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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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Earth Sciences
California's tectonic stress has reached record level, earthquake model reveals
Ecology
50 years of data reveals true extent of climate change impacts on kelp forests
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
Plants & Animals
Critically endangered Chinese pangolin found in Nepal's sacred forest
Archaeology
Ancient hominins selected basalt sources for specific tools nearly 800,000 years ago, study reveals
Bio & Medicine
DNA design unlocks nanometer-scale catalyst control for cleaner hydrogen production
General Physics
Physicists create new family of Schrödinger-cat states
Nanophysics
Twisted stacking lets 2D conductor keep single-layer performance in bulk form
Plants & Animals
Elusive Cozumel dwarf fox reappears in first confirmed photos after two decades
Astrobiology
Cosmic bombardment may have opened Earth's crust for prebiotic chemistry
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
Condensed Matter
Nickelate superconductors share a common electronic fingerprint
Molecular & Computational biology
How plants survive constant DNA damage: Newly identified repair protein protects growth-critical stem cells
Astronomy
Neutron star merger simulations gain new precision with AI-driven r-process heating
Earth Sciences
Ocean collapse triggered ancient wildfires, research suggests
Space Exploration
Plants could be used to grow medicines in space, study shows
Ecology
River wildlife moves freely once dams are removed, but so too can invasive species

Chemical makers oppose new tariffs

In June, chemical manufacturers converged on Washington, D.C., to urge the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to remove certain chemicals from a new list of tariffs proposed by the Trump administration. The additional ...

Video: The chemistry behind black powder

Old-school gunpowder is really called "black powder," and it was so crucial to the Revolutionary War effort that early Americans went to great (and gross) lengths to make it.

Solving the knotty question of soft-pretzel aroma

Whether at Oktoberfest, the movie theater or a shopping mall, the enticing aroma of soft pretzels is unmistakable. Now, researchers have identified the key compounds that give these twisted knots their distinctive scent. ...

Vanilla makes milk beverages seem sweeter

Adding vanilla to sweetened milk makes consumers think the beverage is sweeter, allowing the amount of added sugar to be reduced, according to Penn State researchers, who will use the concept to develop a reduced-sugar chocolate ...

Fifty years after the Cuyahoga conflagration

On June 22, 1969, the Cuyahoga River, which flows through Cleveland, Ohio, caught fire. Although firefighters extinguished the blaze within 30 minutes, the shocking event helped galvanize the U.S. environmental movement. ...