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Learning how nature splits water

Scientists have derived the precise structure of a catalyst composed of four manganese atoms and one calcium atom that drives water-splitting reactions. The high-resolution structure holds promise for developing clean energy technologies that rely on sunlight to split water, enabling the production of hydrogen fuel.

From biological imaging to Sudoku solutions

A new algorithm, developed by Cornell University researchers, can reconstruct detailed images of small specimens from raw data using X-ray diffraction microscopy. The algorithm also solves the internationally popular puzzle Sudoku, appealing to its creator's 'whimsical side'.

SourceCornell University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 3, 2006

Living metals

A research team from the Max Planck Institute for Metals Research and ESRF observes temporal structural fluctuations on an atomic scale in a crystalline material. The discovery sheds light on how materials respond to external perturbations like changes in temperature, pressure, magnetic or electric fields.

UO's molecular 'claws' trap arsenic atoms

Researchers at the University of Oregon have discovered a way to build a molecular 'claw' that can grab onto arsenic and sequester it, potentially leading to improved treatments for arsenic poisoning. The molecules developed by the team are known as chelators, which enable them to trap and immobilize heavy metal atoms like arsenic.

SourceUniversity of Oregon·JournalAngewandte Chemie·DateNov 15, 2004

New algorithm offers fast and accurate X-ray crystal structure identification

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.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalActa Crystallographica Section A·DateSep 2, 2003

Fake Photosynthesis? Test-Tube System InSciencePaper Sheds Light On The Oxygen We Breathe, UD Prof Says

Researchers created a test-tube photosynthesis system that mimics the metal cluster in green plants, shedding light on how life-giving oxygen is produced. The study, led by University of Delaware chemist Arnold Rheingold, may suggest new strategies for converting sunlight into electricity and enhance our appreciation of the natural world.

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalScience·DateMar 5, 1999