Technology

Researchers have devised a mathematical approach to predict the structures of crystals -- a critical step in developing many medicines and electronic devices -- in a matter of hours using only a laptop, a process that previously took a supercomputer weeks or months. Researchers at New York University have devised a mathematical approach to predict

A new study determines that just four policies can reduce mismanaged plastic waste -- plastic that isn't recycled or properly disposed of and ends up as pollution -- by 91% and plastic-related greenhouse gasses by one-third. The policies are: mandate new products be made with 40% post-consumer recycled plastic; cap new plastic production at 2020

Capturing carbon dioxide from the hot industrial exhaust of cement and steel plants requires cooling the exhaust from around 200 C to 60 C so that liquid amines can react with the CO2. Chemists have now created a new type of metal-organic framework that captures CO2 at high temperatures, avoiding the need to expend energy

A sprinkling of magnetic nanoparticles is just enough to power up catalysts, so they can make hydrogen peroxide production more efficient. Researchers have achieved a breakthrough in improving the efficiency of an electrochemical reaction that produces hydrogen peroxide -- a vital chemical for industrial applications such as disinfection, bleaching, and sewage treatment. This reaction, called

Scientists have produced a new route to materials with complex 'disordered' magnetic properties at the quantum level. The material, based on a framework of ruthenium, fulfils the requirements of the 'Kitaev quantum spin liquid state' -- an elusive phenomenon that scientists have been trying to understand for decades. A new route to materials with complex

Researchers are utilizing artificial intelligence to analyze the behavior of laboratory mice more efficiently and reduce the number of animals in experiments. Researchers at ETH Zurich are utilising artificial intelligence to analyse the behaviour of laboratory mice more efficiently and reduce the number of animals in experiments. There is one specific task that stress researchers

By probing chemical processes observed in the Earth's hot mantle, scientists have started developing a library of basalt-based spectral signatures that not only will help reveal the composition of planets outside of our solar system but could demonstrate evidence of water on those exoplanets. By probing chemical processes observed in the Earth's hot mantle, Cornell

For a wide variety of emerging quantum technologies, such as secure quantum communications and quantum computing, quantum entanglement is a prerequisite. Scientists have now demonstrated a particularly efficient way in which photons can be entangled with acoustic phonons. The researchers were able to demonstrate that this entanglement is resilient to external noise, the usual pitfall

Underwater robots that can predict waves in real-time could reduce the cost of producing offshore renewable energy, a study suggests. New technology that enables robots to work stably in turbulent seas could make it cheaper, faster and safer to maintain offshore wind farms and tidal turbines, researchers say. Until now, the unpredictable nature of waves

Researchers have developed a new method to extract fluorine from fluorspar using oxalic acid and a fluorophilic Lewis acid in water under mild reaction conditions. This technology enables direct access to fluorochemicals, including commonly used fluorinating agents, from both fluorspar and lower-grade metspar, eliminating reliance on the supply chain of hazardous hydrogen fluoride (HF). Currently

'Cool' white lights -- such as those in modern car headlights -- endanger moths by causing them to fly erratically, new research shows. "Cool" white lights -- such as those in modern car headlights -- endanger moths by causing them to fly erratically, new research shows. University of Exeter scientists exposed moths to shorts bursts

Researchers have developed an innovative electrochemical reactor to extract lithium from natural brine solutions, offering a promising approach to address the growing demand for lithium used in rechargeable batteries. A team of Rice University researchers led by Lisa Biswal and Haotian Wang has developed an innovative electrochemical reactor to extract lithium from natural brine solutions