(Nanowerk News) Most life on Earth is based on polymers of 20 amino acids that have evolved into hundreds of thousands of different, highly specialized proteins. They catalyze reactions, form backbone ...

Researchers have developed a new method to image polymerization catalysis reactions one monomer at a time. Synthetic polymers are everywhere in our society -- from nylon and polyester clothing to ...

With this in mind, it has become crucial to investigate flame retardants for plastics. The goal is to improve the material's resistance to fire and reduce the heat release and flame spreading speed.

A tractor making piles of compost. Firms are developing bacteria and enzymes that might one day be used to break down microplastics in compost. Credit: Shutterstock Synthetic polymers have been on the ...

Recent advances in synthetic polypeptide and polymer chemistry have transformed the landscape of biomaterials by combining the precision of organic synthesis with the versatile functionalities of ...

Today, most companies’ gum base is a proprietary blend of synthetic and natural ingredients: If a packet lists “gum base” as an ingredient, that gum most likely contains synthetic polymers. The FDA ...

Scientists developing new biomaterials often try to mimic the body's natural proteins, but a chemist shows that simpler polymers -- based on a handful of plastic building blocks -- also work well.