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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
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

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Ecology
50 years of data reveals true extent of climate change impacts on kelp forests
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
Astronomy
Black hole feeding bursts may explain JWST's Little Red Dots in early universe
Astrobiology
Cosmic bombardment may have opened Earth's crust for prebiotic chemistry
Molecular & Computational biology
How plants survive constant DNA damage: Newly identified repair protein protects growth-critical stem cells
Archaeology
Ancient hominins selected basalt sources for specific tools nearly 800,000 years ago, study reveals
Plants & Animals
Critically endangered Chinese pangolin found in Nepal's sacred forest
Ecology
River wildlife moves freely once dams are removed, but so too can invasive species
Bio & Medicine
DNA design unlocks nanometer-scale catalyst control for cleaner hydrogen production
Plants & Animals
Elusive Cozumel dwarf fox reappears in first confirmed photos after two decades
Nanophysics
Twisted stacking lets 2D conductor keep single-layer performance in bulk form
General Physics
Physicists create new family of Schrödinger-cat states
Molecular & Computational biology
Peptide blocks DNA breaks tied to treatment-induced leukemia, offering new prevention route
Bio & Medicine
Medicinal plants yield carbon nanoparticles that glow red and flag toxic metals
Ecology
Corals have a hormonal clock and it looks surprisingly like ours
Superconductivity
Cloud-tested quantum noise model predicts superconducting qubit errors with sevenfold better accuracy
Astronomy
Neutron star merger simulations gain new precision with AI-driven r-process heating
Space Exploration
Plants could be used to grow medicines in space, study shows

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. ...

Fungal compound deodorizes skunk smell

Being sprayed by a skunk is no fun for people or their pets, and the strong, stinky secretions can serve as a nasty reminder of the wildlife encounter for days or weeks. Available "de-skunking" formulas often either don't ...

The top five strangest poisons that can kill you

There are some crazy poisons in this world of ours, and they're often found in things you'd least expect. In this week's episode of Reactions, we break down our top five strangest poisons.

Japanese scientists embrace creepy-crawlies

Firms in Japan are changing people's perceptions about common spiders, worms and insect larvae. These seemingly unwanted creatures have unique features that could be useful for many applications that benefit humans, according ...