Microwaves are not just for heating up leftovers. They have a hidden talent. They can speed up chemical reactions. This is big news for chemists. It means they can create new substances faster and more efficiently. But how does this magic happen? To understand this, think about how microwaves work in your kitchen. They heat food by making water molecules vibrate. Th...
Cubio, an Andean tuber, is full of good stuff like phytochemicals and antioxidants. But, it needs special care to keep it fresh. One way to do this is by blanching. This process can change the tuber's color and might mess with its good-for-you compounds. So, it's important to figure out the best way to blanch it. Three methods were tested: microwaves, ultrasound...
The world of materials science is always looking for new ways to protect electronics from interference. One exciting development is a smart material that changes how it absorbs microwaves based on temperature. This material is made up of a special polymer called poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and a polyurethane sponge filled with graphene oxide. It is called PGPC for sh...
Wheat starch and fatty acids can team up to form complexes. These complexes are important for health but can be easily affected by the moisture in the air. To understand this better, scientists created these complexes using microwaves and different types of fatty acids. They varied the length of the carbon chains in the fatty acids from 12 to 18 and the degree of uns...
The universe's earliest moments have been captured in stunning detail. A global team of scientists has unveiled new images that provide an unprecedented look at the cosmos in its infancy. These images offer a glimpse into the universe's early days, around 380, 000 years after its birth. The universe is roughly 13 billion years old, so these images are like seeing a b...
Did you know that old batteries could have a second life? Scientists have found a cool use for the graphite inside spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). This graphite is special because it has a lot of oxygen-rich groups on its surface. These groups help the graphite absorb microwaves really well. To make it even better, scientists added something called reduced graphe...
Ever wondered what makes your favorite raisin snack so delicious and safe to eat? It all comes down to how they're dried. Scientists have been exploring a new method using microwaves to dry raisins, and the results are pretty impressive. The key is to minimize a nasty substance called ochratoxin A (OTA) and reduce yeast and mold content (YMC) while keeping the raisi...
Have you ever wondered how tiny particles can protect us from electronic interference? Titanium disulfide quantum dots, or TiS₂QDs, are tiny but mighty. These dots have unique electronic and optical properties, making them super interesting for research. But how effective are they as shields against electromagnetic interference (EMI)? It depends on things like their ...
Ever thought about how microwaves could transform ordinary starch into something super-absorbent? Scientists discovered that these powerful little waves can team up with enzymes to create pretty amazing effects. By zapping starch with microwaves at various points during the enzymatic process, they found they could change the starch's structure completely. Using micro...
You might have seen videos of people cutting grapes in half and zapping them in the microwave, just to watch the sparks fly. But did you know this fun trick could actually help make better quantum sensors? That's what a new study in Physical Review Applied suggests. Back in 1994, scientists noticed that grapes produce plasma when microwaved. The old explanation was ...