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Scientists have identified a new property, interface flexibility, that controls how certain molecules naturally self-organize into crystalline supramolecular networks. This significant discovery could change the design of synthetic molecules for network growth at the nanoscale. Covalent bonding is a widely understood phenomenon that joins the atoms of a molecule by a shared electron pair.

Is it possible to tile a surface with a single shape in such a way that the pattern never repeats itself? In 2022, a mathematical solution to this "einstein problem" was discovered for the first time. researchers have now also found a chemical solution: a molecule that arranges itself into complex, non-repeating patterns on a surface.

Each year, tens of thousands of chemicals enter the market and ultimately the environment. While most of these compounds undergo safety testing before approval, their long-term effects on wildlife remain difficult to predict. To better estimate their potential threat for ecosystems, researchers at Eawag have explored biochemical signatures that indicate the level of chemical stress suffered by fish.

Bonn researchers clarify how energy regulates the spatial arrangement and quantity of molecules in nerve cells Nerve cells have amazing strategies to save energy and still perform the most important of their tasks. Researchers from the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) and the University of Bonn as well as the University Medical Center Göttingen found that the neuronal energy conservation program determines the location and number of messenger RNA (mRNA) and proteins, and differs depending on the length, longevity and other properties of the respective molecule.

The study investigates epigenetic regulation by placental DNA methylation, opening new perspectives on the relationship between this process and disorders of pregnancy and embryonic development. They identify the crucial role in placental development of a protein, which together with other enzymes, restores partially methylated domains in human trophoblast stem cells.

Japanese-German research team synthesises thiophene-fused nanobelts / Analysis reveals structure and behaviour of the molecules In the search for useful materials, it is worth taking a closer look at the smallest structures: materials in the nanoscale sometimes have unique properties, for example in terms of electrical conductivity.

A new microscopy method can identify molecules. However, the question of its resolving power proved to be a difficult puzzle. It has now been solved at TU Wien. When judging the quality of a microscope, the crucial question is: How large are the smallest structures that can just be made visible with it? How close can two objects be brought together before they can no longer be seen as two separate objects, but blur into a single image blob? With conventional light microscopes, this can be calculated using relatively simple formulas.

Tiny copper 'nano-flowers' have been attached to an artificial leaf to produce clean fuels and chemicals that are the backbone of modern energy and manufacturing. The researchers, from the University of Cambridge and the University of California, Berkeley, developed a practical way to make hydrocarbons - molecules made of carbon and hydrogen - powered solely by the sun.

A landmark development led by researchers from the University of Glasgow could help create a new generation of diamond-based transistors for use in high-power electronics. Their new diamond transistor overcomes the limitations of previous developments in the technology to create a device much closer to being of practical use across a range of industries which rely on high power systems.

Physicists analyse glass formation for photonic switches At the Institute of Materials Physics at the University of Münster, researchers investigate materials that can transform their internal structure very rapidly, thereby significantly changing their optical properties. This behaviour is useful, for example, when processing information using photonic waveguides.

Scientists from The University of Manchester have developed a new material that could help reduce water pollution caused by harmful chemicals, such as from leftover medicines and hygiene products, that end up in rivers and lakes. Water pollution is one of the growing challenges of modern life. Many everyday items, from medications to cosmetics, leave behind residues that don't fully break down after use.

Based on their observations, the biologists proposed a model detailing the mechanisms of systemic immune signalling in plants: Triggered by a pathogen, initially a third kinase inside the infected cell triggers the generation of extracellular reactive oxygen species in the cell, which would then diffuse to the surface of neighbouring cells.

A recent study provides new insights into chemical bonding in the chemical element antimony and could therefore have a lasting impact on materials research. The collaboration between scientists from Leipzig University, RWTH Aachen University and the DESY synchrotron in Hamburg combined experimental measurements with theoretical calculations.

Whether tunnels or retaining walls - many Swiss reinforced concrete structures from the 1960s to the 1980s are at risk.

Researchers at Leipzig University have developed a new process for reversing the polarity of chemical compounds, also known as umpolung, for the precise synthesis of pharmaceuticals. This innovative method, developed by a team of scientists led by Professor Christoph Schneider at the Institute of Organic Chemistry, provides a solution-oriented approach to a long-standing challenge in organic and medicinal chemistry," says Till Friedmann, lead author of It has just been published in the prestigious Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Study reveals: Chemical research reports often contain inaccurate measurement data AI-powered data analysis tools have the potential to significantly improve the quality of scientific publications. A new study by Professor Mathias Christmann, a chemistry professor at Freie Universität Berlin, has uncovered shortcomings in chemical publications.

Quantum chemical calculations by HU enable the development of new porous materials distinct by a high adsorption capacity for CO2. Climate experts agree: To tackle the climate crisis, we will not only need to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions but also directly filter the harmful gas from air and exhaust gases.

Würzburg chemists have for the first time created a defect in graphene that allows ions to pass through. As they report in 'Nature', this could lead to new applications in water filtration or sensor technology. Graphene is an extremely thin, flexible and resistant material made of pure carbon. It forms layers that consist of virtually a single layer of carbon atoms.

Scientists have built an artificial motor capable of mimicking the natural mechanisms that power life. Just like the proteins in our muscles, which convert chemical energy into power to allow us to perform daily tasks, these tiny rotary motors use chemical energy to generate force, store energy, and perform tasks in a similar way.

Researchers from the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology and Department of Chemistry at The University of Manchester have described a novel enzyme that could significantly change the way essential chemicals and medicines are made. Published today (15 January 2025) in Nature, t'his breakthrough centres on a process called nucleophilic aromatic substitution (S Ar), a class of transformation that is widely used across the chemical industries including pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals.