Nuclear Fusion Achieves Net Energy Gain
Searching the Internet to bring you the latest Chemistry News!
Here are 10 recent discoveries:
1. Nuclear Fusion Achieves Net Energy Gain, Paving the Way for Clean Energy
The National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory achieved a remarkable milestone in December 2022 and again in July 2023: they achieved a net energy gain in a nuclear fusion reaction.
This means that the energy released from the fusion reaction exceeded the energy input, which is a significant step toward realizing nuclear fusion as a clean, abundant energy source.
This achievement comes from a largely overlooked source, diverging from the focus on magnetic confinement fusion and private laboratory efforts.
Despite limited funding for nuclear fusion research, the facility's success is a testament to scientific advancement.
The ultimate goal of nuclear fusion is to provide a sustainable, carbon-neutral energy source, overcoming challenges like energy production efficiency and waste management.
The recent progress in achieving net energy gain emphasizes the potential of nuclear fusion in addressing the world's energy needs.
Source - The nuclear fusion era has arrived, if we choose it
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/nuclear-fusion-era-arrived/
2. Exploring Four-Neutron Correlations in Atomic Nuclei
Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University's Graduate School of Science have delved into the intriguing realm of atomic nuclei, investigating the interplay of nucleons like protons and neutrons.
Their focus on the helium isotope 8He (containing two protons and six neutrons) led to the discovery of enhanced correlations between pairs of two neutrons, referred to as dineutron-dineutron clusters.
These clusters encircle the 4He core, revealing previously unseen binding patterns.
This insight into nuclei with imbalanced protons and neutrons, like 8He, has implications for understanding the origins of elements formed in cosmic environments, like stars.
The research contributes to unraveling the mysteries of nuclear forces and their role in shaping the building blocks of matter in the universe.
Source - Correlation between neutron pairs observed in helium-8
https://phys.org/news/2023-08-neutron-pairs-helium-nuclei.html
3. Nanotech Aids Retinal Cell Regrowth for Vision Restoration
Researchers combat macular degeneration, a major cause of blindness, using nanotechnology to regrow retinal cells.
Macular degeneration leads to central vision loss, impacting millions worldwide.
Damaged retinal pigment cells drive the degeneration, and finding replacement methods is vital since the body can't naturally replace them.
Scientists develop 3D scaffolds with polymer nanofibers and an anti-inflammatory steroid to create a suitable growth environment.
Electrospinning, a technique creating nanometer-wide fibers, maintains the scaffold's thinness.
The scaffold's water-attracting property encourages cell growth.
This approach enhances cell longevity and function, potentially aiding macular degeneration treatment.
While promising, more research is needed for human use.
Scientists are exploring connecting lab-grown cells to other retinal cell types or activating existing cells.
Further steps involve investigating cell orientation to ensure successful integration into living systems.
Source - Scientists Regrow Retinal Cells in The Lab Using Nanotechnology
https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-regrow-retinal-cells-in-the-lab-using-nanotechnology
4. Quantum Superchemistry Unveiled by University of Chicago Researchers
Researchers from the University of Chicago have provided the first evidence of "quantum superchemistry," where particles in the same quantum state undergo collective accelerated reactions.
This phenomenon was predicted but never observed before.
The findings, published in Nature Physics, offer insights into "quantum-enhanced" chemical reactions with implications for quantum chemistry, computing, and technology advancement.
By cooling cesium atoms and placing them in the same quantum state, the team observed collective reactions leading to faster chemical processes.
The breakthrough could lead to applications in quantum computing and improved understanding of fundamental laws of the universe.
The researchers plan to extend their work to larger, more complex molecules.
Source - Scientists observe first evidence of 'quantum superchemistry' in the laboratory
https://phys.org/news/2023-08-scientists-evidence-quantum-superchemistry-laboratory.html
5. Unexpected Effects of Lignin Manipulation on Plant Growth Unveiled
Researchers at Purdue University have discovered that manipulating lignin, a fiber crucial for plant growth and water transport, has broader effects on plant development than previously thought.
Lignin modification has significant impacts on industries like paper and biofuel production, and it's relatively easy to manipulate compared to other plant components.
The team genetically engineered the lignin biosynthetic pathway in the experimental plant Arabidopsis thaliana and unexpectedly found that combining certain strategies resulted in stunted plant growth.
After extensive experimentation, they identified a compound called pinoresinol, usually considered a lignin building block, as a growth-regulating compound.
This compound seemed to influence root development and water absorption, suggesting a new role beyond lignin formation.
The study highlights the complex interactions within plant development pathways and their potential applications in various industries.
Source - Experiments identify important new role of chemical compounds in plant development
https://phys.org/news/2023-08-important-role-chemical-compounds.html
6. Developing Multifunctional Polyurethane–Urea Elastomer with Excellent Mechanical Properties and Shape-Memory-Assisted Self-Healing
Researchers have created a versatile elastomer by combining coordination and hydrogen bonds.
This elastomer, called PUU-0.5, has strong mechanical properties (high strength, stretchiness, toughness) due to these bonds.
It also has shape-memory capabilities, meaning it can return to its original shape after being bent when heated.
Using the shape-memory effect, the elastomer's damaged surfaces close and heal gradually.
By adding a solvent, healing time can be shortened.
The elastomer emits cyan fluorescence when exposed to ultraviolet light due to clusters formed by the hydrogen bonds.
This study presents a strategy to make advanced materials with impressive mechanical strength, self-healing, and unique luminescent properties.
Source - A stretchable, mechanically robust polymer exhibiting shape-memory-assisted self-healing and clustering-triggered emission
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-40340-8
7. Hydrogen Reveals Surprising Behavior Under High Pressure
Scientists from Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf have uncovered an unexpected property of hydrogen.
Under high pressure, hydrogen exhibits an unusual "roton-like behavior," which causes X-ray light to scatter in a unique way.
This behavior, observed in dense hydrogen, is characterized by energy transfer to electrons, counterintuitively decreasing as momentum transfer increases.
This phenomenon has previously been observed in systems like exotic Bose fluids near absolute zero temperature.
The research, led by Professor Michael Bonitz at CAU, suggests that electrons, unbound in atoms, are responsible for this property.
While computer simulations have predicted this behavior, experimental physics researchers now need to validate it practically.
The findings could further our understanding of hydrogen's complex properties and its potential applications in various fields.
Source - New property of hydrogen predicted
https://phys.org/news/2023-08-property-hydrogen.html
8. Innovative Chemical Recycling Method Offers Greener Plastic Recycling
A team of researchers led by Brent Sumerlin at the University of Florida has developed a groundbreaking method for plastic recycling that could significantly reduce energy requirements and improve plastic quality.
Current plastic recycling processes suffer from lower quality due to the breakdown of polymer molecules into shorter segments during reprocessing.
The team's approach involves chemical recycling, inducing depolymerization to revert plastics back to their original monomer molecules.
This allows for the creation of new polymers with properties as good as or better than the original plastics.
The method not only reduces energy consumption but also improves plastic quality.
The team's efforts align with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals and offer a promising solution to the pressing plastic pollution issue.
Source - New Polymer Breakthrough Could Revolutionize Recycling
https://scitechdaily.com/new-polymer-breakthrough-could-revolutionize-recycling/?expand_article=1
9. Efficient Solar Cells Harness Blue and Red Light for Cleaner Energy
Solar energy experts are making significant advances in solar cell technology by harnessing both blue and red light waves from the sun.
Researchers at Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have combined silicon cells with a layer of perovskite material, enabling their solar cells to operate with over 33% efficiency, surpassing previous records.
This breakthrough comes at a crucial time for the planet's health and efforts to combat climate change.
While solar energy capacity reached 1.2 terawatts worldwide in 2022, experts emphasize the need for significant growth to around 75 terawatts by 2050 to avert the worst impacts of global warming.
The combination of silicon and perovskite in solar cells offers higher efficiency, although concerns about stability and durability remain.
Researchers around the world are actively working to address these concerns and further improve solar power systems, marking an enlightened era for the solar energy industry with the potential to contribute greatly to a sustainable future.
Source - A ‘revolutionary’ Breakthrough In Solar Power Technology Could Bring Cheap, Clean Energy To More Homes: ‘it’s Very Exciting’
https://www.thecooldown.com/green-tech/solar-energy-power-electricity-beams-silicon-cells/
10. Turning Plastics into Soaps: A Breakthrough in Recycling
A team of researchers led by Virginia Tech has developed an innovative method for upcycling plastics into valuable chemicals known as surfactants, used in soap and detergent production.
The breakthrough involves converting polyethylene, a commonly used plastic, into fatty acids—the chemical precursor to soap.
The inspiration for this approach came from the molecular similarity between polyethylene and fatty acids.
The team used a process called temperature-gradient thermolysis to break down polyethylene into "short-chain polyethylene" or waxes, which could be further converted into soap through additional steps.
This new method offers an efficient way to transform low-value plastic waste into high-value commodities like soap.
It has the potential to significantly reduce plastic waste in landfills and contribute to a more sustainable future.
The process is simple, cost-effective, and requires only plastic and heat, making it accessible for widespread adoption.
Additionally, this upcycling technique can be applied to other common plastics like polypropylene.
The research lays the foundation for reducing plastic pollution globally and offers a promising solution to the challenge of plastic waste.
Source - Researchers develop method for upcycling plastic waste into soap
https://phys.org/news/2023-08-method-upcycling-plastic-soap.html
Back to other Chemistry News.
Found this Chemistry video useful?
Please LIKE this video and SHARE it with your friends!
Join my 10,000+ subscribers on my YouTube Channel for new Chemistry videos every week.
Check out other A Level Chemistry Video Lessons here!
Need an experienced tutor to make Chemistry simpler for you?
Do consider signing up for my JC Chemistry Tuition classes at Bishan, weekly LIVE webinars or on-demand video lessons!
