chemistry
Why is Titan’s landscape so Earth-like despite its different composition?
The answer may lie in the particular way sand forms on Titan.
Scientists watch a crystal being born
Crystallization is an entirely random process, so scientists have developed clever ways to investigate it at a molecular level.
Sodium and water react, and quantum physics explains why
Drop sodium in water, and a violent, even explosive reaction will occur. But quantum physics is needed to explain why.
Cryovolcanoes: How ice volcanoes reshaped the surface of Pluto
We have long thought that Pluto was completely frozen solid, but the discovery of cryovolcanoes challenges that assumption.
We are the only humans in the universe
All life forms, anywhere in our Universe, are chemically connected yet completely unique.
The surprising reason Inca children were drugged before human sacrifice
A toxicological study shows that the victims of human sacrifice consumed coca leaves and ayahuasca before they were killed, but not for reasons we originally thought.
Nanofabricators: a “Star Trek” vision of the future
Nanofabricators could quickly synthesize whatever we need, molecule by molecule.
What leaking helium-3 gas can tell us about Earth’s origin
Ancient helium-3 from the dawn of time leaks from the Earth, offering clues to our planet’s formation. A key question is where it leaks from.
How an accidental discovery made this year could change the world
A lucky discovery involving lithium-sulfur batteries has a legitimate chance to revolutionize how we power our world.
From drugs to chemical weapons with the flip of an AI switch
One research group's AI-based drug discovery platform could be redesigned to discover VX nerve agent and 40,000 similar chemical weapons.
The foul and the fragrant: what did the past smell like?
Most cities reeked of death, defecation, and industrial waste. Still, focusing only on stench means turning a blind eye (or nose) to the many other smells that helped shape human history.
Why Mercury could be encrusted with diamonds
Due to a crust of carbon, the absence of oxygen, and constant bombardment from meteorites, the planet Mercury may be littered with diamonds.
Alien life: What would constitute “smoking gun” evidence?
Multiple lines of evidence — physical, chemical, and biological — must converge for scientists to conclude that alien life has been found.
What is the strongest material on Earth?
For millennia, diamonds were the hardest known material, but they only rank at #7 on the current list. Can you guess which material is #1?
Edible electronics: When will we be eating technology?
Edible electronics, devices that can be broken down and digested, could perform many useful functions inside the body.
“More is different”: why reductionism fails at higher levels of complexity
We cannot deduce laws about a higher level of complexity by starting with a lower level of complexity. Here, reductionism meets a brick wall.
Why Chernobyl radiation is not a cause for concern
The rhetorical fallout is greater than the radioactive fallout.
How can we produce electronics sustainably? Extract rare-earth elements from waste
A new method of extracting rare-earth elements could put us on the track toward a circular economy.
How Mars lost its magnetic field — and then its oceans
Chemical changes inside Mars' core caused it to lose its magnetic field. This, in turn, caused it to lose its oceans. But how?
Why are comet heads green — but not their tails?
“When molecules misbehave, it can lead to great insight.”
We exist thanks to chirality and the asymmetry of life
Life is possible because of asymmetries, such as an imbalance between matter and antimatter and the "handedness" (chirality) of molecules.
The ten greatest ideas in the history of science
The ten greatest ideas in science form the bedrock of modern biology, chemistry, and physics. Everyone should be familiar with them.
Isaac Newton’s life was one long search for God
From physics and alchemy to theology and eschatology, Isaac Newton’s research was rooted in a personal pursuit of the Divine.
The physics of foamy beer
If you want to have foamy beer inside the comfort of your own home, you need to invest in a special nucleated glass.
Tonga volcano eruption was a once-in-a-millennium event
Impressive but deadly physics underlie catastrophic eruptions.
From first stars to life: the James Webb story to be told
The James Webb Space Telescope finally could answer the age-old question of whether we are alone in the universe.
Water on Mars found hidden in massive canyon
Water on Mars is key for human survival on the Red Planet, not just for drinking but for growing food and making fuel and oxygen.
How do fireworks work? A pyrotechnics chemist explains the science behind the brilliant colors and sounds
If you put very fine black powder powder in a confined space it explodes in a cloud of heat, gas and noise.
Why Earth is habitable but Venus looks like hell
Venus has far more carbon dioxide in its atmosphere than Earth, which turned our sister planet into an inferno. But how did it get there?