IN THE LAB
Breaking Benzene With Metal
Researchers have developed a method to break the highly stable bonds in aromatic compounds.
The Mixed Results Of India’s Total Sanitation Campaign
A study shows that campaign intervention improved sanitation facilities by 19 percent, but did not improve child health.
Gratitude Can Win You New Friends
Parents have long told their children to mind their Ps and Qs, and to remember to say thank you. Australian scientists have now uncovered why this could be important.
Tuning The Spin Hall Angle For Cheaper Spintronics
The ability to control the spin Hall angle in the common semiconductor material GaAs could lead to new spintronics technologies.
Watching The Planets Collide, In Real Time
By monitoring the temperature changes in dust clouds over two years, astronomers have been able to track a recent planetary collision.
Understanding The Body’s Antibody Factories
A better understanding of plasma cell signaling could lead to better vaccines and therapies for autoimmune disease.
Achieving Nanoscale Control Of Self Assembly
Japanese scientists have successfully fine-tuned the self-organised assembly of organic electronic materials.
Blue Light Changes Bacterial Lifestyle
The photoreceptor SesA enables cyanobacteria sense blue light and produce cellulose to avoid light damage.
Lasers Spot Toxic ‘Gutter Oil’
A technique employing laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy can rapidly identify harmful re-used oil known in China as "gutter oil".
