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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 ...

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Corpse flower's rare bloom aids forensic chemistry research
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Your fuzzy flannel pajamas could be incredibly flammable—here's what to know
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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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Environment
Saharan dust carries desert bacteria across the Atlantic to Amazon rainforest
Evolution
Museum specimens reveal shrinking flying foxes in Madagascar, with commercial hunting suspected
Astronomy
Modest gamma-ray flash followed by dazzling afterglow points to powerful stellar jet viewed off-axis
Plants & Animals
Smaller ants devote more of their resting energy budget to their brains
Cell & Microbiology
Amino acid boosts last-resort antibiotic's effectiveness
Earth Sciences
As ancient oceans warmed, carbon export and fish productivity surged
Plants & Animals
Chornobyl dog population shows genetic signatures of directional selection
Plants & Animals
Scientists count more than 2 million eels on one underwater mountain
General Physics
Can gravitational fields break and reconnect? Einstein's equations suggest they can
Planetary Sciences
Supersonic waves could explain the strange orbits of hot Jupiters and Neptunes
Plants & Animals
Rarely seen deep-sea barreleye fish filmed in 4K
General Physics
Against all expectations, researchers control the magnetic core of a single atom
Mathematics
The phantom lighthouse: New research explains one of Australia's strangest illusions
Plants & Animals
A spider named for Stephen Colbert has a genome about 50% larger than ours
Condensed Matter
Ultrathin metal layer boosts spin-related signals, opening a door to ultralow-power electronics
Analytical Chemistry
Atomic magnetism reveals why iron, but not chromium, can produce ammonia using sunlight
Paleontology & Fossils
150-year-old mystery about the identity of an 'extinct' giant crane solved
Cell & Microbiology
Macromolecular crowding could help build artificial cell systems
Space Exploration
Could next-gen artificial intelligence help map out future space outposts?
Molecular & Computational biology
Molecular architecture determines tomato plant resistance to its main pest

Cutting acrylamide in fried and baked snacks

In 2002, the discovery of acrylamide in certain snacks rattled consumers and the food industry. Acrylamide, a probable human carcinogen, forms by a chemical reaction during baking or frying. Although experts say it's impossible ...

You butter believe it: Low-calorie spread made mostly of water

Cornell University food scientists have created a new low-calorie 'butter' spread that consists mostly of water. A tablespoon of this low-calorie spread has 2.8 grams of fat and 25.2 calories. Butter, on the other hand, which ...

Fighting a mighty weed

Weeds are pesky in any situation. Now, imagine a weed so troublesome that it has mutated to resist multiple herbicides. Palmer amaranth, a member of the pigweed family, is spreading across states and growing in strength. ...