Chemical engineers find high-yield method of making xylene from biomass
A team of chemical engineers led by Paul J. Dauenhauer of the University of Massachusetts Amherst has discovered a new, high-yield method of producing the key ingredient used to make plastic bottles...
View ArticleNew treatments could reduce odors in cotton fabric
Socks, T-shirts and other garments could become less hospitable to odor-causing bacteria, thanks to new antimicrobial treatments being investigated by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists...
View ArticleIs it ripe? Carbon nanotube-based ethylene sensor establishes fruit ripeness
(Phys.org) -- The term ethylene (ethene) generally brings to mind polyethylene plastics, not fruit. However, ethylene is more than just a feedstock for chemical industry, it is also the smallest plant...
View ArticleNanoparticles reboot blood flow in brain
A nanoparticle developed at Rice University and tested in collaboration with Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) may bring great benefits to the emergency treatment of brain-injury victims, even those...
View ArticleWarning on deterioration of famous Swedish warship, Vasa
The famous warship, Vasa, displayed in a museum that gets 1.2 million visitors every year and ranks as one of Sweden's most popular tourist attractions, is deteriorating despite ongoing preservation...
View ArticlePolymer coating allows nanoparticles to diffuse through the brain
(Phys.org)—A new US study has found a way of enabling larger nanoparticles than previously to penetrate brain tissues, which may provide a new means of delivering therapeutic drugs to brain tissues for...
View ArticleResearch: Controlled therapeutic release of macromolecules possible
When a large volume of medication is the prescription, steady and controlled release of the drug sometimes is preferred by physicians over a "burst-release" treatment in which the substance is...
View ArticleAustrian daredevil succeeds in space jump (LIVE webcast)
Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner made a record-breaking leap from the edge of space Sunday, landing safely in the New Mexico desert after freefalling from more than 24 miles above the Earth.
View ArticleNew injectable gels toughen up after entering the body
Gels that can be injected into the body, carrying drugs or cells that regenerate damaged tissue, hold promise for treating many types of disease, including cancer. However, these injectable gels don't...
View ArticleAdvancing the use of DNA in nanotechnology with new technique that dissolves...
Carrying the genetic code is already a vital job, but DNA is also proving to be a useful tool in nanotechnology applications. Since the DNA molecule is a versatile building block, it can be used to...
View ArticleScientists image the molecular structure of polymer blends
(Phys.org)—Using an enhanced form of "chemical microscopy" developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), researchers there have shown that they can peer into the structure of...
View ArticlePlastics and chemicals they absorb pose double threat to marine life
(Phys.org)—Marine creatures that ingest plastics in the ocean might suffer from a double whammy of the plastic itself and the pollutants those plastics have absorbed while floating in the open seas,...
View ArticleAntibacterial, antifouling polymer coatings could soon relegate...
(Phys.org)—Catheters play a crucial role in hospital care, particularly in the transport of intravenous fluids and medication. Typically, they are made of flexible low-toxicity silicon rubber that is,...
View ArticleFood nets vanishing without a trace
Scientists are creating compostable versions food nets to be used with compostable products to ensure that, at the end of their life, they serve the purpose of helping to grow food, thus closing their...
View ArticleEco-friendly wet-strong printing paper made 100% with recycled polyester...
Teijin Limited announced today that it has developed a water-resistant, wet-strong printing paper made entirely with the company's ECOPET recycled polyester fiber derived from used PET (polyethylene...
View ArticleAnts follow Fermat's principle of least time
(Phys.org) —Ants have long been known to choose the shortest of several routes to a food source, but what happens when the shortest route is not the fastest? This situation can occur, for example, when...
View ArticleInvisible pattern can put a stop to counterfeit designer clothing
There is now a way to differentiate between designer clothing and knockoffs. Chalmers researcher Christian Müller has produced a thread with unique optical properties, which can be used to create...
View ArticleBreakthrough technology quickly separates large proteins and viruses from...
Researchers looking to isolate individual proteins from complex environments usually turn to chromatography, a technique where mobile solutions of biomolecules flow through columns packed with solid,...
View ArticleChemical engineers discover 'ultraselective' process to make valuable...
(Phys.org) —Chemical engineering researchers Wei Fan, Paul Dauenhauer and colleagues at the University of Massachusetts Amherst report this week that they've discovered a new chemical process to make...
View ArticleRecycling farm plastics gains momentum
(Phys.org) —On today's farms, plastic is as ubiquitous as dirt. From plastic film that wraps silage to leftover pesticide containers to the thin trays that hold seedlings, plastic plays an important...
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