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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
Other
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
Other
Video: Don't drink raw milk. But what about raw milk cheese?
Other
Improving cat food flavors with the help of feline taste-testers

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Social Sciences
Predominantly online friendships linked to greater support for white nationalism
Cell & Microbiology
Hedgehog coronaviruses may threaten cats more than humans, new study finds
Biotechnology
Prime assembly can correct multiple mutations at once, pointing toward universal gene therapies
Archaeology
Ice Age carvers used mammoth tusk patterns to create unique art, study finds
Analytical Chemistry
Spring-like porous crystals could enable chemically responsive microscale materials
Astronomy
Webb measures extreme gas outflows from distant 'dead' galaxies
General Physics
How some cyclists paradoxically start 'from rest' with a non-zero velocity
Nanomaterials
A 6-nanometer vapor barrier insulates ice during rapid heating
Plants & Animals
Weeping whales: Stillborn humpback whale grieving documented
Mathematics
Mathematician challenges a 2,000-year-old legend about the Parthenon's optical illusions
Ecology
3D scans reveal how lichen fungi grip algae across cell walls
Environment
Heat-related lost labor emerges as a major cost of carbon emissions
Plants & Animals
Caffeine pollution could disrupt crustacean defenses against predators
Plants & Animals
Pufferfish taste receptor more versatile than a human's, detecting both savory L- and sweet D-amino acids
Astronomy
Nearly 50 'ghost galaxies' emerge around three hosts, challenging dwarf galaxy counts
Evolution
Half-billion-year-old fossils rewrite the origin story of starfish
Earth Sciences
Beach-burrowing beasties may shovel more sand than any other animal on Earth
Agriculture
New breeding approach targets crop rotations, not yield alone
Earth Sciences
Australia's ancient rainfall patterns more complex than previously believed
Optics & Photonics
Dual findings reveal how to control coherence in plasmonic nanolasers

The persistent problem of 1,4-dioxane in water

Of the many chemicals that can pollute the world's water supplies, 1,4-dioxane is one of the most persistent. Listed as a likely carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 1,4-dioxane is largely unregulated ...

Cloth face masks that can be disinfected by sunlight

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have become accustomed to wearing cotton face masks in public places. However, viruses and bacteria that stick to the mask could be transferred elsewhere when the wearer removes or ...

The chemistry behind self-driving cars

Self-driving, electric cars have been touted as the next big thing in transportation. While this technology has progressed in recent years, experts caution that automakers will need the chemical industry to help make it a ...

2 scientists win Nobel chemistry prize for gene-editing tool

The Nobel Prize in chemistry went to two researchers Wednesday for a gene-editing tool that has revolutionized science by providing a way to alter DNA, the code of life—technology already being used to try to cure a host ...