In BulletsOne of the challenges in a medical situation that humanity has suffered is fighting antibiotic-resistant microbes — superbugs. In a recent study, researchers have demonstrated using synthetic motors that begin drilling on the bacterial cells when photoactivated. The team built the device using the molecular photoswitch, hemithioindigo, which gets activated by visible light to selectively kill Gram-positive bacteria. The study further reports that the treatment can kill Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) superbugs with minimal side effects on mammalian cells.
More information: Santos et al. (2022). Hemithioindigo-Based Visible Light-Activated Molecular Machines Kill Bacteria by Oxidative Damage. Advanced Science. DOI: 10.1002/advs.202203242
Journal information: Advanced Science
Lignin, an abundant natural resource, can help achieve the net zero carbon goal. Lignin is present in the cell walls of plants — middle lamella, xylem vessels, and the fibers that support plants. As it is difficult to break them down, lignin has attracted only a few researchers to exploit its potential as a fuel. In a recent study, researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Washington State University successfully utilized lignin to produce 100% sustainable aviation fuel. The team has accomplished this by removing oxygen from lignin using molybdenum carbide as the catalyst — achieving oxygen content of about 1% — in a way that the hydrocarbons resulting from the process could be used as a blendstock for jet fuel. To be used as jet fuel, the oxygen content must reduce. Previous studies attempted to reduce the oxygen content, but the catalysts required for the process are expensive and low-yielding. Jet fuel is a mixture of hydrocarbon molecules, and until now, there are no commercialized technologies to produce 100% sustainable aviation fuel. Jet fuel consumption by airlines currently exceeds hundreds of billions of gallons, with an estimated doubling by 2050.
More information: Michael L. Stone et al. (2022). Continuous hydrodeoxygenation of lignin to jet-range aromatic hydrocarbons. Joule. DOI: 10.1016/j.joule.2022.08.005
Journal information: Joule
Universities and organizations often hire researchers and judge the quality of their work by accounting for the impact factor of a journal. To change the standard metrics, such as impact factors used in evaluating researchers and their work to hire and promote, the European University Association invited universities, scientific academies, funding institutions, and other organizations worldwide to sign an agreement on Reforming Researcher Assessment. The agreement urges signatories to move away from standard metrics and adopt a system that rewards researchers for the quality of their work and their contributions to science.
More information: Chris Woolstone (2022). Grants and hiring: will impact factors and h-indices be scrapped? Nature. DOI:10.1038/d41586-022-02984-2
Journal information: Nature