Chemistry

Sign up for our newsletter

We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

  1. Chemistry

    Not your grandpa’s smoke signals

    A fuse dotted with chemicals offers a new way to code messages.

    By
  2. Chemistry

    Beryllium-beryllium bond illuminated

    Scientists study the partnership between two atoms of beryllium, which chemical theory says shouldn’t exist.

    By
  3. Chemistry

    BPA: On the way out? Sort of

    Half-hearted bans won't really protect babies, much less the rest of us.

    By
  4. Psychology

    School-age lead exposures most harmful to IQ

    New studies find lead exposure has greater potency in school-age children than in infants and toddlers, including effects on brain volume.

    By
  5. Chemistry

    How RNA got started

    Scientists identify chemical reactions that could be responsible for the origin of life.

    By
  6. Chemistry

    Nonstick chemical pollutes water at notable levels

    Residues of nonstick chemicals — from unknown sources — appear to be approaching concentrations associated with adverse effects in laboratory animals.

    By
  7. Physics

    Molecule turns red at breaking point

    Materials made with a color-changing molecule may offer a red signal when under stress.

    By
  8. Life

    Function for green fluorescent protein

    Scientists find that the glowing molecule also passes electrons, offering a new clue about the natural function of a protein that's become ubiquitous in molecular biology.

    By
  9. Chemistry

    Yeast bred to bear artificial vanilla

    Researchers have co-opted fungi to produce the flavor more efficiently.

    By
  10. Health & Medicine

    Coming: Ersatz calorie restriction

    Avocados may hold a key to longer, better health.

    By
  11. Humans

    In teeth, more cracks are better than one

    Cracks in tooth enamel, called tufts, distribute force and shield a tooth from fracture, researchers report.

    By
  12. Chemistry

    Another type of traffic stress

    Scientists find signs of DNA damage from air pollutants spewed by cars and trucks.

    By