Chemistry and Biochemistry

Got it! A single-molecule diode

dianeb — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:48:35 -0700

Diodes are used in an endless array of devices. They are essential ingredients for the semiconductor industry. Making diodes smaller means cheaper cost and better performance for electronic devices. ASU researchers have now made diodes on the scale of a single molecule.--by Richard Harth

Pliable proteins keep photosynthesis on the light path

dianeb — Thu, 21 May 2009 14:03:13 -0600

Scientists are taking high-speed motion pictures of photosynthetic reactions that happen in a millionth of a millionth of a second. Their results have revealed a surprising twist to photosynthesis. --by Joe Caspermeyer

DNA is building block for 3-D nanotubes

pkrecker — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:13:36 -0700

ASU researchers create intricate structures on a scale almost unfathomably small. Their building material is the DNA molecule, which offers nearly limitless construction potential. --by Richard Harth

The race to develop cheap, rapid DNA sequencing

pkrecker — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:00:28 -0700

Personalized medicine based on your unique genetic makeup may soon be a reality. New technology could reduce the cost and speed of sequencing the entire human genome to $1,000 in 24 hours. --by Joe Caspermeyer

Ancient oceans reveal secrets about survival of life

pkrecker — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:09:49 -0700

The chemical makeup of the oceans has changed dramatically over billions of years. As a result, the ancient oceans are helping us understand how organisms and ecosystems evolve to cope with changing abundances of elements. --by Jenny Green

Life, interrupted

pkrecker — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:34:11 -0700

Why did the earliest life on Earth--mostly bacteria--remain virtually unchanged for a billion years? --by Diane Boudreau

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Deep biosphere research points to new methods for recovering petroleum

pkrecker — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:45:23 -0600

Miles below the surface of the planet, Earth is astir with life--microbial life. A team of ASU researchers is working to understand how these organisms get energy. Their work may have applications ranging from finding petroleum resources to cleaning up the environment. --by Nikki Staab
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The science of setback

pkrecker — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:00:00 -0600

Nobody likes having the rug pulled out from under them. But it can be a good experience for a scientist. Setbacks lead to new questions, which ultimately produce new answers. --by Nicholas Gerbis
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The dating game

pkrecker — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:02:01 -0600

A kilometer-deep sample of rock from Australia tells scientists about the atmosphere billions of years ago. But how do they know how old the rock really is? --by Diane Boudreau
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A glassy riddle: solving the mystery of water glass

pkrecker — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:41:45 -0600

Glass is much more than the stuff of windows and mirrors. The scientific term "glass" refers to substances that cool and become rigid without taking on a crystalline structure. The nature of glass is still a mystery to chemists. Glassy water is the biggest enigma of all. --by Nicholas Gerbis
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