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Break the mold: Who defines the 'real' chemist?

The perception of a chemist varies. Some might imagine the "mad scientist" from old cartoons—a white-haired older man working with beakers in his lab—but as that cliche fades, the reality of what constitutes a chemist's job ...

Conclave: The chemistry behind the black and white smoke

This week, 133 cardinals have gathered in the Vatican to elect a new leader of the Catholic church. During their deliberations, the only indications of their progress are the regular plumes of smoke wafting from a freshly ...

Corpse flower's rare bloom aids forensic chemistry research

A corpse flower, aptly named Putricia, recently bloomed at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney for the first time in 15 years. For forensic scientist Bridget Thurn, it was a unique opportunity to investigate the intersection ...

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Testing used cars for drug traces to investigate third-hand contamination risk from methamphetamine use
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Video: Preventing Christmas tree fires, with science
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Video: The strange chemistry of Mexican Coke
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What's the difference between liquid and powder laundry detergent? It's not just the obvious
Materials Science
Pushing the boundaries of traditional ceramic techniques by merging art and science
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Finally, a video that really explains how color works
Analytical Chemistry
How do heat protectants for hair work? A chemistry expert explains
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Nobel chemistry winner sees engineered proteins solving tough problems
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Nobel Prize in chemistry honors 3 scientists who used AI to design proteins—life's building blocks
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What are proteins again? Nobel-winning chemistry explained
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Demis Hassabis, from chess prodigy to Nobel-winning AI pioneer
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AI-aided research, new materials eyed for Nobel Chemistry Prize
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Nobel winners hope protein work will spur 'incredible' breakthroughs
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Video: Why Canadian trash costs $30,000 per gram
Analytical Chemistry
What's the difference between MSG and table salt? A chemist explains
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Grenfell victims were 'overcome by toxic gases' after construction loophole
Analytical Chemistry
Evidence stacks up for poisonous books containing toxic dyes
Biochemistry
Researchers develop an instant version of trendy, golden turmeric milk
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Video: Don't drink raw milk. But what about raw milk cheese?
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Improving cat food flavors with the help of feline taste-testers

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Social Sciences
Longitudinal survey finds little evidence that social tech predicts life satisfaction in adults
Earth Sciences
Tiny beach-dwelling crustaceans are big-time sand movers, shaping the California coast
Planetary Sciences
Venus ate its moon: How Earth's 'twin' could have swallowed a rocky satellite
Cell & Microbiology
Virtual cells built from 4D AI models and 'digital twins' could speed up drug discovery
Archaeology
'Rusty treasure' find revealed as Europe's largest assemblage of prehistoric iron bars
Condensed Matter
Two-color light steers electrons through graphene's transient topological state
Archaeology
The monsters that weren't: Dinosaur and tusked-beast claims in San rock art unravel
Cell & Microbiology
How the malaria parasite boosts its transmission potential under stress conditions
Environment
Global population dataset uses buildings to reveal people's daily movement patterns
Plants & Animals
A molecular bridge connects two signaling pathways critical for pollen development
Molecular & Computational biology
Loss of Y chromosome in men could be an early warning sign of cancer
Astrobiology
Scientists simulate cosmic crashes to test whether icy moons gain or lose their ability to sustain life
Molecular & Computational biology
Protein map reveals how red blood cells rapidly adjust to low oxygen
General Physics
Physicists extend the search for quantum black holes at the LHC
Earth Sciences
Greenland's Qaanaaq Ice Cap has lost enough ice to produce a layer of water about 8 meters deep
Archaeology
Medieval Chinese skeleton may reveal first evidence of a brutal punishment
Evolution
Discovery of CRISPR's long lost ancestor may expand gene-editing toolkit
Earth Sciences
North Korea's nuclear testing may have triggered hundreds of earthquakes over several years
Condensed Matter
Stacked 2D materials reveal room-temperature multiferroicity and voltage-controlled magnetism
Nanophysics
New thermal insulator outperforms any material found in nature

Video: Why Canadian trash costs $30,000 per gram

How do you turn nuclear waste into a $30,000-per-gram commodity? Tritium, once discarded as a by-product of Canadian nuclear reactors, is now one of the most expensive materials on Earth. This rare isotope of hydrogen powers ...

Evidence stacks up for poisonous books containing toxic dyes

If you come across brightly colored, cloth-bound books from the Victorian era, you might want to handle them gently, or even steer clear altogether. Some of their attractive hues come from dyes that could pose a health risk ...