Magic angle electrons
Physicists in the US have proposed a new mechanism for superconductivity that arises when electrons slow in twisted bilayer graphene. This could open a route for designing new superconductors or improve existing materials.
A better 2023?
As a major energy consuming industry, chemicals have suffered from extremely high costs due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the consequent pressures on the global economy and key customer industries.
Pest genome database
A new database detailing the genomes of 19 global crop pests is now publicly available. It’s hoped that the contents will accelerate novel pest control approaches that are more species-specific and less likely to trigger resistance in their targets, as well as non-chemical methods that involve manipulating insect behaviour.
Roadmap for AMR
A new UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report highlights the role environmental pollution plays in antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which may be much larger than previously thought.
Fingerprinting cells
Scientists in the UK have reported a technique to isolate individual living cells and evaluate how they absorb drugs. They also generated a lipid fingerprint for mammalian cells given a tuberculosis drug.
Graphene jellyfish
Particles of graphene with different shapes have been generated – and could be used to remove toxins from water. The discovery came about serendipitously when materials scientists were exploring the interactions between graphene oxide and a hydrocarbon surfactant. Graphene oxide is a mineral liquid crystal that forms stacked structures in water, while the surfactant CTAB (cetyl trimethylammonium bromide) is a molecular liquid crystal.
Vitamin D for dementia
Taking vitamin D supplements could stave off dementia, a new study has shown. People on vitamin D supplements were reported to have 40% fewer dementia diagnoses than those who did not receive them (Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diag. Assess. & Dis. Mon., doi: 10.1002/dad2.12404).
Business digest
The latest business digest for C&I Issue 3 2023 with all the latest mergers and acquisitions in the chemical industry.
Smart bionic finger
Chinese researchers have developed a bionic ‘finger’ that can create 3D maps of the shapes and textures of complex objects lying beneath a surface – useful in medicine and electronics.
Food footprints compared
Food production is a leading cause of environmental degradation globally, according to Australian researchers who examined the environmental pressures surrounding farmed chicken and salmon. Efforts to reduce the environmental footprints of these industries should focus on feed ingredients, they say.