Liquid metals the secret ingredients to clean up environment
Liquid metal catalysts show great promise for capturing carbon and cleaning up pollutants, requiring so little energy they can even be created in the kitchen.
Read moreInorganic Chemistry
Physicists look to navigational 'rhumb lines' to study polymer's unique spindle structure
A new study describes how spheres can be transformed into twisted spindles thanks to insights from 16th century navigational tools. Researchers show how polymers can contract into spiral structures, known as loxodromes, that have complex patterning ten times smaller than the width of a human hair.
Read moreBio-inspired theoretical research may make robots more effective on the future battlefield
In an effort to make robots more effective and versatile teammates for Soldiers in combat, researchers are on a mission to understand the value of the molecular living functionality of muscle, and the fundamental mechanics that would need to be replicated in order to artificially achieve the capabilities arising from the proteins responsible for muscle contraction.
Read moreAtomic-level imaging could offer roadmap to metals with new properties
A team of researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology has developed a new process that could help gain new insights into high-entropy alloys and help characterize their properties.
Read moreA new strategy for the synthesis of complex natural products
Chemists have succeeded in synthesizing two complex natural products from the group of dithiodiketopiperazines (DTPs). For this, they employed a new strategy based on ''C-H bond activation,'' resulting in a short and high yielding route. The researchers describe their new concept for the total synthesis of Epicoccin G and Rostratin A.
Read moreStabilizing multilayer flows may improve transportation of heavy oils
During the past 20 years, the oil industry has begun to transition away from light oils toward heavier oils. But transporting heavy oils cost-effectively is a challenge because heavy oils are viscous — essentially a thick, sticky and semifluid mess. One way to outmaneuver this problem is a viscoplastic lubrication technique. It can complement existing methods to stabilize interfaces within multilayer flows.
Read moreHypersonic research spotlights future flight challenges
Engineers are advancing what researchers know about hypersonic flight. A new study describes a series of tests that elucidate the conditions a future aircraft may experience traveling faster than 10 times the speed of sound.
Read moreCompact infrared spectrometer
Researchers have developed a compact infrared spectrometer. It's small enough to fit on a computer chip but can still open up interesting possibilities — in space and in everyday life.
Read moreAccidental discovery of strong and unbreakable molecular switch
An organic material that can repeatedly change shape without breaking would have many useful applications, such as artificial muscles, pumps or as a switch. Physicists accidentally discovered a material with that property.
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