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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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Other
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
Other
Finally, a video that really explains how color works
Analytical Chemistry
How do heat protectants for hair work? A chemistry expert explains
Other
Nobel chemistry winner sees engineered proteins solving tough problems
Other
Nobel Prize in chemistry honors 3 scientists who used AI to design proteins—life's building blocks
Other
What are proteins again? Nobel-winning chemistry explained
Other
Demis Hassabis, from chess prodigy to Nobel-winning AI pioneer
Other
AI-aided research, new materials eyed for Nobel Chemistry Prize
Other
Nobel winners hope protein work will spur 'incredible' breakthroughs
Other
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
Analytical Chemistry
Retaining flavor while removing caffeine—a chemist explains the chemistry behind decaf coffee
Other
Deep learning model overcomes the challenge of real-world measurements of isotope production target cooling systems
Analytical Chemistry
First chemist in history may have been a female perfumer—how the science of scents has changed since

Other news

Plants & Animals
Chimpanzee empire falls apart in rare instance of division and deadly violence
Evolution
Mammal ancestors laid eggs—and this 250-million-year-old fossil proves it
Archaeology
No more giants, no more heavy handaxes: Why early humans downsized their stone tools
Analytical Chemistry
Plant-inspired water membrane filters CO₂ with constant selectivity and adjustable permeance
Biotechnology
AI-designed proteins built from scratch can recognize specific compounds
Environment
Street green space can help cool cities, but it will not be enough on its own
Social Sciences
Hat wars of early modern England reveal how manners make the rebel
Analytical Chemistry
Hydroxyl radicals in UV-exposed water reveal surprising reaction pathway
Nanomaterials
Carbon nanotube fiber sensors achieve record measurement error below 0.1%
Biotechnology
AI diffusion models tailor drug molecules to custom-fit protein targets, speeding drug development and evaluation
Cell & Microbiology
Liquid-like histone H1 'glues' nucleosomes, reshaping how DNA compacts
Astronomy
What if dark matter came in two states?
Environment
Non-producing oil and gas wells may emit microbial methane at rates 1,000 times higher than previously estimated
Molecular & Computational biology
A smarter way to build vaccines: Scientists harness AI to target emerging alphaviruses
Optics & Photonics
Megawatt structured light arrives with 3,070 optical vortices in one array
Earth Sciences
Deadly heat thresholds have already being crossed in six recent heat waves, study shows
Plants & Animals
Oxygen sensing helps explain why amphibians regenerate limbs but mammals cannot
Evolution
From Asgard to Earth: Tiny tubes may reveal the moment complex life began
Cell & Microbiology
Decoy molecules trick soil bacteria into attacking persistent pollutants without genetic engineering
Ecology
Wildlife trade increases pathogen transmission: What 40 years of data say about spillover

Discovering what makes durian stink

Researchers at the Leibniz-Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich (Leibniz-LSB@TUM) have confirmed the presence of the rare amino acid ethionine in a plant—or more precisely, in the fruit ...

Tax rule for industry rewards carbon capture

When it comes to encouraging manufacturers to reduce their carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, a carrot might be more effective than a stick. That's the approach taken by a recent U.S. tax code rule that offers credits to companies ...

One drug, many diseases

It seems too good to be true: a single drug that could treat humanity's worst afflictions, including atherosclerosis, cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and arthritis. All of these diseases have one thing in common—they involve ...

Principles for a green chemistry future

In the most recent issue of the academic journal Science, the case is made for a future where the materials and chemicals that make up the basis of our society and our economy are healthful rather than toxic, renewable rather ...

Predicting the year in chemistry

With 2020 just starting, scientists around the world are wondering what the year has in store for them. To help steer them straight, Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, ...

Egg-based flu vaccines: Not all they're cracked up to be?

Flu season is underway in the Northern Hemisphere, sickening millions of people and in rare cases, causing hospitalization or death. The best prevention is a flu shot, but it's not unusual for these vaccines to be less effective ...

Extending food shelf life with nanomaterials

When was the last time you were tempted by luscious cherries at your supermarket or saw that your favorite brand of packaged bread was on sale and you greedily bought too much? You likely had to throw away most of them because ...