Packing Insecticides in Tiny Capsules Could Increase their Toxicity
Encasing insecticides in microscopic plastic capsules—a common formulation for many pest sprays on the market—could lead to unintended consequences, according to a new study from Oregon State University. Environmental toxicologist Stacey Harper and her team found that a common insecticide in its “capsule suspension” formulation—with molecules of the active ingredient encapsulated in tiny, inert plastic…
Land Rising Above the Sea 2.4 Billion Years Ago Changed Planet Earth
Chemical signatures in shale, the Earth’s most common sedimentary rock, point to a rapid rise of land above the ocean 2.4 billion years ago that possibly triggered dramatic changes in climate and life. In a study published in the May 24 issue of the journal Nature, researchers report that shale sampled from around the world…
Chemists Build a New, Stable Open-Shell Molecule
University of Oregon chemists have synthesized a stable and long-lasting carbon-based molecule that, they say, potentially could be applicable in solar cells and electronic devices. The molecule changes its bonding patterns to a magnetic biradical state when heated; it then returns to a fully bonded non-magnetic closed state at room temperature. That transition, they report,…