59+ min ago (899+ words) In a groundbreaking study that reveals the potential of sustainable materials in modern applications, researchers led by Daniele Rossi have introduced a new method for synthesizing flexible polyurethane foams. What sets this work apart is the significant high bio-based content derived from waste cooking oil, a resource often overlooked in traditional material production. This innovative [] In a groundbreaking study that reveals the potential of sustainable materials in modern applications, researchers led by Daniele Rossi have introduced a new method for synthesizing flexible polyurethane foams. What sets this work apart is the significant high bio-based content derived from waste cooking oil, a resource often overlooked in traditional material production. This innovative approach not only addresses environmental concerns but also positions waste cooking oil as a valuable feedstock in the manufacturing sector. The increasing global demand for environmentally friendly and sustainable materials…...

1+ hour, 26+ min ago (327+ words) While lithium extraction technologies generally focus on ways to get the essential metal out of the ground, there's another source to mine: existing batteries that no longer work. A new technique could now make that process economically viable. Enter the new technique from scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. There, a team led by chemical and biomolecular engineering professor Xiao Su, has been spending time disassembling batteries and then submerging them in an organic solvent. This leads to a brine that contains lithium as well as other metals present in the batteries. To harvest the lithium, the team developed a special electrode created from a copolymer consisting of molecules that attach to lithium and those that respond to an electrical current. When placed inside the brine and electrified, it sucked only lithium from the solution like a sponge, leaving…...

4+ hour, 15+ min ago (890+ words) In the complex world of neuropharmacology, the drug topiramate has emerged as a critically important agent in the management of various neurological disorders, particularly epilepsy and migraine prophylaxis. Derived from a sulfamate-substituted monosaccharide, this compound has garnered significant attention due to its multifaceted actions on ion channels, specifically voltage-gated sodium channels and hyperpolarization-activated cation currents. [] In the complex world of neuropharmacology, the drug topiramate has emerged as a critically important agent in the management of various neurological disorders, particularly epilepsy and migraine prophylaxis. Derived from a sulfamate-substituted monosaccharide, this compound has garnered significant attention due to its multifaceted actions on ion channels, specifically voltage-gated sodium channels and hyperpolarization-activated cation currents. A new study conducted by Tzeng, Lai, and Wu offers compelling evidence detailing dual blocking effects exhibited by topiramate on these crucial currents, which may provide insights into its therapeutic…...

5+ hour, 34+ min ago (449+ words) Just as green energy stocks are beginning to rally, French researchers made an important breakthrough in "blue energy," according to the Institut Polytechnique de Paris' Polytechnique insights. Admittedly, blue energy isn't as well-known or developed as other forms of clean energy, like solar and wind. But the outcome of a pilot project in France "could be decisive for the energy transition," the outlet predicted. "Blue energy" is actually a form of green energy. As its moniker implies, the energy in this equation is derived from water. Also called "osmotic power," the process harnesses energy naturally generated at the interface between freshwater and saltwater. The Electrochemical Society explained that the innate "pressure" between high-salinity water and freshwater "can be turned into electricity." "The planet naturally makes salt water and fresh water, so we should take advantage of that. It's free energy,…...

6+ hour, 7+ min ago (396+ words) Scientists at UCLA and UC Berkeley have created a groundbreaking type of image sensor that can recognize materials and objects the moment light hits it'without needing a computer to process the data afterward. This new technology, described in Science, could transform machine vision, environmental sensing, robotics, and mobile imaging by making them dramatically faster and more energy efficient. Normally, spectral cameras collect huge amounts of information by capturing many separate images, each at a different wavelength of light. These stacks of data must then be sent to processors to analyze what the scene contains. That process is powerful but slow, energy-hungry, and limited by the amount of data that must be moved around inside the hardware. The new sensors, called spectral kernel machines (SKMs), avoid this problem entirely. Instead of storing or analyzing large volumes of data, they perform the…...

7+ hour, 59+ min ago (665+ words) We bring you five Inorganic Chemistry questions and answers from JEE Main 2023 Session 1 With JEE Mains 2026 January session less than two months away, aspirants should start solving previous year questions and sample papers now. One such topic that is important to be revised is Inorganic Chemistry. To help you in this, we bring you five Inorganic Chemistry questions and answers from JEE Main 2023 Session 1. Scroll to see if you can solve them: 1 " Periodic trends & oxidation states (Easy'Medium) Question. Among the following ions, which one has the largest ionic radius? A. Na" B. Mg" C. Al" D. Si" Ionic radius for isoelectronic species decreases with increasing nuclear charge (Z) because more protons pull electrons closer. Check electron counts: Na": Z=11 " electrons = 10 (Ne configuration) Mg": Z=12 " electrons = 10 Al": Z=13 " electrons = 10 Si": Z=14 " electrons = 10 All are isoelectronic (10 e). The one with smallest Z has weakest pull " largest radius. The…...

9+ hour, 26+ min ago (401+ words) Soft robots'machines made from flexible, squishy materials'are designed to move gently and adapt to tight or delicate spaces. They can glide through water, squeeze into pipes, or handle fragile objects without causing damage. But even though these robots are soft and adaptable, their power sources are not. Traditional batteries are rigid, heavy, and wear out quickly when bent or stretched. This has limited the independence of soft robots, often forcing them to stay connected to an external power supply or accept a shorter working life. A research team led by Assistant Professor Wu Changsheng at the National University of Singapore has found an innovative way to turn this weakness into a strength. Their study, published in Science Advances, shows that the same magnetic fields used to control soft robots can also make their flexible batteries stronger and more reliable. By…...

9+ hour, 39+ min ago (926+ words) A calm patch of seawater looks simple from above. Chemically, however, it's anything but simple. Right where air meets liquid, water molecules and dissolved ions arrange themselves in ways that control how gases react, how droplets age in the atmosphere, and how electric charges move in devices. For a long time, chemists used a fairly tidy story to describe this boundary. Some ions were said to crowd toward the top of the liquid, while others were said to stay buried below. The resulting separation of charge created a smooth electric field that lined up nearby water molecules. Recent work from the University of Cambridge'and the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Germany takes a much closer look at that story and finds that the real surface of salty water is more structured and less tidy than that textbook picture....

10+ hour, 28+ min ago (427+ words) Closed-cell self-expanding foam (spray foam) is an amazing material that sees common use in construction. But one application that we hadn't heard of before was using it to fill the "read more Closed-cell self-expanding foam (spray foam) is an amazing material that sees common use in construction. But one application that we hadn't heard of before was using it to fill the internal voids of 3D printed objects. As argued by [Alex] in a half-baked-research YouTube video, this foam could be very helpful with making sure that printed boats keep floating and water stays out of sensitive electronic bits. It's pretty common knowledge by now that 3D printed objects from FDM printers aren't really watertight. Due to the way that these printers work, there's plenty of opportunity for small gaps and voids between layers to permit moisture to seep through. This is…...

13+ hour, 25+ min ago (673+ words) Making better beer: The stability of the foam does not depend on individual factors in a linear manner. You can't just change one thing and get it right. Scientists have discovered the basis behind one of the important elements in brewing: the long-sought formula behind stable beer foam. The research explains why different beers rely on different physical mechanisms to keep bubbles intact and why some foams last far longer than others. For many people who enjoy a glass of beer, the experience feels incomplete without a thick, creamy layer of foam resting on top. Yet this foam often disappears quickly, collapsing before the first sip. Some varieties, however, manage to hold their foam for a surprisingly long time. The reason for this has not been determined " until now. Researchers at ETH Zurich have uncovered the scientific explanation for these…...