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Chemistry & Physics

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 7-May-2026 05:16 ET (7-May-2026 09:16 GMT/UTC)

Scientists stunned: Volcano cleans up after itself by removing methane from the air

University of Copenhagen
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A violent volcanic eruption in the South Pacific has revealed a surprising natural mechanism that could potentially help slow global warming. The finding provides entirely new insights into atmospheric chemistry and may inspire new methods to remove methane emissions from the air.

Journal: Nature Communications
Funder: Spark Climate Solutions

International forum highlights engineered biochar for carbon capture and resource recovery

Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University
Meeting Announcement

The 23rd Carbon Research International Forum, held online on April 24, 2026, brought together researchers and professionals to explore how engineered biochar can support carbon capture, resource recovery, and sustainable industrial development. The recorded session has now been uploaded to YouTube, making the forum available to a wider international audience interested in low-carbon technologies and circular economy solutions.

Professor Laura Gagliardi receives prestigious Schrödinger Medal

University of Chicago
Grant and Award Announcement

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Professor Laura Gagliardi has been awarded the 2026 Schrödinger Medal by the World Association of Theoretical and Computational Chemists, a prestigious honor coinciding with the centenary of the Schrödinger equation. Recognizing her pioneering work in multireference quantum theory, specifically the development of Multiconfiguration Pair-Density Functional Theory (MC-PDFT), the award highlights her ability to model complex "strongly correlated" molecular systems. Beyond theoretical excellence, Gagliardi’s research provides the digital blueprints for sustainable technologies, including metal-organic frameworks for atmospheric water harvesting and advanced catalysts for carbon capture. As Director of CAMES and CD4DC at the University of Chicago, she continues to bridge the gap between fundamental quantum mechanics and the practical material solutions required to address global climate challenges.

Scientists program materials just by spinning them

Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A team including EPFL engineers has designed a rotating platform whose controlled spin can make flexible beams snap between two stable states. The simple, fast method can encode binary information directly into materials without electronics.

Journal: Science Advances

A comprehensive theory for nematoelasticity (Physical Review B)

University of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Theorists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign address an experimental paradox by developing a general theory uniting a kind of order known as electronic nematicity with a crystal’s elasticity.

Journal: Physical Review B

A comprehensive theory for nematoelasticity (Physical Review Letters)

University of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Theorists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign address an experimental paradox by developing a general theory uniting a kind of order known as electronic nematicity with a crystal’s elasticity.

Journal: Physical Review Letters

Aircraft measurements reveal surprisingly strong Southern Ocean biological productivity

National Center for Atmospheric Research/University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The biological productivity of the Southern Ocean in the summertime is substantially greater than many previous estimates have suggested, according to new airborne research.

Journal: Nature Geoscience

A new experimental strategy enables the elimination of proteins involved in pathological processes

Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A preclinical study carried out by the Institute of Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC) and the Institute for Molecular Biology of Barcelona (IBMB), both part of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), has developed a strategy that enables the forced elimination of proteins that help tumors survive chemotherapy. This finding opens a new avenue to tackle resistance to cancer treatments, one of the major challenges in oncology. The research, published in Nature Communications, provides a proof of concept for a new mechanism of induced degradation of harmful proteins, expanding the potential for developing more effective therapies in the future.

Journal: Nature Communications

FAU engineering researcher earns NSF CAREER Award for air, water purification

Florida Atlantic University
Grant and Award Announcement

An FAU researcher has earned a National Science Foundation CAREER award to study why amine-based sorbents used in pollution control degrade over time. By uncovering molecular-level mechanisms behind this breakdown, the project aims to improve the durability and efficiency of materials used to capture carbon dioxide, toxic gases, heavy metals and “forever chemicals,” with potential benefits for air and water purification, sustainability and energy systems.

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