Feature Channels: Chemistry

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Researchers have developed a way to make one type of plastic material more durable and less likely to shed dangerous microplastics.

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Scientists at Case Western Reserve University hope to completely upend the process of refining these minerals, which are necessary in hundreds of high-tech applications, including cell phones, computer hard drives and medications.

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David Nagib, an organic chemist and a professor of chemistry and biochemistry at The Ohio State University, has been selected as a finalist for the 2024 Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists.

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It’s important to eat your veggies, but some essential vitamins and nutrients can only be found in animals, including certain amino acids and peptides. But, in a proof-of-concept study published in ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, researchers developed a method to produce creatine, carnosine and taurine — all animal-based nutrients and common workout supplements — right inside a plant. The system allows for different synthetic modules to be easily stacked together to boost production.

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To prevent and treat hypoglycemia, researchers in ACS Central Science report encapsulating the hormone glucagon. In mouse trials, the nanocapsules activated when blood sugar levels dropped dangerously low and quickly restored glucose levels.

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As the upgrade of the Advanced Photon Source nears completion at Argonne National Laboratory, scientists anticipate the experimental possibilities.

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If you plan on getting a tattoo, consider this: A new study from Binghamton University, State University of New York looking at green and blue tattoo inks from Europe found that most contained ingredients that are not listed on the label – and some contained ingredients that are outright banned.

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American Chemical Society (ACS) President Mary K. Caroll will issue a statement on the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry after the official announcement is made from Stockholm on Wednesday, Oct. 9. Caroll will also be available for Zoom interviews.

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Dr. Kyoungseon Min's research team at the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) has developed a process to produce enantioselective bio-aviation fuel precursors ((R)-gamma-valerolactone) from seaweed.

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Combining two techniques, analytical chemists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory became the first to detect fluorine and different isotopes of uranium in a single particle at the same time.

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In a major step toward sustainable chemistry, scientists have uncovered a new way to significantly boost the electrochemical reduction of nitrate to ammonia through the in-situ evolution of electrocatalysts. This breakthrough provides a cleaner alternative to the traditional ammonia synthesis process and a solution to the critical issue of nitrate pollution in water systems.

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The German Falling Walls Foundation is recognizing Argonne physicist Saw Wai Hla for X-ray research that could be widely applied in environmental and medical research and the development of batteries and microelectronic devices.

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A new review highlights the potential of CRISPR–Cas13 for RNA-editing therapies. Discussing the advantages of the effector protein Cas13 over Cas9, they report that CRISPR–Cas13 facilitates RNA knockdown, RNA silencing, RNA splicing, RNA-base editing, and translation regulation. CRISPR–Cas13 has diverse applications like virus detection, antivirus vaccines, and personalized therapies. Additionally, they also discuss the role of AI in enabling the realization of the full potential of RNA-editing technologies.

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Nominees for the award must be members of the ACS’s physical chemistry division. The winner receives the award at the meeting, gives a research presentation, and receives an honorarium. Carter is just the second person to receive this newly established award.

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Scientists reporting in ACS Nano have made their own version of fake spider silk, but this one consists of proteins and heals wounds instead of haunting hallways. The artificial silk is strong enough to be woven into bandages that helped treat joint injuries and skin lesions in mice.

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Researchers find certain biosignature molecules may not indicate life is present, contrary to popular thought.

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The article provides an overview of Elam’s career and achievements on the occasion of his having been named as a Fellow of the Electrochemical Society.

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Scientists have achieved a monumental breakthrough in the realm of potassium-based batteries by developing a dendrite-free metallic-potassium anode. This innovation stabilizes the anode, which is essential for enhancing battery safety and performance, and could pave the way for more efficient and reliable energy storage solutions.

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The Blavatnik Family Foundation and the New York Academy of Sciences have recognized chemical engineer Juan Jimenez as a Finalist in the 2024 Blavatnik Regional Awards for Young Scientists. Jimenez’s catalysis science research at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory opens doors for turning climate change-driving gases into industrially useful materials.

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Two labs at the University of Utah’s Department of Chemistry joined forces to improve imaging tools that may soon enable scientists to better observe signaling in functioning cells and other molecular-scale processes central to life.