Materials science, chemistry and energy research.
A new all-biomass fiber uses silk and cellulose in a porous structure inspired by polar bear hair. The fibers were strong enough to make a flexible glove that showed good thermal insulation.
A bioinspired magnetic catalyst steered oxygen reduction toward either hydrogen peroxide or water, depending on the structure of its magnetic iron oxide component. The single-domain design reached 63.9% hydrogen peroxide selectivity, while the multi-domain design favored the four-electron route to water.
A water-stable porous material revealed how it takes up atmospheric moisture, beginning with a strongly bound water molecule and proceeding through water layers. The nickel material also showed fast loading, regeneration at 60 °C or below and projected water productivity under simulated conditions.
A study of layered Nb3Cl8 finds switchable electric polarization, unusual flat electronic bands and multiple chiral lattice vibrations in one material. The results suggest a platform for studying interacting electronic, optical and magnetic effects at small scales, although the work does not report device performance.
Researchers made biodegradable films from pectin, glycerol, and purple sweet-potato color that respond to pH changes. The color shift was sensitive and the films could be used to monitor shrimp freshness, based on changes linked to shrimp quality indicators.
Nickel-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles were made using an extract from Salvia hispanica. In lab tests, they inhibited bacterial biofilms and reduced the activity of several virulence genes, while also triggering apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest in cancer cells. The researchers also report stronger antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus aureus than against normal cells’ growth.
A study in Scientific Reports reports a way to convert rainbow trout processing waste into single-cell protein grown by purple sulfur bacteria in biofloc technology. The protein product showed antioxidant activity and, in a small feeding test, supported Daphnia magna growth at 40% dietary inclusion.
