The direct oxidation of methane—found in natural gas—into methanol at low temperatures has long been a holy grail. Now, researchers at Tufts have found a breakthrough way to accomplish the feat using a heterogeneous catalyst and cheap molecular oxygen, according to a paper published today in the journal Nature by a team led by Tufts University chemical engineers.
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Uncertainty Surrounds U.S. Livestock Methane Emission Estimates
A new study of methane emissions from livestock in the United States — led by a researcher in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences — has challenged previous top-down estimates.
BYU Researchers Identify Gene Variation That Protects Against Alzheimer's Disease
BYU research published today in Genome Medicine details a novel and promising approach in the effort to treat Alzheimer’s disease.
Climate-Friendly Architecture Thanks to Natural Folding Mechanisms
Active components on buildings such as blinds whose design was copied from naturally occurring solutions — that is the subject of the research conducted by a team from the Technical University of Munich (TUM), the University of Freiburg, and the University of Stuttgart. The aim is to equip them with drive elements that can move without any electrical energy input. Serving as a model here are conifer pine cones, which utilize the varying swelling behaviors of their tissue to open when moist or close when dry.
Smartphone Addiction Creates Imbalance in Brain
Researchers have found an imbalance in the brain chemistry of young people addicted to smartphones and the internet, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
New Nationwide Map of Air Pollution Provides Insights Into Nitrogen Dioxide Levels Across the Country and Within Towns and Cities
EarthSense Systems – a joint venture between the University of Leicester and aerial mapping company BlueSky - has published MappAir® – the first ever high resolution nationwide map of air pollution.