PSI

Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have for the first time observed photochemical processes inside the smallest particles in the air. In doing so, they discovered that additional oxygen radicals that can be harmful to human health are formed in these aerosols under everyday conditions. They report on their results today in the journal Nature Communications.

To see, smell, taste, get excited, or mount a defence against an infection – in our bodies, G protein-coupled receptors mediate countless, often vital processes. This is why a better understanding of these proteins is relevant for the development of new drugs. An international team of researchers has now set up an online platform that makes simulations of these proteins usable for science. In an interview, PSI researcher Ramon Guixà-González, talks about how he brings proteins to life on the computer screen – and how this project should expedite drug development.

Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI and the partner institute Empa have started a joint initiative called SynFuels. The goal is to develop a process for producing kerosene from renewable resources. In this way liquid fuel mixtures of the highest quality, which would allow the most residue-free combustion possible and thus be suitable for aircraft propulsion, should be obtainable using carbon dioxide and hydrogen from renewable resources.