Featured
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Research Briefing |
Helium droplets help to visualize the start of ion solvation
The number of helium atoms that gradually bind to a single sodium ion at the surface of a liquid helium nanodroplet has been measured as a function of time, as has the amount of energy that dissipates during this process. These findings provide a much-needed glimpse of the early steps of ion solvation.
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Article
| Open AccessPredicting crystal form stability under real-world conditions
Accuracy of free-energy calculations can be improved by constructing an experimental benchmark for solid–solid free-energy differences, quantifying statistical errors for the computed free energies and placing both hydrate and anhydrate crystal structures on the same energy landscape.
- Dzmitry Firaha
- , Yifei Michelle Liu
- & Marcus A. Neumann
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Article
| Open AccessPlant carbonic anhydrase-like enzymes in neuroactive alkaloid biosynthesis
We show how neuroactive alkaloids from clubmosses are biosynthesized, which reveals an unexpected role for carbonic anhydrase-like enzymes in alkaloid scaffold formation.
- Ryan S. Nett
- , Yaereen Dho
- & Elizabeth S. Sattely
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Comment |
‘Oceans are hugely complex’: modelling marine microbes is key to climate forecasts
Microorganisms are the engines that drive most marine processes. Ocean modelling must evolve to take their biological complexity into account.
- Alessandro Tagliabue
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News & Views |
Atom-swap chemistry could aid drug discovery
An unconventional route for modifying pharmaceutically relevant molecules swaps an atom of carbon for one of nitrogen. The resulting derivatives might open up avenues of research in medicinal-chemistry campaigns.
- Filippo Ficarra
- & Mattia Silvi
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Article |
Carbon-to-nitrogen single-atom transmutation of azaarenes
A new type of transformation converting a heteroaromatic carbon atom into a nitrogen atom, turning quinolines into quinazolines to enable manipulation of molecular properties, is reported.
- Jisoo Woo
- , Colin Stein
- & Mark D. Levin
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Correspondence |
US universities must tackle their huge carbon footprints
- Mark O. Huising
- & Adam R. Aron
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Book Review |
The plant poisons that shape our daily lives
An exploration of nature’s toxins reveals complex relationships between humans and the plant chemicals we use as foods, medicines and mind-altering drugs.
- Emily Monosson
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Article |
Anion–π interactions suppress phase impurities in FAPbI3 solar cells
The use of anion–π interactions during perovskite film formation is shown to give better quality perovskite layers with high phase purity, leading to improved photovoltaic devices with high power conversion efficiency.
- Zijian Huang
- , Yang Bai
- & Huanping Zhou
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Article |
Arenium-ion-catalysed halodealkylation of fully alkylated silanes
A new method is described that uses arenium-ion-catalysed halodealkylation of silanes with four alkyl groups, typically considered synthetic dead ends, to convert Me4Si and related quaternary silanes into orthogonally substituted (functionalized) silanes.
- Tao He
- , Hendrik F. T. Klare
- & Martin Oestreich
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News |
Tiny ‘quantum dot’ particles win chemistry Nobel
Moungi Bawendi, Louis Brus and Alexei Ekimov receive the prize for their work on glowing nanoparticles that are used in fields from electronics to surgery.
- Katharine Sanderson
- & Davide Castelvecchi
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Article |
Complex molecule synthesis by electrocatalytic decarboxylative cross-coupling
We report a radical-based Ni/Ag-electrocatalytic cross-coupling of substituted carboxylic acids, enabling an approach to accessing complex molecular architectures, which relies on a silver additive that forms an active Ag nanoparticle-coated electrode surface along with carefully chosen ligands.
- Benxiang Zhang
- , Jiayan He
- & Phil S. Baran
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World View |
The UK’s rollback of climate policies will cost its citizens and the world
Incoherent new climate-policy messages by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will dissolve the UK’s climate leadership, stifle innovation’s momentum and cost consumers.
- Joeri Rogelj
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News |
Scientists achieve the tricky task of compressing liquids
Using a metal–organic framework, researchers reduced the volume of a water-based mixture by 7%.
- Katharine Sanderson
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News & Views |
An all-organic laser that is electrically driven
An organic light-emitting diode has been integrated with an optically driven organic laser to produce laser light from electricity. The design bypasses many of the challenges posed by direct electrical input in such devices.
- Stéphane Kéna-Cohen
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Research Briefing |
The chemical synthesis and anti-cancer properties of portimines
The natural toxins portimine A and B have attracted interest for their unusual chemical architecture and potent anti-cancer activity. The first total synthesis of portimines enables the identification of portimine A’s molecular target and reveals that the toxin induces programmed cell death in human cancer cells.
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Article |
A crystalline doubly oxidized carbene
The synthesis and isolation of a crystalline dication derived from a bis(imino)carbene through a two-electron oxidation/oxide-ion abstraction strategy is reported that bypasses the carbene radical cation, maintaining significant electrophilicity with two accessible vacant orbitals.
- Ying Kai Loh
- , Mohand Melaimi
- & Guy Bertrand
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Article |
Geminal-atom catalysis for cross-coupling
Heterogeneous geminal-atom catalysts, which pair single-atom sites in specific coordination and spatial proximity, offer a new avenue for the sustainable manufacture of fine chemicals.
- Xiao Hai
- , Yang Zheng
- & Jiong Lu
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Article |
Synthesis of portimines reveals the basis of their anti-cancer activity
A scalable total synthesis of portimines enables structural reassignment of portimine B and in-depth functional evaluation of portimine A, revealing that portimine A induces translation inhibition selectively in human cancer cells and is efficacious in vivo tumour-clearance models.
- Junchen Tang
- , Weichao Li
- & Phil S. Baran
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News & Views |
Waste product from wood finally used to make glue
Scientists have had limited success in converting lignin, a structural component of plants, into high-value products. The discovery that lignin can be used as a wood glue could be a game-changer for biorefineries.
- Charles E. Frazier
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News |
This insect-sized robot can carry 22 times its own weight
The four-legged miniature machine is powered by tiny explosions.
- Katharine Sanderson
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Nature Podcast |
A mussel-inspired glue for more sustainable sticking
A soya-oil-derived adhesive matches the strength of conventional glues, and reassessing the extent and impacts of childhood malnutrition.
- Nick Petrić Howe
- & Shamini Bundell
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Article |
DNA-based programmable gate arrays for general-purpose DNA computing
Generic single-stranded oligonucleotides used as a uniform transmission signal can reliably integrate large-scale DNA integrated circuits with minimal leakage and high fidelity for general-purpose computing.
- Hui Lv
- , Nuli Xie
- & Chunhai Fan
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Article |
Phase-dependent growth of Pt on MoS2 for highly efficient H2 evolution
We report the production of MoS2 nanosheets with high phase purity, showing that the 2H-phase templates facilitate epitaxial growth of Pt nanoparticles, whereas the 1T′ phase supports single-atomically dispersed Pt atoms.
- Zhenyu Shi
- , Xiao Zhang
- & Hua Zhang
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Article |
Flatband λ-Ti3O5 towards extraordinary solar steam generation
A route to greatly elevate joint densities of states by introducing a flat-band electronic structure is demonstrated, showing metallic λ-Ti3O5 powders have a high solar absorptivity and offering insights into access to cost-effective solar-to-steam generation.
- Bo Yang
- , Zhiming Zhang
- & Liang Zuo
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Article |
Sustainably sourced components to generate high-strength adhesives
We present a sustainably sourced adhesive system, with performance comparable to that of current industrial products, made from epoxidized soy oil, malic acid and tannic acid, all biomass derived, low cost and readily available.
- Clayton R. Westerman
- , Bradley C. McGill
- & Jonathan J. Wilker
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Article |
Towards linking lab and field lifetimes of perovskite solar cells
We correlate lab test and field test results to better predict the performance of perovskite photovoltaics as a step towards real-world implementation.
- Qi Jiang
- , Robert Tirawat
- & Kai Zhu
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Research Highlight |
Wood component yields useful plastics — without the health risks
Lignin and a catalyst allow for green and efficient production of alternatives to bisphenol A.
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Research Briefing |
Surprising reaction pathway observed in lithium–sulfur batteries
Electrochemical-reaction pathways in lithium–sulfur batteries have been studied in real time at the atomic scale using a high-resolution imaging technique. The observations revealed an unexpected collective charge-transfer process that could lead to improvements in the performance of these batteries.
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Article
| Open AccessA catalytically active oscillator made from small organic molecules
We report a small-organic-molecule oscillator that catalyses an independent chemical reaction in situ without impairing its oscillating properties, allowing the construction of complex systems enhancing applications in automated synthesis and systems and polymerization chemistry.
- Matthijs ter Harmsel
- , Oliver R. Maguire
- & Syuzanna R. Harutyunyan
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News & Views |
Surface interaction propels molecule forwards
The interaction of a molecule with a specific surface has been shown to produce consistent unidirectional motion driven by voltage pulses. The mechanism can even facilitate the transport of molecular cargo.
- Leo Gross
- & Jascha Repp
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Article |
Hydrogen-bond-acceptor ligands enable distal C(sp3)–H arylation of free alcohols
Ligands enable alcohol-directed arylation of δ-C(sp3)–H bonds by stabilizing hydroxyl coordination to palladium through charge balance and hydrogen bonding.
- Daniel A. Strassfeld
- , Chia-Yu Chen
- & Jin-Quan Yu
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Article |
Adsorbate motors for unidirectional translation and transport
An adsorbate motor that moves unidirectionally on a copper surface is achieved by inducing intramolecular hydrogen transfer in a single molecule.
- Grant J. Simpson
- , Mats Persson
- & Leonhard Grill
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Research Briefing |
Action spectroscopy of a single gas molecule
Spectroscopy is widely used to characterize samples. Here, spectroscopy of a single molecule of the tropylium cation (C7H7+) presents a new approach to analysis, particularly for rare or reactive molecular ions that are probably important in interstellar chemistry.
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Career Column |
How we set our lab on an environmentally sustainable path
Leading a drive to lower your lab’s carbon footprint alongside your PhD research is tough. Start by celebrating small successes, says Caroline Giuglaris.
- Caroline Giuglaris
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Research Highlight |
A chemical cage holds promise for a better hydrogen-powered fuel cell
Membrane material improves power generation from hydrogen gas — and catalyses the gas’s production from water.
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Research Briefing |
A platform for exploring microscopic processes at electrode–electrolyte interfaces
A centimetre-sized monolayer of the material graphene has been suspended on the surface of an aqueous electrolyte to investigate the intrinsic properties of the graphene–electrolyte interface. The results, based on optical spectroscopy, could aid the design and study of state-of-the-art electrochemical devices.
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Nature Podcast |
Physicists finally observe strange isotope Oxygen 28 – raising fundamental questions
The long-sought finding challenges scientists' understanding of the strong nuclear force, and the AI that can beat human champions at drone racing.
- Dan Fox
- & Nick Petrić Howe
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News |
Rare oxygen isotope detected at last — and it defies expectations
Oxygen-28 might prompt physicists to revamp theories of how atomic nuclei are structured.
- Katherine Bourzac
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Article |
Structure evolution at the gate-tunable suspended graphene–water interface
Using centimetre-sized substrate-free monolayer graphene suspended on aqueous electrolyte surface, the structural evolution versus gate voltage at the graphene–water interface is shown, demonstrating minimal influence of extrinsic factors.
- Ying Xu
- , You-Bo Ma
- & Chuan-Shan Tian
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Article
| Open AccessA microscale soft ionic power source modulates neuronal network activity
A study describes the development of a miniaturized hydrogel-based soft power source capable of modulating the activity of networks of neuronal cells without the need for metal electrodes.
- Yujia Zhang
- , Jorin Riexinger
- & Hagan Bayley
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Editorial |
The science is clear: sustainable development and climate action are inseparable
Sustainability cannot be achieved without climate action, and vice versa. What’s needed is a fight on both fronts.
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Article
| Open AccessLight-enabled deracemization of cyclopropanes by Al-salen photocatalysis
Irradiation of chiral Al-salen complexes with violet light demonstrates efficient deracemization of cyclopropanes, enabling reactivity and enantioselectivity to be regulated simultaneously, negating the requirement for tailored catalyst–substrate recognition motifs.
- Carina Onneken
- , Tobias Morack
- & Ryan Gilmour
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Article |
Quinone-mediated hydrogen anode for non-aqueous reductive electrosynthesis
A quinone-mediated hydrogen anode design shows that hydrogen can be used as the electron source in non-aqueous reductive electrosynthesis, for a more sustainable way to make molecules at larger scale.
- Jack Twilton
- , Mathew R. Johnson
- & Shannon S. Stahl
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Article |
Microstructure and crystal order during freezing of supercooled water drops
Optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction are used to study the freezing of water droplets in vacuum, leading to the development of a seven-stage model of freezing and the mapping of ice structures and crystal order.
- Armin Kalita
- , Maximillian Mrozek-McCourt
- & Claudiu A. Stan
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Article |
High-entropy halide perovskite single crystals stabilized by mild chemistry
Room-temperature-solution (20 °C) and low-temperature-solution (80 °C) synthesis procedures are developed for a new class of metal halide perovskite high-entropy semiconductor single crystals.
- Maria C. Folgueras
- , Yuxin Jiang
- & Peidong Yang
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Article
| Open AccessReversible spin-optical interface in luminescent organic radicals
We report organic molecules showing both efficient luminescence and near-unity generation yield of excited states with high spin multiplicity, simultaneously supporting a high efficiency of initialization, spin manipulations and light-based readout at room temperature.
- Sebastian Gorgon
- , Kuo Lv
- & Emrys W. Evans
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