A collaborative research team led by Prof. Ding PAN, Associate Professor from the Department of Physics and the Department of Chemistry at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), has made significant progress in studying the abiotic synthesis and stability of biomolecules in C-H-O-N fluids under deep Earth conditions. This research offers new insights into potential locations for the origin of life. The findings have been published online in the Journal of the American Chemical Society*.

A promising new catalyst could transform selective oxidation processes for light alkanes, as reported by scientists at Science Tokyo. In a recent study, they developed an iron-oxide-based perovskite that can turn isobutane into valuable products like tert-butyl alcohol under mild conditions. This catalyst, with the formula La_0.8Sr_0.2FeO_3−δ, achieves high selectivity, yield, and stability simultaneously, surpassing previous catalysts. Their efforts could lead to more efficient and sustainable synthesis of essential chemicals across various industries.

An international research collaboration has shed new light on the molecular basis of gene expression, the fundamental biological process that underpins how all organisms use their genetic information. 

 

The team used an advanced microscopy technique to capture in unprecedented detail a critical moment as genetic information is translated into the proteins that form nature’s structures and biochemical processes. 

Oxford University researchers have developed a set of biocompatible devices, which can replicate or surpass many electronic functions but use ions as the signal carriers.

The ‘dropletronic devices’ are made from miniature soft hydrogel droplets and can be combined to produce diodes, transistors, reconfigurable logic gates, and memory storage devices that mimic biological synapses.

The research team generated a biocompatible, dropletronic device to record electrical signals from beating human heart cells.

The study opens the way to miniature bioiontronic systems for abiotic-biotic interfaces, energy storage devices, and neuromorphic computing.

Studies of historical soundscapes today are helping us "hear" the past, allowing new insights into how the multi-sensory world was used in creative pursuits like literature. A researcher at Kyushu University has explored these soundscapes in a unique setting: the open sea. A number of early medieval English texts relied more on the sounds of howling storms and roaring waves than on visual descriptions to construct their maritime scenes.

The Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) has announced that Dr Christine Bösch, Associate Professor in Nutrition at the University of Leeds, has been conferred the 2024 LIST International Award in Bioinnovation (LIAB Award) for her groundbreaking research on the positive effects of red beetroot juice on gut microbiota health. Dr Bösch's work explores the health benefits of betalains – red and yellow pigments found in beetroot and similar foods. Her research highlights betalains' potential to impact blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular health, and gut microbiota.