Researchers discover microbes able to convert compounds released from coal...
(Phys.org)—A team of researchers with the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in Japan has discovered the existence of a microbe that is able to convert organic compounds...
View ArticleStudy reveals how particles that seed clouds in the Amazon are produced
A study published in the journal Nature solves a mystery that has puzzled scientists for over a decade: the origin of the atmospheric aerosols that contribute to cloud formation above the Amazon...
View ArticleResearchers create nanostructures made of pure gold
It is the Philosopher's Stone of Nanotechnology: using a technological trick, scientists at TU Wien (Vienna) have succeeded in creating nanostructures made of pure gold.
View ArticleHerbivory and climate change factors may significantly increase BVOC...
Boreal conifer forests are sources of biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emissions into the atmosphere. Global warming exposes boreal trees to biotic stress caused by insect outbreaks and they...
View ArticleFaster manufacturing of breath sensors
A group of researchers at Osaka University, succeeded in producing nanostructured gas sensor devices for detecting volatile organic compounds (VOC) in breath for the purpose of healthcare in time...
View ArticleCombination of insulation and thermal mass
When the summer sun burns in the sky, phase change materials (PCM) integrated in building envelopes absorb the heat – it remains cool inside. When it is getting colder outside, the materials give off...
View ArticleSniffing out your dinner in the dark: How miniature predators get their...
Tiny predators in the soil can literally sniff out their prey: soil bacteria, which communicate with each other using scent. A team of researchers from the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW)...
View ArticleCarbonaceous chondrites shed light on the origins of life in the universe
A Spanish-Italian team led by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) has discovered that one type of meteorite known as carbonaceous chondrites are capable of synthesising organic compounds which...
View ArticleCreating earthquake heat maps—temperature spikes leave clues in the rock
When you rub your hands together to warm them, the friction creates heat. The same thing happens during earthquakes, only on a much larger scale: When a fault slips, the temperature can spike by...
View ArticleFaster, cheaper methods to synthesize compounds used in drug discovery
Chemists at The University of Texas at Arlington are developing new methods to synthesize groups of chemical compounds to provide faster, less expensive routes to produce the compounds for subsequent...
View ArticleA smartphone sensor to detect disease factors in breath
It has been said that spending too much time on a smartphone can negatively impact brain development or even cause damage to the neck. But don't toss yours in the bin just yet. An EU-funded project is...
View ArticlePlants' chemical messages keep pests moving
When leaf beetle larvae eat goldenrod, the damaged plant emits a chemical message, which informs the insect that the plant is damaged and is a poor source of food. The airborne chemicals are also...
View ArticleLifting the fog on China's unwieldy air pollution problem
The new year in many northern Chinese cities kicked off with a blanket of thick, choking smog—that's despite the anti-pollution efforts that have started taking effect over the past few years. An...
View ArticleExperiments suggest red spot on Pluto may have come about from impact that...
(Phys.org)—A combined team of researchers from several institutions in Japan has found evidence that suggests Pluto's distinctive red spot may have developed after a massive collision with a comet or...
View ArticleNew study identifies organic matter composition as a critical factor...
The biological formation of neurotoxic methyl mercury is an enigmatic process underpinning mercury-related health and environmental hazards. Nevertheless, the exact mechanisms and the factors...
View ArticleConcurrent heat waves, air pollution exacerbate negative health effects of each
The combination of prolonged hot spells with poor air quality greatly compounds the negative effects of each and can pose a major risk to human health, according to new research from the University of...
View ArticleImportance of rare microbial species is much greater than you think
The rare bacterial species in a microbial community—species that each make up rarely more than one tenth of one percent of the entire population—play a very important role in ecosystem health and...
View ArticleMilkweed defensive strategy drives away friends of enemies
Over millions of years under attack from insects, milkweed plants have developed considerable defenses. These include incredible toxicity – sufficient to kill a horse or sheep – which emanates from a...
View ArticleWood burning releases high amounts of secondary organic aerosols - current...
Aerosol emissions from logwood combustion increase significantly when the emission ages in ambient air. A significant increase occurs already within three hours of aging, according to a new study from...
View Article'What do old books smell like?'—Preserving smells as important cultural heritage
A 'Historic Book Odour Wheel' which has been developed to document and archive the aroma associated with old books, is being presented in a study in the open access journal Heritage Science....
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