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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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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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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

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General Physics
How some cyclists paradoxically start 'from rest' with a non-zero velocity
Archaeology
Iron Age seeds reveal the origins of Iberian wine
Condensed Matter
Hot electrons reveal electronic collisions may raise resistance in twisted graphene
Plants & Animals
Long-term oyster reef restoration shows clear success in murky waters
Cell & Microbiology
Tendon cells can rebound from stiffness when returned to softer tissue-like surroundings
Bio & Medicine
Building big with DNA gets a software upgrade
Mathematics
Mathematician challenges a 2,000-year-old legend about the Parthenon's optical illusions
Archaeology
Henry VIII's dissolution enforcer stashed Catholic manuscript—its lost pages have just been rediscovered
Paleontology & Fossils
Tyrannosaurus rex teeth reveal a body temperature close to the human average
Cell & Microbiology
Global database reveals hidden diversity and potential of deep-sea microbes
General Physics
Mobile trap transports 92 antiprotons by road and stores them for over a month in world first
Bio & Medicine
New method reveals how virus particles can build themselves, molecule by molecule
Archaeology
Insect remains reveal Indigenous burial practices in the Canary Islands
Biochemistry
Thinking outside the binding site: Drug molecule makes a square peg fit a round hole
Plants & Animals
Brazilian sedge reproduces sexually but without DNA reshuffling, producing genetic clones
Archaeology
A sharper picture of a pandemic: Uncovering the complex history of the plague after the Black Death
Quantum Physics
Circular Rydberg atoms set three records, staying stable for 11 milliseconds
Astronomy
Webb measures extreme gas outflows from distant 'dead' galaxies
Plants & Animals
Tiny oyster larvae rely on gravity to feed
Archaeology
We may soon be able to read long-lost ancient scrolls damaged by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius

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 ...

Improving quantum computers

For decades, experts have predicted that quantum computers will someday perform difficult tasks, such as simulating complex chemical systems, that can't be done by conventional computers. But so far, these machines haven't ...