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Research team at the University of Münster synthesizes three-dimensional ring structures as a possible alternative to biologically active flat rings Their shape is reminiscent of a cage, and this three-dimensional structure makes them significantly more stable than related flat molecules. Ring-shaped "cage molecules" are therefore a possible alternative to conventional molecular rings from the group of aromatic compounds and are of interest for drug development.

Researchers from the University of Bonn have trained an AI process to predict potential active ingredients with special properties. Therefore, they derived a chemical language model - a kind of ChatGPT for molecules. Following a training phase, the AI was able to exactly reproduce the chemical structures of compounds with known dual-target activity that may be particularly effective medications.

Caltech scientists have developed a method driven by machine learning that allows them to accurately measure the mass of individual particles and molecules using complex nanoscale devices. The new technique opens the possibility of using a variety of devices for the measurement of mass and, therefore, the identification of proteins, and could pave the way to determining the sequence of the complete proteome, the collection of all the proteins in an organism.

Chemicals are omnipresent today: they enter our bodies through food, air or the skin. But how do these complex mixtures of chemicals affect our health? In a study published in the journal Science, a research team from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and the University of Tübingen has shown that chemicals that occur in complex mixtures and in concentration ratios as found in humans act together.

The energy carrier hydrogen can be obtained from water by electrolysis. This works particularly well with Cobalt spinel electrocatalysts containing manganese. However, it was unclear why. Conventional catalysts for hydrogen production via water electrolysis usually contain precious metals and are expensive.

The safe storage of hydrogen continues to pose a technical and scientific challenge. A research team at the Chair of Chemistry of Plastics at the University of Leoben has developed an innovative method for the chemical storage of hydrogen, which could be used in the future, particularly in the field of mobility and in decentralized hydrogen supply.

Their new 'ZeroCAL' method is designed for compatibility with existing cement plants Key takeaways The current method of producing cement leaves a large carbon footprint, with nearly 1 kilogram of carbon dioxide being emitted for every kilogram of cement. UCLA engineers have developed a new method called "ZeroCAL," for zero carbon lime, that uses calcium hydroxide rather than traditional limestone to produce the lime used in cement.

News from The rainforest in the Amazon basin transpires vast amounts of gaseous isoprene. Until now, it was assumed that this molecule is not transported far up into the atmosphere, as it rapidly declines when exposed to light conditions. However, the CAFE-Brazil measurement campaign provided data for two studies - now published as the Nature cover story - which demonstrate that nocturnal thunderstorms transport the isoprene to an altitude of up to 15 kilometres.

Labs that can't afford expensive super-resolution microscopes could use a new expansion technique to image nanoscale structures inside cells. A classical way to image nanoscale structures in cells is with high-powered, expensive super-resolution microscopes. As an alternative, MIT researchers have developed a way to expand tissue before imaging it - a technique that allows them to achieve nanoscale resolution with a conventional light microscope.

MINFLUX microscopy allows the determination of distances within biomolecules using an optical microscope A team led by physicists Steffen Sahl and Stefan Hell at the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences in Göttingen and the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg has succeeded in measuring distances within biomolecules using a light microscope, down to one nanometer and with Éngström precision.

Materials researchers have created a new composite material that combines two incompatible properties: stiff yet with a high damping capacity. A compressor hums, an air conditioning system rattles, a railway carriage chassis clatters, sending reverberations through its passengers. Vibrations are not only annoying but can also be harmful.

An EPFL study has revealed the impact of five common personal care products when they're used in enclosed spaces. Surprisingly, when they come into contact with ozone, the products spark chemical reactions generating new air pollutants. The personal care products we use on a daily basis significantly affect indoor air quality, according to new research by a team at EPFL.

The discovery could lead to better noninvasive sensors for studying chemical reactions involving chiral molecules Science + Technology The discovery could lead to better noninvasive sensors for studying chemical reactions involving chiral molecules Key takeaways Chirality - a geometric property that allows molecules to exist in two distinct forms that are chemically identical but are 3D mirror images of each other, like a right and left hand - has a powerful effect on nuclear spin state but was thought to have no effect on coupling between spins.

Using ammonia is regarded as a promising method of transporting hydrogen. However, an efficient process is also needed to convert it back into hydrogen and nitrogen. An international research team has gained new insights into the mode of operation of an iron catalyst that can be used to split ammonia into nitrogen and hydrogen.

A team from the University of Geneva and EPFL has demonstrated how Hsp70 chaperone proteins help proteins move within cells. Proteins control most of the body's functions, and their malfunction can have severe consequences, such as neurodegenerative diseases or cancer. Therefore, cells have mechanisms in place to control protein quality.

A new study of bubbles on electrode surfaces could help improve the efficiency of electrochemical processes that produce fuels, chemicals, and materials. Industrial electrochemical processes that use electrodes to produce fuels and chemical products are hampered by the formation of bubbles that block parts of the electrode surface, reducing the area available for the active reaction.

A study by the Universities of Bonn and Montreal opens up new ways to produce important chemical compounds Researchers at the University of Bonn and University of Montreal have developed a new type of catalyst and used it in their study to produce methane out of carbon dioxide and water in a highly efficient way using electricity.

Researchers at the University of Twente have developed a new method that allows them to precisely control chemical reactions using metal ions. This marks an important step towards computers that function like the human brain. They recently published their findings in the scientific journal Nature Communications.

Researchers from the Department of Chemical Engineering, led by Georgios Katsoukis, have discovered how the chemical environment around copper electrodes can dramatically influence the conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into formate. This discovery can help improve the selectivity in CO2 reduction reactions, offering new insights into how to control these processes more effectively.

Flaps perform essential jobs. From pumping hearts to revving engines, flaps help fluid flow in one direction. Without them, keeping liquids going in the right direction is challenging to do. Researchers from the University of Washington have discovered a new way to help liquid flow in only one direction - but without flaps.