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Carbon capture traps carbon dioxide before it escapes into the atmosphere, but the process requires a large amount of energy.

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Research suggests that an ADHD drug could serve as a cocaine-replacement therapy, but clinical results have been mixed. Although labs have produced MPH derivatives for testing, parts of the molecule remained inaccessible. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Central Science have cleared that hurdle.

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Scientists hypothesized that radioactive cesium contamination in some German wild boars stemmed from the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident.

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Recordings of media briefings will be posted by 10 a.m. Eastern Time on each day. Watch recorded media briefings at: www.acs.org/ACSFall2023briefings.

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As Labor Day approaches, many people will go tubing and swimming, but do these delightful summertime activities impact streams and rivers? Today, scientists report that recreation can alter the chemical and microbial fingerprint of waterways. They will present their results at ACS Fall 2023.

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Pouring flecks of rust into water usually makes it dirtier. Now, researchers have developed special iron oxide nanoparticles called “smart rust” to trap estrogen hormones that are potentially harmful to aquatic life. They will present their results at ACS Fall 2023.

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Sourdough bread-making took over amid lockdown boredom. Today, scientists report the 21 key chemical compounds responsible for its one-of-a-kind taste and smell. They will present their results at ACS Fall 2023.

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Indoor air pollution may have met its match. Scientists have designed lampshades that transform pollutants into harmless compounds. The catalyst-coated lampshades work with halogen and incandescent lamps, and LEDs will be next. The team will present their results at ACS Fall 2023.

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Our brains constantly make memories and learn new skills. Understanding the role of the complex sugar molecules responsible for this “plasticity” could also make it possible to repair neural circuits after injury. The researchers will present their results today at ACS Fall 2023.

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To explore prostate cancer disparities, researchers looked to another disorder, diabetes. They conducted a clinical trial and report four biomarkers linked to a higher risk of metastatic prostate cancer in men of West African heritage. They will present their results at ACS Fall 2023.

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Young vegetables known as microgreens are claimed to be superfoods, but how do they compare to mature veggies? Their nutritional profiles and effects on gut bacteria differ, scientists say, yet tests in mice suggest that both could limit weight gain. They will present their results at ACS Fall 2023.

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While aloe sap is in high demand, the peels are thrown away as agricultural waste. Now, scientists who have identified several bioactive compounds in extracts from the peels that deter insects report that these peels can act as a natural insecticide. They will present their results at ACS Fall 2023.

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“Back-to-school” season means earaches. Today, a team reports a single-use nanoscale system unlikely to generate resistance. It can kill an ear-infection-causing bacterium in animals with a compound like bleach, and it could someday be used in a gel. They will present their results at ACS Fall 2023.

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Flies are being used as a source of chemicals to make bioplastics. Eventually, that same type of bug might one day biodegrade those plastics once their useful life is over. The researchers will present their results at ACS Fall 2023.

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To create desirable and healthful vegan seafood mimics, researchers have 3D-printed an ink made of microalgae protein and mung bean protein. They air-fried their proof-of-concept calamari rings for a tasty, quick snack. They will present their results at ACS Fall 2023.

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Researchers analyzed over 100 period products for fluorinated compounds, an indicator of potentially harmful per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. While PFAS were absent from many products, they might be in others. They will present their results at ACS Fall 2023.

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Recorded media briefings from the fall meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS), ACS Fall 2023, will be accessible starting on Monday, Aug. 14, by 10 a.m. ET (7 a.m. PT) here: www.acs.org/acsfall2023briefings.

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Just catching a quick whiff of certain chemicals known as nerve agents can be lethal. Researchers now reporting in ACS Sensors have developed a sensitive and selective nerve gas sensor using these human scent receptors. It reliably detected a substitute for deadly sarin gas in simulated tests.

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Certain sugars naturally found in breastmilk could help prevent infections before a baby arrives. Researchers reporting in ACS Central Science have found that these sugars can stop a common prenatal infection in human tissues and pregnant mice.

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Viruses often mutate or hide themselves within cells. But by mimicking the way the immune system naturally deals with invaders, researchers reporting in ACS Infectious Diseases have developed a “peptoid” antiviral therapy that effectively inactivates three viruses in lab tests.

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The American Chemical Society will honor researchers and companies as Heroes of Chemistry for developing products that have led to significant advancements in improving health and the environment.

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When thawed, foods damaged by excessive ice lose their texture and become mushy. Now, researchers reporting in ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry have shown that broken-down soy proteins can prevent ice crystal growth.

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Coffee might do more than just wake you up. Research now published in ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry shows that, in preliminary in vitro laboratory tests, espresso compounds can inhibit tau protein aggregation — a process that is believed to be involved in Alzheimer’s disease.

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Although early detection of osteoporosis could help physicians intervene as soon as possible, this type of detection is not yet possible with current diagnostic tests. Now researchers reporting in ACS Central Science have developed a biosensor that could help identify those at risk for osteoporosis.

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Prostate cancer is resistant to one of the most powerful chemotherapy medications — cisplatin. Now, researchers in ACS Central Science have developed the first therapy of its kind that disrupts prostate cancer cells’ metabolism and releases cisplatin into the weakened cells, causing them to die.

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Though antibiotics can treat leprosy, researchers are concerned about the increase in drug-resistant strains. Now, a team reporting in ACS Central Science has begun to understand the role certain immune receptors play in leprosy, which could lead to new types of treatments for this disease.

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A freight train carrying industrial chemicals derailed near East Palestine, Ohio, in February 2023. Researchers have been assessing the local air quality. Now, in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology Letters, they report that some gases, including acrolein, reached levels that could be hazardous.

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Inspired by squid skin, researchers in ACS Nano report a soft film that can regulate its transparency across a large range of wavelengths—visible, infrared and microwave—simultaneously. They demonstrated the material in smart windows and in health monitoring and temperature management applications.

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Probiotics could be used as an effective treatment strategy for certain intestinal diseases, such as Crohn’s disease. Researchers reporting in ACS Central Science have developed a microgel delivery system for probiotics that keeps “good” bacteria safe while actively clearing out “bad” ones.

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Journalists who register for the fall meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS) will have access to about 12,000 presentations on topics including agriculture and food, energy and fuels, health and medicine, sustainability and more.

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Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), an independent news outlet of the American Chemical Society (ACS), has unveiled its annual “Talented 12” list. The list highlights early-career researchers in the chemical sciences who are fearlessly tackling difficult global problems.

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Researchers reporting in ACS Central Science have now developed a system that directly targets and degrades the SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA genome, reducing infection in mice. The method could be adapted to fight off many viruses, as well as treat various diseases.

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Roots of a traditional medicine plant called the orange climber can fluoresce an ethereal blue hue under ultraviolet (UV) light. And now, researchers in ACS Central Science have identified two coumarin molecules that could be responsible, one of the which could someday be used for medical imaging.

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Researchers reporting in ACS Central Science have developed a new testing platform that encapsulates B cells — some of the most important components of the immune system — into miniature “organoids” to make vaccine screening quicker and greatly reduce the number of animals needed for testing.

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Some polymers can expand and contract — acting like artificial muscles — but only when stimulated by high voltages. Researchers in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces report a series of thin, elastic films that respond to lower electrical charges, representing a step toward artificial muscles.

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Fermentation could bring a fruity taste to your morning cup of coffee. This new beverage has a raspberry-like taste and aroma, but what causes this has been a mystery. Today, scientists report six compounds that contribute to the unique experience. They will present their results at ACS Spring 2023.

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Imagine getting the benefits of gastric bypass surgery without going under the knife. A new class of potential treatments has done that in lab animals, reducing weight dramatically and lowering blood glucose without side effects, scientists report. They will present their results at ACS Spring 2023.

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Recordings of media briefings will be posted by 10 a.m. Eastern Time on each day. Watch recorded media briefings at: www.acs.org/ACSSpring2023briefings.

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Colorful microplastics — less than 5 mm wide — drift along under the surface of most waterways. Now, a team reports a two-stage device made with steel tubes and pulsing sound waves to remove these potentially harmful particles from water samples. They will present their results at ACS Spring 2023.

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Chemical engineers have extended the ancient art of origami to produce intricate shapes made of glass or other hard materials. Their method, which can be combined with 3D printing, could have applications ranging from sculpture to catalysis. They will present their results at ACS Spring 2023.

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Scientists report using a single-atom-thick nanomaterial to build a device that can simultaneously detect the presence of the viruses that cause COVID-19 and the flu — at much lower levels and much more quickly than conventional tests for either. They will present their results at ACS Spring 2023.

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Naloxone can reverse potentially fatal overdoses, but it’s less effective against powerful fentanyl. To develop alternatives, researchers are looking to a component of marijuana, CBD. They will present their results at ACS Spring 2023.

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Squids and octopuses are masters of camouflage. And now, researchers have replicated the tunable transparency of squid skin in mammalian cells. The work could shed light on basic squid biology and lead to better ways to image cells. They will present their results at ACS Spring 2023.

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Needles are an uncomfortable but necessary aspect of vaccination. But today, scientists report steps toward an alternative, relatively painless method that can deliver biological materials to cells by “shooting” them in with air. They will present their results at ACS Spring 2023.

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Black women and others with curly or kinky hair encounter a confusing array of haircare options. Now, scientists are identifying hair properties that could help users pick the perfect product and achieve consistent results. They will present their results at ACS Spring 2023.

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In chemistry, we have He, Fe and Ca — but what about do, re and mi? By converting the visible light given off by each element into soundwaves, a researcher has produced unique, complex sounds. It’s the first step toward a musical periodic table. He will present his results at ACS Spring 2023.

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Meteorites can be used to peek back in time or at the earliest forms of life. Today, scientists report results of the most detailed analyses yet on the organic material of two meteorites. They will present their results at ACS Spring 2023.