49/2010

It Heals and Grows Together
Polymer with amazing self-healing properties (PDF)

Repeatable Photoinduced Self-Healing of Covalently Cross-Linked Polymers through Reshuffling of Trithiocarbonate Units

Krzysztof Matyjaszewski, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh (USA)

48/2010

From Molecule to Object
Largest synthetic structure with molecular precision (PDF)

The Largest Synthetic Structure with Molecular Precision: Towards a Molecular Object

A. Dieter Schlüter, ETH Zürich (Switzerland)

47/2010

T-Shirt Replaces Battery
Fiber-based electrochemical micro-supercapacitor (PDF)

Fiber Supercapacitors Made of Nanowire-Fiber Hybrid Structures for Wearable/Flexible Energy Storage

Zhong Lin Wang, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta (USA)

46/2010

Tracking Carbonic Acid
Carbonic acid: now isolated in the gas phase and examined spectroscopically (PDF)

Spectroscopic Observation of Matrix-Isolated Carbonic Acid

Hinrich Grothe, Technische Universität Wien (Austria)

45/2010

Mussel Adhesive for DNA Chips
Easy universal DNA immobilization on surfaces with a synthetic mussel polymer (PDF)

Facile DNA Immobilization on Surfaces through Catecholamine Polymer

Phillip B. Messersmith, Northwestern University, Evanston (USA)

44/2010

This Way and That
Alternating stacks of planar cations and planar dipyrrole-containing anions provides concept for formation of new materials (PDF)

Oriented Salts: Dimension-Controlled Assemblies from Planar Receptor-Anion Complexes

Hiromitsu Maeda, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu (Japan)

43/2010

Writing with a Nanoquill
Dip-pen nanolithography with a porous tip generates nanopatterns with viruses (PDF)

Polymer-Coated Tips for Patterning of Viruses by Dip-Pen Nanolithography

Jung-Hyurk Lim, Chungju National University (Rep. Korea)

42/2010

DNA Weaving
Two-dimensional crystals from DNA origami tiles (PDF)

Crystalline Two-Dimensional DNA Origami Arrays

Nadrian C. Seeman, New York University (USA)

41/2010

Flares on the Move
Nanoparticle test kit shows how nanoparticles of different size disperse in tumor tissue (PDF)

A Nanoparticle Size Series for In Vivo Fluorescence Imaging

Moungi G. Bawendi, Daniel G. Nocera, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge (USA)

40/2010

All Sprayed at Once
Ultrathin coatings made through simultaneous spraying of interacting substances (PDF)

Spray-On Organic/Inorganic Films: A General Method for the Formation of Ultrathin Coatings

Gero Decher, Institut Charles Sadron, Strasbourg (France)

39/2010

All the Same Size
Assembly of uniformly pure protein microparticles using calcium carbonate templates (PDF)

Pure Protein Microspheres by Calcium Carbonate Templating

Dmitry V. Volodkin, Technische Universität Berlin (Germany)

38/2010

Saving Platinum
Monolayer of platinum atoms on a tungsten carbide support catalyzes the electrolytic production of hydrogen effectively and cheaply (PDF)

Low-Cost Hydrogen-Evolution Catalysts Based on Monolayer Platinum on Tungsten Monocarbide Substrates

Jingguang G. Chen, University of Delaware, Newark (USA)

37/2010

Embedded Rods
Chitin-silicon dioxide nanocomposite made by self-organization and sol-gel chemistry (PDF)

Chitin–Silica Nanocomposites by Self-Assembly

Emmanuel Belamie, Institut Charles Gerhardt, Montpellier (France)

36/2010

Bio Meets Nano
Quantum dots as light antennas for artificial photosynthetic systems (PDF)

Fluorescent Quantum Dots as Artificial Antennas for Enhanced Light Harvesting and Energy Transfer to Photosynthetic Reaction Centers

Igor Nabiev, CIC NanoGUNE Consolider San Sebastian (Spain)

35/2010

Solid Spheres
Nanospheres made of aromatic amino acids: The most rigid organic nanostructures to date (PDF)

Self-Assembled Organic Nanostructures with Metallic-Like Stiffness

Ehud Gazit, Tel Aviv University (Israel)

34/2010

Renewable and Clean
New kind of fuel cell delivers energy and fine chemicals with no waste from renewable raw materials (PDF)

A Biologically Inspired Organometallic Fuel Cell (OMFC) That Converts Renewable Alcohols into Energy and Chemicals

Hansjörg Grützmacher, ETH Zürich (Switzerland)

33/2010

Sniffer Dog on a Chip
Highly sensitive TNT detection with nanowires (PDF)

Supersensitive Detection of Explosives by Silicon Nanowire Arrays

Fernando Patolsky, Tel Aviv University (Israel)

32/2010

Platinum and Light together Fight Cancer
For tumor treatment with few side effects: platinum complex initiates cytotoxic effect upon targeted irradiation with visible light (PDF)

A Potent Trans-Diimine Platinum Anticancer Complex Photoactivated by Visible Light

Peter J. Sadler, University of Warwick (UK)

31/2010

A Closer Look at Ring Opening
Electron diffraction studies of photoswitchable molecules (PDF)

Direct Determination of Conformations of Photoswitchable Molecules by Laser Desorption–Electron Diffraction

Ahmed H. Zewail, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena (USA)

30/2010

Invisibility Cloak Needed for Cooperation?
Unusual lipopolysaccharide enables symbiosis between bacterium and fungus (PDF)

An Unusual Galactofuranose Lipopolysaccharide That Ensures the Intracellular Survival of Toxin-Producing Bacteria in Their Fungal Host

Christian Hertweck, Leibniz-Institut für Naturstoff-Forschung und Infektionsbiologie, HKI

29/2010

Edible Gas Storage
Porous metal–organic framework made from food-grade natural products (PDF)

Metal-Organic Frameworks from Edible Natural Products

J. Fraser Stoddart, Northwestern University, Evanston (USA)

28/2010

Microscopic Firewalls
Robust foils of synthetic nacre analogues act as a heat shield (PDF)

Supramolecular Control of Stiffness and Strength in Lightweight High-Performance Nacre-Mimetic Paper with Fire-Shielding Properties

Andreas Walther, Aalto University, Helsinki (Finland)

27/2010

Sugar Battles Oil Spills
Gelators based on natural sugar compounds bind oil on water surfaces (PDF)

Sugar-Derived Phase-Selective Molecular Gelators as Model Solidifiers for Oil Spills

George John, City College of New York (USA)

26/2010

Mona Lisa’s Secret
X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy unveils Da Vinci’s astounding sfumato technique (PDF)

Revealing the sfumato Technique of Leonardo da Vinci by X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Philippe Walter, Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Musées de France, Paris (France)

25/2010

Electrodes Reveal Tumors
Direct potentiometric determination of the sialic acid concentration on cell surfaces—a new technique for tumor diagnosis? (PDF)

Assessment of Tumor Metastasis by the Direct Determination of Cell-Membrane Sialic Acid Expression

Yuji Miyahara, University of Tokyo (Japan)

24/2010

Secret Revealed
The crystal structure of ribose—finally! (PDF)

The Crystal Structure of D-Ribose—At Last!

Jack D. Dunitz, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich (Switzerland)

23/2010

Colorful Warning
Selective, sensitive CO detection with a rhodium complex (PDF)

Sensitive and Selective Chromogenic Sensing of Carbon Monoxide using Binuclear Rhodium Complexes

Ramón Martínez-Máñez, Universidad de Valencia (Spain)

22/2010

Don’t Compare Bananas to Pears
Unique blue fluorescent chlorophyll decomposition products in banana leaves (PDF)

Hypermodified Fluorescent Chlorophyll Catabolites: Source of Blue Luminescence in Senescent Leaves

Bernhard Kräutler, Universität Innsbruck (Austria)

21/2010

Long Fuse
Communication through chemistry: “Fuses” convey information for hours (PDF)

Long-Duration Transmission of Information with Infofuses

George M. Whitesides, Harvard University, Cambridge (USA)

20/2010

Layered Footballs
First two-dimensional organic metal made of fullerenes (PDF)

A Two-Dimensional Organic Metal Based on Fullerene

Dimitri Konarev, Russian Academy of Science, Moscow (Russia)

19/2010

Small But Super
Lightweight, handy magnets for portable NMR spectrometers (PDF)

Small Magnets for Portable NMR Spectrometers

Federico Casanova, RWTH Aachen (Germany)

18/2010

Art Seals Reveal Their Secrets
Imaging mass spectrometry for analyzing art works (PDF)

Imaging Mass Spectrometry with a Low-Temperature Plasma Probe for the Analysis of Works of Art

Sichun Zhang, Tsinghua University, Beijing (China)

17/2010

Wood in the Tank
Valeric fuels: a new generation of biogasoline and biodiesel from lignocellulose (PDF)

Valeric Biofuels: A Platform of Cellulosic Transportation Fuels

Jean-Paul Lange, Shell Global Solutions International B.V., Amsterdam (The Netherlands)

16/2010

Death by Arsenic
Hair analysis proves it: Legendary racehorse Phar Lap died of arsenic poisoning in 1932 (PDF)

Synchrotron Radiation Reveals Arsenic Poisoning and Metabolism in Hair: The Case of Phar Lap

Ivan M. Kempson, Academia Sinica, Taipei (Taiwan)

15/2010

An Odd Couple
Photoluminescent liquid crystals based on metal clusters (PDF)

Clustomesogens: Liquid Crystal Materials Containing Transition-Metal Clusters

Yann Molard, Université de Rennes 1 (France)

14/2010

Biting its Own Tail
Nanocontainer with an integrated switch (PDF)

The Ouroborand: A Cavitand with a Coordination-Driven Switching Device

Julius Rebek, Jr., Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla (USA)

13/2010

Expanded Blueprint
Genetic incorporation of two different noncanonic amino acids into one protein (PDF)

A Facile System for Genetic Incorporation of Two Different Noncanonical Amino Acids into One Protein in Escherichia coli

Wenshe Liu, Texas A&M University, College Station (USA)

12/2010

Plastic Money
Australia’s plastic bills make life difficult for counterfeiters (PDF)

Australia's Plastic Banknotes: Fighting Counterfeit Currency

David H. Solomon, University of Melbourne (Australia)

11/2010

Vaccine With No Jab
Protein vaccines for needle-free immunization through the skin (PDF)

Synthetic Skin-Permeable Proteins Enabling Needleless Immunization

Victor C. Yang, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (USA)

10/2010

More Power, Longer Life, Increased Safety
Tin–sulfur–lithium-ion battery as alternative to conventional lithium batteries (PDF)

A High-Performance Polymer Tin Sulfur Lithium Ion Battery

Bruno Scrosati, Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Roma (Italy)

09/2010

Effective Imitation
New chitinase inhibitors (PDF)

Chitinase Inhibition by Chitobiose and Chitotriose Thiazolines

Stephen G. Withers, University of British Columbia, Vancouver (Canada)

08/2010

Compound from Myrtles Synthesized
Successful total synthesis of myrtucommulone A (PDF)

Total Synthesis of Myrtucommulone A

Johann Jauch, Universität des Saarlandes, Saarbrücken (Germany)

07/2010

Scent of a Spider
Sex pheromone of the wasp spider identified (PDF)

The Sex Pheromone of the Wasp Spider Argiope bruennichi

Stefan Schulz, Technische Universität Braunschweig (Germany)

06/2010

Switched Off
Sensitive, selective, and resolved in time and space: ATP detection in living cells with carbon nanotubes and luciferase (PDF)

A Luciferase/Single-walled Carbon Nanotube Conjugate for Near-Infrared Fluorescent Detection of Cellular ATP

Michael S. Strano, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge (USA)

05/2010

Energy from Light and Water
New photocatalytic method for the clean production of hydrogen from water (PDF)

Water Splitting by Visible Light: A Nanophotocathode for Hydrogen Production

Thomas Nann, University of East Anglia, Norwich (UK)

04/2010

Incorrectly Folded Fibers
Flash frozen under the electron microscope: examining the mechanical properties of Alzheimer’s amyloid fibrils (PDF)

Nanoscale Flexibility Parameters of Alzheimer Amyloid Fibrils Determined by Electron Cryo-Microscopy

Marcus Fändrich, Max Planck Research Unit for Enzymology of Protein Folding, Halle (Germany)

03/2010

Golden Pairs
Catalytic dimers of gold atoms make ethylene from methane (PDF)

Methane Activation and Catalytic Ethylene Formation on Free Au₂⁺ Ions

Thorsten M. Bernhardt, Universität Ulm (Germany)

02/2010

All Smoothed Out
Hydroxyl radicals remove nanoscopic irregularities on polished gold surfaces (PDF)

Hydroxyl Radicals Attack Metallic Gold

Fritz Scholz, Universität Greifswald (Germany)

01/2010

3D View of the Brain
Viewing spatial distribution of biomolecules in substructures of mouse brains by mass spectrometry (PDF)

Three-Dimensional Vizualization of Mouse Brain by Lipid Analysis Using Ambient Ionization Mass Spectrometry

R. Graham Cooks, Purdue University, West Lafayette (USA)