News
Platinum-free breakthrough promises cheaper solar hydrogen
20+ hour, 43+ min ago (310+ words) In the new study, the Chalmers-led team demonstrates that platinum is no longer essential. The breakthrough came from redesigning the material at the molecular level. By making the polymer chains more hydrophilic and loosely packed, the researchers improved how the…...
Molecules with empty spaces: How MOFs can transform sustainability
1+ mon, 2+ week ago (783+ words) Nobel Prize-winning work on metal-organic frameworks (MOF) can be applied in sustainable practices such as water collection and pollution control. These materials are characterised by their porous structures. Challenges remain in making MOFs affordable, durable for widespread use. On October…...
Chemical ‘whispers’ reveal life began 800 million years earlier than thought
1+ mon, 2+ week ago (286+ words) Scientists have detected chemical evidence of life in 3.3-billion-year-old rocks using advanced chemistry and AI. The method could help resolve long-standing debates about early life and guide the search for extraterrestrial biosignatures. Scientists have detected chemical traces of life in…...
Gobar Times: Try the Lotus Experiment for water vs oil
2+ mon, 1+ week ago (159+ words) Have you ever wondered what happens when you mix water and oil? I was curious to know why they don't mix so I did an amazing experiment to find out'and discover Gobar Times: Try the Lotus Experiment for water vs…...
Nobel Prize 2025: Three win chemistry award for creating new molecular architecture with myriad applications
3+ mon, 18+ hour ago (406+ words) The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar M Yaghi for developing metal-organic frameworks. These structures, with their large cavities, enable applications like water harvesting from desert air, pollutant extraction and carbon capture. Their…...
How microbes could help solve the world’s plastic pollution crisis
4+ mon, 4+ week ago (745+ words) Scientists are exploring microbial degradation as a solution to plastic pollution, utilizing bacteria and fungi to break down plastics. These microbes produce enzymes that decompose plastic polymers, offering a natural method to tackle waste. Research has identified promising microbes like…...
A four-step approach could help detect ecosystem collapse from hidden chemical pollution
5+ mon, 2+ week ago (406+ words) Over 350,000 synthetic chemicals registered worldwide; production expected to triple by 2050 Pollution identified as main extinction driver for many threatened species Framework proposes early warning tools using eDNA, AI and remote sensing Caution raised over model limitations, data gaps and local…...
UN Frontier report: Floods can release legacy chemicals from sediments, expose people to its harmful effects
5+ mon, 4+ week ago (505+ words) Increased river and coastal flooding could expose people to legacy toxic pollutants that were long buried in water and sediments, the United Nations Environment Programme warned in its report Frontiers 2025: The Weight of Time. These legacy chemicals include heavy metals…...
New proposal to add exemptions for a banned hazardous chemical under Stockholm Convention is questioning its credibility: Giulia Carlini
8+ mon, 3+ day ago (330+ words) Delegates from across the world gathered at meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions in Geneva, Switzerland,from April 28 to May 9, 2025. BRS are also multilateral environmental agreements, which share the common objective…...