Chemistry

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We summarize the week's science breakthroughs every Thursday.

  1. Health & Medicine

    DNA-damaging disinfection by-products found in pool water

    A study detects subtle changes in swimmers’ cells after 40 minutes of laps.

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  2. Chemistry

    Cockroach brains, coming to a pharmacy near you

    Insect tissue extracts show antibacterial activity in lab experiments.

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  3. Chemistry

    Light-harvesting complexes do it themselves

    A new technique could yield solar cells with no repair or assembly required.

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  4. Plants

    Evergreen source of Tamiflu

    Pine and spruce needles brim with flu-drug precursor.

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  5. Plants

    Most energy drinks lag in added health benefits

    Many caffeinated tonics lack natural antioxidants and other beneficial compounds found in coffee, yerba maté and other plant-based drinks.

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  6. Tech

    New help for greasy works of art

    NMR technique identifies oil stains, guiding art conservation efforts.

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  7. Chemistry

    Deep-sea plumes: A rush to judgment?

    A new report suggests a deep-sea plume of oil in the Gulf of Mexico has been gobbled up by microbes. But the scientist who described the incident doesn't "know" that. He can't — yet.

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  8. Chemistry

    How to bug bugs

    New insights on how insect repellents work could eventually help scientists prevent the transmission of diseases like malaria.

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  9. Chemistry

    Tracking bird flu one poop at a time

    Mice can sniff out duck droppings laced with the virus.

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  10. Chemistry

    Deep-sea oil plume goes missing

    Controversy arises over whether bacteria have completely gobbled oil up.

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  11. Plants

    Chlorophyll gets an ‘f’

    New variety of photosynthetic pigment is the first to be discovered in 60 years

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  12. Physics

    As the icicle turns

    Drip by drip, a new machine freezes out an existing theory.

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