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Category: chemistry – Page 53

The red planet’s hot again, cold again history: Explaining persistent hydrogen in Mars’ atmosphere

The fact that the cold, dry Mars of today had flowing rivers and lakes several billion years ago has puzzled scientists for decades. Now, Harvard researchers think they have a good explanation for a warmer, wetter ancient Mars.

Building on prior theories describing the Mars of yore as a hot again, cold again place, a team led by researchers at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have determined the chemical mechanisms by which ancient Mars was able to sustain enough warmth in its early days to host water, and possibly life.

“It’s been such a puzzle that there was on Mars, because Mars is further from the sun, and also, the sun was fainter early on,” said Danica Adams, NASA Sagan Postdoctoral Fellow and lead author of the new paper in Nature Geoscience.

Muon spin rotation spectroscopy uncovers unique behavior and structure of a phosphorus-containing organic radical

Muon spin rotation (µSR) spectroscopy is a powerful technique that helps to study the behavior of materials at the atomic level. It involves using muons—subatomic particles similar to protons but with a lighter mass. When introduced into a material, muons interact with local magnetic fields, providing unique insights into the material’s structure and dynamics, especially for highly reactive species such as radicals.

In a new study, a team of researchers led by Associate Professor Shigekazu Ito, from the School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan, utilized µSR spectroscopy to investigate the regioselective muoniation of peri-trifluoromethylated 12-phosphatetraphene 1. This compound is a phosphorus congener (a variant of a common chemical structure).

The process of µSR spectroscopy initially involves the formation of a muonium (Mu), which is formed when a positively charged muon (µ+) captures an electron (e–). This process continues as the reaction of a muonium (Mu = [µ+e–]) with the phosphorus-containing compound, resulting in the formation of a muoniated radical at the phosphorus site.

Nanoscale ‘diamond rings’ provide unconventional giant ’magnetoresistance‘ for the development of new quantum devices

In recent years, technological advancements have made it possible to create synthetic diamonds that have similar physical and chemical properties to natural diamonds. While synthetic diamonds are not considered “fake” or “imitation,” they are often more affordable than their natural counterparts, making them a popular choice for those who want the beauty of a diamond without the high cost. Synthetic diamonds are also often more environmentally friendly, as they do not require the same level of mining and extraction as natural diamonds.

In its pristine state, diamond is a non-conductive material, devoid of or “holes” that can facilitate electrical conduction (Figure 1). However, by introducing into the diamond crystal lattice, its optical and electrical properties can be significantly altered. As the concentration of boron is increased, the diamond’s color shifts from its characteristic clear hue to a delicate shade of blue, while its electrical conductivity transforms from an insulator to a semiconductor.

Further increases in the boron content result in a lustrous blue shade that resembles the sheen of metallic surfaces and eventually culminates in a deep, ebony coloration. Such heavily boron-doped diamond (BDD) is also as electrically conducting as some metals, and at , exhibits superconductivity, allowing electrical conduction with no resistance.

Delivering high-quality mRNA using enzymes: A guide to mRNA in vitro transcription

From being a promising yet underexplored approach in the 1990s, mRNA therapeutics have evolved dramatically. The discovery of chemical modifications to overcome mRNA’s instability and immunotoxicity enabled these therapeutics to reach clinical trials and the forefront of modern medicine. The platform’s scalability, rapid production and relatively straightforward manufacturing process mean that mRNA therapeutics are a powerful alternative to traditional small molecule drugs and DNA technology.

Enzymes are a vital tool that make in vitro transcription possible and refine the reaction products to generate highly pure, homogeneous mRNA. In this ebook, we provide an in-depth review into:

This Groundbreaking Hydrogel Generates Hydrogen and Oxygen via Artificial Photosynthesis (Using Water and Light)

In a major leap toward sustainable energy, a team of Japanese researchers has developed an artificial photosynthesis system that could help generate hydrogen and oxygen from just water and light. The breakthrough is thanks to a new type of hydrogel, which mimics the natural process of photosynthesis and performs these reactions without requiring external energy. This innovation opens up exciting possibilities for clean energy production, potentially transforming the way we think about renewable resources.

Artificial photosynthesis has long been a goal for scientists looking to replicate the natural process plants use to convert light into energy. The concept is simple in theory: use light to drive chemical reactions that produce useful energy, such as hydrogen. However, previous attempts to harness this process have been hampered by the need for external energy to trigger the reactions, making the systems inefficient and difficult to scale.

Enter hydrogels —a promising new solution. These polymer-based materials are capable of responding to external stimuli like temperature, light, and pH. The challenge, however, has been that these materials often suffer from self-aggregation, where the molecules clump together and hinder the energy conversion process. The Japanese researchers, however, have overcome this obstacle by designing a hydrogel that maintains the precise arrangement of its molecules, enabling a more effective energy transfer.

Artificial organic neuron closely mimics the characteristics of biological nerve cells

Researchers at Linköping University (LiU), Sweden, have created an artificial organic neuron that closely mimics the characteristics of biological nerve cells. This artificial neuron can stimulate natural nerves, making it a promising technology for various medical treatments in the future.

Work to develop increasingly functional artificial continues at the Laboratory for Organic Electronics, LOE. In 2022, a team of scientists led by associate professor Simone Fabiano demonstrated how an artificial organic neuron could be integrated into a living carnivorous plant to control the opening and closing of its maw. This synthetic nerve cell met two of the 20 characteristics that differentiate it from a biological nerve cell.

In their latest study, published in the journal Nature Materials, the same researchers at LiU have developed a new artificial nerve cell called conductance-based organic electrochemical neuron, or c-OECN, which closely mimics 15 out of the 20 neural features that characterize biological nerve cells, making its functioning much more similar to natural nerve cells.

Synthetic neurons that mimic human processes could lead to smarter robotics

Artificially engineered biological processes, such as perception systems, remain an elusive target for organic electronics experts due to the reliance of human senses on an adaptive network of sensory neurons, which communicate by firing in response to environmental stimuli.

A new collaboration between Northwestern University and Georgia Tech has unlocked new potential for the field by creating a novel high-performance organic electrochemical neuron (OECN) that responds within the frequency range of human neurons. The team also built a complete perception system by designing other organic materials and integrating their engineered neurons with artificial touch receptors and synapses, which enabled real-time tactile signal sensing and processing.

The research, described in a paper in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could move the needle on intelligent robots and other systems currently stymied by sensing systems that are less powerful than those of a human.

Scientists Discover Key Brain Mechanism Behind Anorexia

New research found that individuals with anorexia nervosa have elevated opioid neurotransmitter.

A neurotransmitter is a chemical substance that transmits signals across a synapse from one neuron to another in the nervous system. These chemicals play a crucial role in the functioning of the brain and body, influencing everything from mood, sleep, and learning to heart rate, anxiety, and fear. Common neurotransmitters include dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, and norepinephrine. They bind to specific receptors on the surface of neurons, triggering various physiological responses and allowing for the communication that underpins all neural activities. Imbalances in neurotransmitter levels can lead to neurological disorders or mental health issues, making them a central focus of study in both medicine and psychology.

Quantum Computing’s Biggest Obstacle Just Got Solved — Thanks to Self-Assembling Qubits

However, a new study proves that hydrogen bonds can effectively link spin centers, enabling easier assembly of molecular spin qubits. This discovery could transform quantum material development by leveraging supramolecular chemistry.

A Light-Driven Approach to Spin Qubits

Qubits are the fundamental units of information in quantum technology. A key challenge in developing practical quantum applications is determining what materials these qubits should be made of. Molecular spin qubits are particularly promising for molecular spintronics, especially in quantum sensing. In these systems, light can stimulate certain materials, creating a second spin center and triggering a light-induced quartet state.