Origins of life
The story Lane has to tell concerns his long-standing endeavours to understand the origin of all life on Earth. The relevant biochemistry is clearly outlined and his relaxed style and unpretentious language considerably aid readability of the more technical aspects of his work.
Life in Nanoscience
When it comes to the scientists who researched carbon and its extraordinary structural and electronic properties, few rank as high as Mildred Dresselhaus. By the time of her death on 20 February 2017, Dresselhaus had seen her research go from a virgin field of curiosity-driven science to its central place in the modern world.
Nano submarines
Recent advances in miniature devices suggest the futuristic vision of medical nanobots – so-called ‘bloodstream submarines’ – patrolling our bodies to detect and repair injury or deliver drugs may be closer than we think, Michael Gross reports.
Rewiring the brain
Nerve cells damaged by traumatic injury or disease don’t have the ability to regenerate – that was the old way of thinking. But new research is bringing the prospect of regenerative therapies for trauma, stroke and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Katrina Megget reports
Africa renewables transition
The South African government is fast-tracking a plan to wean the country from dependence on fossil fuels and ramp up renewable energy sources. Transitioning from coal, which is the source of up to 86% of South Africa’s electricity supply, to wind and solar technology, would help the country cut down on carbon emissions and increase energy security.
High pressurE super-heroes
When it comes to working at high pressures, Clark Kent has nothing on modern day scientists who can now routinely achieve pressures of 200GPa – useful for investigating the chemistries of other planets, Anthony King reports
Biodiesel from coffee waste
Aston University engineers have produced high quality biodiesel from microalgae ‘fed’ on leftover coffee grounds. They hope their findings could decrease reliance on palm oil to produce biofuel.
EVs drive Li demand
By 2050, the world will need 20 times the amount of lithium mined in 2021 to meet demand from energy storage and EV batteries, according to a new report. By 2032, more than 2.9m t/year of lithium carbonate equivalent (Li2CO3, LCE) will be required, exceeding the 2.7m t of global production between 2015 and 2022, notes the report by London headquartered Benchmark Mineral Intelligence.
EU weakness is Indian opportunity
Turmoil in the European chemical market has turned the spotlight on India, the country’s speciality chemicals manufacturers were informed at a seminar during the India Chem event in New Delhi in November 2022.
Biomedical
Read the Biomedical highlight by Kevin Burgess, Texas A&M University, US in C&I Issue 12 2022.