https://aikantie.com/news/chemistry/Science, Space and Technology News 2025Wed, 24 Dec 2025 15:38:18 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9https://aikantie.com/scientists-print-working-electrodes-directly-on-skin-with-light/https://aikantie.com/scientists-print-working-electrodes-directly-on-skin-with-light/#commentsWed, 24 Dec 2025 21:07:27 +0000https://aikantie.com/?p=505165A simple burst of visible light can now create skin-safe electrodes that could transform medical and wearable electronics. A new study from researchers at Linköping University and Lund University in Sweden shows that visible light can be used to form electrodes made from conductive plastics without relying on hazardous chemicals. The method allows electrodes to [...]]]>https://aikantie.com/scientists-print-working-electrodes-directly-on-skin-with-light/feed/1https://aikantie.com/researchers-finally-prove-crazy-vitamin-b1-theory-from-1958/https://aikantie.com/researchers-finally-prove-crazy-vitamin-b1-theory-from-1958/#commentsWed, 24 Dec 2025 14:24:55 +0000https://aikantie.com/?p=505120A research team has managed to “bottle” a highly reactive carbene in water, overturning a major assumption in chemistry. Chemists have pulled off a feat long considered impossible: they created a normally ultra-reactive molecule called a carbene and kept it stable in water for months, a result that finally delivers direct evidence for a vitamin [...]]]>https://aikantie.com/researchers-finally-prove-crazy-vitamin-b1-theory-from-1958/feed/5https://aikantie.com/scientists-turn-milk-into-biodegradable-plastic-that-vanishes-in-soil/https://aikantie.com/scientists-turn-milk-into-biodegradable-plastic-that-vanishes-in-soil/#commentsMon, 22 Dec 2025 14:46:08 +0000https://aikantie.com/?p=504489Scientists are turning to milk proteins, starch, and nanoclay to create biodegradable plastics that break down quickly in soil. As concerns grow about damage to the environment and potential risks to human health, efforts to develop biodegradable plastics are accelerating, including several active research projects at Flinders University in South Australia. In a recent study [...]]]>https://aikantie.com/scientists-turn-milk-into-biodegradable-plastic-that-vanishes-in-soil/feed/4https://aikantie.com/this-simple-chemistry-fix-could-revolutionize-flow-batteries/https://aikantie.com/this-simple-chemistry-fix-could-revolutionize-flow-batteries/#respondFri, 19 Dec 2025 16:00:27 +0000https://aikantie.com/?p=504500A new twist on bromine-based flow batteries could make large-scale energy storage cheaper, safer, and far longer-lasting. Bromine-based flow batteries store and release energy through a chemical reaction involving bromide ions and elemental bromine. This approach offers several advantages, including widely available raw materials, strong electrochemical potential, and good solubility in liquid electrolytes. The challenge [...]]]>https://aikantie.com/this-simple-chemistry-fix-could-revolutionize-flow-batteries/feed/0https://aikantie.com/scientists-unveil-eco-friendly-breakthrough-to-eliminate-forever-chemicals/https://aikantie.com/scientists-unveil-eco-friendly-breakthrough-to-eliminate-forever-chemicals/#commentsWed, 17 Dec 2025 23:16:52 +0000https://aikantie.com/?p=504140Scientists have found a way to trap and break down “forever chemicals” instead of just moving them elsewhere. Researchers at Rice University, working with international collaborators, have created a new environmentally friendly method that can quickly capture and break down toxic “forever chemicals” (PFAS) in water. The results, published in Advanced Materials, represent an important [...]]]>https://aikantie.com/scientists-unveil-eco-friendly-breakthrough-to-eliminate-forever-chemicals/feed/1https://aikantie.com/this-new-protein-grown-from-carrot-waste-won-over-taste-testers/https://aikantie.com/this-new-protein-grown-from-carrot-waste-won-over-taste-testers/#respondWed, 17 Dec 2025 13:00:18 +0000https://aikantie.com/?p=504192Leftover carrots are being turned into fungal protein that makes vegan burgers and sausages taste even better. As the global population grows, the demand for nutritious food and more efficient production methods continues to rise. At the same time, modern food manufacturing creates large amounts of leftover material that often goes unused. Scientists reporting today [...]]]>https://aikantie.com/this-new-protein-grown-from-carrot-waste-won-over-taste-testers/feed/0https://aikantie.com/after-50-years-mit-chemists-finally-synthesize-elusive-anti-cancer-compound/https://aikantie.com/after-50-years-mit-chemists-finally-synthesize-elusive-anti-cancer-compound/#respondWed, 10 Dec 2025 04:57:43 +0000https://aikantie.com/?p=503311Preliminary studies indicate that derivatives of verticillin A can kill certain types of glioma cells. MIT chemists have, for the first time, successfully created in the laboratory a fungal molecule called verticillin A. This compound was first discovered more than 50 years ago and has been recognized for its potential as an anticancer agent. Although [...]]]>https://aikantie.com/after-50-years-mit-chemists-finally-synthesize-elusive-anti-cancer-compound/feed/0https://aikantie.com/paper-mill-trash-could-be-the-secret-to-cheap-clean-energy/https://aikantie.com/paper-mill-trash-could-be-the-secret-to-cheap-clean-energy/#commentsWed, 03 Dec 2025 14:36:29 +0000https://aikantie.com/?p=502873A new study showcases a catalyst made from lignin, a plant-based waste material, that dramatically improves a key step in water electrolysis. Researchers have introduced a new type of catalyst made from renewable plant waste that could greatly speed up the production of clean hydrogen. The material is produced by embedding nickel oxide and iron [...]]]>https://aikantie.com/paper-mill-trash-could-be-the-secret-to-cheap-clean-energy/feed/1https://aikantie.com/scientists-develop-new-plastics-that-break-down-safely-instead-of-polluting/https://aikantie.com/scientists-develop-new-plastics-that-break-down-safely-instead-of-polluting/#respondTue, 02 Dec 2025 20:47:48 +0000https://aikantie.com/?p=502667Rutgers scientists have developed plastics that can be programmed to break down at specific rates by drawing on a natural principle. Their approach could provide a meaningful new way to tackle the growing problem of plastic pollution. Yuwei Gu was on a hike in Bear Mountain State Park in New York when an unexpected idea [...]]]>https://aikantie.com/scientists-develop-new-plastics-that-break-down-safely-instead-of-polluting/feed/0https://aikantie.com/new-algorithm-reveals-the-secret-chemistry-behind-cheaper-cleaner-propylene/https://aikantie.com/new-algorithm-reveals-the-secret-chemistry-behind-cheaper-cleaner-propylene/#commentsSun, 30 Nov 2025 18:44:56 +0000https://aikantie.com/?p=502358Scientists have mapped the atomic interactions that make nanoscale catalysts so effective at converting propane into propylene. The discovery highlights a stabilizing oxide pattern that could guide improved industrial production methods. Propane’s Transformation Into Propylene Many everyday goods, including plastic squeeze bottles and outdoor furniture, depend on a chemical process that converts propane into propylene. [...]]]>https://aikantie.com/new-algorithm-reveals-the-secret-chemistry-behind-cheaper-cleaner-propylene/feed/1https://aikantie.com/scientists-create-7-remarkable-new-ceramic-materials-by-simply-removing-oxygen/https://aikantie.com/scientists-create-7-remarkable-new-ceramic-materials-by-simply-removing-oxygen/#commentsFri, 28 Nov 2025 23:20:25 +0000https://aikantie.com/?p=501193Penn State scientists discovered seven new ceramics by simply removing oxygen—opening a path to materials once beyond reach. Sometimes, less truly is more. By removing oxygen during the synthesis process, a team of materials scientists at Penn State successfully created seven new high-entropy oxides (HEOs)—a class of ceramics made from five or more metals that [...]]]>https://aikantie.com/scientists-create-7-remarkable-new-ceramic-materials-by-simply-removing-oxygen/feed/1https://aikantie.com/scientists-unveil-breakthrough-low-temperature-fuel-cell-that-could-revolutionize-hydrogen-power/https://aikantie.com/scientists-unveil-breakthrough-low-temperature-fuel-cell-that-could-revolutionize-hydrogen-power/#commentsTue, 25 Nov 2025 12:39:44 +0000https://aikantie.com/?p=501975Researchers at Kyushu University have created a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) exhibiting exceptionally high proton conductivity at 300°C. As worldwide energy needs continue to rise, scientists, industry leaders, and policymakers are collaborating to find reliable ways to meet growing demand. This effort has become increasingly urgent as nations work to confront climate change and [...]]]>https://aikantie.com/scientists-unveil-breakthrough-low-temperature-fuel-cell-that-could-revolutionize-hydrogen-power/feed/2https://aikantie.com/new-catalyst-design-solves-a-decades-old-chemical-challenge/https://aikantie.com/new-catalyst-design-solves-a-decades-old-chemical-challenge/#commentsThu, 20 Nov 2025 05:35:02 +0000https://aikantie.com/?p=501030Researchers have created an iron-based catalyst that controls methane’s extreme reactivity, opening the door for natural gas to serve as a sustainable feedstock for high-value chemicals, including pharmaceuticals. Natural gas, one of the most plentiful energy resources on Earth, consists mainly of methane, ethane, and propane. Although it is commonly burned for power and contributes [...]]]>https://aikantie.com/new-catalyst-design-solves-a-decades-old-chemical-challenge/feed/3https://aikantie.com/new-microwave-technique-could-turn-co2-into-fuel-far-more-efficiently/https://aikantie.com/new-microwave-technique-could-turn-co2-into-fuel-far-more-efficiently/#commentsThu, 20 Nov 2025 05:00:55 +0000https://aikantie.com/?p=501157A new method uses microwaves to lower the energy required for certain industrial processes. Some industrial chemical production processes depend on heat, but traditional heating methods are often wasteful because they warm large areas that do not actually need it. A research team including scientists from the University of Tokyo developed a method to focus [...]]]>https://aikantie.com/new-microwave-technique-could-turn-co2-into-fuel-far-more-efficiently/feed/1https://aikantie.com/scientists-discover-highly-energetic-water-hiding-in-plain-sight/https://aikantie.com/scientists-discover-highly-energetic-water-hiding-in-plain-sight/#respondTue, 18 Nov 2025 22:13:53 +0000https://aikantie.com/?p=500457Water behaves differently when trapped in microscopic spaces instead of flowing freely. Researchers have shown that this confined water becomes “highly energetic,” influencing how molecules bind together. Water is found almost everywhere on Earth. It makes up most of our planet’s surface, circulates through our bodies, and even hides in the tiniest molecular spaces. But [...]]]>https://aikantie.com/scientists-discover-highly-energetic-water-hiding-in-plain-sight/feed/0https://aikantie.com/scientists-uncover-cancer-causing-chemicals-in-common-foods/https://aikantie.com/scientists-uncover-cancer-causing-chemicals-in-common-foods/#commentsTue, 18 Nov 2025 21:03:47 +0000https://aikantie.com/?p=500901The study uses an advanced QuEChERS–GC–MS detection method to uncover hidden carcinogens in cooking oils and meats. Many people today are placing greater emphasis on their overall health, turning daily workouts and calorie-tracking tools into regular habits. As part of this shift, more individuals are choosing diets that feature nutrient-rich foods such as fruits and [...]]]>https://aikantie.com/scientists-uncover-cancer-causing-chemicals-in-common-foods/feed/38https://aikantie.com/scientists-develop-more-efficient-way-to-extract-rare-earth-elements-amid-global-trade-tensions/https://aikantie.com/scientists-develop-more-efficient-way-to-extract-rare-earth-elements-amid-global-trade-tensions/#commentsThu, 13 Nov 2025 09:47:54 +0000https://aikantie.com/?p=500339Researchers at UT Austin have created artificial membrane channels that mimic nature’s precision to selectively extract key rare earth elements. A team of scientists at The University of Texas at Austin has created a cleaner and more efficient way to extract rare earth elements, which are vital for technologies such as electric vehicle batteries and [...]]]>https://aikantie.com/scientists-develop-more-efficient-way-to-extract-rare-earth-elements-amid-global-trade-tensions/feed/1https://aikantie.com/from-plastic-to-pure-water-scientists-turn-trash-into-a-super-catalyst/https://aikantie.com/from-plastic-to-pure-water-scientists-turn-trash-into-a-super-catalyst/#respondThu, 13 Nov 2025 09:12:47 +0000https://aikantie.com/?p=500521An optimized mechanochemical process produces multifunctional composite particles that remove pollutants from water. Scientists are increasingly turning to sunlight as a powerful ally in cleaning up polluted water. Photocatalysts can harness solar energy to break down harmful contaminants, while photothermal evaporation uses that same energy to rapidly heat and vaporize dirty water, which then condenses [...]]]>https://aikantie.com/from-plastic-to-pure-water-scientists-turn-trash-into-a-super-catalyst/feed/0https://aikantie.com/this-common-metal-has-an-unusual-power/https://aikantie.com/this-common-metal-has-an-unusual-power/#commentsSun, 09 Nov 2025 16:45:53 +0000https://aikantie.com/?p=500006A new manganese(I) complex sets a record for the longest excited-state lifetime, opening the door to future large-scale applications in photochemistry. Chemical reactions are often powered by heat, but scientists have increasingly turned to light as an energy source because it allows reactions to be guided with remarkable precision. This light-based process is called photochemistry. [...]]]>https://aikantie.com/this-common-metal-has-an-unusual-power/feed/1https://aikantie.com/scientists-discover-a-potential-bacterial-solution-to-forever-chemicals/https://aikantie.com/scientists-discover-a-potential-bacterial-solution-to-forever-chemicals/#respondThu, 06 Nov 2025 17:01:20 +0000https://aikantie.com/?p=499615A photosynthetic bacterium shows promise in capturing PFAS, offering new hope for microbial cleanup of “forever chemicals.” Researchers from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Engineering are turning to an unexpected source in their effort to combat toxic “forever chemicals.” In the laboratories of Rajib Saha and Nirupam Aich, scientists identified that a widely found [...]]]>https://aikantie.com/scientists-discover-a-potential-bacterial-solution-to-forever-chemicals/feed/0https://aikantie.com/chemists-discover-unexpected-new-way-to-use-dna/https://aikantie.com/chemists-discover-unexpected-new-way-to-use-dna/#commentsWed, 05 Nov 2025 23:27:28 +0000https://aikantie.com/?p=499752Scientists at NUS have found that DNA’s phosphate groups can guide chemical reactions like molecular “hands.” Chemists at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have discovered an unexpected way to use deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Beyond its role as the carrier of genetic information, DNA can also serve as a powerful tool to make the production [...]]]>https://aikantie.com/chemists-discover-unexpected-new-way-to-use-dna/feed/1https://aikantie.com/scientists-create-an-artificial-leaf-that-turns-co%e2%82%82-into-useful-products/https://aikantie.com/scientists-create-an-artificial-leaf-that-turns-co%e2%82%82-into-useful-products/#commentsTue, 04 Nov 2025 10:27:08 +0000https://aikantie.com/?p=499618Researchers at Cambridge have developed a solar-powered device that imitates photosynthesis to turn CO2, sunlight, and water into valuable chemical fuels. Their non-toxic “semi-artificial leaf” can run continuously and efficiently, producing pharmaceutical compounds with high purity. The discovery could help replace fossil fuels in chemical manufacturing and spark a new era of green chemistry. Sustainable [...]]]>https://aikantie.com/scientists-create-an-artificial-leaf-that-turns-co%e2%82%82-into-useful-products/feed/1https://aikantie.com/scientists-discover-simple-eco-friendly-way-to-break-down-teflon/https://aikantie.com/scientists-discover-simple-eco-friendly-way-to-break-down-teflon/#commentsTue, 04 Nov 2025 10:02:13 +0000https://aikantie.com/?p=499560Scientists have found a clean, low-energy way to recycle Teflon using only sodium and motion. New scientific findings reveal a straightforward and environmentally friendly approach for breaking down Teflon, one of the most resilient plastics on Earth, into valuable chemical components. A team of scientists from Newcastle University and the University of Birmingham has created [...]]]>https://aikantie.com/scientists-discover-simple-eco-friendly-way-to-break-down-teflon/feed/3https://aikantie.com/researchers-crack-decades-old-chemistry-challenge/https://aikantie.com/researchers-crack-decades-old-chemistry-challenge/#commentsMon, 03 Nov 2025 03:14:39 +0000https://aikantie.com/?p=499442A computational method accurately predicts the optimal ligand for a photochemical palladium catalyst, enabling new radical reactions of alkyl ketones. Ketones are common components in many organic molecules, and chemists are continually exploring new ways to use them in forming chemical bonds. One particularly difficult reaction involves the one-electron reduction of ketones to produce ketyl [...]]]>https://aikantie.com/researchers-crack-decades-old-chemistry-challenge/feed/1