Articles tagged with Crystal Structure
Zinc sulfide nanoparticles with a disordered crystal structure exhibit increased stiffness due to constant strain, potentially impacting other properties such as strength and elasticity. The researchers' findings emphasize the importance of considering the entire particle, rather than just its bulk structure.
Scientists use 'targeted mutagenesis' to make proteins more amenable to crystallization, shedding light on the plague and other diseases. The technique has already solved the structures of stubborn proteins like V antigen of Yersinia pestis.
Researchers have confirmed that molecules of water can freeze together to form a perfect crystal, allowing it to be manipulated by electric fields. This discovery enhances scientists' understanding of how naturally occurring particles of ice interact with the environment, particularly in chemical reactions such as ozone depletion.
A team of scientists discovered microbes that produce nanometer-scale crystals of extraordinary length, using polymer fibers as templates. The discovery may provide key insight into biomineralization, the process that produces bone, teeth, and shell.
A new technique developed by UCSD researcher Virgil Woods employs DXMS to identify unstructured regions in proteins that interfere with crystallization. Removing these regions through 'molecular surgery' enables proteins to crystallize well, overcoming a major obstacle in structural genomics.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have identified a novel secretory protein specific to neuroblastoma, which could provide clues to differentiating between aggressive tumors and those that are more likely to respond to treatment. Additionally, scientists have discovered selective inhibitors of key protein kinases implicated in ...
Researchers have developed nanoscale helical 'nanosprings' from zinc oxide that exhibit piezoelectric and electrostatic polarization properties. These structures could be used as sensors to detect small fluid flows, strain forces, and air flows, and as actuators in micro-systems. The new materials also display unusual electrostatic pol...
Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed a method to create complex patterns in photonic crystals using hydrogel nanoparticles. The technique uses a photo-patterning method combined with self-assembly, allowing for the creation of optically transparent materials with unique properties.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed an algorithm that provides fast and accurate structure determination for organic compounds with a center of symmetry. The new approach reformulates the phase problem into an integer programming problem, allowing for rapid solution finding using off-the-shelf optimization software.
Researchers found that zinc sulphide nanoparticles change their crystal structure when wet, becoming more ordered. This effect could help identify extraterrestrial rocks and has implications for sensing technology.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute have developed a novel technique for tailoring silicon nanocrystals on 4-inch wafers, enabling the mass production of these tiny crystals. By controlling the size and position of the nanocrystals, the team aims to improve the efficiency of light-emitting devices such as LEDs.
Researchers at Tufts University have identified the key aspects of silk processing that enable spiders and silkworms to create strong fibers. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new high-strength materials, biomaterials for tissue engineering, and environmentally friendly processes.
Scientists have found that colloidal particle clusters exhibit beautiful and unexpected symmetry, obeying a simple mathematical principle. The discovery may have implications for understanding the atomic-scale structure of liquids and the properties of matter.
Researchers used NASA's Electrostatic Levitator to prove a 50-year-old hypothesis on nucleation, a process crucial for materials and biological systems. The study showed that liquid metals resist turning into solids due to an atomic 'nucleation barrier', a fundamental mismatch in atom arrangement.
Researchers at the University of Toronto have devised a new architecture for manufacturing photonic band gap materials, increasing available bandwidth for optical microchips. The technique uses x-rays to create a precise template, allowing for high-quality silicon photonic band gap materials.
Researchers deduced the structure of GRK2, a key regulatory enzyme that modulates G protein signaling. The three-dimensional structure reveals three distinct domains capable of performing multiple regulatory functions simultaneously.
Researchers at UH have discovered why insulin crystals do not form a certain defect called step bunching, which can lead to defects in crystals used in lasers. Understanding this process can help improve crystal-growing methods and lead to breakthroughs in medicine and technology.
Weizmann Institute researchers have solved the 3D structure of the glucocerebrosidase enzyme involved in Gaucher disease. The discovery may lead to the design of more effective therapies, including enzyme replacement therapy and small molecule supplements.
Scientists have successfully imaged a double-wall carbon nanotube at atomic resolution using an electron nanodiffraction technique. This breakthrough enables the determination of the structure of non-periodic objects, including biological macromolecules, much like X-ray diffraction does for crystals.
Researchers solved the atomic structure of pilin proteins in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Vibrio cholerae, essential for bacterial movement and infection. This knowledge provides crucial insights for developing novel antibiotics and vaccines against these deadly diseases.
Researchers found that there exists a critical nanometer size where mineral particles in biocomposites become insensitive to flaws, maintaining strength equivalent to a perfect crystal despite inherent defects. This phenomenon suggests that the engineering concept of stress concentration at flaws is no longer valid for nanoscale design.
Researchers at the University of Colorado have determined the molecular structure of MEF2, a protein that plays a key role in heart hypertrophy. The study reveals detailed mechanisms by which MEF2 suppresses gene expression, potentially leading to the development of new treatments for heart disease.
Researchers have discovered the first crystal structure of human carboxylesterase 1 (hCE1), an enzyme that metabolizes cocaine and heroin. The enzyme's structure holds promise for developing treatments for acute overdose and detoxifying chemical weapons, including nerve agents such as sarin and VX.
Dutch chemists Ries Janssen and colleagues have visualized the porous structure of a zeolite catalyst and found that about a quarter of canals are closed cavities. They developed two methods to create better canals, using carbon powder and carbon fibers as templates, resulting in improved accessibility and structure.
Researchers have discovered that spherical crystals develop unique 'scar' defects to compensate for the curved surface, allowing them to pack in place. The findings, supported by experiments with water droplets and tiny beads, provide insights into how such structures form and persist in nature.
Researchers have successfully created a giant self-assembled liquid crystal lattice using hundreds of thousands of highly branched molecules. The structure, which consists of discrete microscopic spheres linked together, has a repeat unit size comparable to spherical virus particles isolated from plants.
The study used x-ray microscopy to visualize the formation of steel crystals, finding smaller crystals at lower temperatures, leading to stronger steel. The research team discovered that rapid cooling results in many small crystals and strengthens steel.
Researchers discovered the chemical principles to reorganize liquids, creating new 'symphonic compositions' with desired optical and electronic properties. The team engineered molecules into glasses and liquids, manipulating their structure to produce changes in properties.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute created large symmetrical crystals with five-fold crystallographic symmetry using boron carbide. These crystals are rare in nature due to the strain caused by their growth, but may have potential as a hard material for engineering applications.
Researchers observe temporary structure during membrane fusion, forming hourglass-shaped stalk connecting two membranes. This discovery may lead to understanding of viral infection and designing new drug delivery methods.
Researchers have determined the three-dimensional structure of the yeast proton ATPase, revealing a dynamic mechanism of ion pumping. The study provides important clues about regulating the pump's activity, and its inhibition could lead to the development of new fungicides.
Scientists from Imperial College London and the University of Manchester have solved the structure of Beta-Crustacyanin, a protein that bends Astaxanthin's shape to create different colours. The discovery could lead to new uses of Astaxanthin as a drug-delivery mechanism and improve food colourants.
Researchers used non-traditional techniques to determine nanoscale structures, revealing cesium ions arranged in short-range order zigzag chains. This verifies CsxSi32O64 as a room-temperature stable inorganic electride with potential useful electronic properties.
Scientists have developed new methods to characterize diamonds, allowing them to link the stones' properties to their mine of origin. This study aims to shed light on plate tectonics, the Earth's formation, and processes deep in the Earth.
Researchers have developed a tungsten photonic lattice that can convert most of the wasted infrared energy into visible light, increasing the efficiency of incandescent bulbs from 5% to over 60%. This innovation has the potential to significantly reduce energy consumption and environmental damage caused by inefficient lighting.
The University of California, Santa Barbara's Nakamura is awarded a multi-million dollar ERATO grant to develop gallium nitride bulk crystals, crucial for commercial use in lasers and transistors. The research aims to explore inhomogeneity in nitride crystals and enable the tuning of energy levels.
Researchers at the University of California, Davis have discovered how antifreeze glycoproteins interact with ice, preventing ice crystals from growing and preserving liquid water around the protein. This discovery may lead to safer storage for food or blood products and help scientists understand biomineralization.
Navrotsky's work has pioneered methods to measure the energy needed to form crystal structures, allowing scientists to study minerals deep within the earth. Her research has established the identity of materials at hundreds of kilometers depth, enabling new discoveries in nanogeoscience.
Scientists have created a novel crystal lattice with unprecedented optical properties, enabling the manipulation of light at higher frequencies. This breakthrough has potential applications in telecommunications and drug separation.
Simon C. Moss, a UH professor, has spent 40 years researching atomic-scale defects and their impact on materials properties. His work has led to breakthroughs in semiconductors, alloys, and thin films, earning him the Von Hippel Award.
The USGS is studying the Chesapeake Bay Impact Structure to understand its influence on groundwater. Scientists are examining the composition, age, and structure of crystalline basement rocks to learn more about the impact event's effects.
The RANKL cytokine at 2.6 Å resolution provides detailed information on its structure and function in the body. Researchers used this high-resolution imaging technique to study RANKL's role in bone formation and immune system regulation.
Scientists have long known that Earth's core is primarily composed of iron, but the cause of seismic waves traveling faster in certain directions was unclear. Recent studies using supercomputer simulations revealed a temperature-dependent alignment of crystal structures in the inner core, shedding new light on this phenomenon.
Researchers at The Scripps Research Institute have solved the structure of a neutralizing antibody against HIV, marking an important milestone in the development of an effective vaccine. This breakthrough demonstrates that the human immune system can produce antibodies effective against HIV and provides a template for vaccine design.
Researchers discovered strontium titanate deforms plastically at low stresses and temperatures, contrary to its brittle nature. Detailed analysis reveals the existence of different dislocation core structures, suggesting potential applications in forming or enhancing ceramic properties.
Scientists investigated subducting lithosphere and deep earthquakes near Fiji, finding a group of deep earthquakes off to the side that cannot be connected to the actively subducting lithosphere. The researchers suggest that similar slabs may exist elsewhere, preserving a significant primordial component of the mantle.
A team of Virginia Tech chemists and colleagues have created a family of fullerene molecules that break the sacrosanct isolated-pentagon rule. The new structure has only 68 carbon atoms, which are stabilized by three metal atoms, allowing for a molecular cluster of four atoms to be encapsulated.
Scientists have identified a class of ceramic materials that may safely contain radioactive waste for long-term storage, featuring disordered atomic structures. The fluorite-type complex oxides show promise as radiation-proof materials, warranting further development for containing nuclear wastes.
Researchers have mapped the first crystal structure of rhodopsin, a key protein in vision and embryonic development. This breakthrough could lead to significant advances in understanding GPCRs' role in various physiological processes, including taste, heart function, and drug addiction.
The discovery of Complex II's structure is crucial for understanding the energy production system in cells and may lead to therapies correcting defects. This breakthrough increases scientists' knowledge of fundamental processes and their role in diseases like diabetes and Alzheimer's.
Researchers found a novel natural, very dense polymorph of silica in the Shergotty meteorite, which challenges the accepted composition of Earth's lower mantle. The discovery suggests that free dense silica polymorphs could exist in the Earth's deep interior.
Researchers at Cornell University have developed a technique to grow pure, defect-free single crystals of almost any material on any substrate by bonding thin films at a misaligned angle. The new method has the potential to revolutionize electronics manufacturing by overcoming current limitations.
Researchers developed a new technique to visualize the three-dimensional internal structure of objects using sonic imaging. This method stacks planar ultrasound images and provides detailed analysis without physically cutting open the part.
A new research program at Cornell University is using computer simulations to understand how tiny cracks in materials can grow into major ones. The project, called Multiscale Modeling of Defects in Solids, involves creating models that show how defects at the atomic level can lead to changes at increasingly larger scales.
The significance of defects in semiconductors cannot be overstated, as they determine many crystal qualities and enable the creation of useful variability. The controlled substitution of host atoms by foreign atoms is a key idea in semiconductor materials engineering.
Scientists discover that adding defects to materials can enhance their performance in semiconductor devices, leading to breakthroughs in information technology, high-speed communications, and the development of new LED technologies. Researchers are also exploring ways to exploit defects in optical fibers to increase bandwidth capacities.
The crystal structure of gp120 in action provides valuable clues for vaccine design, revealing how the virus binds to T cells while maintaining changeability. Researchers can now use this information to create targeted compounds that interfere with the interaction between gp120 and CD4 receptors.
The crystal structure of the thermosome, an archaeal chaperonin, has been determined, providing insights into its mode of action. The thermosome contains a built-in lid domain that substitutes for a cochaperonin, allowing it to drive protein folding cycles.
Researcher Robert Connelly uses tensegrities to model molecular structures like buckminsterfullerenes, which have unique geometric stability. His work provides insights into the behavior of certain-shaped molecules and could lead to a catalogue of stable tensegrity structures.
Researchers predict significant changes in mineral behavior and crystal structures under high pressure, affecting the Earth's magnetic field. The study investigates the properties of materials containing iron, manganese, cobalt, and nickel at extreme conditions.