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MXene-polymer composite enables printed, eco-friendly device for energy harvesting and motion sensing

Researchers at Boise State University have developed a novel, environmentally friendly triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) that is fully printed and capable of harvesting biomechanical and environmental energy while also functioning as a real-time motion sensor. The innovation leverages a composite of Poly (vinyl butyral-co-vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl acetate) (PVBVA) and MXene (Ti3C2Tx) nanosheets, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional TENGs that often rely on fluorinated polymers and complex fabrication.

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Pink Refrigerator in the Middle of the Namibian Desert Is a Modern Oasis

The Namib Desert in Namibia is said to be the oldest and driest desert on Earth, so the last thing you would expect to find right in the middle of it is a working pink refrigerator. Imagine walking through an African desert, nothing but rocks and barren mountains as far as the eye can see, […]The post Pink Refrigerator in the Middle of the Namibian Desert Is a Modern Oasis first appeared on Oddity Central - Collecting Oddities.

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Fish biofluorescence has evolved more than 100 times in 112 million years, researchers reveal

New research led by scientists at the American Museum of Natural History sheds light on the ancient origins of biofluorescence in fishes and the range of brilliant colors involved in this biological phenomenon. Detailed in two complementary studies recently published in Nature Communications and PLOS One, the findings suggest that biofluorescence dates back at least 112 million years and, since then, has evolved independently more than 100 times, with the majority of that activity happening among fish that live on coral reefs.

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Light-activated metal catalyst selectively converts carbon dioxide to industrial chemical

Chemists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory have designed a new way to convert abundant carbon dioxide (CO2) into formate (HCO2-), an industrial chemical used as a fuel, as an antibacterial/antifungal agent, and for making pharmaceuticals. Their reaction uses a light-activated metal-centered catalyst to facilitate the transfer of electrons and protons needed for the chemical conversion.

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Infrared spectroscopy captures detailed structure and action of organocatalyst in real time

In a collaborative effort, researchers at the University of Amsterdam and the HFML-FELIX institute in Nijmegen have been able to provide detailed insights in the molecular structure of a thiourea-based organocatalyst, as well as the precise structural changes it undergoes when binding with reactants. They elucidated the precise geometry of the catalyst and of the catalyst-reactant complex using infrared radiation of the FELIX free electron laser, combined with molecular beam experiments and quantum chemical calculations.

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Eliminating external catalysts for the sustainable synthesis of biomolecules and pharmaceuticals

In the future, it may be possible to produce bioactive molecules and pharmaceuticals without reverting to using enzymes or metals as external catalysts. Chemists at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) have developed a procedure during which an in situ-formed organoautocatalyst allows for extremely effective chemical synthesis of bioactive cyclical amine compounds under mild conditions. The findings are published in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition.

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Ancient Tumat puppies identified as wolves, not early domesticated dogs

A team of archaeologists, natural scientists, evolutionary specialists and paleontologists affiliated with a number of institutions across Europe, and also Russia and the U.K., has found evidence strongly suggesting that the famous Tumat puppies were not domesticated dogs as many have suggested, but were instead wolves. In their paper published in the journal Quaternary Research, the group describes their extensive study of the two canine remains and what they found.

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Previously uncharacterized gene necessary for DNA repair identified

Cells are constantly subjected to DNA damage from a range of internal and environmental sources. It is estimated that cells can experience as many as 100,000 DNA lesions per day. One of the most deleterious types of DNA lesions is the DNA double-strand break (DSB). Just one unrepaired DNA DSB may be enough to cause mutations or cell death leading to a wide range of pathologies including cancer, immune deficiency, premature aging and neurodegeneration.

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One-step route to complex molecules using ortho-quinodimethanes solves long-standing challenge in polycyclic synthesis

Organic chemistry features a wide array of reactions for creating complex molecules, among which the Diels–Alder reaction stands out for its versatility and precision. This reaction enables the construction of intricate polycyclic compounds—structures often found in natural products and pharmaceuticals—by joining dienes and dienophiles with high regio- and stereoselectivity.

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Magnetoelectric deflection: Steering magnetic textures with electric fields shows promise for energy-efficient control

Researchers at Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have demonstrated an innovative method to control magnetism in materials using an energy-efficient electric field. The discovery focuses on materials known as magnetoelectrics, which offer promise for next-generation energy technologies, data storage, energy conversion, and medical devices. The findings are published in the journal Nature Communications.

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Movement in an entangled cluster of worms: How active polymer chains can self-organize into solid-like clusters

Earthworms often form a cluster, from which they can barely free themselves. A similarly active, writhing structure forms when the tentacles of lion's mane jellyfish become entangled. Robotic grippers utilize this principle by using multiple synthetic flexible arms to grip and move objects. And such interlinked self-propelled filaments can also be found at the smaller micrometer scale, for example in a biological cell.

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