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Microscopic studies of rodent incisors revealed nano-sized pockets of iron-rich material that form a protective shield, a finding that could improve human dentistry, say researchers in ACS Nano.

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Researchers reporting in ACS Nano have constructed a waterproof “e-glove” that wirelessly transmits hand gestures made underwater to a computer that translates them into messages. The new technology could someday help divers communicate better with each other and with boat crews on the surface.

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To better understand COVID-19’s spread during the pandemic, public health officials expanded wastewater surveillance. These efforts track SARS-CoV-2 levels and health risks among most people, but they miss people who live without shelter, a population particularly vulnerable to severe infection.

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Choosing paint for your home brings a lot of options: What kind of paint, what type of finish and what color? Water-based paints have emerged as “greener” and less smelly than solvent-based options. And they are often advertised as containing little-to-no volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

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Researchers report in ACS Energy Letters that repositioning the electrode in a “blue energy” harvesting device — from the center of a see-sawing liquid-filled tube to the end where the water crashes with the most force — dramatically increased the amount of wave energy that could be harvested.

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Quantum dot research just won a Nobel Prize, and now, the applications for nontoxic quantum dots are being expanded. One team of researchers has designed carbon- and sulfur-based dots to help clean up the environment. They will present their results at ACS Spring 2024.

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Though it’s known that tiny sites like soot and bacteria help water freeze, the fundamentals of how ice forms are vague. Scientists have now developed a theoretical model showing how structural details on surfaces influence water’s freezing point. They will present their results at ACS Spring 2024.

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The increasing use of lithium-ion rechargeable batteries likely means more environmental contamination. Researchers have explored how lithium accumulates in crawfish, with implications for the environment and public health. They will present their results at ACS Spring 2024.

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Dropping wearable electronics, or hitting them really hard, usually breaks the devices. Now, researchers report on a flexible and electrically conductive material with “adaptive durability,” getting stronger when it is hit. They will present their results at ACS Spring 2024.

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Many disposable diapers and sanitary pads contain plastic and need centuries to decompose. Now, researchers are replacing the plastic with parts made from food waste. That could lead to biodegradable diapers and pads that could be used as fertilizer. They’ll present their results at ACS Spring 2024.

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Rabih Al-Kaysi’s molecular motors look like tiny worms, but they’re actually crystallized molecules that move in response to light. These machines could someday solve real-world problems, like being used as drug-delivery robots. The researchers will present their results at ACS Spring 2024.

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Vapes are thought to be a “safer” way to consume cannabis, but they present their own risks. Researchers have discovered toxic metal particles in vaping liquids even before first use of the device, and this toxicity was worse in illicit products. They will present their results at ACS Spring 2024.

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Mucus is critical to human health. To explore how, researchers synthesized its major component, sugar-coated proteins called mucins, and discovered that changing the mucins of healthy cells to be more cancer-like made cells act more cancer-like. They will present their results at ACS Spring 2024.

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Building materials are major contributors to global carbon dioxide emissions. So scientists have designed a composite decking material that stores more carbon dioxide than is required to manufacture it, providing the first “carbon-negative” option. They will present their results at ACS Spring 2024.

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Could a pill replicate the benefits of exercise? Researchers have identified new compounds that seem to mimic some benefits of exercise in rodent cells. This discovery could help treat those with muscle wasting and other conditions. The scientists will present their results at ACS Spring 2024.

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Ants are commonly eaten in some parts of the world, roasted and eaten whole or ground and used to add flavor and texture to dishes. Each species has its own unique flavor, and researchers now report the aroma profiles of four species of edible ants. They will present their results at ACS Spring 2024.

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Some animals can withstand frigid weather, thanks to the insulating properties of the hollow hairs that make up their coats. Little was known about the hairs, but researchers have now discovered that their inner structure changes with the seasons. They will present their results at ACS Spring 2024.

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These chemists are investigating ways to reliably minimize alcohol and tailor taste profiles during the kombucha fermentation process to help home and commercial producers optimize their funky brews. They will present their results at ACS Spring 2024.

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A study in ACS Central Science shows that applying voltage to certain objects forms chemical bonds linking the objects together. Reversing the direction of electron flow separates the materials. This could help create biohybrid robots, improve biomedical implants and enable new battery technologies.

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Want to remove microplastics from water? Try brewing it for a cup of tea or coffee! Research reported in Environmental Science & Technology Letters shows that by boiling then filtering tap water, up to 90% of the nano- and microplastics present could be removed.

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Identifying the microorganisms behind a dental infection can be a lengthy and expensive process. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces have designed a chemical sensor array, or an artificial tongue, that distinguishes dental bacteria and can inactivate them.

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The American Chemical Society (ACS) is pleased to announce the appointment of C.M. Vandervoort, who goes by Tokë, as its next General Counsel. She will succeed Flint Lewis, Secretary and General Counsel, who will retire on April 1 after nearly 30 years of service to ACS.

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Drugs for treating osteoporosis can be expensive and have side effects. In the search for alternative drug candidates, researchers reporting in ACS Central Science have discovered and fully replicated a compound from female ginseng that had potent anti-osteoporotic activity in cellular tests.

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Historically "redlined" areas – neighborhoods with primarily Black or immigrant communities – are exposed to more air pollution than other urban neighborhoods. According to research published in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology, the cause could relate to nearby highways or industrial parks.

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Tuna can build up high levels of methylmercury from feeding on contaminated prey. Despite efforts to reduce mercury emissions, researchers report in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology Letters that levels in tuna appear to be unchanged.

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Research published in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology Letters reveals that worms are affected by small amounts of chemicals from pesticide-treated seeds.

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Journalists who register for the American Chemical Society’s (ACS’) upcoming hybrid meeting and exposition — ACS Spring 2024 — will have access to nearly 12,000 presentations on topics including agriculture and food, energy and fuels, health and medicine, sustainability, and more.

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Though natural fertilizers from treated sewage sludge provide crops with nutrients, they bring along microplastics too. Recent research shows these plastics are easily spread by even slight winds.

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What if your COVID-19 test, instead of taking 15 minutes, only took one minute —and used luminescence for the read-out? Researchers report the proof-of-concept in ACS Central Science.

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PFAS or “forever chemicals” circulate back-and-forth between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans at roughly equal rates, according to research in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology Letters.

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Did you know that the oceans hold more uranium than can be found on land? Seawater could become another source of nuclear fuel, and researchers in ACS Central Science report a way to capture it effectively.

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ACS is pleased to announce the appointment of two new members of its executive leadership team, Selyn Hong and Stephanie Holland.

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For the first time, researchers have detected a highly infectious type of bird flu virus in wetlands frequented by waterfowl, which they report in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology Letters.

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Researchers in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology Letters detected microplastics in clouds above the mountains, which could affect cloud formation and weather.

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Indoor light could someday power smart devices, but not all solar panel technologies have the same level of success, according to research in ACS Applied Energy Materials.

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In a proof-of-concept in ACS’ Nano Letters, a team has designed injectable nanoparticles that released naloxone ― which rapidly reverses opioid overdose effects ― when triggered by blue light. In experiments with mice, this system was activated a month after injection.

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Researchers in ACS Central Science report a proof-of-concept device that “sniffs” seawater, trapping dissolved compounds for analyses. The team showed that the system could easily concentrate molecules that are present in underwater caves and holds promise for drug discovery in fragile ecosystems, including coral reefs.

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Beer is usually made from barley, leaving those with a gluten allergy unable to enjoy. Sorghum could be an alternative, but complex preparation steps hamper its adoption. A team reporting in ACS’ Journal of Proteome Research has uncovered an enzyme that could improve sorghum-based beers' future.

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Research published in ACS Central Science shows that beads containing engineered E. coli could efficiently transform PET waste into a starting material for nylon, drugs and fragrances.

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To keep fruit from getting coated in fuzzy mold, researchers in ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry report that compounds from sunflower stems could help. They suggest the food industry could use these natural compounds to protect against postharvest diseases.

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Artificial intelligence is being harnessed by some scientists to predict which molecules could treat illnesses. Researchers reporting in ACS Central Science have used one such deep learning algorithm, and found that an antimalarial drug could treat osteoporosis.

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Researchers still need to get a better understanding of how metal-organic frameworks function, especially when embedded in polymers. Reporting in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, researchers have now developed and characterized nitric oxide-storing MOFs embedded in a thin film with novel antibacterial potential.

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Killer whales are some of the oceans’ top predators, but even they can be exposed to environmental pollution. In the largest study to date on North Atlantic killer whales, researchers in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology report the levels of pollutants in 162 individuals’ blubber.

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Smaller, fluorinated compounds are becoming replacements for PFAS, though research suggests these versions could also be harmful. A study in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology reports that levels of these substances indoor and human samples are similar to or higher than those of legacy PFAS.

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On behalf of the American Chemical Society (ACS), President Judith C. Giordan, Ph.D., congratulates today’s winners of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry: Moungi G. Bawendi, Ph.D., of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Louis E. Brus, Ph.D., of Columbia University; and Alexei I. Ekimov, Ph.D., of Nanocrystals Technology Inc.

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By mimicking a desert-dwelling chameleon, a team reporting in ACS’ Nano Letters has developed an energy-efficient, cost-effective coating. The material could keep buildings cool in the summers — or warm in the winters — without additional energy.

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Aquatic insects can pass mercury in contaminated waterways along to the spiders that feed on them.

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Rubber seals inside some plumbing devices contain additives that contribute to their flexibility and durability, but these potentially harmful compounds can leak into drinking water, according to a small-scale study in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology Letters.