COVID, One Year Later: What Do We Know Now? [Video]
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, ACS Reactions switched up their usual content to bring viewers reliable coronavirus info from the experts. One year…
American Chemical Society
Swimming Pools Contain Dangerous Chlorine Disinfection Byproducts – Here’s How to Make Them Safer
Swimming in indoor or outdoor pools is a healthy form of exercise and recreation for many people. However, studies have linked compounds that arise from…
Backpack Makes Loads Feel Lighter and Powers Electronics by Harvesting Energy From Walking
Hikers, soldiers and school children all know the burden of a heavy backpack. But now, researchers have developed a prototype that not only makes loads…
Standard Water Treatment Technique Removes and Inactivates Enveloped Viruses
Enveloped viruses have been detected in raw sewage and sludge, but scientists still don’t fully understand the fate and infectivity of these viruses during water…
Using Lasers to Create Miniature Robots From Bubbles [Video]
Robots are widely used to build cars, paint airplanes and sew clothing in factories, but the assembly of microscopic components, such as those for biomedical…
DNA-Based Nanogel for Targeted Chemotherapy
Current chemotherapy regimens slow cancer progression and save lives, but these powerful drugs affect both healthy and cancerous cells. Now, researchers reporting in ACS’ Nano…
Improving COVID-19 Test Sensitivity With Ultra-Absorptive Nanofiber Swabs
Rapid, sensitive diagnosis of COVID-19 is essential for early treatment, contact tracing and reducing viral spread. However, some people infected with SARS-CoV-2 receive false-negative test…
Anode-Free Zinc Battery Could Someday Provide Large Scale Storage of Renewable Energy
Renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, could help decrease the world’s reliance on fossil fuels. But first, power companies need a safe,…
Electron Paramagnetic Resonance: A Non-destructive Method for Analyzing Ancient Egyptian Embalming Materials
Ancient Egyptian mummies have many tales to tell, but unlocking their secrets without destroying delicate remains is challenging. Now, researchers reporting in ACS’ Analytical Chemistry…
Will It Kombucha? Breaking Down Kombucha’s Chemistry [Video]
Kombucha is a bubbly, fermented tea that has gained popularity in the health and wellness scene over the last decade –– but what is it…
Using Red Blood Cells, Light, and a Honey Bee Peptide to Deliver Therapeutic Proteins to Specific Areas of the Body
Protein therapies are often more potent and selective toward their biochemical targets than other types of drugs, particularly small molecules. However, proteins are also more…
Bio-Based Luminescent Wood Could Light up Homes of the Future
The right indoor lighting can help set the mood, from a soft romantic glow to bright, stimulating colors. But some materials used for lighting, such…
Disinfected by the Sun: New Cotton Face Mask Kills Up to 99.9999% of Bacteria and Viruses in Daylight
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have become accustomed to wearing cotton face masks in public places. However, viruses and bacteria that stick to the…
Brown Carbon “Tarballs” Detected in Himalayan Atmosphere – May Accelerate Melting of Glaciers
Some people refer to the Himalaya-Tibetan Plateau as the “third pole” because the region has the largest reserve of glacial snow and ice outside of…
Why Does Fertilizer (Sometimes) Explode? [Video]
Over the last century, the compound ammonium nitrate has been involved in at least 30 disasters and terrorist attacks. Under normal circumstances, it’s totally harmless…
Researchers Develop a Flexible Color-Changing Film Inspired by Chameleon Skin
Chameleons can famously change their colors to camouflage themselves, communicate, and regulate their temperature. Scientists have tried to replicate these color-changing properties for stealth technologies,…
Stretchable Conductive Hydrogel Developed That Could Help Repair Damaged Nerves
Injuries to peripheral nerves — tissues that transmit bioelectrical signals from the brain to the rest of the body — often result in chronic…
The Science Behind the Bright Apocalyptic Orange Sky That Was Seen on the West Coast [Video]
California wildfires are, unfortunately, nothing new — but that bright orange sky definitely is. This week on Reactions, they talk with experts who explain the…