January 18, 2017

Tough Aqua Material for Water Purification
Decontamination of water with a robust and sustainable membrane assembled from two synergistically working components (PDF)

Robust Aqua Material: A Pressure-Resistant Self-Assembled Membrane for Water Purification

Boris Rybtchinski, Weizmann Institute of Science (Israel)

January 13, 2017

Composite Material for Water Purification
Removal of multiple contaminants from water by supported ionic liquid phases (PDF)

Removal of Multiple Contaminants from Water by Polyoxometalate-Supported Ionic Liquid Phases (POM-SILPs)

Carsten Streb, Universität Ulm (Germany)

January 9, 2017

Speeding Up 19th Century Oil Paintings
Lead acetate and mastic resin in paint mixtures helped artists 200 years ago (PDF)

A 19th Century "Ideal" Oil Paint Medium: A Complex Hybrid Organic–Inorganic Gel

Laurence de Viguerie, Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris), CNRS (France)

January 5, 2017

Harmonization Needed!
Standardized analytic protocols will help to assess the amount, quality, and risk of microplastic contaminants in aquatic ecosystems, says a review (PDF)

Microplastic in Aquatic Ecosystems

Natalia P. Ivleva, Technische Universität München (Germany)

December 12, 2016

Anti-Tumor Synergy
Nanomedical treatment concept combines NO gas therapy with starvation of tumor cells (PDF)

Glucose-Responsive Sequential Generation of Hydrogen Peroxide and Nitric Oxide for Synergistic Cancer Starving-Like/Gas Therapy

Xiaoyuan Chen, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, NIH, Bethesda (USA)

December 9, 2016

Hydrogen from Sunlight—But As a Dark Reaction
Generation, storage, and time-delayed release of electrons in graphitic carbon nitride material for artificial photosynthesis (PDF)

Dark Photocatalysis: Storage of Solar Energy in Carbon Nitride for Time-Delayed Hydrogen Generation

Bettina V. Lotsch, Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research (Germany)

December 1, 2016

Breaking the Backbone
Biodegradable polymers made by chemical vapor deposition (PDF)

Backbone-Degradable Polymers Prepared by Chemical Vapor Deposition

Joerg Lahann, University of Michigan (USA)

November 28, 2016

Light Switch in Autumn Leaves
Yellow chlorophyll decomposition products are environment-responsive photoswitches (PDF)

Chlorophyll-Derived Yellow Phyllobilins of Higher Plants are Medium-Responsive, Chiral Photoswitches

Bernhard Kräutler, Universität Innsbruck (Austria)

November 15, 2016

Implantable Catalyst Against Cancer
Biocompatible heterogeneous copper catalyst for click chemistry in living organisms (PDF)

Copper Catalysis in Living Systems and In Situ Drug Synthesis

Mark Bradley, University of Edinburgh (United Kingdom)

November 10, 2016

Safe Fog
Phosphorus nitride could be used as a friction-stable, fast-burning, and very effective pyrotechnic obscurant (PDF)

Safer Pyrotechnic Obscurants Based on Phosphorus(V) Nitride

Ernst-Christian Koch, Lutradyn Energetic Materials Science & Technology (Germany)

November 7, 2016

Salty Batteries
Sodium-oxygen batteries have improved cycle life due to highly concentrated electrolytes (PDF)

Concentrated Electrolyte for Sodium-Oxygen Battery: Solvation Structure and Improved Cycle Life

Yiying Wu, The Ohio State University (USA)

November 2, 2016

Lithium Ion Extraction
A combined polymer/metal–organic composite membrane allows for the effective separation of lithium from contaminants in brines (PDF)

Polystyrene Sulfonate Threaded through a Metal–Organic Framework Membrane for Fast and Selective Lithium-Ion Separation

Banglin Chen, University of Texas at San Antonio (USA)

October 27, 2016

Fighting the Gram-Negatives
Natural products inspire the design of molecular agents against drug-resistant bacterial strains (PDF)

Natural-Product-Inspired Aminoepoxybenzoquinones Kill Members of the Gram-Negative Pathogen Salmonella by Attenuating Cellular Stress Response

Stephan A. Sieber, Technische Universität München (Germany)

October 24, 2016

Creeping Gel
Photosensitive self-oscillating gel to model biological crawling motions (PDF)

Retrograde and Direct Wave Locomotion in a Photosensitive Self-Oscillating Gel

Irving R. Epstein, Brandeis University (USA)

October 21, 2016

Where Does Cisplatin Bind?
Identification of genome-wide cisplatin cross-linking sites with DNA base resolution (PDF)

Base-Resolution Analysis of Cisplatin–DNA Adducts at the Genome Scale

Chengqi Yi, Peking University (China)

October 20, 2016

Self-Healable Battery
Lithium ion battery for electronic textiles grows back together after breaking (PDF)

A Self-Healing Aqueous Lithium-Ion Battery

Huisheng Peng, Fudan University (China)

October 19, 2016

Hidden Chirality
Nitrogen-15 isotope can trigger asymmetric autocatalytic reactions toward chiral organic compounds (PDF)

Asymmetric Induction by a Nitrogen ¹⁴N/¹⁵N Isotopomer in Conjunction with Asymmetric Autocatalysis

Kenso Soai, Tokyo University of Science (Japan)

October 11, 2016

Recharging on Stable, Amorphous Silicon
Lithium ion batteries may benefit from porous amorphous silicon anodes (PDF)

Mesoporous Amorphous Silicon: A Simple Synthesis of a High-Rate and Long-Life Anode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Jian Yang, Shandong University (China)

October 10, 2016

Catalyst from the Microwave
Microwave-assisted thermolysis: New route to highly crystalline carbon nitrides for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen generation (PDF)

A Rapid Microwave-Assisted Thermolysis Route to Highly Crystalline Carbon Nitrides for Efficient Hydrogen Generation

Zhiqun Lin, Georgia Institute of Technology (USA)

August 26, 2016

Body Heat as a Power Source
Wearable integrated thermocells based on gel electrolytes use body heat (PDF)

Wearable Thermocells Based on Gel Electrolytes for the Utilization of Body Heat

Jun Zhou, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (China)

August 25, 2016

Gold from Waste
Selective recovery of gold from secondary resources by a simple extraction method (PDF)

A Simple Primary Amide for the Selective Recovery of Gold from Secondary Resources

Jason Love, University of Edinburgh (United Kingdom)

August 18, 2016

How Did the Phosphate Get into RNA?
Urea as one of the essential components in Darwin’s "warm little pond" (PDF)

Darwin's Warm Little Pond: A One-Pot Reaction for Prebiotic Phosphorylation and the Mobilization of Phosphate from Minerals in a Urea-based Solvent

Nicholas V. Hud, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta (USA)

August 16, 2016

Cold-Fired Ceramics
Paradigm shift in ceramics production: cold sintering instead of high-temperature firing (PDF)

Cold Sintering: A Paradigm Shift for Processing and Integration of Ceramics

Clive Randall, The Pennsylvania State University (USA)

August 3, 2016

Crystal Analysis in 3D
Photon energy as the third dimension in crystallographic texture analysis (PDF)

Photon Energy Becomes the Third Dimension in Crystallographic Texture Analysis

Helga Lichtenegger, Universität für Bodenkultur, Wien (Austria)

July 21, 2016

Rusty Steel Triggers Oxygen Evolution
Corroded stainless steel plate makes up an efficient water splitting electrode (PDF)

In Situ Activating Ubiquitous Rust towards Low-Cost, Efficient, Free-Standing, and Recoverable Oxygen Evolution Electrodes

Xinbo Zhang, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry (CIAC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (China)

July 20, 2016

Explosive Synthesis
Chemical synthesis of a powerful high-energy compound (PDF)

Synthesis of Tetrazino-tetrazine 1,3,6,8-Tetraoxide (TTTO)

Aleksandr M. Churakov, N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry (Russia)

July 13, 2016

Genetic Tests with the Naked Eye
Replication of enzyme-nucleotide chimeras (PDF)

Sequence-Specific Incorporation of Enzyme–Nucleotide Chimera by DNA Polymerases

Andreas Marx, Universität Konstanz (Germany)

July 12, 2016

Counting Red Blood Cells
Electrochemical determination of the concentration and peroxidase activity of erythrocytes (PDF)

Electrochemical Red Blood Cell Counting: One at a Time

Richard G. Compton, University of Oxford (United Kingdom)

July 11, 2016

Facile Dosimetry for Chemical Hazards
Disposable, low-cost chemidosimetric indicator with smartphone connection (PDF)

Wireless Hazard Badges to Detect Nerve-Agent Simulants

Timothy M. Swager, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA)

July 1, 2016

Low-Cost Printed Patterns for Diagnostics
Laser-printed patterns on cellulose paper can serve as a structural support for biochemical high-tech functionalization schemes (PDF)

Easy Access toward Functional Patterns on Cellulose Paper by Combining Laser Printing and Material-Specific Peptide Adsorption

Hans G. Börner, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (Germany)

June 27, 2016

High-Speed Tunnel for Carbon Dioxide
Highly permeable mineral/polymer membrane for CO₂ separation (PDF)

A Highly Permeable Aligned Montmorillonite Mixed-Matrix Membrane for CO₂ Separation

Zhi Wang, Tianjin University (China)

June 23, 2016

Talc from the Lab
Talc nanocrystals with unique properties produced within seconds (PDF)

Fast-Geomimicking using Chemistry in Supercritical Water

Cyril Aymonier, Institut de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Bordeaux (France)

June 17, 2016

Loadable Nanocapsules
Carbon nanobubbles as containers with unusual loading and release properties (PDF)

Hollow Carbon Nanobubbles: Synthesis, Chemical Functionalization and Container-Type Behavior in Water

Wendelin Stark, ETH Zürich (Switzerland)

June 16, 2016

The Fingerprints of White Wines
Fluorescence-based assay system discerns different types of white wine (PDF)

Two Oppositely Charged Poly(p-phenyleneethynylene)s and Their Complex Discriminate White Wine

Uwe H. Bunz, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg (Germany)

May 20, 2016

Crystal Takes a Bow
Macroscopic self-oscillation: crystal bends and stretches in blue light (PDF)

Dissipative and Autonomous Square-Wave Self-Oscillation of a Macroscopic Hybrid Self-Assembly under Continuous Light Irradiation

Yoshiyuki Kageyama, Hokkaido University (Japan)

May 4, 2016

Triple-Mode Glow to Fight Counterfeiting
Ink with carbon nanodots luminesces via three different mechanisms (PDF)

Triple-Mode Emission of Carbon Dots: Applications for Advanced Anti-Counterfeiting

Hengwei Lin, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology & Engineering NIMTE, CAS (China)

April 18, 2016

Beyond the Rainbow Colors
Semiconducting ternary nanocrystals expand the range of accessible light energy of solar cells to the ultraviolet and infrared regions (PDF)

Integration of Semiconducting Sulfides for Full-Spectrum Solar Energy Absorption and Efficient Charge Separation

Shu-Hong Yu, University of Science and Technology of China

April 15, 2016

Monitoring Breathing
Paper-based electrical sensor developed to monitor respiration rate (PDF)

Paper-Based Electrical Respiration Sensor

George M. Whitesides, Harvard University (USA)

April 13, 2016

Poor Lubrication
Astringent mouthfeel of wine results from a lubrication failure in the mouth (PDF)

Astringent Mouthfeel as a Consequence of Lubrication Failure

Feng Zhou, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics (China)

April 1, 2016

Power from Sun and Rain
Graphene layer could allow solar cells to generate power when it rains (PDF)

A Sun and Rain Bi-Triggering Solar Cell

Qunwei Tang, Ocean University of China

March 31, 2016

Nanostructures made from DNA
Daisy chain rotaxanes as molecular bearings (PDF)

Daisy Chain Rotaxanes Made from Interlocked DNA Nanostructures

Michael Famulok, Universität Bonn (Germany)

March 23, 2016

Arsenic in Herring Caviar
A new group of arsenolipids discovered in herring roe (PDF)

Arsenic-containing Phosphatidylcholines: a New Group of Arsenolipids Discovered in Herring Caviar

Kenneth Bendix Jensen, Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz (Austria)

March 16, 2016

Building Blocks in One Step
Double catalyst for the direct conversion of synthesis gas to lower olefins (PDF)

Direct and Highly Selective Conversion of Synthesis Gas to Lower Olefins: Design of a Bifunctional Catalyst Combining Methanol Synthesis and Carbon–Carbon Coupling

Ye Wang, Xiamen University (China)

March 15, 2016

So Many Shapes!
Evidence for a remarkable structural diversity of amyloid fibrils in human and animal tissue (PDF)

Polymorphism of Amyloid Fibrils In Vivo

Marcus Fändrich, Universität Ulm (Germany)

March 4, 2016

Help for Osteoarthritis Coming Soon?
Polymer gel effectively reinforces worn out cartilage (PDF)

A Tissue-Penetrating Double Network Restores the Mechanical Properties of Degenerated Articular Cartilage

Mark W. Grinstaff, Boston University (USA)

March 3, 2016

Sustainable Bioplastics for Biomedical Applications
Metal-free recyclable polyester produced from a biomass-derived compound (PDF)

Towards Truly Sustainable Polymers: A Metal-Free Recyclable Polyester from Biorenewable Non-Strained γ-Butyrolactone

Eugene Y.-X. Chen, Colorado State University (USA)

January 29, 2016

Solvent-Free, Ice-Free, Vital!
Block copolymer hydrogels as multifunctional effective cryoprotecting agents for red blood cells (PDF)

Combining Biomimetic Block Copolymer Worms with an Ice-Inhibiting Polymer for the Solvent-Free Cryopreservation of Red Blood Cells

Matthew I. Gibson, University of Warwick, Coventry (United Kingdom)

January 26, 2016

High-Tech Invisible Ink
Invisible ink for secret data, and product and document security (PDF)

Invisible Security Ink Based on Water-Soluble Graphitic Carbon Nitride Quantum Dots

Xinchen Wang, Fuzhou University (China)

January 19, 2016

A Trojan Horse for Cancer Cells
Localized oxidative killing of tumor cells by glassy iron nanoparticles (PDF)

Synthesis of Iron Nanometallic Glasses and Their Application in Cancer Therapy by a Localized Fenton Reaction

Jianlin Shi, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (China)