ScienceDaily: Matter & Energy News

New research has shown that future gravitational wave detections from space will be capable of finding new fundamental fields and potentially shed new light on unexplained aspects of the Universe.

Researchers have developed an inexpensive, non-toxic coating for almost any fabric that decreases the infectivity of the virus that causes COVID-19 by up to 90 per cent. And in the future, you might be able to spray it on fabric yourself.

When light hits a material, electrons can be released from this material -- the photoelectric effect. Although this effect played a major role in the development of the quantum theory, it still holds a number of secrets: To date it has not been clear how quickly the electron is released after the photon is absorbed. Researchers have now been able to find an answer to this mystery with the aid of a COLTRIMS reaction microscope: The emission takes place lightning fast, namely within just a few attoseconds.

A new catalyst extracts hydrogen from hydrogen storage materials easily and efficiently. The process occurs at mild temperatures and under normal atmospheric conditions, without using metals or additives.

Researchers have discovered a new way of producing and stabilizing a rare form of sulfur that functions in carbonate electrolyte -- the energy-transport liquid used in commercial Li-ion batteries. This development would not only make sulfur batteries commercially viable, but they would have three times the capacity of Li-ion batteries and last more than 4,000 recharges -- the equivalent of 10 years of use -- also a substantial improvement.

European scientists have achieved a major success on the road to energy production through fusion plasmas: They produced stable plasmas with 59 megajoules of energy output at the world's largest fusion facility, JET, in Culham near Oxford, UK.

A new study found that measuring the time it takes for a radar pulse to travel from a satellite to the sea surface and back again can reveal the thickness of river ice and dates when it is safe to travel on ice roads and bridges in Arctic regions.

Hitting a material with laser light can produce a flash of superconductivity -- the ability to carry electric current with no loss -- and may offer a path toward room-temperature conductivity.

Researchers have created artificial colors by 3D printing certain nanostructures inspired by those of a butterfly. This principle can be used in the future to produce color screens.

Chemists describe the key features of a catalyst that determine its selectivity for transforming CO2 and ethane (C2H6) into synthesis gas (useful for generating electricity or making liquid fuels) or, alternatively, ethylene (a building block for making paints, plastics, and other polymers). The findings could inform the rational design of catalysts to yield desired products.

Scientists applied their flash Joule heating process to coal fly ash and other toxic waste to safely extract rare earth elements essential to modern electronics and green technologies.

Sea pineapples are a delicacy in Japan and the Tohoku region is renowned for its extensive sea pineapple industry. Soon they might not only be fueling our appetites, but helping power our future too. A research group demonstrated that the carbonization of cellulose nanofibers within sea pineapple shells produces high-quality carbon that, when mixed with blood waste from the livestock industry, boasts electrical performances similar to that of rare metals.

The low temperatures required to maintain superconductivity have led to the development of hydrogen-containing compounds (metal hydrides) that can achieve superconductivity at room temperature. Researchers have been using computer simulations to predict various metals that can be combined with hydrogen to form potential superconductors that require inexpensive cooling solutions. Their simulations can provide information on crystal structures and assist in the development of high temperature superconductors.

The selective oxidation of C--H bonds using oxygen has become a much simpler and more sustainable endeavor, thanks to a novel manganese (Mn)-based catalyst. Consisting of reusable Mg6MnO8 nanoparticles with unprecedented surface area, their catalyst enables the desired oxidative reactions to occur at mild temperature and pressure conditions without the need for toxic additives, opening doors to more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly chemistry applications.