Back in January, I reported that the periodic table would be getting an update because four new elements were discovered - finally, the new names have been penciled in. Nihonium, moscovium, tennessine, and oganesson will grace the blocks assigned to atomic numbers 113, 115, 117, and 118, said the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) today.

Nihonium, discovered by a Japanese team, means “the land of the rising sun,” while moscovium and tennessine are named after places near the labs where they were discovered (Moscow and Tennessee, of course). And oganesson recognizes the work of Russian chemist Yuri Oganessian. By tradition, the right to suggest a name for an element is granted to its discoverer, although IUPAC has ...

Proteins are subatomic biomolecules. They're produced by cells, so it's logical to assume that they are much tinier than cells, and of course, much tinier than the organelles that produce them. In a remarkable achievement, scientists have now obtained the first-ever photographs of single proteins. Using a "holography electron microscope," researchers tested on a range of protein samples, all just a few nanometers in size. Hemoglobin, the protein that transports oxygen in red blood cells, and cytochrome c, the protein that transfers electrons within the body, were just two examples.

Source: arXiv ...

The cube shown above, known as the element cube, combines every 'collectible' element on Earth. Regarded by its creator as the world’s largest alloy, the cube is fashioned into a minimalist decorative ornament that could sit on your desk or coffee table! It consists of 62 elements (shown below) and measures 5 cm by 5 cm; it ships with a material analysis report - that presumably indicates what percentage of each metal is contained in the alloy - and offers custom engraving as an extra option.


Source: http://www.sciencealert.com/the-element-cube-combines-every-collectible-element-on-earth-into-one-weird-looking-cube ...

Since its discovery in 2010, researchers have been trying to solve the mystery of dark streaks that appear and disappear seasonally on the planet's surface (shown above). Scientists are now claiming that this phenomenon, known as the recurring slope lineae, is caused by a bath of saltwater. What is still unknown, however, is where the water is coming from, or if the chemistry is even right for supporting life.

Nitrogen triiodide (NI3) is a contact explosive that sets off whether it comes in contact with a feather or a bug. As shown in the diagram, the chemical is made up of a cluster of three iodine atoms around one side of a nitrogen atom. The result of such a crowd around one atom causes something called bond strain - the atoms repel each other in a small space. The result of this bond strain is that the molecule is prone to falling apart very, causing the mini explosion you see ().

Video link: https://biology-forums.com/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=22482 ...

It revolves around the just-perfect temperature and craftsmanship. Take a look

Start by watching the video below In the video, a Japanese man converts plastic waste into usable oil and fuel using a machine that thermochemically decomposes the plastic in a process known as pyrolysis.



Pyrolysis works by thermochemically breaking down material at temperatures above 350 degrees Celsius in the absence of water. This not only physically melts down an object, but also changes its chemical composition so that, in the case of plastic waste, it reverts back into boiling liquid and eventually gas.

Source: http://www.sciencealert.com/holy-crap-watch-this-guy-turn-plastic-back-into-oil ...

Dead or depleted batteries, especially cylindrical ones like AA or AAA batteries, can exhibit a unique behavior known as "bouncing" when dropped from a short height. This phenomenon is primarily due to changes in the battery's internal chemistry and physical properties as it becomes discharged.

Inside a battery, there are chemical reactions that generate electrical energy. As a battery discharges and its chemical energy is depleted, its internal chemistry changes. One of the changes that occur is a reduction in the pressure of gases within the battery. This decrease in gas pressure can make the battery feel lighter, contributing to its bounce.

As a battery discharges, its internal components, such as the cathode, anode, and electrolyte, unde ...

I found this video quite interesting. The man in the video does a good job explaining how clouds are formed, and why they stay up in the sky!

When chemistry and physics come together, it looks awesome. This is the emission spectra of the Elements - in other words, these are the colors they emit in the gaseous state.

An easy to understand animation of antimatter.

Scientists identified sulfur, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and carbon -- some of the key chemical ingredients for life -- in the powder Curiosity drilled out of a sedimentary rock near an ancient stream bed in Gale Crater on the Red Planet last month.

A seagull on a glass roof looking really cute.

Seagulls are able to drink seawater to survive thanks to salt glands just above their eyes. These glands eliminate excess salt from the seawater and flush it out of the birds' nostrils in liquid form, an action that's often mistaken for a sneeze.

This is Reed Flute Cave, in the Guangxi region of China. This natural limestone formation is over 180 million years old and contains inscriptions written in ink, which have been dated to as far back as 792 AD in the Tang Dynasty. The cave was named after the type of reed growing outside, which can be made into musical flutes.

This periodic table shows the relative abundance of elements on Earth.

Pamukkale, meaning "cotton castle" in Turkish, is a natural water terrace site located in the Denizli Province of southwestern Turkey. The site contains several hot springs contained by stark, white limestone deposits known as travertines, that are fed by the overflowing, mineral-rich spring waters. People have been bathing here for thousands of years. ...

Briton Peter Higgs (right) and Belgian ">François Englert (left) have won the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physics, 'for something small that makes all the difference' – the Higgs boson.

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This is bismuth, a brittle metal with a white or silver-pink hue and an iridescent oxide tarnish that produces a rainbow of colours from yellow to blue. It is the most naturally diamagnetic metal in the world, which means it can create a magnetic field in opposition to an externally applied magnetic field. ...

By manipulating chemical gradients in a beaker of fluid, the behavior of crystal growth can be controlled, creating precisely tailored structures – “flowers” at the scale of microns – that bloom in a beaker.

Though these minuscule sculptures don't resemble the cubic or jagged forms normally associated with crystals, they “bloom” from the surface of a submerged glass slide, assembling themselves one molecule at a time.

The precipitation of the crystals depends on a reaction of compounds that are diffusing through a liquid solution. The crystals grow toward or away from certain chemical gradients as the pH of the reaction shifts back and forth. The conditions of the reaction dictate whether the structure resembles broad, radiating leaves, a thi ...

Here's a fun way to cheat on your next biochemistry exam

Gallium is a silvery metal with atomic number 31. It is used in semiconductors and LEDs, but the cool thing about it is its melting point, which is only about 85 degrees Fahrenheit. If you hold a solid gallium crystal in your hand, your body heat will cause it to slowly melt into a silvery metallic puddle. Pour it into a dish, and it freezes back into a solid.

While you probably should not lick your fingers after playing with it, gallium is not toxic and it will not make you crazy like mercury does. And if you get tired of it, you can melt it onto glass and make yourself a mirror. ...