180 search results

How are tiny air pollutants causing massive storms in the Amazon?
Nature & Environment

How are tiny air pollutants causing massive storms in the Amazon?

...Chemistry Studies, tells SciDev.Net. that “this [study] changes the way clouds are to be represented in models used for weather forecasting, as well as the way researchers understand the workings of tropical rain.” The research team analysed the influence of ultrafine particles on cloud cycles in the rainforest during the 2014 rainy season, when there were no forest...
Herbal medicine
Health, Sports & Psychology

Herbal medicine

...chemistry and pharmacology. Whilst very little research has been carried out by herbalists themselves, they have been very good at assimilating new information and adding this to their traditional knowledge base. Huge advances in organic chemistry over the last century mean that many of the constituent chemicals of medicinal herbs have been identified and their actions...
Ceres: Is it an asteroid? Is it a comet? Erm...
Science, Maths & Technology

Ceres: Is it an asteroid? Is it a comet? Erm...

...chemistry that might, eventually, result in formation of complex molecules. It is also becoming more clear than ever that strict division between comets and asteroids is no longer realistic, and that they represent a spectrum of objects of varying activity and orbit. Just one last word about the surface of Ceres. I might not be much of a farmer – but I’m fairly...
Golden Globe Ocean Race: The next 50 years?
Nature & Environment

Golden Globe Ocean Race: The next 50 years?

...chemistry, directly affecting calcifying organisms living at the base of the marine food web. Transcript Additionally, rapid changes are taking place in levels of human-derived pollutants, such as plastics, now found in every river, beach and ocean in the world and noise levels due to busy shipping industry impacting marine animals’ ability to communicate or hear the...
Can microplastics find their way onto your plate?
Nature & Environment

Can microplastics find their way onto your plate?

...chemistry of the soil. Microplastics may be additionally contaminated by additives, such as phthalates, heavy metals and sorbed pollutants. Crops grown in soil containing plastic debris have lower yield, height and root weight. What harm can microplastics cause to human health? Microplastics have been detected in salt, beer, fresh fruit and vegetables, and drinking water....
Drug development process: combating pain
Science, Maths & Technology

Drug development process: combating pain

...chemistry before the era of genomics, proteomics, molecular modelling and in silico drug design. Traditionally, drug research required the discovery of an active compound (morphine in the case of the opioids), either from the natural world or from synthetic compounds produced in laboratories around the world. This compound would then serve as the ‘lead compound’ for...
Other Moons
Science, Maths & Technology

Other Moons

...chemistry. If we were to send a better-equipped probe, it might be able to detect definite signs of life by analysing plume material without even having to land on the surface. The only outer planet moon where a probe has landed is Saturn’s largest moon, Titan. This has a dense atmosphere of mostly nitrogen and a few percent methane. The European Space Agency’s...
Article 5 mins
15 facts about number 15
Education & Development

15 facts about number 15

...Chemistry. 2: Our 15th most visited free course on OpenLearn this year was… Introduction to cyber security: stay safe online. The course will help you to understand online security and start to protect your digital life, whether at home or work. You will learn how to recognise the threats that could harm you online and the steps you can take to reduce the chances that...