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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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Condensed Matter
Unusual metal oxide shows signs of magnetism under lattice strain in ultrathin layers
Archaeology
Brittany burial mounds may hide human-shaped stones as Coëby cemetery mystery deepens
Archaeology
Moonlight-like fur and feathers may explain Egyptian god Thoth's two animal forms
Plants & Animals
AI opens new era in cognitive studies of wild primates
Cell & Microbiology
How molecular tethers and asynchronous replication drive parasite proliferation
Earth Sciences
Pacific cloud brightening could weaken El Nino, but models reveal risks for Europe and Asia
General Physics
Electron cooling tames highly charged ions in Penning trap for first time
Quantum Physics
Quantum computer completes verified task beyond practical reach of classical simulations
Biochemistry
Oil droplets remodel themselves, swallow their surroundings like living cells
Ecology
Insights into bee biology could ease US rules for organic honey
Cell & Microbiology
New immune-blocking strategy improves interspecies organ generation
Agriculture
Deadly blooms offer a genetic blueprint for making hard-to-synthesize medicinal compounds
Earth Sciences
Ancient diamond preserves evidence of water-bearing mineral deep in Earth's mantle
Planetary Sciences
Solar wind stirs Mars' upper atmosphere, boosting ion loss to space
Evolution
Lichen-like life 600 million years ago may push back origins of fungal-algal partnerships
Archaeology
Ancient Rome's food shortages were shaped more by logistics than climate
Condensed Matter
New photonic platform offers a four-lane highway for light
Quantum Physics
Less-explored form of quantum code could be more powerful—and more stable—than its alternative in error correction
Condensed Matter
Two independent studies push semiconductor qubits towards practical scales
Biotechnology
A new genetic tool helps researchers uncover the logic of gene regulation

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 ...