Surfaces and interfaces Research update Interface between air and water gets a new twist Vibrational spectroscopy technique reshapes our understanding of how water molecules behave at the boundary Read article: Interface between air and water gets a new twist
States of matter Research update Giant barocaloric cooling effect offers a new route to refrigeration Environmentally friendly dissolution-based method reduces temperature of water by nearly 27 K in just 20 seconds Read article: Giant barocaloric cooling effect offers a new route to refrigeration
Nuclear physics Research update Making molecules with superheavy elements could shake up the periodic table New atom-by-atom technique demonstrated for the first time with nobelium might ensure that elements at the bottom of the table are grouped correctly Read article: Making molecules with superheavy elements could shake up the periodic table
Chemical processes Research update Microwaves slow down chemical reactions at low temperatures Radiation affects quantum states of carbon monoxide Read article: Microwaves slow down chemical reactions at low temperatures
Chemical processes Research update Splitting water takes more energy than theory predicts – and now scientists know why Flips in the orientation of water molecules explain sluggish reaction speeds Read article: Splitting water takes more energy than theory predicts – and now scientists know why
Chemical processes Research update Scientists uncover hidden properties of rare-earth element promethium The first observation of a promethium complex in solution represents a significant advance in rare-earth research Read article: Scientists uncover hidden properties of rare-earth element promethium
Planetary science Blog Scientists identify a ‘sugar world’ beyond Neptune The surface of a Kuiper Belt object called Arrokoth is rich in glucose, ribose and other sweet molecules Read article: Scientists identify a ‘sugar world’ beyond Neptune
Atmosphere Research update Organic molecule from trees excels at seeding clouds, CERN study reveals Sesquiterpene creates cloud-forming particles Read article: Organic molecule from trees excels at seeding clouds, CERN study reveals
Chemical processes Research update Quantum superchemistry emerges in the laboratory Chemical reactions speed up when reactants are in the same quantum state, confirming theoretical predictions Read article: Quantum superchemistry emerges in the laboratory
Planetary science Blog Building blocks of DNA could survive in Venus’ corrosive clouds, say astronomers All five nucleic acids remain stable in concentrated sulphuric acid, and could form the basis for an alternative way of encoding life Read article: Building blocks of DNA could survive in Venus’ corrosive clouds, say astronomers