Chemistry (Environment and Climate)

 

Harnessing hydrogen at life’s origin

Researchers gain new insights into how the first cells on Earth were able to use hydrogen gas as an energy source more

Aerial view of a mountain massif with a basin in the foreground, glaciers stretching to the horizon behind the mountain.

Microplastic fibers are settling substantially slower than spherical particles in the atmosphere more

View over the sea with the wind turbines of an offshore wind farm staggered at a great distance to the horizon.

A new catalytic concept is laying the foundations for the methanation of carbon dioxide on an industrial scale more

Methane before the emergence of life

Researchers show how methane formed in early Earth's aquatic environments and is still released today more

Fine particulate matter catalyzes oxidative stress in the lungs

Regarding adverse health effects of air pollution hydrogen peroxide production of fine particles may not be as important as previously assumed more

At the right, you can a hand holding a round glass flask. The flask contains a yellowish liquid and a brownish coarse-grained powder that has settled at the bottom.

The Max Planck-Cardiff Centre Funcat lays the foundations for the systematic development of chemical reaction accelerators more

Revealing biochemical rings of power

Genome mining uncovers a widespread class of natural products that could be candidates for future drugs more

artificial rainforest

Ecosystem changes can be more accurately predicted by emissions of chiral compounds more

Enhanced ocean oxygenation during Cenozoic warm periods

Earth’s past warm periods witnessed the shrinkage of the open ocean’s oxygen-deficient zones. more

Computer modelling of the OH reactivity (left) and OH concentration (right) around human bodies in a typical indoor situation while people sitting around a table. 

People generate their own oxidation field and change the indoor air chemistry around them more

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Harnessing hydrogen at life’s origin

Researchers gain new insights into how the first cells on Earth were able to use hydrogen gas as an energy source more

Aerial view of a mountain massif with a basin in the foreground, glaciers stretching to the horizon behind the mountain.

Microplastic fibers are settling substantially slower than spherical particles in the atmosphere more

View over the sea with the wind turbines of an offshore wind farm staggered at a great distance to the horizon.

A new catalytic concept is laying the foundations for the methanation of carbon dioxide on an industrial scale more

At the right, you can a hand holding a round glass flask. The flask contains a yellowish liquid and a brownish coarse-grained powder that has settled at the bottom.

The Max Planck-Cardiff Centre Funcat lays the foundations for the systematic development of chemical reaction accelerators more

Enhanced ocean oxygenation during Cenozoic warm periods

Earth’s past warm periods witnessed the shrinkage of the open ocean’s oxygen-deficient zones. more

Computer modelling of the OH reactivity (left) and OH concentration (right) around human bodies in a typical indoor situation while people sitting around a table. 

People generate their own oxidation field and change the indoor air chemistry around them more

A sausage on a fork

Choosing the right proteins can improve the mouthfeel of vegetarian sausages more

Resin secreted by a damaged conifer.

Researchers develop a highly sensitive novel technique capable of detecting chiral molecules within complex gas mixtures more

Dust catchers: Biological crusts influence the climate

A surface layer of bacteria, fungi and lichen amongst others reduces the amount of dust stirred up into the atmosphere more

Small “snowflakes” in the sea play a big role

New findings from scientists of Bremen will aid in the further development of biogeochemical models that include the marine nitrogen cycle more

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“Global warming doesn’t stop when the emissions stop”

Thorsten Mauritsen from the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology has worked out how much time we have left to reach the Paris climate goal more

The irresistible fragrance of dying vinegar flies

Bacterial pathogens cause infected flies to produce more sex pheromones and so expand their deadly reach more

Plastics: not simply garbage

Plastics are accumulating in increasingly large quantities in the oceans but are difficult to replace due to the advantages they offer more

The curse of durability

Can microorganisms help combat the vast amounts of plastic being disposed of in the sea? more

Amazon rain helps make more rain

In the Amazon region, downdrafts bring aerosol particles from higher altitudes to the atmospheric layer where clouds form. more

Suspense in the movie theatre air

Cinemagoers' exhaled breath reveals the scene that is playing more

Plants defend their territory with toxic substances

Plant toxins block histone deacetylases of neighboring plants and influence their growth negatively more

Modified enzymes enable efficient hydrogen production more

At the methane source of plants

Plants produce greenhouse gas from the amino acid methionine more

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