Matter and energy from Science Daily Feed

Trying to improve the efficiency of solar cells to become independent from fossil energy sources is a major goal of solar cell research. Physicists now combine perovskite with organic absorbers to form a record-level tandem solar cell.

The hydrogen atoms of [4Fe-4S] type ferredoxin, one of the electron carriers, have been visualized and both experiments and calculations have revealed the mechanisms that control the redox potential. Aspartic acid (Asp64) located a distance away from the [4Fe-4S] cluster of ferredoxin, was found to be the control switch, an evolutionarily conserved mechanism.

The first-known direct observations of the movement of microfiber plastics through a thin layer of soil-like particles show that they tend to tumble, roll and sometimes get stuck in spaces. The findings mean that the fibers could get easily trapped in sediment. The work helps to improve understanding of the exposure risks and possible health impacts of the pervasive pieces of plastic, which are the largest pollutant in the world by mass.

From the RMS Titanic to the SS Endurance, shipwrecks offer valuable -- yet swiftly deteriorating -- windows into the past. Conservators slowly dry marine wooden artifacts to preserve them but doing so can inflict damage. To better care for delicate marine artifacts, researchers have developed a new hydrogel that quickly neutralizes harmful acids and stabilized waterlogged wood from an 800-year-old shipwreck.

A study of American and Canadian universities found most are including climate change in the curriculum for future urban planners, but they vary widely in their approaches to preparing the future professionals for mitigating, adapting to and being resilient to climate change in their profession.

Physicists are getting closer to controlling single-molecule chemical reactions -- could this shape the future of pharmaceutical research?

Researchers have developed a novel bioprinting technique that uses spheroids, which are clusters of cells, to create complex tissue. This new technique improves the precision and scalability of tissue fabrication, producing tissue 10-times faster than existing methods.

A new approach could herald a shift in the way we use antibiotics. By attacking the pathogen's unique and hidden metabolic 'vulnerabilities,' researchers offers a new tool in the global challenge to counteract antibiotic resistance and uncover similar combination therapies for other diseases.

Scientists have found a way to more than double the uptake ability of a chemical structure that can be used for scrubbing carbon dioxide from factory flues.

In a first-of-its-kind breakthrough, a team of researchers has developed an artificial adhesion system that closely mimics natural biological interactions. Their research focuses on understanding how cells physically interact with each other and their environment, with the ultimate goal of developing innovative tools for disease diagnosis and therapy.

A group of young students became bonafide biomedical scientists before they even started high school. Through a partnership with a nearby university, the middle schoolers collected and analyzed environmental samples to find new antibiotic candidates. One unique sample, goose poop collected at a local park, had a bacterium that showed antibiotic activity and contained a novel compound that slowed the growth of human melanoma and ovarian cancer cells in lab tests.

Researchers explore the transformation dynamics of cubic liquid crystals using direct simulation and machine learning, offering new possibilities for advanced materials development.

Research is paving the way for advanced diamond-based technologies in electronics and quantum computing.

A researcher has helped create a new 3D printing approach for shape-changing materials that are likened to muscles, opening the door for improved applications in robotics as well as biomedical and energy devices.

A research team has taken inspiration from the brains of insects and animals for more energy-efficient robotic navigation.

A research team has developed liquid-processed thin-film transistors that can maintain high performance at low temperatures -- They are expected to be used in the next generation of high-performance flexible electronics and wearable devices as they can operate on plastic substrates and maintain stable performance under repeated mechanical bending.

Scientists developed next-generation energy technology to produce eco-friendly hydrogen from ingredients in coffee.

You reach for a glass of water only to knock it to the floor, shattering the glass and shooting shards all over the place. If only the glass was unbreakable. Now, researchers have brought this possibility closer to reality after they uncovered crucial insights into how glass becomes more resistant to fractures.

A study has unveiled new insights into the electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 using nickel-based catalysts. The research marks a significant advancement in the quest for sustainable and efficient CO2 conversion technologies aimed to close the artificial carbon cycle.

Clay minerals are a major constituent of the earth's surface and are mainly found in the sediments of lakes, rivers and oceans. The properties of clay and claystone crucially depend on how the tiny sediment particles are orientated. A research team has now succeeded for the first time in observing in detail how some of the processes work.