German researchers are developing two chemical processes to extract neodymium, iron and boron from scrap computer hard drives. The work, carried out under the European Union NEO-CYCLE project, aims to recover rare earth elements locally to supply motors for each new electric vehicle and wind turbine without relying on overseas refining.
A chemical method using salt additives resolves atomic structural flaws in perovskite crystals, offering a practical path forward for renewable energy devices. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory demonstrated that temporary liquefaction prevents electric charges from becoming trapped in crystal boundaries. This innovation enables solar cells to retain 85.8 percent of their efficiency after 1,400 hours of continuous operation at 85 degrees Celsius.
Giovanni Sapere
Two research teams from The Ohio State University and Zhejiang Laboratory have demonstrated a method to digitize and transmit odors over network connections. The setup pairs an electronic nose with an emitting unit called Scentronic, using machine learning to classify scents before misting preloaded liquid fragrances. So far, the system has successfully transmitted the aromas of coffee, beer, cake, oranges and red wine.
Letizia Giugliano
Researchers in South Korea have developed a chemical catalytic process that allows perovskite solar cells to maintain 95 percent of their initial power conversion efficiency after 1,000 hours under harsh environmental conditions. The chemical invention resolves a long-standing durability barrier, offering a viable path for perovskite materials to support industrial renewable energy generation.
Giovanni Sapere
Chemical engineers at the University of Texas at Austin have engineered nanoscale artificial pores that mimic biological cell membranes to filter lithium ions. The chemical innovation allows lithium to pass through while blocking competing metals such as sodium and magnesium. Published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, the method offers a cleaner path to extract critical raw materials for energy storage.
Giovanni Sapere
Chemical engineers at the University of Groningen have developed an invention that doubles the production of clean hydrogen from steam without requiring extra electrical power. The system, detailed in the journal Energy and Environmental Science, operates at high temperatures to split water vapor directly into pure hydrogen gas, providing heavy industry with an efficient alternative to fossil-fuel-derived hydrogen.
Letizia Giugliano
In October 2026, chemists unveiled a method to separate mirror-image molecules that differ solely by the spatial arrangement of hydrogen and deuterium isotopes. This scientific innovation provides a targeted chemical route to resolve isotopic enantiomers from a racemic mixture. As reported by [C&EN – Chemical & Engineering News](https://cen.acs.org/analytical-chemistry/separations/isotope-chirality-hydrogen-deuterium-catalyst/104/web/2026/10?sc=230901_cenrssfeed_eng_latestnewsrss_cen), the process overcomes a classic separation barrier where target molecules exhibit nearly identical physical characteristics.
Giovanni Sapere
Distinguished chemistry professor Mary Jo Ondrechen has been awarded the 2026 Ely S. Parker Award by the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES). The honor highlights significant leadership and scientific innovation within academic research.
Letizia Giugliano
Last week’s most read news selected by our editorial staff: Neuralink, future houses and Valerio Braschi’s distilled carbonara
Giovanni Sapere
Chef Valerio Braschi has created distilled carbonara: a shot of liquid as clear as water but with all the flavour of Rome’s best-loved pasta dish.
Giovanni Sapere
The prize, all-female, was awarded to Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna for the development of the DNA modification method, known as CRISPR
Mario Vincenzo La Rocca
Three researchers from the University of Sassari have created a shooting game to learn the basics of physics and chemistry in a fun way.
Giovanni Sapere
Researchers in San Diego have developed an ultrasonic device that applied to lithium metal batteries increases their life, charge and capacity The development of batteries is a very lively field, whose importance was recognized by the award of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2019. The most…
Mario Vincenzo La Rocca
Biochemist Stanley Cohen died in a nursing home in Nashville, Tennessee: in 1986 he won the Nobel Prize for Medicine together with Rita Levi Montalcini.
Giovanni Sapere
A team of the EBRI is studying A13 antibody, a molecule that promotes the birth of neurons and could be used against Alzheimer’s disease.
Giovanni Sapere
Biocement is a material created at the University of Newcastle: thanks to a bacterium inside it is able to repair itself.
Giovanni Sapere
The company Directa Plus has created the first tailored jacket in graphene: a very light nanomaterial and 200 times more resistant than steel.
Giovanni Sapere
Neuroscientists from the University of Texas identified the “extinction neurons”, the cells that make old fears and bad memories re-emerge.
Giovanni Sapere
