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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0140-6736(91)93449-j | DOI Listing |
Nat Commun
January 2025
Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China.
Inspired by counterintuitive water "swelling" ability of the hydrophobic moss of the genus Sphagnum (Peat moss), we prepared a hydrophobic pseudo-hydrogel (HPH), composed of a pure hydrophobic silicone elastomer with a tailored porous structure. In contrast to conventional hydrogels, HPH achieves absorption-induced volume expansion through surface tension induced elastocapillarity, presenting an unexpected absorption-induced volume expansion capability in hydrophobic matrices. We adopt a theoretical framework elucidating the interplay of surface tension induced elastocapillarity, providing insights into the absorption-induced volume expansion behavior.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFACS Appl Bio Mater
January 2025
Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Rue Michel Servet 1, Geneva CH-1211, Switzerland.
Moth-eye nanostructures, known for their biological antireflective properties, are formed by a self-assembly mechanism. Understanding and replicating this mechanism on artificial surfaces open avenues for the engineering of bioinspired multifunctional nanomaterials. Analysis of corneal nanocoatings from butterflies of the genus reveals a variety of nanostructures with uniformly strong antiwetting properties accompanied by varying antireflective functionalities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Am Chem Soc
January 2025
Department of Chemistry, Burke Laboratory, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755, United States.
Self-organization under out-of-equilibrium conditions is ubiquitous in natural systems for the generation of hierarchical solid-state patterns of complex structures with intricate properties. Efforts in applying this strategy to synthetic materials that mimic biological function have resulted in remarkable demonstrations of programmable self-healing and adaptive materials. However, the extension of these efforts to multifunctional stimuli-responsive solid-state materials across defined spatial distributions remains an unrealized technological opportunity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProc Natl Acad Sci U S A
January 2025
School of Physics, Engineering & Technology, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom.
Carnivory in plants is an unusual trait that has arisen multiple times, independently, throughout evolutionary history. Plants in the genus are carnivorous and feed on microorganisms that live in soil using modified subterranean leaf structures (rhizophylls). A surprisingly broad array of microfauna has been observed in the plants' digestive chambers, including ciliates, amoebae, and soil mites.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
December 2024
Air Quality Department, Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, Na Šabatce 2050/17, Praha, 143 06, Czech Republic.
In late March to early April 2024, an unusually high amount of sand dust was wind-blown to Europe from the Sahara Desert. Most of mainland Europe was affected by these sand dust particles. As a result, Central Europe experienced an exceptionally high increase in air pollution.
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