The issue of plastic waste has become a global emergency, with billions of tons of plastic pollution accumulating in landfills and oceans every year. Conventional recycling methods often fail to manage the sheer volume of post-consumer plastics, particularly polyethylene and polypropylene, which make up roughly two-thirds of this waste. This prompts researchers to innovate processes
Chemistry
In the contemporary realm of medical treatments, the allure of cutting-edge therapies such as personalized cancer treatment utilizing engineered immune cells or monoclonal antibodies captures widespread attention. While these advanced methodologies hold promise, their complexity and high costs limit their accessibility and application. Consequently, the majority of standard medical therapies continue to rely on small,
The growing problem of plastic waste poses a dire environmental threat, necessitating innovative solutions to manage and recycle materials effectively. Among the diverse types of plastics, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is prevalent in various consumer products, including bottles and textiles. The pressing challenge lies in the low rates of recycling, particularly in chemical processes aimed at
Ammonia (NH3) is not merely a compound; it serves as a backbone for various industries, notably in agriculture for fertilizer production and in chemical processes. The global ammonia market is a colossal entity, encompassing around 175 million metric tons with an estimated valuation of $67 billion. This underscores ammonia’s indispensable role in sustaining food production
In a remarkable advancement for the field of material science, researchers have uncovered new dimensions in the understanding of porous coordination polymers (PCPs), also known as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Published in *Communications Materials*, this research reveals that a significant milestone in the evolution of these materials—the first PCP, reported back in 1997—was not only an
The atmosphere is a complex mixture of gases that undergoes various chemical transformations, contributing to environmental dynamics and climate change. A recent groundbreaking study from the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) in Leipzig has led to a remarkable revelation: the detection of sulfurous acid (H2SO3) in the gas phase under atmospheric conditions. Traditionally shrouded
Click chemistry has revolutionized the landscape of molecular synthesis, offering pathways for creating a wide array of compounds with remarkable efficiency. Characterized by its high selectivity and rapid reaction time, click chemistry has found applications in diverse fields, from pharmaceuticals to materials science. With the continuous push towards sustainable practices, researchers have sought to refine
Recent research published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society has unveiled groundbreaking insights into the chemistry of molten uranium trichloride (UCl3), a potential candidate for fueling next-generation nuclear reactors. The work stems from an interdisciplinary collaboration involving the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Argonne National Laboratory, and the University of South Carolina. According
Uranium, an actinide element, has long been the focus of scientific inquiry due to its unique and multifaceted chemistry. Not merely notorious for its radioactivity, uranium is also characterized by its intricate electron configurations and diverse bonding properties. The recent study carried out by an international team of scientists at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) has
In the quest for sustainable and efficient chemical processes, researchers are turning their attention to dinitrogen (N2), a molecule that constitutes approximately 78% of the Earth’s atmosphere. Despite its prevalence, harnessing dinitrogen for chemical synthesis has proven to be a significant challenge due to the exceptionally strong triple bond that holds the two nitrogen atoms
The Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) recently reached a significant milestone with the addition of the Versatile Neutron Imaging Instrument, commonly referred to as VENUS. Developed under the auspices of the Department of Energy’s Spallation Neutron Source, VENUS is poised to redefine the landscape of neutron imaging, thanks to its incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI)
Recent research conducted by a team from the Fritz Haber Institute, Sorbonne University, and Uppsala University marks a significant advancement in our understanding of solvation shells, the intricate layers of solvent molecules that envelop dissolved ions. This study, published in the esteemed journal Nature Communications, unravels complexities associated with these shells, which play a crucial
The modern world is grappling with an ever-increasing array of environmental challenges, one of the most pressing being the contamination of water bodies by pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). These ubiquitous chemicals, found in our daily lives—from the medication for chronic ailments to the cosmetics we use for personal care—have seeped into our waterways,
The world of cosmetics is often depicted as a blend of the exotic and the bizarre, with formulations that can include everything from crushed pearls to plant extracts from the Amazon rainforest. Recently, scientists have ventured into even stranger territory by turning to the microbes residing in fish guts. An intriguing study published in ACS
Photocatalysis, the harnessing of light to accelerate chemical reactions, has garnered significant attention in recent years for its potential applications in energy conversion, pollution control, and organic synthesis. This technology draws inspiration from natural processes, such as photosynthesis, where light energy is transformed into chemical energy in plants. Typically, photocatalytic reactions require high temperatures and