Understanding the set of elementary steps and kinetics in each reaction is extremely valuable to make informed decisions about creating the next generation of catalytic materials. With physical and mechanistic complexity of industrial catalysts, it is critical to obtain kinetic information through experimental methods. As such, this work details a methodology based on the combination of transient rate/concentration dependencies and machine learning to measure the number of active sites, the individual rate constants, and gain insight into the mechanism under a complex set of elementary steps. This new methodology was applied to simulated transient responses to verify its ability to obtain correct estimates of the micro-kinetic coefficients. Furthermore, experimental CO oxidation data was analyzed to reveal the Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism driving the reaction. As oxygen accumulated on the catalyst, a transition in the mechanism was clearly defined in the machine learning analysis due to the large amount of kinetic information available from transient reaction techniques. This methodology is proposed as a new data driven approach to characterize how materials control complex reaction mechanisms relying exclusively on experimental data.

OLIVELLA, SPAIN – As flames and smoke from burning bushes billowed toward them, Catalan firefighters calmly controlled the progress of a planned fire on a forested hillside -- an exercise aimed at reducing the danger of blazes breaking out later in the summer heat. Prescribed forest burns like this, which thin out flammable undergrowth, are a well-known way of lowering wildfire risks, which are rising as the Earth's climate heats up. Less understood is the impact on the health of the people who work to prevent and battle those forest fires. On a mild February morning in the countryside outside Barcelona, a low-cost monitoring device was field-tested for the first time. Its aim is to better protect firefighting teams -- and in the longer term, populations living near fire-prone areas.

The concept might sound strange at first, but trust me, it's a great idea well executed in the First Alert Onelink Safe & Sound. Think about it: You have a smoke detector in every room, and each one contains a loudspeaker, optimally mounted on the ceiling or high up on the wall. Add a mic, a Wi-Fi connection, and a digital assistant, and instead of behaving like a lifeless barnacle unless smoke or carbon monoxide is present in the room, that device can play music and games, retrieve news and information, control your smart home, and do all the other great things an Alexa-powered smart speaker can do. As an Alexa device, the Onelink Safe & Sound works well. Its speaker is loud and clear, and its microphone is sensitive and accurate.