Science

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Application of Nanostructures; New Approach to Increase Efficiency, Decrease Cost of Solar Cells

Researchers from Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Research Center of Iran boosted the efficiency of dye sensitized solar cells and reduced their production cost by using specified nanostructures.

The research was carried out at laboratorial scale, and nanostructures were synthesized through a simple and economic method with the ability to be mass produced.

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Properties, Quality of Edible Oils Improved by Special Nanocapsules

Iranian researchers from Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, in a laboratorial research, replaced harmful artificial antioxidant additives with natural compounds extracted from olive tree leaf in edible oils.

The effectiveness of antioxidant compounds increases in this research due to the loading of olive tree leaf extract inside the designed nanocapsules. As a result, the quality of the edible oil improves.

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Nature's masonry: The first steps in how thin protein sheets form polyhedral shells: First-of-its kind study shows beginning stages in assembly of bacterial microcompartments

Scientists have for the first time viewed how bacterial proteins self-assemble into thin sheets and begin to form the walls of the outer shell for nano-sized polyhedral compartments that function as specialized factories.

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This illustration shows how hexagonal bacterial proteins (shown as ribbon-like structures at right and upper right) self-assemble into a honeycomb-like tiled pattern (center and background). This tiling activity, seen with an atomic-resolution microscope (upper left), represents the early formation of polyhedral, soccer-ball-like structures known as bacterial microcompartments or BCMs that serve as tiny factories for a range of specialized activities.

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Simple shell of plant virus sparks immune response against cancer: Mice tumor free and protected from metastases after treatment

The shells of a common plant virus, inhaled into a lung tumor or injected into ovarian, colon or breast tumors, not only triggered the immune system in mice to wipe out the tumors, but provided systemic protection against metastases, researchers from Case Western Reserve University and Dartmouth University report.

The scientists tested a 100-year-old idea called in-situ vaccination. The idea is to put something inside a tumor and disrupt the environment that suppresses the immune system, thus allowing the natural defense system to attack the malignancy.

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Researchers demonstrate tracking of individual catalyst nanoparticles during heating

Researchers from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont., have taken atomic-level images of individual nanoparticles during heating that could lead to improved fuel-cell technologies at lower cost, reduce dependence on imported oil and minimize greenhouse gas emissions.

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McMaster researchers have taken atomic-level images of individual nanoparticles during heating that could lead to improved fuel-cell technologies at lower cost, reduce dependence on imported oil and minimize greenhouse gas emissions.

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Simple, Quick Synthesis of Pharmaceutical Materials by Magnetic Nanocatalyst

Iranian researchers produced a nanocatalyst that fulfills the need for the application of organic and toxic solvents applied in the organic materials which are commonly used in production of medications.

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New device uses carbon nanotubes to snag molecules: Nanotube “forest” in a microfluidic channel may help detect rare proteins and viruses

Engineers at MIT have devised a new technique for trapping hard-to-detect molecules, using forests of carbon nanotubes.

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A patterned and cylindrical structure made up of carbon nanotubes.

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Physicists discover material for a more efficient energy storage: Experiment confirms predictions of the University of Luxembourg

Predictions of physicists of the University of Luxembourg recently lead to the discovery of a material with special electric properties which engages the interest of plastics producing industry. Three years ago, physicists from Luxembourg had theoretically predicted the unusual characteristics of a particular composite material. These calculations could now be confirmed by experiment in cooperation with the "Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal" in Bordeaux, France, and resulted in the discovery of a so-called high-k-material, which might enable the production of better energy storage devices - the basis for smaller, faster and more efficient electronics.

The earlier calculations made by the team around Tanja Schilling, professor of physics at the University of Luxembourg, were at first rather bad news for the field of materials research: they indicated that certain compound materials made of polymers and flaky graphene, unlike those made of polymers and carbon nanotubes, did not increase the conductivity of the material to the degree that was generally expected until then. It was a surprising conclusion at the time which questioned the use of graphene in order to increase conductivity.

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Geminids set to light up winter sky in year's best meteor shower

From 13 to 15 December, skywatchers across the world will be looking up as the Geminid meteor shower reaches its peak, in potentially one of the best night sky events of the year.

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NASA Highlights Global Air Quality, Moon, El Nino at American Geophysical Union

NASA researchers will present new findings on a wide range of Earth and space science topics at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union Dec. 14-18 in San Francisco. NASA-related briefings will be carried live on the agency’s website.