molecular

Researchers have developed a method to retain the mechanical properties of 2D polymers called covalent organic frameworks (COFs) when stacked in multiple layers. By tweaking their molecular structure, the team created a lightweight material that is several times stronger than steel, preserving its 2D properties even in multilayered forms. Potential applications include filtration membranes and upgraded batteries. The research could also impact the design of ceramics and metals, potentially enabling their manufacturing and…

A CRN containing the antithetic integral control motif as a subnetwork. a Closed-loop system for an antithetic integral controller (X1, X2), along with an interconnected auxiliary controller (X3, O1). Created with BioRender.com. b Chemical reactions for the CRN. c The CRN implements integral control via two independent internal models, corresponding to two independent polynomial invariants, each obtained by a linear change of coordinates. These are…

New technology promises to dramatically improve the performance of batteries, fuel cells, and the electrolyzers that make green hydrogen and other fuels from electricity. The advance—used in a type of “flow battery” that’s becoming common for storing renewable energy—boosted the speed at which the battery could provide power fivefold. That jump in performance could sharply reduce the cost of storing green energy for use on the grid, making it easier for societies…

Examples of protein architectures designed through a software program that uses reinforcement learning. Credit: Ian Haydon/ UW Medicine Institute for Protein DesignResearchers have developed a protein design software using reinforcement learning, demonstrating its ability to create useful molecules with potential applications in developing potent vaccines and other therapies. This breakthrough could lead to a new era in protein design, with implications in cancer treatments, biodegradable textiles, and regenerative…

TU Delft researchers have developed a new method to assemble and image the molecular motor CMG in DNA replication, offering unprecedented resolution and insights into the replication process. This advancement could lead to a better understanding of genetic disorders and cancer development.<span class="glossaryLink" aria-describedby="tt" data-cmtooltip="<div class=glossaryItemTitle>DNA</div><div class=glossaryItemBody>DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is a molecule composed of two…

Living stromatolites at Shark Bay, Western Australia. Oxygen produced by ancient stromatolites may have left its mark on Earth's environment as early as 2.5 billion years ago. Credit: Ariel Anbar When did molecular oxygen, the gas that all large and complex forms of life on Earth today require to function, first appear on Earth? …

A fruit fly in the wild selects food in the form of dewdrops on a tree branch. The two colors of the food signify a difference in pH, with neutral food in golden brown and the alkaline food in blue. Mi et al. discovered a taste receptor named Alka responsible for sensing alkaline pH. Alka is a chloride channel that is directly activated by hydroxide ions (OH-), enabling avoidance of potentially harmful alkaline foods. Credit: Yali Zhang, Monell Chemical Senses CenterResearch using fruit flies sheds light on how other…

Crystals of the newly synthesized compounds, anthraquinodimethane derivatives, which have different colors depending on their molecular structure. Credit: Yusuke IshigakiNewly synthesized organic molecules can be tuned to emit different colors depending on their molecular structures in crystal form.Molecular switches are chemicals with molecular structures that can be shifted between two or more stable configurations in response to changes in their environment. They are of great interest in the development of molecular…

Artistic composition of a “soup” of prebiotic molecules around a protoplanetary disc. Credit: Gabriel Pérez Díaz (IAC)A study led by the researcher Susana Iglesias of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias has detected the presence of large quantities of complex organic molecules in one of the nearest star-forming regions to the Solar System. The results of this have been published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.The scientists Susan Iglesias-Groth, of the Instituto de Astrofísica de…

By Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences March 28, 2023Bifunctional role of PDMS membrane in designing H2S sensors —humidity resistant and selectivity improved. Credit: Zhang RuofanA team of researchers under the leadership of Prof. Meng Gang from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science (HFIPS), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), explored the use of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) in developing high-performance, humidity-resistant hydrogen sulfide (H2S) sensors, providing a path towards the…