A 2-million-year-old ecosystem in Greenland uncovered by environmental DNA.

Late Pliocene and Early Pleistocene epochs 3.6 to 0.8 million years ago had climates resembling those forecasted under future warming.

Thermodynamic and Kinetic Parameters for Calcite Nucleation on Peptoid and Model Scaffolds: A Step toward Nacre Mimicry.

The production of novel composite materials, assembled using biomimetic polymers known as peptoids (N-substituted glycines) to nucleate CaCO, can open new pathways for advanced material design. However, a better understanding of the heterogeneous CaCO nucleation process is a necessary first step. We determined the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters for calcite nucleation on self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of nanosheet-forming peptoid polymers and simpler, alkanethiol analogues.

Understanding the Formation of Heartwood in Larch Using Synchrotron Infrared Imaging Combined With Multivariate Analysis and Atomic Force Microscope Infrared Spectroscopy.

Formation of extractive-rich heartwood is a process in live trees that make them and the wood obtained from them more resistant to fungal degradation. Despite the importance of this natural mechanism, little is known about the deposition pathways and cellular level distribution of extractives. Here we follow heartwood formation in var.

Mineral Facilitated Horizontal Gene Transfer: A New Principle for Evolution of Life?

A number of studies have highlighted that adsorption to minerals increases DNA longevity in the environment. Such DNA-mineral associations can essentially serve as pools of genes that can be stored across time. Importantly, this DNA is available for incorporation into alien organisms through the process of horizontal gene transfer (HGT).

Green and facile approach for enhancing the inherent magnetic properties of carbon nanotubes for water treatment applications.

Current methods for preparing magnetic composites with carbon nanotubes (MCNT) commonly include extensive use of treatment with strong acids and result in massive losses of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). In this study we explore the potential of taking advantage of the inherent magnetic properties associated with the metal (alloy or oxide) incorporated in CNTs during their production. The as-received CNTs are refined by applying a permanent magnet to a suspension of CNTs to separate the high-magnetic fraction; the low-magnetic fraction is discarded with the solvent.

Structural disordering of de-alloyed Pt bimetallic nanocatalysts: the effect on oxygen reduction reaction activity and stability.

Platinum bimetallic alloys are well-known for their ability to catalyze the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Pt(x)Co(1-x) colloidal nanoparticles were synthesized with varying initial Pt : Co ratios, but constant size to investigate how the initial metal composition affects their electrocatalytic performance. The results show that upon contact with acid environment the Co leaches out of the particles leading to almost identical compositions, independent of the initial differences.