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Chemistry news
Zero-waste plastic and color recycling: The end of colored plastic downgrading could be near
In the world of market competition, having the best and brightest package could send company sales into the millions. On the other hand, the amount of colored plastic waste increases, adding to the growing challenge of recycling ...
Polymers
Jul 2, 2026
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Light flips bacterial signaling enzyme between two shapes, unlocking how signals travel
Researchers at the University of Bayreuth and Forschungszentrum Jülich have demonstrated that specific light-sensitive enzymes—so-called sensor histidine kinases (SHKs)—transmit their signal through a light-controlled change ...
Biochemistry
Jul 2, 2026
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4
New polymer design could make everyday plastics easier to break down without losing performance
An Ehime University research team directed by H. Shimomoto and E. Ihara has developed a new molecular design strategy that imparts degradability to carbon–carbon (C–C) backbone polymers. The study, published in Macromolecules, ...
Polymers
Jul 2, 2026
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5
Metallic effect pigments significantly reduce flow-line visibility on glossy plastic surfaces
Metallic effects on plastic surfaces have become standard in many industries, from automotive interiors and exteriors to toys and household appliances. However, injection-molded parts with metallic effects suffer from a well-known ...
Polymers
Jul 2, 2026
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4
Gallium uses visible light to activate aryl iodides in rare bond-breaking reaction
Cross-coupling reactions have revolutionized the synthesis of complex pharmaceuticals and polymers from simpler, commercially available products. An important first step in these reactions is oxidative addition, which is ...
Analytical Chemistry
Jul 2, 2026
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4
Single-atom catalyst turns lignin into valuable chemicals with near-complete conversion
Researchers at The University of Manchester and Hebei University of Technology have identified how a new class of catalyst can break down lignin into useful chemical building blocks, offering a more sustainable route to replace ...
Biochemistry
Jul 1, 2026
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156
Acceptor molecule upconverts low-energy green light to high-energy purple with high efficiency
Solar cells and photocatalysts can be surprisingly inefficient. Despite light consisting of many wavelengths, the range that even highly efficient devices use is limited. Other wavelengths, especially long wavelengths, simply ...
Analytical Chemistry
Jul 1, 2026
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37
Crystal-design principle reveals how competing molecular forces control structure, color and phase transitions
Organic molecular crystals can respond to external stimuli such as heat, light, and mechanical force, making them attractive candidates for next-generation functional materials. However, predicting how multiple intermolecular ...
Analytical Chemistry
Jul 1, 2026
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4
Polymer network reconfigures in sequence, helping elastomers stay tough under strain
Shock-absorbing sneaker soles are likely made of polyurethane, a highly elastic and tough polymer. The ability of these elastomers to absorb impact without breaking is extremely important for practical applications. While ...
Polymers
Jul 1, 2026
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10
Abundant catalyst converts methane into valuable liquid chemicals
Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory and their collaborators have demonstrated a promising new approach for converting methane—the primary component of natural gas—into liquid ...
Analytical Chemistry
Jun 30, 2026
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86
How a sugar building block influences viral attachment
Sialic acid is a natural sugar building block found on the surfaces of our cells. It acts as a protective and recognition molecule and plays a central role in the development of the nervous system. Following the modular principle, ...
Biochemistry
Jun 30, 2026
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5
PFAS in most medicines can be replaced with alternatives
Certain medicines contain per- and polyfluorinated alkyl compounds, known as PFAS, which are causing increasing environmental harm because of their long-lasting effects. A study published in Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy ...
Biochemistry
Jun 30, 2026
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7
AI-powered platform lays the foundation for a new era of catalyst discovery
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how scientists search for new catalysts—the materials that speed up chemical reactions essential for producing fuels, chemicals and clean energy technologies. However, despite remarkable ...
Analytical Chemistry
Jun 30, 2026
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3
Light-activated compound kills antibiotic-resistant bacteria by turning its own defense enzyme against it
Antibiotic resistance is becoming an accelerating crisis because of the overuse and misuse of antibiotics over many years. The problem is exacerbated when antibiotics wipe out susceptible bacteria but leave resistant bacteria ...
Unexpected pathway turns water and CO₂ into climate‑neutral methane on nickel–zirconia
Natural gas still plays an important role in many industrial sectors, but it is a climate-damaging fossil fuel. TU Wien and the University of Innsbruck have now discovered an unexpected reaction pathway that makes it possible ...
Materials Science
Jun 29, 2026
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312
Faster tests reveal six fluoropolymer microplastics, including four rarely tracked types
Scientists around the world have been searching food, water and other environmental media for microplastics and for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). But microfluoroplastics (MFPs), the intersection between these ...
Polymers
Jun 29, 2026
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57
Table sugar could hold a cheaper, quicker key to making vital drugs
Pioneering research has developed a new way of creating carbohydrate-based medicines that could ultimately replace costly drugs for common health conditions, using two cheap basic ingredients—table sugar and vinegar.
Biochemistry
Jun 29, 2026
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14
UV light patterns thermochromic crystals without damage, unlocking color-changing designs
Color-changing mood rings, forehead fever strips and car-shade indicators all change hues as they warm and cool, thanks to a phenomenon called thermochromism. On a smaller scale, thermochromism is used in nanotechnologies ...
Analytical Chemistry
Jun 29, 2026
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10
Synthetic chemical framework can switch magnetic spin states at near ambient temperatures
There is growing demand for smart materials that can change their physical properties in response to various external stimuli such as light, heat, pressure, magnetic fields and electric fields. One such physical property ...
Analytical Chemistry
Jun 29, 2026
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4
Switching spin states in manganese ions with light opens new path for molecular memory
Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) have developed a new way to use molecules as tiny data storage devices with a new manganese-based material. Until now, this was possible only with iron-containing molecular ...
Analytical Chemistry
Jun 29, 2026
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4
More news
How PFAS chain length influences environmental fate and water treatment
Elusive thorium–thorium bonding directly observed using Hirshfeld atom refinement
Plasma approach keeps catalysts working for longer in hydrogen production
Automated system detects early signs of nanomaterials toxicity
Self-driving chemistry lab discovers catalysts that can switch products on demand
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Feeding data to AI to speed up drug discovery
15-atom iridium nanoclusters stay stable 20 hours, outperform commercial catalysts
