Scientists wanted to understand how water shortages impact pepper plant growth. They ran experiments with different water levels (ranging from 45 to 85%) and exposure times (2 to 8 days). They tracked how quickly plants developed, how much they were affected by light and heat (TEP), and the total gr
Soft actuators today often rely on a single driving method, making it tough to handle complex, multi-directional movements. Scientists have crafted a new type of actuator using MXene, a special material, combined with a unique wrinkling structure. By adding n-hexane and letting it evaporate quickly,
Scientists are always on the hunt for better ways to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. This time, they've designed special Ru-B-Cr parts within RuO₂ nanofibers to make the Ru sites more active. This overcomes the hurdles of RuO₂ catalysts, which usually aren't very good at producing hydrogen and
A tiny fungus called Claroideoglomus etunicatum is creating quite a buzz in the world of plants and insects. This fungus lives symbiotically with wheat, which means it helps the plant grow and deal with stress, like lack of water. Researchers wanted to see what happens when this fungus teams up with
Imagine you could peek inside a brain and watch water move from one cell to another. Scientists have done just that using a clever trick with magnets and chemicals. They looked at chicken embryo brains, which are still developing, so certain chemicals can slip through the brain's protective barrier.
Did you know that ruthenium dioxide (RuO2) is a star player in generating oxygen from water, also known as the oxygen evolution reaction (OER)? Well, it's not always perfect. Scientists found that adding a bit of manganese (Mn) to RuO2 can make it work better and last longer. When they tested this M
Ever heard of disulfide bonds? They're super important in biochemistry, making proteins do their jobs. Usually, making them needs oxygen, chemicals, or special catalysts. But scientists found something cool: water droplets can do it all by themselves! No extra stuff needed, just water and room tempe
Have you ever considered the tiny iron particles hiding in your water? These microscopic invaders can harm our bodies and damage the pipes that transport water. Fortunately, scientists have found a clever way to capture these iron ions using two materials called polydopamine (PDA) and polymethyl met
Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is vital for generating hydrogen fuel through water splitting. To make this process sustainable, researchers are searching for abundant materials like silicates. A recent study synthesized various metal metasilicates using a simple wet-chemical method followed by hi
Antibiotics in our water bodies are a big problem. They harm aquatic life and can make us sick. Scientists have been looking into how to break down these drugs in water. One way is by using a special material called a photocatalyst. This material can use light to break down pollutants like antibioti
