Rethinking indoor air chemistry
People typically spend 90% of their lives inside, at home, at work, or in transport. Within these enclosed spaces, occupants are exposed to a multitude of chemicals from various sources, including outdoor pollutants penetrating indoors, gaseous emiss.....»»
Improving cat food flavors with the help of feline taste-testers
Cats are notoriously picky eaters. But what if we could design their foods around flavors that they're scientifically proven to enjoy? Researchers publishing in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry used a panel of feline taste-testers to i.....»»
Metallic nanosheets curl into nanovesicles
Inspired by the cell membrane structure, researchers, led by Dr. Xiaoqing Huang (State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University) and Dr. Qi Shao (College of Chemistry and.....»»
Scent research inspires bed bug trap
Scientists at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) spinout Arctech Innovation have used their in-depth knowledge of insects, chemistry and odor to develop a new trap for bed bugs......»»
Breakthrough in Z-alkene synthesis: Scientists develop efficient and sustainable method
Z-alkenes are organic compounds with a double bond between two carbon atoms and two substituents attached to the carbon atoms on the same side of the double bond. They are ubiquitous structural components of organic compounds in chemistry and biology.....»»
A chemist explains the chemistry behind decaf coffee
Three methods strive to retain the bean's flavor while removing its caffeine. Enlarge (credit: matusgajdos17 / 500px via Getty Images) For many people, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee is the start of a great day. But.....»»
Cheesemaking is a complex science—a food chemist explains the process from milk to mozzarella
Cheese is a relatively simple food. It's made with milk, enzymes—these are proteins that can chop up other proteins—bacterial cultures and salt. Lots of complex chemistry goes into the cheesemaking process, which can determine whether the cheese.....»»
New study supports stable mantle chemistry dating back to Earth"s early geologic history
A new analysis of rocks thought to be at least 2.5 billion years old by researchers at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History helps clarify the chemical history of Earth's mantle—the geologic layer beneath the planet's crust......»»
The unintended consequences of success against malaria
For decades, insecticide-treated bed nets and indoor insecticide spraying regimens have been important—and widely successful—treatments against mosquitoes that transmit malaria, a dangerous global disease. Yet for a time, these treatments also su.....»»
Retaining flavor while removing caffeine—a chemist explains the chemistry behind decaf coffee
For many people, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee is the start of a great day. But caffeine can cause headaches and jitters in others. That's why many people reach for a decaffeinated cup instead......»»
Chemists develop a stable reagent for carbon-atom transfer
Professor Max Martin Hansmann from the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and his team have developed a new reagent for selectively adding carbon atoms to molecules. This promising development for basic research in organic chemistry has bee.....»»
Nano-scale materials that mimic enzymes could convert CO₂ into chemical building blocks
Montana State University researcher James Crawford recently published a collaborative paper with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory that marks a step forward in their quest for what he calls a "holy grail" of chemistry: converting the greenhous.....»»
Greenhouses are becoming more popular, but there"s little research on how to protect workers
From opposite ends of the world, the uncomfortable conditions Shamim Ahamed and Purvi Tiwari experienced doing separate Ph.D. research inside greenhouses inspired them to study the heat in the indoor structures......»»
These video games are changing the conversation on sustainability
This year's Games for Change festival highlighted three projects that are rethinking how games can send a message about sustainability......»»
Rethinking the Blue Economy: Network assesses impact on coastal communities
Oceans cover 70% of the Earth's surface, and the Earth has about 620,000 kilometers of coastline. This is where the land meets the sea, a significant place in the world's geography. Coastlines are home to diverse ecosystems and human settlements......»»
Q&A: What past environmental success can teach us about solving the climate crisis
Susan Solomon, MIT professor of Earth, atmospheric, and planetary sciences (EAPS) and of chemistry, played a critical role in understanding how a class of chemicals known as chlorofluorocarbons were creating a hole in the ozone layer......»»
Best Ninja Prime Day deals: Save $120 on an indoor grill
If you're planning to buy a new air fryer, pressure cooker, grill, or blender, you wouldn't want to miss the discounts from this year's Ninja Prime Day deals......»»
Caught in the actinium: New research could help design better cancer treatments
The element actinium was first discovered at the turn of the 20th century, but even now, nearly 125 years later, researchers still don't have a good grasp on the metal's chemistry. That's because actinium is only available in extremely small amounts.....»»
Complex impact of large wildfires on ozone layer dynamics unveiled
In a revelation that highlights the fragile balance of our planet's atmosphere, scientists from China, Germany, and the U.S. have uncovered an unexpected link between massive wildfire events and the chemistry of the ozone layer. Published in Science.....»»
Scientists find new way global air churn makes particles
You can think of our atmosphere as a big chemistry set, a global churn of gaseous molecules and particles that constantly bounce off and change each other in complicated ways. While the particles are very small, often less than 1% of the thickness of.....»»
How to make an old antibiotic 100 times more potent
Nathaniel Martin, Professor of biological chemistry, wondered what would happen if you took an antibiotic that has been known for 70 years and tried to improve it with the latest tools of modern chemistry. Turns out it can become up to a hundred time.....»»