Uranium enrichment: A chemist explains how the surprisingly common element is processed to power reactors and weapons

Uranium enrichment concentrates one specific type of the atom to create a substance that can generate massive amounts of energy.

André O. Hudson, Dean of the College of Science, Professor of Biochemistry, Rochester Institute of Technology • conversation
June 26, 2025 • ~6 min

Light-powered reactions could make the chemical manufacturing industry more energy-efficient

Chemical manufacturing is an energy-intensive industry. A team of chemists is designing a technique that could power the necessary reactions with sunlight or LEDs.

Anna Wolff, Ph.D. Student in Chemistry, Colorado State University • conversation
June 19, 2025 • ~7 min

Conclave: the chemistry behind the black and white smoke

In 2013, the Vatican released their recipes for conclave smoke.

Mark Lorch, Professor of Science Communication and Chemistry, University of Hull • conversation
May 7, 2025 • ~6 min

Earth’s oceans once turned green – and they could change again

They could one day turn purple.

Cédric M. John, Professor and Head of Data Science for the Environment and Sustainability, Queen Mary University of London • conversation
April 9, 2025 • ~7 min

What’s that microplastic? Advances in machine learning are making identifying plastics in the environment more reliable

To deal with microplastic pollution, it helps agencies to know what kind of plastic they’ve got on their hands.

Ambuj Tewari, Professor of Statistics, University of Michigan • conversation
March 6, 2025 • ~8 min

The science behind airplane deicing – a mechanical engineer explains how chemistry and physics make flying a more uplifting experience

Waiting for your plane to get deiced may be annoying, but it’s an essential safety step in chilly conditions.

Andrew Sommers, Professor of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Miami University • conversation
Feb. 28, 2025 • ~10 min

Why are rubies red and emeralds green? Their colors come from the same metal in their atomic structure

Even though emeralds and rubies are very different colors, they both have the same secret ingredient in their atomic structure.

Daniel Freedman, Dean of the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Management, University of Wisconsin-Stout • conversation
Feb. 4, 2025 • ~6 min

Bennu asteroid reveals its contents to scientists − and clues to how the building blocks of life on Earth may have been seeded

New findings reveal that a NASA mission traveled to an asteroid that may have once been covered in salty lakes containing organic molecules.

Sara Russell, Professor of Planetary Sciences, Natural History Museum • conversation
Jan. 29, 2025 • ~10 min

Meet phosphine, a gas commonly used for industrial fumigation that can damage your lungs, heart and liver

While scientists still aren’t sure how phosphine wreaks so much havoc on the body, some are developing medications that can help mitigate the harm it causes.

Aliasger K. Salem, Associate Vice President for Research and Bighley Chair and Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Iowa • conversation
Jan. 23, 2025 • ~6 min

Electrolyte beverages can help your body stay balanced − but may worsen symptoms if you’re sick

Electrolyte beverages can be a big help for athletes and during flu season – but some may worsen issues such as diarrhea.

Bryn Beeder, Visiting Instructor in Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Health, Miami University • conversation
Jan. 21, 2025 • ~8 min

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