(University of Houston) Researchers have for the first time demonstrated what happens at the molecular level when two compounds known to inhibit crystal growth were combined, yielding new insights into malaria treatments and, more broadly, improving the process of drug development.

Original source: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-01/uoh-muo011520.php

(DOE/Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory) PPPL will use INCITE-award time on Summit and Theta supercomputers to develop predictions for the performance of ITER, the international experiment under construction to demonstrate the feasibility of fusion energy.

Original source: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-01/dppl-tlb011520.php

(Wayne State University – Office of the Vice President for Research) Wayne State University, received a two-year, $725,000 R01 grant from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering of the National Institutes of Health for the development of a novel point-of-care 3D neonatal photoacoustic tomography (3D-nPAT) to improve the detection and measurement of hypoxic-ischemic in neonates without the need for sedation, radiation or radionuclides.

Original source: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-01/wsu–ngt011520.php

Use of an AC rather than a DC electric field can improve the piezoelectric response of a crystal. Now, an international team of researchers say that cycles of AC fields also make the internal crystal domains in some materials bigger and the crystal transparent.

Original source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/01/200115132628.htm

(Tokyo University of Science) Concerns about the scarcity of lithium and other materials necessary in the now-ubiquitous lithium-ion batteries have recently driven many researchers to look for alternatives, such as sodium and potassium. Prof Shinichi Komaba from Tokyo University of Science, Japan, and his team have worked for over a decade on this topic. In his latest review article, he extensively discusses his findings on the recent advances, promises, and limitations of potassium-ion batteries.

Original source: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-01/tuos-prb011520.php

New living building materials can grow and multiply — and may help to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from infrastructure in the future.

Original source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/01/200115120602.htm

Lithium ion batteries often grow needle-like structures between electrodes that can short out the batteries and sometimes cause fires. Now, an international team of researchers has found a way to grow and observe these structures to understand ways to stop or prevent their appearance.

Original source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/01/200109130159.htm

In a world first, researchers have found evidence of how hydrogen causes embrittlement of steels.

Original source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/01/200109140934.htm

(Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters) Chinese scientists from the Technical Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have recently shown how the tiny apex structure in plant leaves controls water drainage and confers an evolutionary advantage.

Original source: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-01/caos-seh011320.php

(Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona) ICN2 researchers, in the framework of the Graphene Flagship, at the UAB campus, demonstrate that spin currents can be generated and manipulated in graphene-based heterostructures at room temperature. The results of this study, published in Nature Materials, provide relevant information on the fundamental physics of the phenomena involved and open the door to new applications, such as the development of ultra-compact electronic and low energy consumption devices and magnetic memories.

Original source: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-01/uadb-gam011420.php