Chemistry

Chemistry

From Aerators to Rust — New Lead Risks

Rusty water and other unusual sources of toxic risks in home drinking water.

Chemistry

Faucets Destined for Brassy Changes

Although new standards poised to take effect in a few years will reduce the lead-leaching risk from drinking water faucets, showerheads and many other water dispensers around will remain unregulated.

Tech

Lead-free? Faucets are anything but

Featured blog: Users of brand-new buildings on a major university campus were surprised to discover high concentrations of lead in the water. Faucets were the culprit.

Chemistry

Holey Copper Pipes!

Engineers are homing in on germs and other surprises behind the development of tiny holes in home water pipes.

Chemistry

Nicotine’s new appeal

Mimicking the addictive compound’s action in the brain could lead to new drugs for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and schizophrenia.

Chemistry

Long Live Plastics

With plastics in museums decomposing, a new effort seeks to halt the demise of materials commonly thought to be unalterable.

Chemistry

Trapping Compact Fluorescents’ Toxic Gas

New nanomaterials may offer a solution to mopping up a toxic pollutant associated with fluorescent lighting.

Chemistry

Oops! A Fluorescent Light Breaks

Toxic mercury will be released whenever a fluorescent lamp breaks.

Chemistry

Fluorescent bulbs offer mercury advantage

Featured blog: Switching to light bulbs that contain mercury might, surprisingly, reduce overall mercury releases to the environment. Plus, what to do when you break your fluorescent bulb.

Health & Medicine

Moms: One Solution to Tainted Milk

Tainted infant formulas point to a problem in the way society values moms.

Chemistry

Obama’s brain trust

Featured blog: Sixty-one Nobel laureates sign a letter explaining why they support Barack Obama's run for the presidency.

Chemistry

A better fate for plastic bottles

Using microbes to convert PET into a high-value plastic could encourage more recycling.