First aromatic molecule identified in interstellar space
Radio astronomy analysis picks benzonitrile signal out of the noise Source: © Brett A McGuire Radio astronomy revealed the presence of aromatic molecules in the Taurus Molecular Cloud (TMC) The aromatic molecule benzonitrile has been detected in the Taurus Molecular Cloud – a region of interstellar space known for containing complex molecules – using radio […]
Nicotine degrading enzyme could help smokers quit January 30, 2018
Enzyme removes nicotine from blood before it can stimulate brain’s reward system Source: K D Janda NicA2 fused to an albumin binding domain Scientists in the US have engineered an enzyme that halts nicotine’s psychoactive effects by breaking it down in the blood, before it can reach the brain. The enzyme could be developed into […]
New lithium-rich battery could last much longer
Battery leverages both iron and oxygen to drive more lithium ions The battery uses both oxygen and iron to store and release electrical energy. Credit: Zhenpeng Yao On paper, it doesn’t seem like Christopher Wolverton’s super lithium-rich battery should work. For one, the novel battery uses iron, an inexpensive metal that has notoriously failed in […]
New desalination method offers low energy alternative to purify salty water
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180102171113.htm Date: January 2, 2018 Source: Penn State College of Engineering Summary: Providing safer drinking water to those in need may be a little easier. A new desalination technique is able to remove salt from water using less energy than previous methods. A feed solution contained in a reservoir was separately fed to the […]
Early disease diagnosis could be dramatically improved with new detection system
This is an illustration of the system in action. Credit: Joshua Edel/Imperial College London The presence of, or changes in the concentration of, certain proteins in biological fluids can be indicators of disease. However, in the early stages of disease these ‘biomarkers’ can be difficult to detect, as they are relatively rare. Detecting important biomarkers […]
A radical approach to methane oxidation into methanol
Researchers convert methane to valuable chemicals using clean, low-temperature radical reaction Chlorine dioxide radical (ClO2•) was found to act as an efficient oxidizing agent in the aerobic oxygenation of methane to methanol and formic acid under photoirradiation. The yields of methanol and formic acid were 14% and 85%, respectively, with a methane conversion of 99% […]
