New insights on graphene
Graphene floating on water does not repel water, as many researchers believe, but rather attracts it. This has been demonstrated by chemists Liubov Belyaeva and Pauline van Deursen and their supervisor Grégory F. Schneider. The study is published in Advanced Materials.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2017-12-insights-graphene.html
New research and tools help Internet of Things applications adapt better
In a society built on communication and Internet of Things, computer systems that can adapt to changing circumstances instead of crashing become ever more important. Muhammad Usman Iftikhar's research sheds important light on how one can guarantee that a self-adaptive system is able to achieve its goals.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2017-12-tools-internet-applications.html
Nanofractionation platform with parallel mass spec to ID cytochrome CYP1A2 inhibitors
A new (and freely available) original research article by Barbara M. Zietek et al., now available ahead-of-print at SLAS Discovery Online, presents a fast, robust and accurate methodology for correlating compound identity to CYP1A2 potency of inhibitors in metabolic mixtures.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2017-12-nanofractionation-platform-parallel-mass-spec.html
ESA's next satellite propelled by butane
ESA's next miniature satellite will be its first able to change orbit. Thanks to a compact thruster resembling a butane cigarette lighter, the cereal box-sized satellite will fly around its near-twin to test their radio communications.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2017-12-esa-satellite-propelled-butane.html
Tracking a solvation process step by step
Chemists of Ruhr-Universität Bochum have tracked with unprecedented spatial resolution how individual water molecules attach to an organic molecule. They used low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy to visualize the processes at a scale smaller than one nanometre. This allowed them to investigate the phenomena of hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity at the molecular level, i.e. why certain parts of organic molecules attract or repel water.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2017-12-tracking-solvation.html
The chemical industry can achieve a 36% reduction in annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, study shows
The chemical sector has a big role to play in tackling climate change and achieving EU energy targets. The wide scale use of existing and—in particular—emerging innovative energy technologies can bring big emissions savings to the sector.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2017-12-chemical-industry-reduction-annual-greenhouse.html
Shining molecules distinguish between proteins in the brain
Small shining molecules developed by scientists at Linköping University in Sweden can be designed to distinguish between plaque of different proteins in the brain. They may pave the way for better diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, in which plaque forms from the amyloid beta or tau proteins.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2017-12-molecules-distinguish-proteins-brain.html
Plants can choose between alternative responses to competition
Biologists from the University of Tübingen have demonstrated that plants can choose between alternative competitive responses according to the stature and densities of their opponents. A new study by researchers from the Institute of Evolution and Ecology reveals that plants can evaluate the competitive ability of their neighbors and optimally match their responses to them. The results were published in Nature Communications.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2017-12-alternative-responses-competition.html
Quantum coupling
Today's quantum technologies are set to revolutionize information processing, communications, and sensor technology in the coming decades. The basic building blocks of future quantum processors are, for example, atoms, superconducting quantum electronic circuits, spin crystals in diamonds, and photons. In recent years it has become clear that none of these quantum building blocks is able to meet all the requirements such as receiving and storing quantum signals, processing and transmitting them.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2017-12-quantum-coupling.html
Researchers develop method to assess damage from natural disasters
Awesome. Amazing. Incredible. Unbelievable. Spectacular. These words aptly describe what is left following any natural disaster, whether it's an earthquake, tornado, hurricane or any other occurrence where homes, buildings or infrastructure are destroyed and lives are turned upside down.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2017-12-method-natural-disasters.html
How invasive weeds can make wildfires hotter and more frequent
Over the past year the global media has been full of reports of catastrophic fires in California, the Mediterranean, Chile and elsewhere. One suggested reason for increases in catastrophic wildfires has been human-induced climate change. Higher temperatures, drier weather and windier conditions all increase the impact of fires.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2017-12-invasive-weeds-wildfires-hotter-frequent.html
Source: https://phys.org/
