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Scientists bridge different materials by design

Researchers at the University of Liverpool have designed and constructed interfaces between materials with different structures, leading to improved physical properties. This breakthrough enables the creation of better batteries, fuel cells, and other devices that rely on well-ordered interfaces between materials.

Piecing together the cells elevator-like mechanism for sodium

Scientists at Stockholm University have successfully determined the structure of the sodium/proton transporter NapA using x-ray crystallography. This breakthrough provides a complete picture of the transport process, revealing key movements and steps involved in regulating sodium levels within cells.

Switchable material could enable new memory chips

Two MIT researchers have developed a thin-film material that can be switched between metallic and semiconducting properties by applying a small voltage. The discovery could lead to new types of computer memory chips and energy conversion devices.

Polymer puts new medical solutions within reach

Researchers developed a process to create a water-loving polymer with structure, opening up possibilities for artificial blood vessels and soft tissue-like mechanical properties. This breakthrough addresses the challenge of balancing hydrogel's water-loving nature with the need for crystallinity.

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.

How seashells get their strength

Researchers discovered a new mechanism for incorporating soft biological matter into calcium carbonate crystals, creating strong biominerals. The study provides insight into the formation of natural minerals with composite properties, which could lead to sustainable energy materials.

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.

The artificial materials that came in from the cold

Scientists at Berkeley Lab have developed a bidirectional freeze-casting technique to manufacture novel structural materials with high control over structure. The technique, inspired by natural materials like bones and shells, enables the creation of advanced porous materials with outstanding properties.

Bacteriorhodopsin crystals consume their smaller counterparts

A team of scientists has discovered that larger crystals of bacteriorhodopsin grow by consuming smaller crystals around them, creating a depletion zone. This phenomenon was observed using fluorescence microscopy over the course of a month, showing how the distribution of protein in the sample changed with time.

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Made to order: Researchers discover a new form of crystalline matter

A team of researchers from Auburn University, the University of Iowa and the University of California, San Diego, discovered a new form of crystalline-like matter in strongly magnetized dusty plasma. The lattice properties can be imposed arbitrarily by an external grid/mesh structure, creating unique geometric patterns.

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Researchers have used computers to tackle 1 of chemistry's greatest challenges

Researchers from the University of Bradford and Avant-garde Materials Simulation successfully predicted the crystal structures of five target compounds using computational methods. The ability to predict crystal structures could enable the design of materials with superior properties, such as brighter pigments or more effective pharmac...

Structure of 'concrete disease' solved

Scientists have discovered a previously undocumented sheet-silicate crystal structure in the alkali-aggregate reaction, a chemical process that weakens concrete over decades. This breakthrough could lead to the development of more durable concrete, reducing global infrastructure failures.

The complexity of modeling

Complex engineered materials pose significant structural challenges due to non-periodic and disordered atomic structures. A new approach combining experimental and theoretical tools is required to obtain unique solutions.

Uncovering the secrets of ice that burns

Researchers found that grain size determines methane hydrate behavior under stress, with maximum capacity at 15-20 nm. This discovery has implications for predicting and preventing hydrate failure and exploring their use as a future energy source.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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Researchers have the chemistry to make a star: ANU media release

Researchers at Australian National University have successfully created a star-shaped molecule called [5]radialene, which was previously deemed too unstable. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient ways of producing medicinal agents, with the chemical industry worth nearly $1 trillion.

Metal defects can be eliminated by cyclic loading

Researchers have found that repeated small stretching of nanoscale metal pieces can eliminate crystal defects in its crystalline structure, strengthening the material. This phenomenon is counterintuitive, as it is opposite to what one sees in larger metal crystals.

Cyclic healing removes defects in metals while maintaining strength

A new technique called cyclic healing uses repetitive stretching to eliminate pre-existing defects in metal crystals, significantly increasing their strength. The technique was developed by an international team of researchers and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Ionic and covalent drug delivery

Scientists develop a novel drug delivery platform that combines ionic and covalent binding to improve the solubility and bioactivity of pharmaceutical ingredients. The approach uses ionic liquids as a key component, offering tunable hydrophobicity/lipophilicity, modulated ionic binding, and variable linkers for targeted release.

Even if imprisoned inside a crystal, molecules can still move

Researchers used X-ray crystallography, NMR and simulation to study protein movements in crystals. The results show that proteins continue to produce slight residual movements even when crystallised, which blurs the structures obtained via crystallography.

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Researchers create first entropy-stabilized complex oxide alloys

North Carolina State University researchers created an entropy-stabilized material made up of five different oxides in roughly equal amounts. The constituent atoms were evenly distributed and their placement in the crystalline lattice structure was random, proving that entropy can stabilize complex oxide alloys.

No such thing as ghosts?

A new method called Phantom Derivative (PhD) has been developed to determine complex structures with limited experimental data. PhD is a competitive approach in protein crystallography, producing results comparable to existing techniques like density-modification and Vive la Difference.

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Nano-dunes with the ion beam

The researchers used broad ion beams to create nanostructured arrays on a gallium arsenide wafer, resulting in well-defined structures reminiscent of sand dunes. The process involves heating the sample during ion bombardment and compensating for missing atom bonds by forming pairs of gallium atoms.

A marine creature's magic trick explained

A team of scientists at the Weizmann Institute discovered that sea sapphires' colorful appearance is caused by photonic crystals, which enable them to control their visibility. The researchers found that the spacing between the crystal plates determines the color and can be adjusted to make the creature appear invisible or visible

SLU researcher opens next chapter on blood-clotting mysteries

SLU researcher Nicola Pozzi is seeking to understand the molecular mechanisms of prothrombin and thrombin to develop more effective life-saving drugs. The research builds on previous breakthroughs in blood-clotting protein structure, which may lead to a better understanding of how prothrombin is converted to thrombin.

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

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Fertilization discovery: Do sperm wield tiny harpoons?

Researchers have identified spiky filaments within sperm that may play a key role in facilitating fertilization. The discovery, 14 years in the making, provides new insights into the fine dissection of the protein architecture of the sperm's acrosomal matrix.

Record high pressure squeezes secrets out of osmium

Researchers achieve unprecedented pressures of up to 770 GPa, revealing osmium's structural stability and interaction between core electrons. The findings have implications for understanding physics and chemistry of highly compressed matter.

New mathematics advances the frontier of macromolecular imaging

A new mathematical theory and algorithm, Multi-tiered iterative phasing (M-TIP), solves the reconstruction problem for fluctuation X-ray scattering data. This approach enables quick determination of general structure in minutes on a desktop computer, unlocking new advances in biophysics.

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Charge density and optical properties of multicomponent crystals

Researchers design multicomponent materials by combining molecular and structural properties to form a 3D architecture. The spatial distribution of molecules and electronic properties of building blocks significantly impact optical properties. The study demonstrates the feasibility of using active pharmaceutical ingredients as building...

Lightning reshapes rocks at the atomic level, Penn study finds

A team of scientists from the University of Pennsylvania discovered that lightning can reshape rocks at an atomic level, creating distinctive black 'glazes' and shock lamellae. This finding challenges previous assumptions about the effects of meteorite impacts on rocks.

Nature has more than one way to grow a crystal

Researchers have found that crystals can form in complex shapes using multiple pathways, challenging traditional theories. This new understanding has implications for materials science, health research, and basic science studies, including the formation of shells, teeth, and bones in animals.

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

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Density-near-zero acoustical metamaterial made in China

Chinese scientists created a tunable membrane material that effectively recreates the quantum tunneling effect for sound waves. The material has an effective density near zero and enables high transmission around sharp corners and efficient wave splitting.

Polymer mold makes perfect silicon nanostructures

Researchers at Cornell University have created a polymer mold that can shape liquid silicon into perfect, 3-D single crystal nanostructures. The breakthrough uses extremely short laser pulses to heat the silicon without degrading the polymer mold.

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.

Emergence of a 'devil's staircase' in a spin-valve system

Researchers discovered a 'devil's staircase' effect in a cobalt oxide spin-valve system, allowing for infinite superstructures with tunable magnetic configurations. This finding may lead to new options in spintronics, enabling more efficient data storage and processing.

Making new materials with micro-explosions: ANU media release

Researchers at ANU have developed a method to create laser-induced micro-explosions in silicon, resulting in the formation of two entirely new crystal arrangements and potentially four more. The new materials exhibit complex structures and altered electronic properties, including an altered band gap and superconductivity.

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Aperiodic crystals and beyond

The article explores aperiodic crystals and their implications on our understanding of crystalline order. Recent research has shown that the current definition of crystals, based on point-like diffraction, may need revision as new materials with non-trivial point components in their diffraction are discovered.

Diamonds are for temperature

Scientists have created tiny diamond-based probes that can measure temperature with high accuracy, from near-cryogenic cold to slightly above the melting point of aluminum. The probes use luminescent signals from green glowing diamond defects and can detect fast thermal variations.

Structural data reveals new mechanism behind protein transport

Researchers at Umea University discovered how the signal recognition particle (SRP) recognizes signal-sequences on newly-produced proteins, enabling transport to the cell membrane. The SRP undergoes structural changes upon binding, allowing it to adapt to diverse signal-sequences.

Framework materials yield to pressure

Researchers demonstrate a novel approach for generating new phases using high-pressure crystallographic studies of molecular materials. The study reveals the structural changes in α-Co(dca)2 under pressure, shedding light on its correlation with magnetic properties.

Linking superconductivity and structure

Researchers have discovered a key link between superconductivity and structure in iron arsenide compounds, which could potentially lead to higher-temperature superconductivity. Under pressure, the compound undergoes a structural change that leads to a loss of superconducting ability.

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

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Insight into the Ebola virus nucleocapsid assembly mechanism

Researchers solved the structure of Ebola virus nucleoprotein core domain to 1.8 Å resolution, revealing RNA binding groove similarities with other viral NPs. The findings provide valuable insights into EBOV genome assembly and transcription mechanism, as well as potential antiviral therapies targeting RNP formation.

Scientists X-ray anti-inflammatory drug candidates

Researchers from Universities of Hamburg and Aarhus decode molecular structure of two promising drug candidates from Spiegelmers for the first time. The results provide a deeper understanding of the mode of action of these substances that have already entered clinical trials.

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.

Combined effort for structural determination

Researchers combined powder diffraction data with electron crystallography to solve modulated structures. The technique provides unprecedented detail down to sub-angstrom resolution, improving the reliability of crystal structure investigation.

Making carboxyl(ate) friends

Researchers Luigi D'Ascenzo and Pascal Auffinger classify 17 carboxyl(ate) motifs in crystal structures using stereochemical considerations. They provide a systematic naming system and implications for crystal engineering, pharmaceutical research, and biomolecular sciences.