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Chemistry2934 articles archived since 1845
Her Nobel Research Outshines Her Star Turn
Nobel Laureate Frances H. Arnold talks to Scientific American editor-in-chief Mariette DiChristina about her work, which takes advantage of the evolution algorithm to make entirely new enzymes that can perform useful chemistry...
Elite Runners' Microbes Make Mice Mightier
Mice that were fed bacteria isolated from elite athletes logged more treadmill time than other mice that got bacteria found in yogurt.
Antiperspirant Boosts Armpit and Toe-Web Microbial Diversity
Rather than wiping microbes out, antiperspirants and foot powders increased the diversity of microbial flora in armpits and between toes. Christopher Intagliata reports.
You Contain Multitudes of Microplastics
People appear to consume between 74,000 and 121,000 microplastic particles annually, and that's probably a gross underestimate.
A Biodegradable Label Doesn't Make It So
At the third Scientific American “Science on the Hill” event, “Solving the Plastic Waste Problem”, one of the issues discussed by experts on Capitol Hill was biodegradability. ...
Nobelist: Harness Evolution as a Problem-Solving Algorithm
Frances Arnold, the Caltech scientist who shared the 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, says evolution can show us how to solve problems of sustainability.
Ancient Whiz Opens Archaeology Window
The residue of ancient urine can reveal the presence of early stationary herder-farmer communities.
Chemists Investigate Casanova's Clap
In his memoirs, the womanizing writer Giacomo Casanova described suffering several bouts of gonorrhea—but researchers found no trace of the microbe on his handwritten journals. Karen Hopkin reports...
Beer and Wine Contain Traces of Metal Contaminants from Filtration Process
Heavy metal levels in commercial booze pose no health risk to most drinkers, but the findings could prompt discussions about industry standards for alcohol
As Pesticide Turns Up in More Places, Safety Concerns Mount
A growing body of research is challenging the assumption that neonicotinoids are safer and less likely to spread than other pesticides
Science News Briefs from All Over
A few brief reports about international science and technology from Liberia to Hawaii, including one on the discovery in Northern Ireland of soil bacteria that stop the growth of MRSA and other superbugs...
Is the EPA Stifling Science on Chemical Toxicity Reports?
Critics say changes to the agency’s review process will harm public health
Harder-Working Snakes Pack Stronger Venom
Snake venom toxicity depends on snake size, energy requirements and environmental dimensionality more than on prey size.
How Do I Know If My Tap Water Is Safe?
Everyday Einstein explains what contaminates our water, how it gets there, and what we can do to test it
Squeezed Potassium Atoms Straddle Liquid and Solid
At extreme pressures, potassium atoms can be both liquid and solid at the same time, a phase of matter known as "chain melt." Christopher Intagliata reports.
Whitening Strips Alter Proteins in Teeth
Hydrogen peroxide in whitening treatments penetrates enamel and dentin, and alters tooth proteins. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Infrared Light Offers a Cooler Way to Defrost
Light tuned to a specific frequency warms ice more than water—which could come in handy for defrosting delicate biological samples. Adam Levy reports.
Tennessee Whiskey Relies on Missing Ingredients
Food chemists precisely measured how charcoal filtration contributes to Tennessee whiskey's smoother flavor. Christopher Intagliata reports.
