Category archives: Chemistry

Polyoxometalates, the other discovery by D’Elhuyar brothers

Polyoxometalates, the other discovery by D’Elhuyar brothers

Chemistry

By Aroa Pache

Not many people know that polyoxometalates (POMs) discovery dates back to 1783 and that they were the D´Elhuyar brothers ( Juan José D´Elhuyar (Logroño, 1754 ) and Fausto D´Elhuyar (Logroño, 1755) who discovered a yellow spicy/bitter tasting salt from the reaction of ammonium molybdate with phosphoric acid which is now known as ammonium 12-phosphomolybdate, (NH […]

The true colour of chlorophylls

The true colour of chlorophylls

BiologyChemistryMaterials

By DIPC

Most leaves are various shades of green. This is due to the chlorophylls. The name chlorophyll comes from the Greek words chloros (green) and phyllon (leaf). There are six types of chlorophylls in plants. The two main chlorophylls are chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b. Chlorophyll a absorbs purple and orange light the most. Chlorophyll b […]

Lead-oriented synthesis: a new concept to aid drug-discovery process

Lead-oriented synthesis: a new concept to aid drug-discovery process

ChemistryMedicinePharmacy

By Pablo Ortiz

The discovery and development of new drugs is a long and expensive process, and despite of it, essential to face present and new diseases. For small molecules, which account for the majority of the marketed drugs, the discovery process generally involves finding a starting point termed hit or lead compound. These molecules have biological activity […]

Living beings: systems all the way back to their chemical origins

Living beings: systems all the way back to their chemical origins

BiochemistryBiologyChemistryEvolution

By Invited Researcher

A uthor: Kepa Ruiz-Mirazo, Permanent Researcher, University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU) The effort of mapping ignorance in biology is especially frustrating –or, if the mood and attitude of the scientist afford it, especially motivating– because solid, definite answers remain minimal compared to the amount of open issues and uncertainties that new discoveries in this […]