This AI smells better than you
Researchers have designed a computer program that can guess a compound’s scent based on its molecular structure. Continue reading This AI smells better than you
Tag: Chemistry
Preliminary Studies Point toward New COVID-19 Drug Targets
Breakthrough research published in Nucleic Acids Research suggests SARS-CoV-2-related RNA may serve as potential drug targets for COVID-19. Continue reading Preliminary Studies Point toward New COVID-19 Drug Targets
Tracing the Origins and Components of a Universal Household Nuisance: Dust
A 2016 study is resurfacing to remind us to clean our living spaces more often as we head into the colder, indoor seasons. Dust is more pernicious than it may seem. Continue reading Tracing the Origins and Components of a Universal Household Nuisance: Dust
‘Jurassic Park’ was wrong: Study suggests raptors didn’t hunt in packs
A new study comparing Velociraptors and their modern counterparts, Komodo dragons and crocodiles, concludes that raptors were unlikely to be social, pack-hunters, in contradiction to their popularized portrayal in the ‘Jurassic Park’ movies. Continue reading ‘Jurassic Park’ was wrong: Study suggests raptors didn’t hunt in packs
A Radical New Mechanism for Cell Damage
Scientists have uncovered a new mechanism by which important components of cells can be damaged. Such a discovery could provide new insight into the biology of aging, cancer, and degeneration, as well as development of new drugs and strategies for food preservation. Continue reading A Radical New Mechanism for Cell Damage
‘Double-sided tape’ could replace surgical stitches
Sutures are commonly used to close wounds in the skin or other tissues. Similar to sewing fabric, the doctors will use a needle attached to a thread to penetrate the tissue and close the edges of the wound together, facilitating quick healing. Although surgical sutures have been used for thousands of years, they still have some limitations: 1) the needles cause some damage to the … Continue reading ‘Double-sided tape’ could replace surgical stitches
Back in Black: The New Blackest Material
Engineers at MIT have developed the blackest material to date by growing carbon nanotubes on an aluminum surface. The treated aluminum structure additionally has improved electrical properties and the synthesis process can be easily scaled for a number of applications. Continue reading Back in Black: The New Blackest Material
Fossil Fuel Companies Invest in Removing Carbon Dioxide Directly from Air
In the Canadian town of Squamish, there’s a small building with a massive fan on its purple roof. The fan is rapidly pulling outside air into the facility. The air enters the outdoors again, but it’s not quite the same. About 75% of the carbon dioxide (CO2) is gone. Run by the company Carbon Engineering (CE), the building is the pilot plant for their technology … Continue reading Fossil Fuel Companies Invest in Removing Carbon Dioxide Directly from Air
Steaming plastic into fuel
We are living in the age of plastic. Each human is estimated to produce their body weight in plastic waste each year. Most of these plastics are dumped in landfills, where they need many centuries before they degrade naturally. Millions of tons of plastics also end up in the ocean each year. They even found their way to the bottom of Marina Trench – the … Continue reading Steaming plastic into fuel
Nanowires
Nanowires are thin structures measuring 0.000000001 meters in diameter, which is so thin that they essentially behave as if they only have one-dimension. This one-dimensional nature gives nanowires a ton of interesting electrical and magnetic properties, which are super useful in electronics and medical devices, especially as they are getting smaller and smaller. Nanowires can be made from a number of different materials. The grey columns in this … Continue reading Nanowires