Research Highlight |
Featured
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News |
Mirror-image molecules separated using workhorse of chemistry
The ability to distinguish between left- and right-handed molecules using mass spectrometry could streamline a laborious part of drug discovery.
- Katharine Sanderson
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News Feature |
The new car batteries that could power the electric vehicle revolution
Researchers are experimenting with different designs that could lower costs, extend vehicle ranges and offer other improvements.
- Nicola Jones
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News & Views |
Resting restores performance of discharged lithium-metal batteries
In lithium-metal batteries, grains of lithium can become electrically isolated from the anode, lowering battery performance. Experiments reveal that rest periods after battery discharge might help to solve this problem.
- Laura C. Merrill
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Article |
A rechargeable calcium–oxygen battery that operates at room temperature
A Ca–O2 battery that relies on a highly reversible two-electron redox to form chemically reactive calcium peroxide as the discharge product is reported to be stable in air and rechargeable for 700 cycles at room temperature.
- Lei Ye
- , Meng Liao
- & Huisheng Peng
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Nature Podcast |
Cancer’s power harnessed — lymphoma mutations supercharge T cells
Genetic changes that help tumour cells thrive can be co-opted to improve immunotherapy’s effectiveness, and looking at the electric vehicle batteries of the future.
- Benjamin Thompson
- & Nick Petrić Howe
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News |
EU unveils controversial climate target: what scientists think
The goal leans heavily on the largely unproven approach of carbon removal, concerning researchers.
- Katharine Sanderson
- & Carissa Wong
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News |
AI chatbot shows surprising talent for predicting chemical properties and reactions
Researchers lightly tweak ChatGPT-like system to offer chemistry insight.
- Davide Castelvecchi
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Article
| Open AccessStereodivergent 1,3-difunctionalization of alkenes by charge relocation
We introduce a method for the direct 1,3-difunctionalization of alkenes, based on a concept termed ‘charge relocation’, which enables stereodivergent access to 1,3-difunctionalized products of either syn- or anti-configuration from unactivated alkenes.
- Bogdan R. Brutiu
- , Giulia Iannelli
- & Nuno Maulide
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Article |
Establishing reaction networks in the 16-electron sulfur reduction reaction
We investigate the mechanism underlying the sulfur reduction reaction that plays a central role in high-capacity lithium sulfur batteries, highlighting the electrocatalytic approach as a promising strategy for tackling the fundamental challenges associated with these batteries.
- Rongli Liu
- , Ziyang Wei
- & Xiangfeng Duan
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Perspective |
Designing a circular carbon and plastics economy for a sustainable future
Four future greenhouse gas emission scenarios for the global plastics system are investigated, with the lead scenario achieving net-zero emissions, and a series of technical, legal and economic interventions recommended.
- Fernando Vidal
- , Eva R. van der Marel
- & Charlotte K. Williams
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Research Briefing |
Bendy silicon solar cells pack a powerful punch
Crystalline silicon solar cells have been brittle, heavy and fragile until now. Highly flexible versions with high power-to-weight ratios and power conversion efficiencies of 26.06–26.81% were produced by improving manufacturing and design technologies and by using thin wafer substrates.
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Article |
Durable CO2 conversion in the proton-exchange membrane system
We develop a proton-exchange membrane system that reduces CO2 to formic acid at a catalyst that is derived from waste lead–acid batteries and in which a lattice carbon activation mechanism contributes.
- Wensheng Fang
- , Wei Guo
- & Bao Yu Xia
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Article |
Conformational ensembles of the human intrinsically disordered proteome
A computational model generates conformational ensembles of 28,058 intrinsically disordered proteins and regions (IDRs) in the human proteome and sheds light on the relationship between sequence, conformational properties and functions of IDRs.
- Giulio Tesei
- , Anna Ida Trolle
- & Kresten Lindorff-Larsen
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News |
Canada’s oil sands spew massive amounts of unmonitored polluting gases
Innovative aircraft-based technique records carbon emissions not tracked before from the industrial region.
- Nicola Jones
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Comment |
To curb plastic pollution, industry and academia must unite
Collaboration is key to making plastic use greener as soon as possible. Our experience yields tips on how to set up industry–academic partnerships.
- Collin P. Ward
- , Christopher M. Reddy
- & Steven T. Perri
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News |
Pioneering nuclear-fusion reactor shuts down: what scientists will learn
The decommissioning of the Joint European Torus near Oxford, UK — a test bed for ITER — will take until 2040 and be studied in detail.
- Elizabeth Gibney
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Research Highlight |
Flexible geothermal power makes it easier to harness Earth’s inner heat
Next-generation plants that respond to demand could be key to making a low-carbon energy source more economically appealing.
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Where I Work |
Giving thanks for a glovebox: helping to make medicines from natural substances
Richmond Sarpong wishes more people had access to the nitrogen-regulated device.
- James Mitchell Crow
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Research Briefing |
Directly observing catalytic chemistry in the Haber–Bosch process
The Haber–Bosch process for making ammonia has been world-changing, but is highly energy-intensive owing to the high temperatures and pressures involved. A detailed understanding of the catalytic steps that occur in the basic reactions, and what limits them, opens the way to developing greener versions of the process.
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Article
| Open AccessCatalytic asymmetric cationic shifts of aliphatic hydrocarbons
We describe an imidodiphosphorimidate-catalysed asymmetric Wagner–Meerwein shift of aliphatic alkenyl cycloalkanes to cycloalkenes with excellent regio- and enantioselectivity.
- Vijay N. Wakchaure
- , William DeSnoo
- & Benjamin List
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Article
| Open AccessOperando probing of the surface chemistry during the Haber–Bosch process
Using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the surface composition of iron and ruthenium catalysts during ammonia synthesis at pressures up to 1 bar and temperatures as high as 723 K can be revealed.
- Christopher M. Goodwin
- , Patrick Lömker
- & Anders Nilsson
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Article
| Open AccessCapturing the generation and structural transformations of molecular ions
The use of mega-electronvolt ultrafast electron diffraction combined with resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization yields data that can reveal the formation and subsequent structural relaxation of a molecular ion on an ultrafast timescale.
- Jun Heo
- , Doyeong Kim
- & Hyotcherl Ihee
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Correspondence |
Climate policy must integrate blue energy with food security
- Yuyan Gong
- , Liuyue He
- & Jiangning Zeng
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Nature Podcast |
Audio long read: A new kind of solar cell is coming — is it the future of green energy?
Perovskite–silicon ‘tandem’ photovoltaic panels could lead to cheaper electricity production.
- Mark Peplow
- & Benjamin Thompson
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Research Briefing |
Atomic electron tomography reveals chemical order in medium- and high-entropy alloys
Medium- and high-entropy alloys are hugely promising materials in metallurgy and catalysis, but their atomic-scale structure — and how that relates to their properties — is not well understood. A powerful method is beginning to reveal their secrets, with hopes for engineering better materials in the future.
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News |
This GPT-powered robot chemist designs reactions and makes drugs — on its own
A system called Coscientist scours the Internet for instructions, then designs and executes experiments to synthesize molecules.
- Katharine Sanderson
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News & Views |
Large language models direct automated chemistry laboratory
Automation of chemistry research has focused on developing robots to execute jobs. Artificial-intelligence technology has now been used not only to control robots, but also to plan their tasks on the basis of simple human prompts.
- Ana Laura Dias
- & Tiago Rodrigues
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Article
| Open AccessAutonomous chemical research with large language models
Coscientist is an artificial intelligence system driven by GPT-4 that autonomously designs, plans and performs experiments by incorporating large language models empowered by tools such as internet and documentation search, code execution and experimental automation.
- Daniil A. Boiko
- , Robert MacKnight
- & Gabe Gomes
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Article |
A light-driven enzymatic enantioselective radical acylation
Enzyme-bound ketyl radicals derived from thiamine diphosphate are selectively generated through single-electron oxidation by a photoexcited organic dye and shown to lead to enantioselective radical acylation reactions.
- Yuanyuan Xu
- , Hongwei Chen
- & Xiaoqiang Huang
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Article
| Open AccessDesigner phospholipid capping ligands for soft metal halide nanocrystals
Phospholipids enhance the structural and colloidal integrity of hybrid organic–inorganic lead halide perovskites and lead-free metal halide nanocrystals, which then exhibit enhanced robustness and optical properties.
- Viktoriia Morad
- , Andriy Stelmakh
- & Maksym V. Kovalenko
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Research Briefing |
Oceans can capture more carbon dioxide than previously thought
The strength of the biological carbon pump was estimated using direct measurements of nutrients collected over decades. The findings indicate that ocean waters can capture and store larger amounts of carbon dioxide than previously estimated. This might have implications for climate-change models.
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News |
US nuclear-fusion lab enters new era: achieving ‘ignition’ over and over
Researchers at the National Ignition Facility are consistently creating reactions that make more energy than they consume.
- Jeff Tollefson
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Outlook |
How to take ‘forever’ out of forever chemicals
Stubborn compounds called PFAS in drinking water put health at risk. Technologies based on plasmas, pressure, sound or fungus could finally degrade these chemicals.
- Neil Savage
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Outlook |
Sizing up hydrogen’s hydrological footprint
The use of hydrogen as an energy carrier is essential to decarbonizing economies. Industrial policies and technology developments could trim the water consumption involved in producing the gas, minimizing its cost and environmental impact.
- Peter Fairley
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Outlook |
Fresh water from thin air
Strategies for collecting water from the atmosphere using minimal energy could fill a crucial gap in sustaining communities that have limited access to water.
- Michael Eisenstein
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News Feature |
Nature’s 10: ten people (and one non-human) who helped shape science in 2023
An AI pioneer, an architect of India’s Moon mission and the world’s first global heat officer are some of the people behind this year’s big stories.
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Nature Video |
The rubber that stops cracks in their tracks
Highly entangled polymers allow it to resist cracks from cyclical stress 10 times better than before.
- Dan Fox
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Spotlight |
Renewable energy for the subcontinent
India has invested heavily in wind, solar and storage technology to hit net zero by 2070, but some don’t think it’s doing enough.
- Bianca Nogrady
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Spotlight |
The climate disaster strikes: what the data say
A series of impact assessments highlight India’s vulnerability to extreme weather events and the risks they pose to human health.
- Shannon Hall
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Research Briefing |
Polymer films inspired by spider silk connect biological tissues and electronic devices
Linking biological tissues with electronic devices is challenging owing to the softness of tissues and their arbitrary shapes and sizes. An innovative water-responsive, supercontractile polymer film, inspired by spider silk, allows the construction of soft, stretchable and shape-adaptive tissue–electronic interfaces.
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News |
COP28 climate summit signals the end of fossil fuels — but is it enough?
As nations make historic pledge to ‘transition’ energy systems away from fossil fuels — some scientists are disappointed by the softened wording.
- Katharine Sanderson
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News Feature |
Nuclear-fusion breakthrough: this physicist helped to achieve the first-ever energy gain
Annie Kritcher and her team at the US National Ignition Facility designed fusion experiments that generated more energy than they consumed.
- Jeff Tollefson
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Nature Podcast |
Cat parasite Toxoplasma tricked to grow in a dish
Cat-only life-cycle stage cultured in vitro, and the mysterious giant proteins that might turn bacteria into killers.
- Nick Petrić Howe
- & Shamini Bundell
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Article |
Water-responsive supercontractile polymer films for bioelectronic interfaces
Water-responsive supercontractile polymer films composed of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(ethylene glycol)-α-cyclodextrin inclusion complex contract by more than 50% of their original length within seconds after wetting and become soft and stretchable hydrogel thin films that can be used in bioelectronic interfaces.
- Junqi Yi
- , Guijin Zou
- & Xiaodong Chen
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News |
Robot chemist sparks row with claim it created new materials
Researchers question whether an AI-controlled lab assistant actually made any novel substances.
- Mark Peplow
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Research Highlight |
Powerful X-ray reveals the inner life of an electric-vehicle battery
Researchers get an unprecedented glimpse of how ions behave during a drive.
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