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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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Biotechnology
Charge-based strategy improves controlled delivery of therapeutic peptides from gelatin-based materials
Optics & Photonics
'Flying focus' laser overcomes key limitation in plasma-based particle accelerators
Plants & Animals
Pulsed radiofrequency magnetic fields may disorient migratory birds, experiments suggest
Environment
Swarms of tiny robots remove microplastics from soil and water
Plants & Animals
Butterfly ranges shift worldwide amid climate change, with most species expanding their reach
Space Exploration
Reduced gravity pushes people toward simpler movement patterns, experiments suggest
Ecology
Dodo birds more clever than we thought
Cell & Microbiology
Gut cells may measure hunger by how watery their insides become
Social Sciences
Mega-study analyzes the impact of gratitude interventions
Ecology
Nocturnal 'coffee frog' discovered in Costa Rica
Materials Science
Silver nanocatalysts switch reaction sites between power generation and hydrogen production
General Physics
XENONnT detector narrows the hunt for dark matter
Astronomy
Galactic spins carry fingerprints of the primordial universe
General Physics
Crossing into a mirror world: Particles turn to wisps of fog, and the magnetic monopole paradox dissolves
Condensed Matter
Physicists watch a material's electrons assemble, and reassemble, into coexisting phases
General Physics
Tiny floating magnet detects ultrafaint magnetic fields at room temperature
Condensed Matter
Boron layers could set a superconductivity record, theoretical study predicts
Astronomy
An ultramassive white dwarf half Earth's size may hold a rare oxygen-neon core
Plants & Animals
One million years without sex fails to erase stick insects' unused biological system
Cell & Microbiology
Phages unlock essential vitamin B12 by bursting open gut bacteria

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 ...