{
  "id": 2334046,
  "title": "Colliding molecules reveal their ‘cone of reaction’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/colliding-molecules-reveal-their-cone-of-reaction",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-21T08:00:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Physics World",
    "slug": "physics-world",
    "url": "https://physicsworld.com/a/colliding-molecules-reveal-their-cone-of-reaction/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "A team of researchers from the University of Graz, Austria, has made a significant discovery in the field of chemical reactions by observing the precise geometric conditions required for a successful reaction. By using a scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) to project a molecule of difluorocarbene (CF 2 ) onto a target radical (BTFyl) anchored to a copper surface, the researchers were able to control the impact parameter and orientation of the reactants. Their findings reveal that reactions only occur within a \"cone of reaction,\" defined by the reactants contacting at a specific point and a certain angle. This discovery could lead to a better understanding of chemical reactions at the atomic scale and potentially enable ways to control and optimize these processes.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}