Skeletal Editing Revolutionizing Chemistry and Creation
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Here are 10 recent discoveries:
1. Skeletal Editing Revolutionizing Chemistry and Creation
Chemists like Mark Levin are excited about making new things that have never existed before.
Traditional methods involve adding small changes to existing molecules.
But now, a new approach called "skeletal editing" is emerging.
Inspired by genome-editing technology, chemists can now insert, delete, and swap individual atoms within molecules.
This new method uses chemical reagents, catalysts, or light to perform edits on a massive scale.
Skeletal editing could greatly speed up drug discovery, creating better medicines faster.
It could also help create new materials and improve recycling processes.
The possibilities are vast, leading to better products, personalized medicine, and more.
Levin and his team are close to achieving some exceptional goals using skeletal editing.
This new way of thinking is changing the world of chemistry, unlocking endless possibilities.
Source - ‘Endless possibilities’: the chemists changing molecules atom by atom
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/aug/05/skeletal-editing-chemistry-molecule-atom-medicine-drug-development-sustainable
2. X-rays Revolutionize Single Atom Analysis
X-rays, known for imaging bones, are now revealing atomic details.
Scientists have achieved a breakthrough by using X-rays to study single atoms in real-time.
This advancement allows them to identify the type of atoms and even analyze their chemical behavior.
A special X-ray detector with a sharp metal tip was used to collect data from iron and terbium atoms within molecular hosts.
This technique acts like fingerprinting, offering insights into a sample's composition, physical, and chemical properties.
This breakthrough has transformative potential, impacting fields from environmental science to medical research.
It could lead to new technologies in quantum information and advanced materials science, promising exciting possibilities for the future.
Source - X-Ray Of A Single Atom Achieved In World First
https://www.iflscience.com/x-ray-of-a-single-atom-achieved-in-world-first-70116
3. Platinum's Rise in the Hydrogen Economy From Fuel Cells to Green Hydrogen Production
Hydrogen is gaining momentum as a vital energy carrier and a means to achieve climate goals, with platinum playing a significant role in this evolving hydrogen economy.
Commerzbank Research's report highlights how hydrogen applications, especially in the production of "green hydrogen" through electrolysis, are driving platinum demand.
The demand for platinum in hydrogen production is projected to surge from 48,000 ounces in 2022 to 2.7 million ounces by 2030, potentially accounting for one-third of total platinum demand by the late 2030s.
This growth aligns with the rising popularity of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), where platinum acts as a catalyst for producing clean energy.
However, despite the promising demand, platinum prices are struggling to gain bullish momentum.
Nevertheless, the hydrogen economy's expansion, particularly in Europe with Germany leading, underscores platinum's significance and its potential for recycling to meet future demand efficiently.
Source - The growing hydrogen economy is bullish for platinum
https://www.kitco.com/news/2023-08-04/The-growing-hydrogen-economy-is-bullish-for-platinum.html
4.Offshore Floating Panels in Equatorial Regions Unleashing Unlimited Solar Energy
Vast arrays of solar panels floating on calm equatorial seas hold the potential to supply abundant solar energy to densely populated areas like Southeast Asia and West Africa.
Research indicates that offshore solar installations near the Equator, such as Indonesia and equatorial West Africa, could generate massive amounts of solar energy.
Offshore floating solar panels could thrive in regions where waves and winds are minimal, requiring less complex engineering defenses.
These areas, spanning about 5-12 degrees of latitude from the Equator, align with high population densities, rapid growth, and intact ecosystems.
Despite challenges like salt corrosion and marine fouling, the offshore floating solar industry shows immense potential to transform energy landscapes, especially in countries with access to calm equatorial seas.
This transition could drive the fastest energy change in history for nearly a billion people by mid-century.
Source - Floating Solar Panels at The Equator Could Provide Virtually Unlimited Energy
https://www.sciencealert.com/floating-solar-panels-at-the-equator-could-provide-virtually-unlimited-energy
5. Decoding Hydrogen Production for Clean Energy
Hydrogen is hailed as the clean energy solution of the future.
This article explores various methods of hydrogen production and their potential to revolutionize the energy landscape.
1. Steam Methane Reforming (SMR)
Commonly used, SMR generates hydrogen by reacting steam with natural gas (methane), producing hydrogen and carbon dioxide.
Carbon capture and storage are essential to mitigate its emissions.
2. Electrolysis – Green Hydrogen
Electrolysis splits water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable energy sources.
This yields "green hydrogen," carbon-free and capable of decarbonizing various sectors.
3. Biomass Gasification
By heating organic materials like agricultural waste, biomass gasification releases a gas mixture containing hydrogen.
Additional processing separates hydrogen from the mixture.
4. Photobiological Production
Algae or bacteria use sunlight to split water molecules, producing hydrogen and oxygen.
Although promising, this method is in early stages and requires optimization.
5. High-Temperature Water Splitting
This energy-intensive process breaks water into hydrogen and oxygen using heat, often powered by renewables or industrial waste heat.
Understanding these methods is crucial for a cleaner energy future.
Transitioning to green hydrogen, produced using renewable-powered electrolysis, is pivotal for combating climate change and reducing fossil fuel dependence.
The potential of hydrogen to power industries, transportation, and homes while minimizing emissions is promising, driving a greener and more sustainable energy landscape.
Source - How Is Hydrogen Made? Unveiling the Path to Clean Energy
https://hydrogen-central.com/how-is-hydrogen-made-unveiling-the-path-to-clean-energy/
6. Breakthrough in Fuel Cell Technology with Durable Proton-Conductive Membranes
Researchers from Japan have developed novel proton-conductive membranes for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), crucial for electric vehicles.
They used a partially fluorinated aromatic ionomer called SPP–TFP-4.0 and reinforced it with electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride) nanofibers.
These composite membranes outperformed conventional ones in terms of fuel-cell operation and stability at high temperatures and low humidity.
The SPP–TFP-4.0–PVDF membrane demonstrated a lifetime over seven times longer than the US Department of Energy's target, opening possibilities for highly durable and efficient fuel cells.
This advancement could lead to more powerful and affordable fuel cell-based electric vehicles, contributing to a carbon-free society.
Source - Novel proton-conductive membranes for automobile fuel cells
https://phys.org/news/2023-08-proton-conductive-membranes-automobile-fuel-cells.html
7. New Method for Producing Solid-State Electrolyte Could Revolutionize Battery Technology
A team of battery researchers from the University of California San Diego and the University of Chicago has developed a novel method to produce a thin-film solid-state electrolyte called lithium phosphorus oxynitride (LiPON).
The team's approach involves creating a free-standing version of LiPON that promotes uniform lithium metal electrochemical deposition without external pressure, aided by internal compressive stress and a gold seeding layer.
This breakthrough addresses challenges in studying LiPON's intrinsic properties and interfaces.
The flexible and transparent free-standing LiPON film allows for advanced spectroscopic techniques, offering new insights into interfacial chemistry, thermal properties, and mechanical properties.
This development could pave the way for more efficient and durable lithium metal solid-state batteries, benefiting wearables and compact electronic devices.
Source - One step closer to lithium metal batteries that function with minimal external pressure
https://techxplore.com/news/2023-08-closer-lithium-metal-batteries-function.html
8. New Membrane Separates Chemicals from Wastewater for Reuse and Sustainability
Engineers have developed a groundbreaking thin-film composite nanoporous membrane called a TFC NPM that demonstrates exceptional capability in separating salts and chemicals from wastewater, with efficiencies exceeding 99%.
Inspired by mussels, the membrane's surface coating, consisting of polyethyleneimine (PEI) and polydopamine (PDA), enhances selectivity and allows water to pass while blocking other compounds and organic materials.
This advancement presents an opportunity for various industries, such as pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, textiles, and food processing, to improve sustainability by reusing valuable by-products and chemicals from wastewater.
The new membrane could revolutionize electrodialysis, a water treatment process, by achieving higher separation efficiencies while consuming less energy and lowering costs.
The authors of the study are considering commercialization routes for the membrane.
Source - Mussel-inspired membrane can boost sustainability and add value to industrial wastewater treatment
https://phys.org/news/2023-08-mussel-inspired-membrane-boost-sustainability-industrial.html
9. Self-Healing Metals, A New Frontier in Material Science
Scientists at Sandia National Laboratories have observed cracked platinum and copper sheets heal themselves under specific conditions, marking a significant advancement in material science.
This breakthrough, published in Nature, offers potential for metals to repair microscopic cracks caused by repeated stressors, a phenomenon known as metal fatigue.
Researchers believe that modifying the microstructure of metals could optimize self-healing abilities.
While concrete applications may take time, this technology could have applications in aerospace, electronics, and machinery components operating in vacuum conditions.
Cold welding, a process where metal surfaces bond without heat or electricity, plays a role in this self-healing phenomenon.
Although practical implementation might be a decade away, this discovery represents a leap toward innovative materials science.
Source - Scientists discovered metal can heal itself, and it’s as sci-fi as it sounds
https://www.fastcompany.com/90931037/scientists-discovered-metal-can-heal-itself-and-its-as-sci-fi-as-it-sounds
10. Maillard Reaction in Oceans, A Key Player in Earth's Conditions and Life's Emergence
The Maillard reaction, known for giving food its distinct taste and aroma, might have played a crucial role in creating conditions for complex life on Earth.
Researchers led by Professor Caroline Peacock at the University of Leeds propose that this reaction, which converts organic carbon molecules into polymers, occurred on the ocean floor.
By converting small organic carbon molecules into larger ones, the reaction enhanced the preservation of organic carbon in sediment, influencing Earth's atmosphere and climate.
This process, termed "preservation of organic carbon," helped limit the release of carbon dioxide, increase oxygen levels, and contribute to Earth's stability over millions of years.
The study suggests this reaction could have been a fundamental factor in the emergence and development of life on our planet.
Source - Nature's kitchen: How a chemical reaction used by cooks helped create life on Earth
https://phys.org/news/2023-08-nature-kitchen-chemical-reaction-cooks.html
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