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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 ...

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

Astronomy
Dry ice detected in a planetary nebula for the first time
Biotechnology
Enhanced fluorescence technique illuminates rapid, coordinated protein folding
Other
Saturday Citations: Neurology of boring sounds; one huge croc; Travels With Sol
Ecology
Study documents record 118-kilometer dispersal by young female fisher in New Hampshire
Molecular & Computational biology
Bacteria that generate electricity: How a shellfish-based gel could monitor wastewater and food
Cell & Microbiology
Cell death in photoreceptor cells is reversible, study finds
Mathematics
Pi Day: From rockets to cancer research, here's how the number pi is embedded in our lives
Ecology
New Panama tree species identified after 25 years is already endangered
Evolution
How an unlikely all-female clonal fish species copied and pasted itself free from extinction
Quantum Physics
Quantum computers must overcome major technical hurdles before tackling quantum chemistry problems
Plants & Animals
Can plants count? Study suggests they can track the number of events they experience
Astronomy
A 100-solar-mass black hole merger ripples spacetime, and may flash in gamma rays
Plants & Animals
Bright pink insect stands out to blend in, scientists say
Environment
Improperly disposed wet wipes could shed microplastics in rivers
Ecology
In a South Carolina swamp, researchers uncover secrets of firefly synchrony
Ecology
New DNA tools outperform traditional methods for detecting genetic risk in wildlife
Analytical Chemistry
Scientists confirm existence of molecule long believed to occur in oxidation
Condensed Matter
Researchers realize room-temperature two-dimensional multiferroic metal
Biotechnology
Bacterial strain breaks decades-old bottleneck in chemotherapy drug manufacturing
Analytical Chemistry
From guesswork to guidance: How machine learning speeds dopant design for water-splitting photocatalysts

Why doesn't water help with spicy food? What about milk or beer?

Spicy foods taste spicy because they contain a family of compounds called capsaicinoids. Capsaicin is the major culprit. It's found in chilies, jalapeños, cayenne pepper, and is even the active ingredient in pepper spray.

Many old books contain toxic chemicals—here's how to spot them

In our modern society, we rarely consider books to be dangerous items. However, certain books contain elements so hazardous that they require scrutiny before being placed on the shelves of public libraries, bookstores or ...