Chemistry

The field of biocatalysis has made significant strides in optimizing natural enzyme functions for synthetic chemistry. However, UC Santa Barbara researchers, led by chemistry professor Yang Yang, are pushing the boundaries even further by delving into completely new enzymatic reactions that have never been seen before in either chemistry or biology. While most research in

Proteins are essential components of living organisms, acting as molecular machines that carry out various processes vital for cell function. The three-dimensional structure of a protein plays a crucial role in its functionality, and analyzing these structures has become increasingly important in the field of protein research. In a recent study published in Nature Communications,

Protein structure prediction has long been a crucial area of research in understanding how diseases spread and develop, ultimately leading to the development of effective therapies. Recent findings published in the Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation by a team of researchers from Cleveland Clinic and IBM have shed light on the potential of quantum

The biorefining industry has long struggled with the challenge of commercializing lignin, a bio-based compound abundant in wood biomass. It has been said that “You can make anything from lignin, except money.” However, a recent study by chemists from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has introduced an

The study of protein-protein interactions is crucial for understanding cellular functions and processes in multicellular organisms. However, current methods often lack cellular context, making it difficult to study interactions in tissue-specific environments. This limitation inspired a collaborative research team at The University of Hong Kong to develop a novel approach called Methionine Analog-based Cell-Specific Proteomics

The utilization of the greenhouse gas CO2 as a chemical raw material could have significant benefits in terms of reducing emissions and decreasing the reliance on fossil feedstocks. A recent study published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition introduces a metal-free organic framework that has the potential to electrocatalytically produce ethylene, a crucial chemical raw material,

Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are a major contributor to greenhouse gases and global warming. However, researchers have discovered a groundbreaking way to turn this harmful gas into valuable chemicals. Through a collaborative effort between the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory and other institutions, a low-cost, tin-based catalyst has been developed to selectively convert

The field of orthopedic repair is undergoing a transformation with the integration of machine learning, optimization, 3D printing, and stress experiments. Engineers have been inspired by the intelligent approach of natural materials like bone, bird feathers, and wood in distributing physical stress. A recent study led by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has successfully developed a

The integration of solar energy into our daily lives has become increasingly important as we seek to move towards sustainable energy sources. One of the key factors in making solar technology more efficient and cost-effective is finding materials that can efficiently convert sunlight into electricity. While silicon has been the dominant material in solar technology,

In a recent study conducted by chemists at the University of Münster, a novel synthesis method has been developed for the precise integration of the difluoromethyl group into pyridines. This groundbreaking research has significant implications for drug research and development due to the important role of the difluoromethyl group in determining the properties of bioactive

In the realm of toxic gas detection, the current systems available are limited in their capabilities – often providing one-time use or limited monitoring capabilities. However, researchers at MIT have recently developed a revolutionary detector that has the potential to provide continuous monitoring for the presence of toxic gases at a low cost. This groundbreaking

The development of efficient hydrogen storage technologies is crucial for the transition to sustainable energy solutions. Hydrogen, known for its versatility and clean energy potential, can be produced from renewable sources. Solid-state hydrogen storage materials, such as magnesium hydride (MgH2), are considered promising due to their high storage capacity and availability. However, despite decades of

Prions are abnormal, infectious agents that trigger the misfolding of normal cellular proteins, leading to a group of neurodegenerative diseases known as prion diseases. These conditions, which include Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans and mad cow disease in animals, are fatal and currently lack effective treatments. The conversion of a normal prion protein (PrPC) into a

In a world where pathogens are evolving to resist antibiotics at an alarming rate, the need for innovative solutions in drug discovery has never been more urgent. Los Alamos National Laboratory has taken up this challenge by harnessing the power of machine learning to identify molecular properties crucial for the development of new antibiotics. Traditional

In a recent study conducted by computational scientists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the conventional time step used in simulating molecular dynamics of water has been brought into question. The study, published in the Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation, challenges the long-accepted 2-femtosecond time step that has been considered standard