Chemistry

  1. Chemistry

    Space Invaders

    Recent astronomical observations and sophisticated lab experiments portray space as a breeding ground for complex organic molecules, the likes of which may have jump-started life on Earth.

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  2. Chemistry

    King Midas’ Modern Mourners

    Chemistry resurrects—in Philadelphia—an ancient funeral banquet.

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  3. Chemistry

    Materials Factory: RNA manufactures palladium particles

    Chemists have evolved RNA fragments in the lab that spontaneously synthesize highly uniform, hexagonal-shaped nanoparticles of palladium.

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  4. Chemistry

    Flame-retardant cotton gets a boost from clay

    Mixing cotton fibers with nanoparticles of clay increases the materials' heat tolerance, ultimately rendering new cotton fabrics flame retardant.

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  5. Chemistry

    Molecular Midwives: Small helper compounds may have spawned early tools of life on Earth

    Life on Earth may have sprung into being with the assistance of tiny molecules that are remarkably adept at stitching together DNA in the lab.

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  6. Chemistry

    Microbes craft unusual crystals

    Bacteria dwelling in an abandoned iron mine form unusual crystals that could help scientists look for signs of previous life on Mars.

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  7. Chemistry

    Mini Motor: Synthetic molecule yields nanoscale rotor

    Scientists have built a tiny rotor out of a synthesized molecule that rotates in the presence of an electric field.

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  8. Chemistry

    New champions among corrosive microbes

    Newly discovered strains of bacteria have developed a metabolic shortcut for eating away iron with great efficiency.

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  9. Chemistry

    Clean hydrogen fuel from corn?

    A new reactor can convert ethanol from corn into hydrogen fuel with enough efficiency to make the process economical.

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  10. Chemistry

    Radical molecule could produce plastic magnets

    A team of chemists has synthesized an unusual organic molecule that could lead to cheaper and lighter magnets.

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  11. Chemistry

    Nitrogen Unbound: New reaction breaks strong chemical link

    Researchers have developed a new way to turn nitrogen into ammonia that could improve upon an energy-intensive, 90-year-old method used to make fertilizers.

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  12. Chemistry

    Nature’s tiniest rotor runs like clockwork

    By manipulating a tiny protein found in most living cells, researchers created a molecular rotor that can convert mechanical motion into chemical energy.

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