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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
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

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Astronomy
Cosmic microwave background offers evidence of gas flowing in galaxy clusters
Archaeology
Ancient charcoal remains provide clues about Neanderthal camp organization
Ecology
Heat-evolved algae offer clues to helping corals withstand warming seas
Astronomy
Rubin observatory reveals two hidden companions of the Milky Way
Evolution
Capturing our closest archaeal relatives offers clues to the origin of eukaryotes
Astronomy
Enormous 'Cat's Tail' tells of cosmic collision 63 light-years away
Astronomy
Grand Theft Astro: Stars' criminal histories could reshape estimates of their internal magnetic fields
Nanophysics
Ultrathin carbon ribbons conduct electricity like metals in first successful synthesis
Plants & Animals
Smaller ants devote more of their resting energy budget to their brains
Earth Sciences
As ancient oceans warmed, carbon export and fish productivity surged
Education
Brighter evenings, darker school mornings: Permanent daylight saving time could put children's safety at risk
Optics & Photonics
Theoretical method uses light to locate anyons, potential quantum computing building blocks
Cell & Microbiology
Amino acid boosts last-resort antibiotic's effectiveness
Evolution
New fossil scans challenge insect flight timeline, suggesting origins up to 80 million years later
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
Environment
Saharan dust carries desert bacteria across the Atlantic to Amazon rainforest
Plants & Animals
Chornobyl dog population shows genetic signatures of directional selection
Plants & Animals
Scientists count more than 2 million eels on one underwater mountain
Planetary Sciences
Supersonic waves could explain the strange orbits of hot Jupiters and Neptunes

Ancient proteins offer clues to the past

Archeologists once relied solely on artifacts, such as skeletal remains, fossils and pottery sherds, to learn about past species and cultures. Today's scientists can also study ancient proteins to paint a more complete picture ...

Software library to serve for faster chemical reaction processing

Big Data has become ubiquitous in recent years, and especially so in disciplines with heterogeneous and complex data patterns. This is particularly true for chemistry. In some ways, chemical compounds may be compared with ...

Mining microbial treasures from toxic sites

Filled with a noxious brew of copper, cadmium and arsenic, with a pH rivaling that of sulfuric acid, Montana's Berkeley Pit seems inhospitable to life. Nonetheless, scientists have discovered microorganisms in this abandoned ...

The smell of dark chocolate, demystified

Chocolate is one of the most-consumed treats around the world, and the smell alone is usually enough to evoke strong cravings from even the most disciplined eaters. Much like a fine wine, high-quality dark chocolate has a ...

What is pepper spray?

Whether it's walking down a dark street at night or fighting off grizzly bears on the trail, pepper spray is an effective tool to fend off an attacker and get safely away. But have you ever thought about what gives this personal-defense-in-a-can ...

Drug companies warm up to continuous manufacturing

For decades, most industries, from petrochemicals to paper, have embraced continuous manufacturing processes. In contrast, the ultraconservative pharmaceutical industry has remained committed to batch operations. But recently, ...

Perfume makers seek natural, sustainable scents

In 1921, perfumer Ernest Beaux discovered that adding synthetic aldehydes to natural rose and jasmine scents produced just the right fragrance combination for the iconic CHANEL No. 5 perfume. Today, perfume makers have more ...