Recycling astronaut urine for energy and drinking water

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140409103409.htm

Ew! That sounds disgusting. It did to me once I read the title of this article. Instead of just releasing the astronaut pee in the unknown space, why not reuse it for a better need? Scientists are trying to develop a way to reuse space urine for drinking water. Collecting urine, and shower waste water and process it using forward osmosis. This filters the the garbage in the urine. Their new Urea Bioreactor Electrochemical system (UBE) efficiently converted the urea into ammonia in its bioreactor, and then turned the ammonia into energy

 with its fuel cell. The system was designed with space missions 

in mind, but "the results showed that the 

UBE system could be used in any wastewater treatment systems containing urea and/or ammonia,"

Thermoelectric generator on glass fabric for wearable electronic devices

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140410131458.htm

Wearing computers sounds pretty amazing. This is the next generation thinking. This goes from smart watches, to smart glasses, to smart pacemakers. Lightweight, and flexibility make this capable for a person to wear an electronic gadget. The type of battery affects buyers, is it one battery that needs replacement? Is it a rechargeable battery, or a battery that runs on sunlight, or even one that does not even need a battery.  Scientists have now proposed a solution to this problem by developing a glass fabric-based thermometric (TE) generator that is extremely light and flexible and produces electricity from the heat of the human body.

Genetically modified tobacco plants as an alternative for producing bioethanol

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140414092002.htm

Instead of chewing tobacco using it as an alternative for producing bioethanol is way more productive. Tobacco, as seen below is mowed seven times in the cycle. It is suitable for producing bioethonal. It produces 160 tons per hectare. Some tobacco plants were genetically engineered to produce more starch and sugar.As Jon Veramendi, head of the plant Agrobiotechnology research group, explained, "tobacco plants as a source of biomass for producing bioethanol could be an alternative to traditional tobacco growing which is in decline in the USA and in Europe because it cannot compete with emerging countries like China."

Engineers develop new materials for hydrogen storage

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140415094401.htm

At the University of California, engineers created ceramic materials to increase and ensure hydrogen storage safely. This was part of a 1.2 million dollar project.Mixtures of calcium hexaboride, barium hexaboride, and strontium were used to make this. Combustion synthesis was the cheap process involved. Combustion synthesis is an attractive technique to synthesize a wide variety of advanced materials including powders and near-net shape products of ceramics, intermetallics, composites, and functionally graded materials.
They were looking solid materials that can store and release hydrogen easily.

Pizza that last for years?!

Pizza that lasts for years?!


Source: http://phys.org/news/2014-02-military-awaits-pizza-years.html

Military members have been asking for pizza to be sent. Scientists have created this pizza that lasts up to 3 years!!! This pizza doesn't even need refrigerating! The tomato sauce has a new moisture, cheese and the toppings, too. This moisture will also help from soggy pizza dough to be created. This pizza is said to be delicious. The downside is the pizza is not hot but at room temperature. Moisture should not be migrating. The toppings are also packaged in packings so they can be preserved. For example the pepperoni is in crumble pieces. This is a large innovation creating food that can last for long, so people in the world do not have to throw out food that expires.

New theory may lead to more efficient solar cells

source:http://phys.org/news/2014-01-theory-efficient-solar-cells.html

Scientists do not still understand what goes on in the material that makes up solar cells. But scientists did happen to make this discovery. Solar cells are made from organic semi-conductors. Solar cells are blended with materials. 

But these solar cells only have a whopping 3 percent efficiency rate. This model created by these scientists will increase efficiency. It is a mathematical model, and will help in chemistry a lot.

Bananas are Chemicals, Too

source: http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/01/21/bananas-are-chemicals-too/?ref=chemistry

Those ingredients listed of an all-natural banana make it a chemical. Chemicals are filled with a lot of chemicals. You may think gross next time u see a banana, but so are a lot of other things people eat. These chemicals are proven to be 100% safe and edible. Bananas are pure, simple, and all natural. DNA is also in bananas. If u pick a few foods, and you use these ingredients in a banana, you may find out that there a a ton of foods you eat everyday 

New quantum dots herald a new era of electronics operating on a single-atom level

source:http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140127112723.htm
These world's first quantum dots containing single cobalt ions. This creation will help scientists in solotronics. Solotronics are a field of experimental electronics and spintronics of the future, based on operations occurring on a single-atom level. 

This is a cross-section of the quantum dots made by the Institute of Experimental Physics at the Faculty of Physics at the University of Warsaw. The color red marks an ion  with magnetic properties ( Yellow represents a quantum dot. Blue shows the layer securing the quantum dot

First plastic cell with working organelle

First plastic cell with working organelle

source:http://phys.org/news/2014-01-plastic-cell-organelle.html

This is the first time ever that chemists have been able to make a cell that consists of organelles that can process chemical reactions!!!!! 

This was created at the Institute for Molecules and Materials (IMM) at Radboud University Nijmegen.This was actually a very complex creation since it is very difficult. This discovery was essential because now the scientists can duplicate this cell and learn more on the origins of life from chemistry and biology. These types of creations are really popular in chemistry today, and everyone wants to find them out. They are making cells and polymers, also. Next, chemists might find a way to make cells produce its own energy!!!!!

A Far-Flung Possibility for the Origin of Life

source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/12/science/space/a-far-flung-possibility-for-the-origin-of-life.html?ref=chemistry&_r=0
Scientists say that us humans are all martians. A man argued that Mars was a more probable place for life rather than earth. Certain shared chemicals are on both Mars and Earth. There are strands of RNA combined into two double strands which are encoded in human's genes. Contreversies have been brought up because this chemistry experiment may not have been possible in the Early Earth or Mars. Mars has a high level oxygen

A Way to Make Carbon Storage Pay

source: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=bryant-a-way-to-make-carbon-storage-pay

Putting carbon dioxide in hot brines can create methane to be sold. A carbon dioxide will be saved and be stored underground. In the hot brine, it will turn to methane. AFter it will be sent back underground and the process creates methane.  Methane can be sold and used for heating and paying. This is a costly process and time consuming. The outcome is more money, which is unfortunately a large part of the goal.

Rapid DNA sequencing cleared for the clinic

source: http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/2013/11/rapid-dna-sequencing-cleared-clinic

These news DNA sequencing devices are soon to be used for clinics. This is a great discovery in chemistry. Clinics use these devices for diagnostics and tests. This was developed by Fred Sanger who recently passed, but was a 2 time nobelist in chemistry. In Illumina this is going to be used by running cystic fibrosis over  diagnostic tests.

How zinc starves lethal bacteria to stop infection

source: http://phys.org/news/2013-11-zinc-starves-lethal-bacteria-infection.html

Streptococcus pneumoniae is responsible for killing children, the elderly and many other people by causing pneumonia, meningitis, and other serious infectious diseases. Zinc plays the role by blocking a certain area that bacteria needs to travel in, and ends up starving it. It blocks a protein transporter, where bacteria gets manganese, a metal that helps cause disease with the bacteria. If manganese wasn't existent, the bacteria would be harmless and removable simply. This is a useful discovery and can help save millions of lives in the future.

New generation of micro sensors for monitoring ocean acidification

New generation of micro sensors for monitoring ocean acidification

source:http://phys.org/news/2013-11-micro-sensors-ocean-acidification.html

This recently discovered is a great improvement in the science department in the world. This technology helps and gives the acidity in pH of ocean water. This, unfortunately, can only work in sea water issues. Oceans become more acidic when atmospheric carbon dioxide.  When carbon dioxide dissolves in oceans, it becomes acidic. Acidity will ruin marine life and marine economies, also. This can detect and sense human impact affecting a region. This technology can improve ways  to act about the marine problems, and deal with human troubles.

A Far-Flung Possibility for the Origin of Life

source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/12/science/space/a-far-flung-possibility-for-the-origin-of-life.html?_r=0

Scientists believe we are all martians. Scientists observed chemicals that could have supported life in areas like Mars. This can prove that life did not start on Earth but out of the Earth's atmosphere. Small organic compounds reacts as they would to support life. The RNA researched can be combined to be DNA which are in genes of humans. Both planets have many similarities and this is a huge discovery with very supportive evidence.

Recycling Valuable Materials Used in TVs, Car Batteries, Cell Phones

source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131030104112.htm

In hybrid cars and flat screen tvs, all carry valuable sources inside them. The valuable material are being wasted and thrown out everyday. Scientists created a new method to recycle these materials safely. An example of this is terbium is a metal used in a knife. Scientists can release this material from the knife and use this valuable metal for other uses. Or since terbium may be projected to be all used up in 30 years, scientists can preserve this metal. The process of taking these materials out of objects was by using a nanomaterial known as nano-magnesium hydroxide. This process can be proven to be very helpful in the future.

A Novel Way to Clean Wastewater

A Novel Way to Clean Wastewater

Source:http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/26/a-novel-way-to-clean-wastewater/?ref=chemistry

A scientist wanted to find the material in explosives made a powerful sponge that can take in material like gas, motor oil, and pesticides in water. A new material can be sold from this. This item can safely restore and clean wastewater. Having clean water and getting rid of waste from the clean water was always a huge problem and safety issue. This new product can be sold in stores and will help clean the environment.

Made in Lab, Fleeting Element May Join Periodic Table

source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/28/science/made-in-lab-fleeting-element-may-join-periodic-table.html?ref=chemistry&_r=0

This new element has 115 protons meaning its atomic number is 115. This element takes the place of the empty space between elements 114 and 116. This will also help discover element 113 , with similar properties. The element was created when, calcium nuclei were put into americium atoms. A calcium and an americium formed, creating a new atom with 115 protons in its nucleus. Later, under second, it fell apart. The researchers concluded its existence from the pieces of debris.

New Device Harnesses Sun and Sewage to Produce Hydrogen Fuel

At the University of California, a new discovery of an invention was made. This device uses microbial fuel cells, solar cells called photoelectrochemical cells. The microbial fuel, the bacteria in it takes the organic materials from water, and possibly creates electricity. The electricity that is produced is used with the photoelectrochemical cells and can split water. The outcome of this is hydrogen and oxygen are produced in the process of hydrolysis. 

Sources:http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131010205331.htm

Scientists Create a Super Antioxidant

Scientists from Rice University made better an element from car's catyltlic converter and are now using it in the medical field. Small form of cerium oxide topped with a layer fatty oelic acid was created. This creation can help treat brain trauma, cardiac arrest, and even Alzheimer's disease. Also, this can help with long term effects for astronauts. This oxide can give out oxygen ions, which is a chemical reaction. This reaction is called reduction oxidation!

sources: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131015123700.htm