Chemistry
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Chemistry
Catnip repels pest
Known to repel cockroaches and mosquitoes, catnip oil also works against termites.
- Chemistry
Crystal Reveals Unexpected Beginnings
For the first time, researchers have directly observed a protein begin to crystallize, and they've found it has a peculiar shape.
- Chemistry
Artistic Elements
Providing an unusual perspective on the chemical elements, the Chemistry Societies’ Network presents a stunning visual tour of the elements (109 in all) as seen through the eyes of artists. Pick an element, from hydrogen to meitnerium, to see the image it suggested to an artist and, as a bonus, learn a little about the […]
- Chemistry
A safer antioxidant?
Scientists have developed a synthetic antioxidant that won't, at high doses, foster the tissue damage the compounds are meant to prevent.
- Chemistry
Synthetic molecule may treat anemia
Researchers have created a new form of the protein erythropoietin (EPO) using synthetic chemistry techniques.
- Chemistry
Lakes reveal low phosphate concentrations
Researchers using a new technique have found that previous measurements of phosphate, an important nutrient in lake ecosystems, have grossly overestimated its concentration.
- Chemistry
Shark Sense: Gel helps animals detect thermal fluctuations
New studies suggest that clear jelly under sharks' skin can enable the animals to detect minute changes in seawater temperature—potentially leading them to prey.
- Chemistry
Sea bacteria may be new anticancer resource
Researchers examining deep-sea sediments have uncovered a large source of previously unknown bacteria that appear to produce disease-fighting chemicals.
- Chemistry
Unnatural Biochemistry: Bacteria make and use an alien amino acid
Researchers have constructed an organism that synthesizes and incorporates an extra amino acid into its proteins.
- Chemistry
Delivering the Goods
Experimental gene-delivery therapies generally use viruses to shuttle genetic material into cells, but some researchers are devising ways to avoid using the sometimes-risky viruses.
- Chemistry
Jet Streams: Droplet behavior captured by high-speed camera
A series of images has captured charged droplets spouting microscopic jets of fluid, a phenomenon that was proposed by Lord Rayleigh in 1882.
- Chemistry
Soy and oat combo protects against UV
Soybean oil and a natural chemical in oat bran have been chemically combined to make a new sunscreen.
