Phys.org Chemistry

• Fluorescence color-change strategy enables rapid detection of tertiary amines and opioids

  Researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), led by Professor Zhang Guoqing, have developed a rapid fluorochromic sensing method for detecting tertiary amines and opioids. Their study is published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

• Iron-generated rust binds and removes selenium, offering safer water treatment options

  Selenium is a critical element, particularly for the thyroid and immune system, but too little or too much can be harmful to both humans and wildlife. A team of researchers at Washington University in St. Louis has made strides in removing selenium contamination from water, which could ensure safe treatment of water from agricultural ponds, mining discharge or power plant wastewater to meet federal maximum levels.

• Ultrasound unlocks a safer, greener way to make hydrogels

  Researchers at McGill University, in collaboration with Polytechnique Montréal, pioneered a new way to create hydrogels using ultrasound, eliminating the need for toxic chemical initiators. This breakthrough offers a faster, cleaner and more sustainable approach to hydrogel fabrication, and produces hydrogels that are stronger, more flexible and highly resistant to freezing and dehydration.

• Advancing electrocatalyst discovery through the lens of data science

  The integration of data science into electrocatalysis has significantly advanced the discovery of high-performance catalysts for sustainable energy applications.

• Bacterium salvaged from compost could reduce side effects of chemotherapy drugs

  New research led by the University of Sydney has revealed the potential of engineered proteins to more precisely deliver drugs within the body.

• New roadmap advances catalytic solutions to destroy 'forever chemicals'

  A team of researchers from Rice University, Carnegie Mellon University and other leading global institutions has outlined a bold new roadmap for harnessing heterogeneous catalysis to destroy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), the so-called "forever chemicals" that have contaminated water supplies worldwide.

• Novel vacuum-assisted extrusion technique improves performance of polymer prints

  Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a vacuum-assisted extrusion method that reduces internal porosity—by up to 75%—in large-scale 3D-printed polymer parts.

• Conclave: The chemistry behind the black and white smoke

  This week, 133 cardinals have gathered in the Vatican to elect a new leader of the Catholic church. During their deliberations, the only indications of their progress are the regular plumes of smoke wafting from a freshly installed chimney perched on the roof of the Sistine Chapel.

• Iron carbide: A novel heterogeneous catalyst for deoxygenative C-C coupling of alcohols

  C coupling reactions have received great research interest. In particular, the deoxygenative homocoupling of benzyl alcohols is regarded as one of the most promising routes to produce bibenzyls. Various homogeneous catalytic systems based on transition metal complexes (e.g., Ni, Re, Mo) have been developed for this transformation.

• New strategy to prevent explosions in industrial polymerization: Compound inhibits thermal runaway

  Researchers found that the compound TEMPO can effectively suppress free radical formation and control the dangerous thermal decomposition of TBPB, significantly improving its safety profile during production, storage, and transportation.

• Scientists develop new light-powered enzymes to make chemistry cleaner and greener

  Researchers at the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB) have demonstrated how genetically engineered enzymes can harness visible light to drive highly selective chemical reactions.

• Alloy design model offers faster, more accurate predictions by factoring in material defects

  Humans began creating alloys about 5,000 years ago by combining copper and tin to produce bronze. Since then, alloy design has advanced dramatically, says Moneesh Upmanyu, professor of mechanical and industrial engineering at Northeastern University.

• New device instantly detects dangerous street drugs, offering hope for harm reduction

  A portable device that can instantly detect dangerous street drugs at extremely low concentrations has been developed at the University of Bath in the UK.

• Semiconducting polymer design strategies point way to reducing scar tissue around implants

  Over time, scar tissue slows or stops implanted bioelectronics. But new interdisciplinary research could help pacemakers, sensors and other implantable devices keep people healthier for longer.

• Okra and fenugreek extracts remove most microplastics from water, finds research

  The substances behind the slimy strings from okra and the gel from fenugreek seeds could trap microplastics better than a commonly used synthetic polymer. Previously, researchers proposed using these sticky natural polymers to clean up water. Now, they report in ACS Omega that okra and/or fenugreek extracts attracted and removed up to 90% of microplastics in ocean water, freshwater and groundwater.

• Accelerating drug discovery with a single carbon atom

  A research team from the University of Oklahoma has pioneered a method that could accelerate drug discovery and reduce pharmaceutical development costs. Their work, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, introduces a safe, sustainable way to insert a single carbon atom into drug molecules at room temperature. These atoms have versatile diversification handles for further modifications that allow researchers to enhance chemical diversity without compromising sensitive structures.

• Can a wooden spoon really stop a pot from boiling over? Here's the science

  One moment, your spaghetti is happily bubbling away in the pot. A minute later, after busying yourself with something else, you turn around to find a hot mess all over your stove.

• Biochemical method offers view into earliest stages of RNA production

  When RNA molecules are synthesized by cells—a critical process in the creation of proteins and other cellular functions—they typically undergo a series of "folding" events that determine their structure and the role they will play in expressing genetic information in living organisms.

• Sustainable 3D printing resins developed from plant-based materials

  A team from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya—BarcelonaTech (UPC) and the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia has developed polymeric resins derived from plant-based materials aimed at reducing 3D printing's reliance on fossil fuel-based resins. The research findings have been published in RSC Applied Polymers.

• Quantum effects in proteins: How tiny particles coordinate energy transfer inside cells

  Protons are the basis of bioenergetics. The ability to move them through biological systems is essential for life. A new study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows for the first time that proton transfer is directly influenced by the spin of electrons when measured in chiral biological environments such as proteins. In other words, proton movement in living systems is not purely chemical; it is also a quantum process involving electron spin and molecular chirality.

• New molecular label could lead to simpler, faster tuberculosis tests

  Tuberculosis, the world's deadliest infectious disease, is estimated to infect around 10 million people each year, and kills more than 1 million annually. Once established in the lungs, the bacteria's thick cell wall helps it to fight off the host immune system.

• Phosphorus-modified nickel catalyst boosts CO₂-to-CO conversion in acidic conditions

  Reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration through electrochemical methods (eCO2RR) in acidic conditions is an important strategy for producing valuable products while avoiding the formation of carbonate.

• Innovative synthesis technique unlocks new class of planar organometallic compounds

  With six Nobel Prizes in the category, organometallic chemistry has been a widely explored field since the 1950s. Yet, the discovery of new classes of organometallic compounds remains a rare occurrence.

• Electrosynthesis of urea from flue gas achieves high efficiency with no ammonia byproducts

  Urea, with the formula CO(NH2)2, is a chemical compound that is widely used in a range of sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture and various industries. Conventionally, this compound is produced via a two-step process that entails the synthesis of ammonia from nitrogen (N₂) and its subsequent reaction with carbon dioxide (CO₂).

• One timed-release capsule could replace taking multiple pills

  Managing complex medication schedules could soon become as simple as taking a single capsule each day. Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a capsule that can be packed with multiple medications and release them at designated times throughout the day.