Scientists have created novel carbon-based organic molecules to improve the ‘glow-in-the-dark’ effect (Nature Mat., doi: 10.1038/s41563-021-01150-9). The new organic long-persistent luminescent (OLPL) materials have the potential to be more easily formed into paints and fibres than traditional rare earth metal-based compounds.
The European Commission plans to launch a harmonised system to certify the carbon footprint of hydrogen and other low-carbon fuels as part of a package of EU laws aimed at decarbonising the gas sector to be announced in December 2021.
The search continues for new and improved materials and treatments in dentistry, reports Katrina Megget
Advanced materials highlight for C&I Magazine in Issue 12 2021 by Arno Kraft, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK.
Organic chemistry written by G. Richard Stephenson, University of East Anglia, UK for C&I Magazine Issue 12 2021
Chemicals companies need to digitalise to be competitive, but many struggle to realise the full potential of what digital transformation could achieve for their business. A recent global study confirmed that only 19% of chemicals companies demonstrate real leadership in digital, with 45% ‘adopters’ still climbing the digital maturity curve and over a third (36%) ‘followers’, still in the early stages of digitalisation.
Pure carbon can form many other materials beyond the classical allotropes of graphite and diamond. Michael Gross reports.
Advances in cell and gene therapies have happened at an exponential rate. Since Novartis broke open the market in 2017 with Kymriah – a gene therapy for blood cancer – the sector is booming and unlikely to slow down. More than 2600 trials are ongoing worldwide and the US FDA predicts it will be approving up to 20 therapies a year by 2025. Meanwhile, financing of regenerative medicine has soared.
A therapy consisting of two signaling peptides and a special polymer scaffold has repaired severe spinal injuries in mice. A single injection into tissues surrounding the damaged spinal cord enabled the mice to regain their ability to walk within four weeks (Science, 2021, 374, 848).