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Pitt researchers coax gold into nanowires

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have created a self-assembly method to grow gold nanowires, which can be used to detect poisonous gases such as hydrogen sulfide in natural gas. The gold nanowires are highly conductive and can detect gas levels comparable to existing sensing techniques.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateFeb 21, 2012

The quest for sugars involved in origin of life

A team from the University of the Basque Country has successfully isolated ribose, a fundamental sugar, in the gas phase. This achievement provides crucial information about the structure and stability of sugars, which are essential for understanding the origins of life on Earth and potentially elsewhere in the universe.

SourceElhuyar Fundazioa·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateFeb 16, 2012

Primordial soup gets spicier

Researchers have reanalyzed Stanley Miller's 1958 'primordial soup' samples and found a diverse array of organic compounds, including sulfur amino acids. The discovery supports the hypothesis that volcanoes and lightning played a key role in creating the building blocks of life on Earth.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 21, 2011

Scientists from Bonn cool gas by laser bombardment

Researchers at the University of Bonn have demonstrated a method for cooling gas using laser bombardment, which works under pressure. The technique allows for rapid refrigeration capacities, enabling the creation of new states of matter and potentially leading to the development of mini fridges.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalNature·DateSep 2, 2009

What goes down, must come up: Earth's leaky mantle

Researchers at Rice University and Harvard University developed a new model to explain how noble gases are lost from the Earth's interior during mantle convection. The model suggests that both the upper and lower mantle are involved in convection, but they affect each other differently.

SourceRice University·JournalNature·DateMay 27, 2009

2 'new' greenhouse gases growing

Two new greenhouse gases, nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) and sulfuryl fluoride (SO2F2), are accumulating in the atmosphere at a rapid rate. These potent gases have significant global-warming potential and are used in industrial processes as alternatives to other harmful gases.

Female vets face twice the fertility risk

Research reveals female vets exposed to x-rays, anaesthetic gases, and pesticides are twice as likely to miscarry during pregnancy. The study emphasizes the need for veterinarians to prioritize preventive measures and use protective devices at work.

SourceResearch Australia·JournalOccupational and Environmental Medicine·DateApr 10, 2008

Rounding up gases, nano-style

Researchers have created a novel process for catching gas from the environment and holding it indefinitely in molecular-sized containers, promising improvements to greenhouse gas management and fuel cell development. The 'molecular nanovalves' system is highly controllable and recyclable, allowing for safe and efficient storage of gases.

SourceUniversity of Calgary·JournalNature Materials·DateFeb 1, 2008

Stardust formed close to sun

The analysis of noble gases in Stardust samples indicates that some particles match a special type of carbonaceous material found in meteorites and must have spent time near the sun. The study suggests an alternative mechanism for grain incorporation into comets, contradicting earlier formation theories.