Life & Chemistry

By combining in-field experiment, laboratory simulations, and theoretical calculations, this work identifies a new pathway of photochemical conversion of atmospheric chlorinated organics into polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans on mineral dust particulates, underscoring the need to reassess the toxicity of commercial chlorinated organics and their secondary transformation particulates in the atmosphere. Photo Credit: Angewandte Chemie
Life & Chemistry

Are We Missing the Real Risk of Industrial Air Pollutants?

Chlorinated organic substances can be converted into dioxins in the atmosphere Are the risks of hazardous chemicals being determined appropriately? In certain cases, apparently not–according to a study published in the journal Angewandte Chemie by a team of Chinese researchers. The study indicates that chlorinated volatile organic compounds on mineral dust particles in the atmosphere can be converted into highly toxic polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans by sunlight. Hazardous chemicals are frequently assessed under national and international regulatory frameworks, which primarily…

Professor Hiroyuki Sasaki with a calico cat
Life & Chemistry

Discovering the ‘Meow-tation’ Behind Cats’ Orange Fur

A small deletion in a gene on the X-chromosome lies behind the fiery coats of ginger tabbies and the splotchy orange patches of calicos and tortoiseshell cats. Fukuoka, Japan – From Tama, Japan’s most famous stationmaster calico cat, to the lasagna-loving, ginger Garfield, cats with orange fur are both cultural icons and beloved pets. But their distinctive color comes with a genetic twist-most orange tabbies are male, while calicos and tortoiseshells are nearly always female. This pattern points to an…

Mingxun Wang UCR computer scientist
Life & Chemistry

New Programming Language Detects Hidden Pollutants

UC Riverside tool empowers scientists, accelerates discovery Biologists and chemists have a new programming language to uncover previously unknown environmental pollutants at breakneck speed – without requiring them to code. By making it easier to search massive chemical datasets, the tool has already identified toxic compounds hidden in plain sight. Mass spectrometry data is like a chemical fingerprint, showing scientists what molecules are in a sample such as air, water, or blood, and in what amounts. It helps identify everything…

Flamingos create water vortices to capture prey
Life & Chemistry

Flamingos Use Water Tornados for Smart Prey Trapping

Stomp dancing, head jerking, chattering and skimming generate whorls and eddies that funnel brine shrimp and small animals into the birds’ mouths Flamingos standing serenely in a shallow alkaline lake with heads submerged may seem to be placidly feeding, but there’s a lot going on under the surface. Through studies of Chilean flamingos in the Nashville Zoo and analysis of 3D printed models of their feet and L-shaped bills, researchers have documented how the birds use their feet, heads and…

Life & Chemistry

Microbial Growth Challenges: Why Many Fail in Lab Conditions

Microbial ecosystems have tipping points where even small perturbations are enough to cause a collapse, according to a new study. The authors, from the Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity at the University of Oldenburg, Germany, describe microbial communities as a network based on cross-feeding, the exchange of metabolic by-products between populations. This network of relationships can collapse abruptly if individual populations are lost, they conclude. This mechanism may explain why microbial diversity is difficult to maintain in the laboratory,…

Life & Chemistry

Too Fast to See: Unveiling Innovations in Rapid Change

Eye movements predict speed limits in perception If you quickly move a camera from object to object, the abrupt shift between the two points causes a motion smear that might give you nausea. Our eyes, however, do movements like these two or three times per second. These rapid movements are called saccades, and although the visual stimulus during a saccade shifts abruptly across the retina, our brain seems to keep it under the hood: we never perceive the shift. New…

Rendering of artificial channels. Credit: The University of Texas at Austin
Life & Chemistry

New Research Enhances Rare Earth Element Extraction Techniques

A more efficient and environmentally friendly approach to extracting rare earth elements that power everything from electric vehicle batteries to smartphones could increase domestic supply and decrease reliance on costly imports. This new method, developed by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin, allows for separating and extracting these in-demand elements where it’s not possible today, opening up new avenues for gathering rare earth elements amid global trade tensions. “Rare earth elements are the backbone of advanced technologies, but their…

Scientists discover accelerated reaction between Criegee Intermediates and water via roaming mechanism Credit: DICP
Life & Chemistry

Accelerated Reaction of Criegee Intermediates with Water

Criegee intermediates (CIs)—highly reactive species formed when ozone reacts with alkenes in the atmosphere—play a crucial role in generating hydroxyl radicals (the atmosphere’s “cleansing agents”) and aerosols that impact climate and air quality. The syn-CH3CHOO is particularly important among these intermediates, accounting for 25-79% of all CIs depending on the season. Until now, scientists have believed that syn-CH3CHOO primarily disappeared through self-decomposition. However, in a published in Nature Chemistry, a team led by Profs. YANG Xueming, ZHANG Donghui, DONG Wenrui and FU Bina from the Dalian Institute…

Wren, troglodytes.
Life & Chemistry

How Genetics Might Explain More Sons in Bird Nests

Many bird species are monogamous. However, genetic studies have shown that the social partner is often not the genetic father of all offspring. Some studies found biased sex ratios: more males than females among extra-pair fledglings. This has been interpreted as evidence of adaptive sex allocation by females: if an extra-pair mate is of high quality and this quality has a genetic basis, fitness can be optimized if offspring with the extra-pair mate’s “good” genes are predominantly male. However, there…

Drawing board rather than salt shaker
Life & Chemistry

Bioinformatics Study Shows Bacterial Genes Are Neatly Organized, Not Random

Bioinformatics: Publication in Science Bioinformaticians from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) and the university in Linköping (Sweden) have established that the genes in bacterial genomes are arranged in a meaningful order. In the renowned scientific journal Science, they describe that the genes are arranged by function: If they become increasingly important at faster growth, they are located near the origin of DNA replication. Accordingly, their position influences how their activity changes with the growth rate. Are genes distributed randomly along…

Closeup of microorganisms
Life & Chemistry

How Mechanical Compression Triggers Multicellularity in Archaea

Mechanical compression induces multicellular organization in archaeaIn a discovery that reframes our understanding of life’s fundamental organization, researchers at Brandeis University, the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, and the Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen have found that mechanical compression can induce the formation of tissue-like multicellular structures in archaea. This novel finding, focusing on the haloarchaeon Haloferax volcanii, reveals a previously unknown pathway for the emergence of multicellularity within this domain of life, offering new insights into the evolutionary…

A cartoon of graphene membrane separating CO2 from N2. Credit: Ivan Savicev (EPFL)
Life & Chemistry

Scalable Graphene Membranes Boost Carbon Capture Efficiency

Capturing carbon dioxide (CO₂) from industrial emissions is crucial in the fight against climate change. But current methods, like chemical absorption, are expensive and energy-intensive. Scientists have long eyed graphene—an atom-thin, ultra-strong material—as a promising alternative for gas separation, but making large-area, efficient graphene membranes has been a challenge. Now, a team at EPFL, led by Professor Kumar Agrawal, has developed a scalable technique to create porous graphene membranes that selectively filter CO₂ from gas mixtures. Their approach slashes production…

Chemicals used in different applications induce genetic and epigenetic aberrations implicated in various diseases, including cancer. Researchers from Japan have developed a cell-based reporter assay for quantification of chemical-induced epigenetic alterations that can enhance the safety evaluation of potential carcinogens. Credit: Associate Professor Akira Sassa from Chiba University, Japan
Life & Chemistry

Affordable Reporter Assay for Evaluating Epigenetic Changes

Researchers developed a cell-based reporter assay that can quantify epigenetic changes induced by chemicals and potential carcinogens Chemicals used as food preservatives, flavoring agents, dyes, pesticides, cosmetics, cleaners, and other industrial materials are being increasingly recognized as a health hazard. Their rampant use has led to an increase in the prevalence of various chemical toxicity-induced diseases, including hormonal disruption, cancer, neurological disorders, skin conditions, and occupational poisoning. Numerous chemicals are known to trigger “carcinogenesis” or cancer development by exerting genotoxic…

In a recent review article, a research team outlined recent progress in transition metal-free techniques to achieve coupling. Their combined efforts in these methods could help minimize waste and greatly increase energy and efficiency, helping us realize coupling processes for the pharmaceutical and fine chemical industries that better align with sustainability principles. Credit: Dr. Toshifumi Dohi and Dr. Yasuyuki Kita from Ritsumeikan University, Japan
Life & Chemistry

Rethinking Coupling Methods for Sustainable Organic Synthesis

Researchers explore transition metal-free strategies to reduce environmental impact and enhance efficiency in pharmaceutical and fine chemical industries Coupling reactions are among the most transformative tools in organic chemistry, enabling the formation of crucial chemical bonds in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and advanced materials. Since their introduction, they have been one of the backbones of modern organic synthesis. However, these methods have long relied on environmentally taxing transition metal catalysts, such as palladium, which are often scarce, costly, and generate unwanted byproducts….

Researchers at The University of Texas at Dallas have fused chemistry with technology to create a 3D-printed foam that is more durable and more recyclable than the polymer foam found in many everyday products. The research, which appears in the March 1 print edition ofRSC Applied Polymers, focused on creating a sturdy but lightweight foam that could be 3D-printed. Credit: University of Texas at Dallas
Life & Chemistry

3D-Printing Formula Could Transform Future Foam Innovations

From seat cushions to mattresses to insulation, foam is everywhere — even if we don’t always see it. Now, researchers at The University of Texas at Dallas have fused chemistry with technology to create a 3D-printed foam that is more durable and more recyclable than the polymer foam found in many everyday products. The research, which appears in the March 1 print edition of RSC Applied Polymers, a journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry, focused on creating a sturdy but lightweight foam…

Volatile fatty acid separation from biowaste. Cattle manure is anaerobically digested in a bioreactor, and the resulting broth is processed with redox-mediated electrodialysis. The volatile fatty acids pass through the selective filters. Credit: The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Life & Chemistry

Innovative Process Extracts Valuable Chemicals from Animal Waste

A collaboration between chemical engineers and animal scientists has created a system for recovering valuable industrial chemicals from animal waste, representing a major step towards circularity and environmental sustainability. Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have developed a nanofiltration system for separating volatile fatty acids (VFAs) – organic molecules that are critical in fine chemical production across many sectors – from cattle manure fermented in bioreactors. Thanks to the incorporation of selective ion-exchange membranes into an electrochemical separation system,…

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