Chemistry

  1. Chemistry

    Tricky Business

    The way a drug crystallizes to form a solid can make or break a billion-dollar product, which explains why pharmaceutical and crystal chemists are racing to control this poorly understood process.

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  2. Chemistry

    Velcro Therapy: Branching polymer wards off scarring after eye surgery

    Specially designed polymer molecules called dendrimers reduce scar tissue formation after glaucoma surgery, dramatically improving the procedure's outcome.

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  3. Chemistry

    Tarantula venom disrupts cells in unexpected way

    The unusual way in which the chemical components of tarantula venom disrupt cells could inspire the design of new drug therapies.

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  4. Chemistry

    Nitrogen Power: New crystal packs a lot of punch

    At extremely high temperatures and pressures, nitrogen gas assumes a three-dimensional crystal structure called polymeric nitrogen, a long-sought energy-storage material.

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  5. Chemistry

    Chemistry Catches Cocaine at Source

    Scientists have devised a method for identifying cocaine's geographical origin by determining the chemical signatures of five distinct coca-growing regions in the Andes.

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  6. Chemistry

    Connection blocker may stop viruses

    Using compounds that disrupt the interface of two viral proteins might present a novel strategy for combating viruses, a study of herpes suggests.

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  7. Chemistry

    Detailed yellow-bud research blossoms

    In identifying the chemical responsible for the color of many yellow flowers, scientists have moved one step closer to engineering sunny-colored designer buds.

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  8. Chemistry

    Weighty Discovery: Chemical screening technique identifies potential anthrax drug

    A new version of mass spectrometry could speed the process of drug discovery by enabling more accurate screening of thousands of chemicals at once.

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  9. Chemistry

    Crystal could generate pure hydrogen fuel

    An organic crystal's unusual molecular-trapping behavior could help drive a new hydrogen economy.

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  10. Chemistry

    Chemical Knot: Scientists assemble legendary symbol by interlocking molecules

    Chemists have constructed a molecular version of a Borromean knot.

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  11. Chemistry

    Strange brew brings inorganic chemicals to life

    A mixture of inorganic chemicals spontaneously forms cell-like structures that behave like tiny chemical reactors.

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  12. Chemistry

    Home Experiments

    Collapsing a soft drink can, fireproofing a balloon, creating cool light, and bending water are among the activities offered by Bassam Z. Shakhashiri, a chemistry professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. His Web pages provide instructions for performing these and other experiments at home. Go to: http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/homeexpts/HOMEEXPTS.HTML.

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