Physical Sciences
On Hadron Deformation
Shaping our understanding of the proton
The proton is the smallest particle known to science that can exist in isolation and has a size but, until now, the shape of the proton has been little more than a guessing game. Professor C.N. Papanicolas, Academician and President of the Cyprus Institute and his team have helped to change that—and provided us with a new understanding of this most important […]
The mystery of the Victorian purple dye
William Henry Perkin, a young London chemist, patented a synthesis in 1856 for a purple dye he created by accident whilst trying to synthesise quinine, a Victorian anti-malarial. This discovery brought purple, a colour so expensive it had previously only been afforded by royalty and the church, to the mass-market. But there is an unsolved mystery: using Perkin’s patented method, […]
Quantum molecular modelling for efficient chemical synthesis
Computer Aided Design informs the world around us, but it has taken a long time to have a significant impact on the chemical synthesis industry. Professor Martín Jaraíz at the University of Valladolid in Spain has proposed a novel approach to using a quantum mechanical tool called Density Functional Theory (DFT) in combination with microkinetic modelling to more accurately predict […]
Electron storage and transfer in biochar materials
Biochar is receiving considerable attention because of its potential use in carbon capture, crop production, water quality control and environmental restoration. For a long time, its activity has been attributed to its adsorption properties. Recent work, however, indicates that biochar plays a much more active role in promoting abiotic and microbial transformations in water and soils, acting as a powerful […]
Organic ice materials for electron beam lithography
Many electronic devices manufactured today are created using either photolithography or electron beam lithography—lengthy procedures that require multiple stages of chemical processing within an expensive clean room environment. But thanks to a team of researchers led by Marco Beleggia at the Technical University of Denmark that is set to change. By exploiting electron matter interactions, the researchers can trigger the […]
Shining a light on photochemical dynamics
When a molecule absorbs light, this can trigger a whole host of reactions. This includes the formation of new bonds or even rearranging the order of the atoms within the same molecule to create new chemical species. These light-induced changes, known as photochemical dynamics, can be challenging to study as they can occur on timescales of femtoseconds, so fast that […]
Search for dark matter with cool crystals
Dark matter is one of the most elusive constituents in the universe; escaping our detection for decades since astronomers first theorised its existence. In his research, Dr Jing Liu at the University of South Dakota proposes an unconventional usage of light-emitting crystals to detect dark matter produced in particle accelerators on the Earth. His team is prototyping a detector consisting […]
Understanding the effects of humidity on ionic liquid-based electrochemical gas sensors
Electrochemical gas sensors are critically important tools used in a wide variety of everyday tasks, but with current designs, their performance can be significantly diminished in hot, dry conditions. Debbie Silvester at Curtin University, Australia suggests that this problem could be overcome through the use of specialised salts, which remain liquid at room temperature. While these substances are known to […]
Flame merging: Investigating the spread of wildland fires
Wildland fires spread when flames merge together: individual leaves ignite, the flames merge, and the fire spreads. Similarly, when adjacent bushes catch fire, the flames merge together forming a larger, more intense fire capable of spreading faster. Professor Thomas H. Fletcher of Brigham Young University has carried out laboratory experiments and computational simulations of flames merging together in order to […]
Harnessing photosynthetic organisms for a bio-fuelled future
Algae and cyanobacteria have evolved to produce a variety of complex chemicals from the simple inputs of light and carbon dioxide. We can engineer these organisms to produce carbon neutral biofuels and other valuable byproducts, but large scale growth and production is still a major challenge. Dr Nanette Boyle, Assistant Professor in Chemical and Biological Engineering at the Colorado School of […]