The recent research conducted by a team of chemists led by Chu-Young Kim from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and Lela Vukovic from The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) has uncovered the crystal structure of MonCI, a crucial component of the monensin enzyme. This discovery marks a significant milestone in understanding the
Chemistry
Indoor air quality is a major concern, with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) being a significant source of pollution. These compounds, such as formaldehyde, can cause a range of health issues, from watery eyes to difficulty breathing and even certain cancers. However, current sensors lack the sensitivity to detect VOCs at low concentrations, making it difficult
In a groundbreaking discovery by RIKEN chemists, an elusive structure involving two water molecules, which had long been predicted but never observed, has finally been isolated. This discovery has the potential to have wide-ranging implications in various fields such as astrochemistry and the corrosion of metals. The research paper detailing this discovery has been published
The field of photochemistry has long been dominated by precious metals like ruthenium and iridium, which are both rare and expensive. However, recent research by a team of scientists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) has opened up new possibilities by developing a molecular system based on the Earth-abundant metal manganese. This breakthrough not only
A team of engineers at the University of Cincinnati has developed an innovative method for converting carbon dioxide into valuable products, with the goal of addressing climate change and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. This new approach, led by Associate Professor Jingjie Wu, focuses on improving the electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide into ethylene, a
Protein synthesis is a fundamental process in cells, with ribosomes playing a crucial role as the cell’s “protein factories.” Ribosomes read the genetic information encoded in messenger RNA (mRNA) and use it to synthesize proteins. These complex molecules consist of two subunits, with the small subunit responsible for reading the mRNA and the large subunit