2018

Biomimetics: The chemical tricks of our blood

Researchers have created phthalocyanines with a ring structure resembling that of hemoglobin or chlorophyll, which can be switched into different states with green light, affecting their chemical behavior. This discovery opens up new avenues for biomimetics and the development of novel molecules optimized for nature-specific applications.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 8, 2018

Scientists to track the reaction of crystals to the electric field

A new method for measuring crystal response to electric fields was developed by an international scientific team from Peter the Great Saint-Petersburg Polytechnic University. The technique helps improve existing and create new functional materials.

SourcePeter the Great Saint-Petersburg Polytechnic University·JournalJournal of Applied Crystallography·DateNov 6, 2018
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Blue phosphorus -- mapped and measured for the first time

Blue phosphorus has been successfully mapped and measured by a team from HZB around Evangelos Golias, revealing a unique honeycomb structure and large semiconducting band gap of seven times larger than black phosphorus. The material's properties are influenced by the substrate, making it an essential parameter for optoelectronic applic...

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie·JournalNano Letters·DateOct 15, 2018

Announcing the discovery of an atomic electronic simulator

Researchers at the University of Alberta and Quantum Silicon Inc. have developed an atomic ultra-efficient electronics technology, enabling bespoke atomic patterns to control electrons. This innovation simulates neural networks, potentially training AI models more rapidly and accurately.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateOct 15, 2018

'Fudge factors' in physics?

Researchers find that widely-used correction methods are based on a faulty assumption, potentially leading to inaccurate predictions. The team proposes new universal method for prediction that works for the right reasons.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateOct 11, 2018
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Copper ions flow like liquid through crystalline structures

Researchers studied copper-based superionic crystal CuCrSe2, revealing copper ions flow like liquids above a certain temperature. This discovery could lead to the development of more efficient and safer rechargeable batteries by replacing liquid electrolytes with solid superionic materials.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature Physics·DateOct 8, 2018

Transition metal dichalcogenides could increase computer speed, memory by a million times

Researchers propose using transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) to build faster computers that can process information in femtoseconds, a million times faster than current electronics. TMDCs have the potential to increase computer memory speed by a millionfold due to their unique hexagonal lattice structure and optical properties.

SourceGeorgia State University·JournalPhysical Review B·DateOct 2, 2018

Chemists discover unexpected enzyme structure

Researchers at MIT have discovered a unique aspect of the enzyme carbon monoxide dehydrogenase, which converts carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide. The C-cluster's structure can change its configuration in response to oxygen exposure, providing a safety net for the metal atoms.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·DateOct 2, 2018
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

Structural fluctuation evaluation in substances from measurement data

Researchers developed a new analytical method using sparse modeling to analyze atomic structure and structural fluctuation in materials. This method can determine radial structure and estimate Debye-Waller factor from measured data, indicating potential improvements in battery and electronic device performance.

SourceKumamoto University·JournalJournal of the Physical Society of Japan·DateAug 21, 2018

Scientists discover why silver clusters emit light

Researchers discovered that only small clusters of four silver atoms in a tetrahedral shape surrounded by water molecules emit light. This is due to the movement of two free electrons, which decay from higher to lower energy levels and produce a specific shade of green light.

SourceKU Leuven·JournalScience·DateAug 16, 2018

Research finds new molecular structures in boron-based nanoclusters

Researchers have found that boron-based nanoclusters exhibit highly stable and symmetric structures with interesting magnetic properties, making them potential molecular magnets or assembled into magnetic nanowires. The study also sheds light on the structure and chemical bonding of bulk boron lanthanides.

SourceBrown University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 12, 2018
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Manipulating single atoms with an electron beam

Scientists at the University of Vienna have successfully manipulated individual silicon impurity atoms in graphene with atomic precision, recording nearly 300 controlled jumps. This achievement enables potential high-density data storage and demonstrates the control of single atoms in two-dimensional materials.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalNano Letters·DateJul 9, 2018

Is the Bitcoin network an oligarchy?

Researchers found a circle-type structure within Bitcoin transactions, revealing hidden communities of interconnected owners. A small fraction of users holds the majority of the network's wealth.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateJul 2, 2018

The culprit of some GaN defects could be nitrogen

Researchers used molecular dynamics to study the role of nitrogen in GaN defects. They found that nitrogen configurations exhibited significantly more states in the bandgap, potentially contributing to dislocation-related effects. This discovery could lead to optimizing GaN material for improved device performance

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Applied Physics·DateJun 29, 2018

Granite crystallizes at temperature 200 degrees lower than previously thought

New research reveals granite crystallizes at 500 degrees Celsius, nearly 200 degrees lower than the prevailing accepted crystallization temperature. This finding impacts our understanding of molten rock at depth in the Earth's crust, influencing predictions for economically important ore deposits and active magmatic centers.

SourceRensselaer Polytechnic Institute·JournalNature·DateJun 27, 2018
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Australian shrub contains new class of organic compound

Scientists at Kanazawa University have identified six new compounds in the glossy red-fruited laurel shrub, featuring a unique nine-membered carbon cycle and lactone groups. The discovery opens up new avenues for research into the plant's potential biological activity.

SourceKanazawa University·JournalOrganic Letters·DateJun 27, 2018

Zika in high resolution

Researchers have created the highest-resolution image yet of the Zika virus, providing a detailed atomic model that enables efficient vaccine and antiviral compound design. The discovery was made possible by the stability of the Zika virus compared to its flavivirus cousins.

SourceCell Press·JournalStructure·DateJun 26, 2018
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

Supercomputing the emergence of material behavior

Researchers at UCSD designed a two-dimensional protein crystal that can toggle between states of varying porosity and density. The material's structural dynamics were simulated using all-atom molecular dynamics, revealing new insights into the emergence of complex properties in biomolecules. Control over the opening and closing of pore...

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin, Texas Advanced Computing Center·JournalNature Chemistry·DateMay 17, 2018

Writing and deleting magnets with lasers

Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf developed a method to create and erase magnetic areas in an alloy using lasers, transforming its magnetic behavior. The process involves heating the alloy with ultra-short laser pulses, allowing it to form a magnet.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateApr 18, 2018
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.