A filter that turns saltwater into freshwater just got an upgrade
Making the material smoother prevents it from getting gunked up quickly By Maria Temming SMOOTH MOVE Hundreds of millions of people rely on desalinated water from plants like this one in Dubai. A new-and-improved salt-filtering material could help make freshwater production more affordable. Smoothing out the rough patches of a material widely used to filter […]
Scientists create a mineral in the lab that captures carbon dioxide
A new technique might one day help combat global warming By Carolyn Gramling FAST TRACK It takes thousands of years for this mineral to form naturally. Now researchers have found a way to make magnesite, or magnesium carbonate, in the lab in just a few months. Aleksandr Pobedimskiy/Shutterstock A new technique speeds up the formation […]
Asbestos
By Ben Valsler How the ‘world’s most wonderful mineral’ became one of the world’s biggest health hazards I fondly remember being taught DIY and woodworking techniques by my grandfather. He had a workshop in his Kent garden, where he showed his grandchildren how different tools were used. When he first built it, he topped that […]
NeuNMR set to enhance understanding of heterogeneous catalysis
By Hannah Dunckley Integrated neutron-scattering and NMR method proves much more powerful than the sum of its parts Source: © Royal Society of Chemistry Scientists have devised an integrated total neutron scattering–NMR approach for studying heterogeneous catalysis Scientists in the UK have combined NMR with total neutron scattering techniques to gain greater insight into liquid-phase […]
Naloxone
By Katrina Krämer The antidote that can stop an opioid overdose in its tracks Following last week’s foray into synthetic opioids with fentanyl, this week Katrina Krämer explores an antidote to overdose that has already saved tens of thousands of lives. Source: © Drew Angerer/Getty Images Levele Pointer, from the group Vocal New York, holds […]
Derek Barton and shape-shifting molecules
By Mike Sutton It’s 100 years since Derek Barton was born. Mike Sutton looks at his work developing conformational analysis Source: © Royal Society of Chemistry Derek Barton (1918–1998) was a giant of organic chemistry. His formidable intellect could intimidate university students and staff alike, and he made significant contributions to steroid synthesis and conformational […]
Bismuth drugs kill bacteria by disrupting metabolism
By Harriet Brewerton Scientists throw kitchen sink of omics techniques at understanding complicated response of prevalent human pathogen to bismuth drug Researchers have combined several methods to elucidate the key mechanisms of action of a bismuth-based drug on Helicobacter pylori. The results could help researchers design new antibiotics. H. pylori exists in the digestive tract […]
Chlorine-free rocket fuel
[:pb]By Jamie Purcell Compound bearing 10 nitro groups could cut dangerous emissions from rocket launches 4,4′,5,5′-tetranitro-2,2′-bis(trinitromethyl)-2H,2′H-3,3′-bipyrazole Researchers in Russia have prepared a new high energy compound for use in environmentally friendly rocket fuels. Use of this compound could effectively eliminate a hazardous byproduct from the process of jet propulsion. As safety concerns dictate that rocket […]
From folklore to pharmacy
By Hayley Bennett A dark red resin oozes from the trunk of Croton lechleri, giving the tree its Peruvian name, Sangre de grado: ‘dragon’s blood’. The people of the western Amazonian rainforest prize this tree for its medicinal properties, and they use it to treat everything from haemorrhoids to haemorrhaging. Bernabé Cobo, a Spanish missionary […]
Hydrogen: still the fuel of the future?
By Angeli Mehta Is the dream of a hydrogen-fuelled future still a pipe dream, or is it in the pipeline? Angeli Mehta investigates Somehow or other, we need to cut energy-related carbon dioxide emissions by 60% in the next 30 years, to limit global warming to 2°C. Tackling the challenge is all the more urgent […]
The science of distilling gin
[:pb] By Nina Notman Do you know your cold compound from your London dry? Nina Notman sorts through the botanicals to find the perfect cocktail We’re in the middle of a gin renaissance. The sales of this juniper-flavoured spirit are rocketing globally. The UK, for example, saw a 12% increase in volumes sold in the […]
American Chemical Society files lawsuit against pirate site
Society complaint alleges copyright infringement and spoofing of its website The American Chemical Society (ACS) has filed a lawsuit against a website that illegally bypasses paywalls to provide free access to millions of academic papers and books. Sci-Hub — founded in September 2011 by former neuroscientist Alexandra Elbakyan — provides illicit free access to 62 […]
