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New method speeds up development of medication

A new method has been developed to determine the crystal structures of organic salts, significantly speeding up the development of medications. This breakthrough is expected to reduce the time and cost associated with screening organic salts, leading to a faster discovery of effective pharmaceutical ingredients.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalChemical Science·DateMar 26, 2018

New tool for the crystallization of proteins

A new method has been developed to crystallize membrane proteins of any type or size, allowing researchers to elucidate their structure. The technique uses lipid-water mixtures to create self-assembled channels that enable large proteins to be crystallized.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 5, 2018

Naked-eye detection of solvent vapor

Scientists at University of Tsukuba create effective fluorescent sensor for detecting solvent vapor, utilizing a branched molecule called a dendrimer. The sensor can distinguish between various solvents through changes in emission color and intensity.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalChemical Communications·DateFeb 28, 2018

Breaking local symmetry: Why water freezes but silica forms a glass

Research at The University of Tokyo's Institute of Industrial Science reveals that water and silica diverge when cooled due to differences in atomic arrangement. Water's strong orientational order leads to easy crystallization, whereas silica's weak ordering results in supercooling and glass formation.

SourceInstitute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 13, 2018

International study identify the process of rock formed by meteors or nuclear blasts

Researchers from Brazil, China, and Italy developed a model to map the phases of coesite formation, a polymorph of silica that occurs under high pressure. The study uses atomic computer simulation to describe the interactions among atoms and the transformations resulting from pressure changes.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 16, 2018

Glucagon receptor structure offers new opportunities for type 2 diabetes drug discovery

Scientists at SIMM have determined the crystal structure of the human glucagon receptor in complex with a glucagon analogue, providing insights into its activation mechanism. The study reveals significant conformational changes in the linker region and extracellular loop that facilitate peptide binding and initiate receptor activation.

Catching radical molecules before they disappear

Researchers from the Institute for Basic Science synthesized four new kinds of stabilized radicals with ferromagnetic properties, opening doors to applications in rechargeable batteries and molecular spintronics. The oxime radicals were stabilized using N-heterocyclic carbenes, a breakthrough in synthesizing organic radicals.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateDec 13, 2017

Tumors heat up

Scientists improve photothermal properties of bismuth sulfide nanorods by adding gold nanodots, increasing heat generation in tumor cells under near-infrared light irradiation. This leads to enhanced inhibition of tumor growth with no toxic side effects.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateDec 11, 2017

How ice in clouds is born

Scientists have found that water droplets in clouds can turn to ice more rapidly than previously predicted, with a disordered ice structure forming under certain cloud conditions. This discovery reconciles theoretical models of clouds with observations of freezing rates, helping cloud modelers understand better their observational data.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalNature·DateNov 8, 2017

Crystals in a pink X-ray beam

A new experimental setup allows for serial crystallography using broad-spectrum X-rays at synchrotron sources, enabling the study of proteins with smaller samples and shorter exposure times. This method reduces unwanted scattered radiation, making it possible to determine protein structures with high precision.

SourceDeutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 3, 2017

Magma chambers have a sponge-like structure

Researchers at ETH Zurich found that supervolcano magma chambers contain a mixture of liquid and crystalline magma. The chambers may exhibit a sponge-like texture, with a mesh structure of crystallised rock and pores containing molten material.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Geoscience·DateOct 5, 2017

Nagoya-led team flips the switch on ferroelectrics

Researchers at Nagoya University have created a way to manipulate the domain structure of lead zirconate titanate films, a crucial step for future electronic and electro-mechanical devices. By controlling the switching of domains, they can potentially accelerate the development of next-generation technologies.

SourceNagoya University·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 28, 2017

Engineering team images tiny quasicrystals as they form

Researchers have successfully formed and imaged tiny quasicrystals using silica nanoparticles, revealing a non-periodic yet ordered structure. The team used transmission electron microscopy to capture the growth process, which was influenced by varying concentrations of chemical compounds and mechanical stirring.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 17, 2017