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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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Bio & Medicine
DNA design unlocks nanometer-scale catalyst control for cleaner hydrogen production
Space Exploration
Plants could be used to grow medicines in space, study shows
Bio & Medicine
Medicinal plants yield carbon nanoparticles that glow red and flag toxic metals
Plants & Animals
How wax moth larvae can help reduce animal testing in research
Archaeology
Ancient hominins selected basalt sources for specific tools nearly 800,000 years ago, study reveals
Ecology
Corals have a hormonal clock and it looks surprisingly like ours
Nanophysics
Twisted stacking lets 2D conductor keep single-layer performance in bulk form
Earth Sciences
Ocean collapse triggered ancient wildfires, research suggests
Nanophysics
Van der Waals forces can play unexpected role in thin film properties
Cell & Microbiology
Ribosome tunnel interactions reveal how bacteria can pause protein production
Astronomy
Neutron star merger simulations gain new precision with AI-driven r-process heating
Superconductivity
Research uncovers novel electronic properties in quantum material
Earth Sciences
California's tectonic stress has reached record level, earthquake model reveals
General Physics
Newfound sound wave scattering rule may lead to less bulky, more effective soundproofing
Cell & Microbiology
Frozen rat chromosome springs back to life inside a mouse embryo
General Physics
Physicists create new family of Schrödinger-cat states
General Physics
Tabletop experiment helps reconcile fundamental physics
Molecular & Computational biology
Recovered wild maize gene boosts crop protein without yield loss
Condensed Matter
Nickelate superconductors share a common electronic fingerprint
Archaeology
Headless skeletons offer new insights into farming societies 7,000 years ago

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 ...

Rapid DNA identifies conception boat fire victims

Thirty-four people died in a tragic boat fire on September 2, 2019, off the coast of Santa Cruz Island, California. Five crew members escaped with injuries after calling for help, but the intense fire aboard the Conception ...

Brewing beer that tastes fresh longer

Unlike wine, which generally improves with time, beer does not age well. Usually within a year of bottling, the beverage starts to develop an unpleasant papery or cardboard-like flavor that drinkers describe as "stale." Now, ...

The good side of carbon monoxide

Most people think of carbon monoxide as harmful, and with good reason—the colorless, odorless gas sends 50,000 people in the U.S. to hospitals each year when their furnaces malfunction or car engines run in poorly ventilated ...

A new way to create pumpkin spice products, drugs, cosmetics

"Like oil and water" doesn't apply just to personal relationships that aren't working. It also applies to the challenges scientists face when combining spices and other products that conventionally do not mix well in producing ...

Electrochemistry amps up in pharma

Sparked by several high-profile reports, electrochemistry—using electricity to perform chemical reactions like oxidation and reduction—is gaining popularity in the pharmaceutical field. Some researchers have embraced the ...