Chemistry
Explosive Used in Brussels Isn't Hard to Detect
A network of small sensors can spot bombs made of TATP
Stories by Chemical & Engineering News
Medical & Biotech
Atom-Thin Patch Could Help Control Diabetes--without Needles
Ultraslim graphene sensor monitors blood sugar levels through skin
The Sciences
Bacteria Devour Polluting Plastic in Landfills
Researchers have discovered world's first polyethylene-eating bacterium
The Sciences
Octopus Skin Inspires Clothes That Double as Displays
Five-layered material stretches and lights up in many colors
Health
Magnetically Guided Gene Therapy Heals Blood Vessels
An external magnet guided cells to repair arteries in mice
The Sciences
New Safe Homes for Old Unwanted Chemicals
A company, Repurposed Materials, keeps substances out of landfills by finding safer uses for them
Tech
New Lithium Ion Battery Will Not Burst into Flames
When overheated, a coating blocks current flow and shuts down battery
The Sciences
New Ink, and Regular Pen, Draw Working Electrical Circuits
Silver-based ink, flowing from a ballpoint pen, write circuits that power lights
The Sciences
Worldwide Hunt Begins for Missing Carbon Minerals
The Deep Carbon Observatory wants the public to help find an estimated 140 new carbon forms
Mind
Learning and Brain Activity Are Boosted by a Dose of a Small-Molecule Compound
In people, a molecule called d-cycloserine improved test performance and strengthened brain cell connections
Tech
Self-Folding Graphene Machines Inspire Work on Real Transformers
Molecule-thin materials, more immediately, could be artificial muscles and sensors
Sustainability
Soils Start Comeback after Acid Rain Damage
Cuts to emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides help restore natural balance
The Sciences
Plastic Contaminates Table Salt in China
Supermarket products have tiny plastic particles, probably from ocean pollution attached to sea salt
Tech
Artificial Skin Sends Touching Signals to Nerve Cells
Sensors transmit pressure changes to neurons and could help prosthetic limbs truly feel
The Sciences
New Brain Effects behind "Runner's High"
The sensation may not just be about endorphins. A new study points to the same system of the brain involved in a marijuana buzz
The Sciences
"Brain in a Dish" Could Replace Toxic Animal Tests
Brain mimics built from stem-cell-studded hydrogels successfully predict chemicals’ neural toxicity without the use and cost of lab rats
Sustainability
Chemical Plant Disasters Prompt Factory Relocations
As another chemical plant in China explodes, authorities in Beijing ponder plans to move about 1,000 facilities away from population centers
Health
Sensors Save Lung Transplant Patients from Organ Failure
A new system, based on molecular alerts, could make more donor lungs available
Sustainability
Chemical Curbs Cow Farts
Small molecule cuts methane emissions by 30 percent, and could curb this greenhouse gas
Sustainability
Shallow Fracking Wells May Threaten Aquifers
An analysis finds that thousands of oil and gas hydraulic fracturing wells are less than a mile deep
