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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 ...

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, ...

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 ...

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Tiny water droplets transmutate aniline into pyridine in ambient and catalyst-free conditions
Materials Science
Why old nuclear-site concrete could become a tool for trapping strontium-90
Polymers
New electrocatalyst helps turn polluted water into fertilizer and polymers
Analytical Chemistry
Hidden molecular code in tosyl groups directs pillararene formation and assembly, study finds
Biochemistry
Researchers develop a new prodrug and localized drug delivery platform for selective treatment of cancer
Analytical Chemistry
Plasma approach keeps catalysts working for longer in hydrogen production
Biochemistry
Scientists design 'tunable' biomolecules to probe how sugars behave
Biochemistry
Designer proteins unlock near-infrared and SWIR glow for deeper tissue imaging
Analytical Chemistry
Automated system detects early signs of nanomaterials toxicity
Analytical Chemistry
Self-driving chemistry lab discovers catalysts that can switch products on demand
Polymers
Controlling ice crystal growth using polymer nanoparticles
Polymers
Contact lenses can repair themselves with just one hour of UV light exposure
Polymers
Sawdust, cellulose binders and beeswax combine into eco-friendly foam
Biochemistry
Drug peptides defy shape rules, activating receptors without full spiral form
Biochemistry
How oxygen sneaks into a corked wine bottle long before the first pour
Materials Science
Scientists design a clay that can prevent fruits and vegetables from rotting too quickly
Biochemistry
Feeding data to AI to speed up drug discovery
Analytical Chemistry
Machine learning helps identify six promising solvents for carbon dioxide electroreduction
Polymers
Chaotic polymer vibrations may unlock stronger, flexible thermal insulators
Polymers
Molecular 'Velcro' gel removes PFAS from water without fluorinated materials

Other news

Environment
Austin neighborhood tap water tests uncover lead and arsenic in homes
Astronomy
What makes a star a star? A strange 'in‑between' celestial object is testing astronomers' boundaries
General Physics
Quantum gravity tests may mistake ordinary spacetime for superposition
Plants & Animals
Massive sturgeon once bred in Britain's rivers, boosting reintroduction hopes
Space Exploration
Last-minute launch problem delays satellite rescue mission for NASA
Social Sciences
How much do friends influence teens' mental health? What a new study can (and can't) tell us
Plants & Animals
Swimming crab trapped in plastic bottle survives two months at sea
Plants & Animals
More colorful songbirds face higher extinction risk
Evolution
A holoparasitic plant replaces its own genes with host DNA to survive
Ecology
Honeybee queens push pesticides to eggs to protect themselves over their offspring, research reveals
Astronomy
Scourge of satellites lighting up the sky could be mitigated with help of ultra-black coating
General Physics
Quantum semiconductor design could expand search for dark matter
General Physics
Analog gravity advance offers new insights into Hawking radiation from black holes
Plants & Animals
Spider venoms could stop deadly varroa mites killing honey bees
Cell & Microbiology
New biosensor reveals rare lipid gathers in membrane hotspots during cell stress
Plants & Animals
Harsh UVB bursts leave tadpoles with more DNA damage than longer exposure
Environment
Beyond the dust: Families describe daily health challenges near the Salton Sea
Plants & Animals
Quiet outings linked to more frequent dangerous wildlife encounters
Astronomy
TESS just found a planet in a new way—and more may be hiding in its eight years of data
Bio & Medicine
DNA-based nanoswitch can flip in milliseconds and stay in one state for days without continuous forcing

What powered the Earth's earliest life?

Early biological systems likely relied on RNA molecules to copy themselves and drive simple chemical reactions. Any system that could generate guanosine-triphosphate (GTP)—which is necessary for RNA synthesis—from prebiotic ...