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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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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
Analytical Chemistry
Retaining flavor while removing caffeine—a chemist explains the chemistry behind decaf coffee

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Astronomy
Rare blue optical transient points to possible new class of cosmic explosion
Archaeology
Ancient bones from smaller Maya communities reveal heavy reliance on maize and local subsistence patterns
Plants & Animals
Cameras attached to whale sharks capture krill chases never witnessed before
Archaeology
Syria's ancient sites face widespread looting and systematic bulldozing, satellite images reveal
Environment
Unwritten social rules, not government oversight, help keep forest land sustainable
Space Exploration
SpaceX launches Starship on another test flight, this time with the most advanced Starlinks
Biotechnology
The hunt for a natural molecule that can release cellular energy
Plants & Animals
Why and how birdsong differs across the world—and the eight motifs that tie them together
Astronomy
Astronomers catch massive galaxy assembling piece by piece 1.2 billion years after Big Bang
Plants & Animals
How fishing may be changing one fish species at the molecular level
Evolution
Why evolution never produced mammal teeth that slice and crush equally well
Plants & Animals
Plumage reflectance framework offers new insight into how birds evolved heat-controlling feathers
Earth Sciences
Small tropical islands face dangerous humid heat by end of the century
Ecology
How did inbred brown tree snakes take over the island of Guam?
General Physics
Oxygen collisions at the LHC show new indications of extreme state of matter
Earth Sciences
Unraveling the climate behind the collapse of Bronze Age civilizations
Evolution
Scientists turn modern biobanks into a new window on human evolution
Quantum Physics
Quantum Zeno effect could freeze computations as qubit systems scale up
Astrobiology
Why Europa's hidden ocean may be more difficult to reach than scientists thought
Nanophysics
Quantum dots reveal hidden light waves on metal surfaces

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 ...