Labroots Chemistry & Physics
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The Official @labroots.bsky.social Chemistry & Physics Page! We post recent chemistry and physics news, along with images, videos, and more. Please join our community!
Exoplanet GJ 3090 b's "backwards" orbit challenges current theories, suggesting it formed from a misaligned dust disk rather than violent collisions. buff.ly/9VZvh7n
Backwards Orbit of Small Exoplanet Defies Formation Theories
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September 22, 2026 at 5:51 PM
Exoplanet GJ 3090 b's "backwards" orbit challenges current theories, suggesting it formed from a misaligned dust disk rather than violent collisions. buff.ly/9VZvh7n
Iron meteorites reveal the solar system's earliest planetesimals were up to 92% heat-forged chondrules, not icy dust. buff.ly/Zr6XRJJ
Solar system built its first bodies from fire, not ice
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September 21, 2026 at 8:46 PM
Iron meteorites reveal the solar system's earliest planetesimals were up to 92% heat-forged chondrules, not icy dust. buff.ly/Zr6XRJJ
A 4D AI model uses mitochondrial shape and movement to predict how drugs affect cells, potentially speeding up drug discovery. buff.ly/DQ9lwvB
4D AI Model Decodes Mitochondrial Drug Effects
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September 21, 2026 at 4:36 PM
A 4D AI model uses mitochondrial shape and movement to predict how drugs affect cells, potentially speeding up drug discovery. buff.ly/DQ9lwvB
The study finds that expanding irrigation on cropland could substantially reduce agriculture’s global environmental footprint by increasing yields and reducing the amount of land needed to produce food. buff.ly/faKg8s2
Irrigating US Crops Slashes Global Footprint
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September 21, 2026 at 4:23 PM
The study finds that expanding irrigation on cropland could substantially reduce agriculture’s global environmental footprint by increasing yields and reducing the amount of land needed to produce food. buff.ly/faKg8s2
Adding a small alkyl group to the far end of a carbon double bond has been a stubborn problem in organic synthesis.
A new iron-sulfur dual-catalysis method solves it, starting from a cheap carboxylic acid and producing benign carbon dioxide as the only waste product. 🧪
buff.ly/OZQ2lYr
A new iron-sulfur dual-catalysis method solves it, starting from a cheap carboxylic acid and producing benign carbon dioxide as the only waste product. 🧪
buff.ly/OZQ2lYr
Adding Methyl Groups Gets Easier with Iron and Light
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September 19, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Adding a small alkyl group to the far end of a carbon double bond has been a stubborn problem in organic synthesis.
A new iron-sulfur dual-catalysis method solves it, starting from a cheap carboxylic acid and producing benign carbon dioxide as the only waste product. 🧪
buff.ly/OZQ2lYr
A new iron-sulfur dual-catalysis method solves it, starting from a cheap carboxylic acid and producing benign carbon dioxide as the only waste product. 🧪
buff.ly/OZQ2lYr
Rapid cooling creates thermal shock and microcracks that significantly weaken the bond between ice and metal surfaces, making de-icing much easier. buff.ly/RxPSDuf
Cold Shock Weakens Ice Bond on Metal Surfaces in New Study
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September 17, 2026 at 6:47 PM
Rapid cooling creates thermal shock and microcracks that significantly weaken the bond between ice and metal surfaces, making de-icing much easier. buff.ly/RxPSDuf
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope mapped high-altitude silicate cloud dynamics and weather patterns on SIMP 0136, a brown dwarf 20 light-years from Earth. buff.ly/qYc64UC
JWST maps 20-light-year-distant weather on brown dwarf
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September 16, 2026 at 10:50 PM
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope mapped high-altitude silicate cloud dynamics and weather patterns on SIMP 0136, a brown dwarf 20 light-years from Earth. buff.ly/qYc64UC
New research indicates that Venus's exceptionally slow rotation created tidal forces that dragged any ancient moon inward until it ultimately crashed into and was absorbed by the planet. buff.ly/yDoh0ZK
Venus' Slow Spin Pulled Ancient Moon Inward to Crash
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September 15, 2026 at 7:56 PM
New research indicates that Venus's exceptionally slow rotation created tidal forces that dragged any ancient moon inward until it ultimately crashed into and was absorbed by the planet. buff.ly/yDoh0ZK
Million-person space colonies are currently unsustainable due to unproven closed-loop life support, immense manufacturing dependence on Earth, and severe health risks from low gravity and radiation. buff.ly/nZ5aUZx
Why Million-Person Moon Cities Aren't Sustainable
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September 14, 2026 at 10:27 PM
Million-person space colonies are currently unsustainable due to unproven closed-loop life support, immense manufacturing dependence on Earth, and severe health risks from low gravity and radiation. buff.ly/nZ5aUZx
Researchers developed a recyclable biomaterial made of sand, gelatin, and engineered yeast that uses Mars's cold, low-pressure environment to 3D-print habitat structures. buff.ly/rknt1Es
Living Biomaterial Uses Yeast to Print 3D Houses on Mars
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September 14, 2026 at 8:33 PM
Researchers developed a recyclable biomaterial made of sand, gelatin, and engineered yeast that uses Mars's cold, low-pressure environment to 3D-print habitat structures. buff.ly/rknt1Es
Spectroscopic evidence from twin star systems shows that planetary engulfment is a surprisingly widespread outcome in the evolution of solar-type stars. buff.ly/3CgzyxC
Violent Planetary Engulfment May Be Common Across Cosmos
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September 10, 2026 at 8:14 PM
Spectroscopic evidence from twin star systems shows that planetary engulfment is a surprisingly widespread outcome in the evolution of solar-type stars. buff.ly/3CgzyxC
As climate change thaws the permafrost that structurally binds Arctic mountain slopes, it drastically amplifies the destructive power of earthquakes by priming the weakened rock for massive, cascading landslides. buff.ly/wyDOam8
Thawing permafrost worsens earthquake hazards in High Arctic
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September 9, 2026 at 9:20 PM
As climate change thaws the permafrost that structurally binds Arctic mountain slopes, it drastically amplifies the destructive power of earthquakes by priming the weakened rock for massive, cascading landslides. buff.ly/wyDOam8
Researchers have developed a bio-inspired metastructure using water-filled aluminum eggshells that dissipates hypervelocity impact energy to protect spacecraft from orbital debris. buff.ly/AaMffgV
Spacecraft Shielding Inspired by Eggshells Fights Space Junk
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September 9, 2026 at 5:56 PM
Researchers have developed a bio-inspired metastructure using water-filled aluminum eggshells that dissipates hypervelocity impact energy to protect spacecraft from orbital debris. buff.ly/AaMffgV
“Under these extreme conditions, graphite is too light to sink; it floats on the surface of the magma ocean and accumulates to form a primitive crust,” said Dr. Olivier Namur. buff.ly/FQDcq32
Mercury's Graphite Crust Formed in Low-Oxygen Ocean
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September 8, 2026 at 6:07 PM
“Under these extreme conditions, graphite is too light to sink; it floats on the surface of the magma ocean and accumulates to form a primitive crust,” said Dr. Olivier Namur. buff.ly/FQDcq32
Thanks to an ultra-fast light sheet fluorescence microscopy design, researchers at the University of Georgia capture zebrafish brain activity during a seizure in 3 dimensions.
Ultra-fast microscope design captures zebrafish brain seizures
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September 5, 2026 at 1:45 PM
Thanks to an ultra-fast light sheet fluorescence microscopy design, researchers at the University of Georgia capture zebrafish brain activity during a seizure in 3 dimensions.
Researchers at the University of Waterloo increased redox flow battery performance by 52% by replacing traditional carbon felts with 3D-printed, diamond-structured carbon electrodes that optimize electrolyte flow and reduce internal resistance. www.labroots.com/trending/tec...
3D-Printed Electrodes Boost Flow Battery Output by 52%
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September 1, 2026 at 9:40 PM
Researchers at the University of Waterloo increased redox flow battery performance by 52% by replacing traditional carbon felts with 3D-printed, diamond-structured carbon electrodes that optimize electrolyte flow and reduce internal resistance. www.labroots.com/trending/tec...
The super-Earth exoplanet Gliese 514 b experiences extreme "feast or famine" climate swings as its highly eccentric orbit repeatedly shifts it into and far out of its host star's habitable zone. www.labroots.com/trending/spa...
Super-Earth Gl 514 b Faces Extreme Feast-or-Famine Climates
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September 1, 2026 at 6:55 PM
The super-Earth exoplanet Gliese 514 b experiences extreme "feast or famine" climate swings as its highly eccentric orbit repeatedly shifts it into and far out of its host star's habitable zone. www.labroots.com/trending/spa...
Antarctic meltwater dilution ("freshening") causes rapid physiological stress and gill damage in shallow-water marine life. www.labroots.com/trending/ear...
Antarctic 'Freshening' Threatens Shallow Marine Life
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September 1, 2026 at 6:46 PM
Antarctic meltwater dilution ("freshening") causes rapid physiological stress and gill damage in shallow-water marine life. www.labroots.com/trending/ear...
Recent El Niño events are the most intense seen in 1,200 years due to climate-driven ocean warming. www.labroots.com/trending/ear...
Recent El Niño Events Most Intense in 1,000 Years
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August 31, 2026 at 6:18 PM
Recent El Niño events are the most intense seen in 1,200 years due to climate-driven ocean warming. www.labroots.com/trending/ear...
A new study demonstrates that strong stellar magnetic fields can fully trap and suppress coronal mass ejections, explaining why these powerful plasma eruptions are rarely detected on active stars. www.labroots.com/trending/spa...
Strong Stellar Magnetic Fields Suppress Coronal Mass Ejections
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August 27, 2026 at 9:03 PM
A new study demonstrates that strong stellar magnetic fields can fully trap and suppress coronal mass ejections, explaining why these powerful plasma eruptions are rarely detected on active stars. www.labroots.com/trending/spa...
Researchers built a vehicle-mounted laser system that detects methane leaks in real time while driving at high speeds. www.labroots.com/trending/tec...
Drive-by laser system detects methane leaks in real time
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August 27, 2026 at 8:54 PM
Researchers built a vehicle-mounted laser system that detects methane leaks in real time while driving at high speeds. www.labroots.com/trending/tec...
JWST reveals that young stars strip away planet-forming gas through magnetic and radiation-driven winds, creating a strict timeline for gas giant formation. www.labroots.com/trending/spa...
JWST uncovers how planet-forming gas escapes young stars
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August 26, 2026 at 9:12 PM
JWST reveals that young stars strip away planet-forming gas through magnetic and radiation-driven winds, creating a strict timeline for gas giant formation. www.labroots.com/trending/spa...
Continuous magmatic outgassing allows ultra-hot lava worlds to defy the cosmic shoreline theory and sustain thick atmospheres despite intense stellar radiation. www.labroots.com/trending/spa...
Lava-Covered Exoplanets Defy Cosmic Shoreline Theory
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August 26, 2026 at 6:32 PM
Continuous magmatic outgassing allows ultra-hot lava worlds to defy the cosmic shoreline theory and sustain thick atmospheres despite intense stellar radiation. www.labroots.com/trending/spa...
Researchers have developed a model that accounts for chaotic lunar impact gardening, enabling scientists to use lunar regolith to trace supernova history back over 100 million years. www.labroots.com/trending/spa...
Lunar Regolith Unlocks 100-Million-Year Supernova History
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August 25, 2026 at 9:02 PM
Researchers have developed a model that accounts for chaotic lunar impact gardening, enabling scientists to use lunar regolith to trace supernova history back over 100 million years. www.labroots.com/trending/spa...
Nature-based floating treatment wetlands planted on wastewater lagoons help reduce potent greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient pollution through specialized root-microbe interactions. www.labroots.com/trending/ear...
Nature-Based Floating Wetlands Cut Wastewater Emissions
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August 25, 2026 at 5:07 PM
Nature-based floating treatment wetlands planted on wastewater lagoons help reduce potent greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient pollution through specialized root-microbe interactions. www.labroots.com/trending/ear...