A More Sensitive and Durable Rapid COVID-19 Test Using Nanoparticles
Rapid antigen tests can quickly and conveniently tell a person that they are positive for COVID-19. However, because antibody-based tests aren’t very sensitive, they can…
American Chemical Society News
Risks of Counterfeit Medications Are Rising: New Technology Could Spot Fakes With a Smartphone App
Edible, fluorescent silk tags can suss out fake medications. Recent developments such as the explosion of online pharmacies and supply chain issues have made it…
Even Mild or Moderate COVID-19 May Impair Fertility in Men
Many people who recover from COVID-19 experience long-term symptoms, such as brain fog or heart problems. Increasing evidence suggests that the virus can also impair…
Nonsurgical Implant Could Help Overcome Obesity by Killing Cells Producing Ghrelin, the “Hunger Hormone”
When dieting and exercise aren’t enough, weight-loss surgery can be an effective obesity treatment. But people who don’t want surgery have other options, including insertion…
Common Coronavirus Infections Don’t Generate Effective Antibodies Against COVID
Although SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) has taken the world by storm, it’s not the only coronavirus that can infect humans. But unlike SARS-CoV-2,…
New Male Birth Control Pill Effectively Prevents Pregnancy – Without Side Effects
Women have a variety of birth control options, ranging from pills to patches to intrauterine implants, and they carry the brunt of the responsibility for…
This Space-Grown Lettuce Could Help Astronauts Avoid Bone Loss – And Could Help People on Earth Too
NASA is preparing to send humans to Mars sometime in the 2030s. The 3-year mission will expose astronauts to a long period of microgravity, which…
Bacterial Enzyme Makes New Type of Biocompatible, Biodegradable Polymer
Strings of sugars called polysaccharides are the most abundant biopolymers on Earth. Because of their versatile and environmentally friendly properties, these molecules could eventually replace…
A “Greener” Way To Clean Wastewater Treatment Filters With Reusable Nanoparticle Catalysts
Membrane filters don’t require much energy to purify water, making them popular for wastewater treatment. To keep these materials in tip-top condition, they’re commonly cleaned…
Tiny Space Probes Using “Laser Sails” Could Speed to Outer Planets and Beyond
Space travel can be agonizingly slow: For example, the New Horizons probe took almost 10 years to reach Pluto. Traveling to Proxima Centauri b, the…
Increased Infectivity Drives COVID Evolution – Mutations That Allow the Virus To Escape Vaccines Become Dominant
First announced by the World Health Organization on November 26, 2021, the SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant spread rapidly around the world, becoming the dominant variant in…
New Type of Cholera Vaccine May Offer Much Longer-Lasting Protection
Cholera, a diarrheal disease caused by the highly transmissible bacteria Vibrio cholerae, kills tens of thousands of people each year worldwide. Current vaccines last only 2–5…
Quick COVID Breathalyzer Could Allow Mass Screening in Public Places – Such As Conferences and Weddings
According to experts, bringing an end to the pandemic will require rapid screening of people attending large gatherings, such as conferences and weddings. Even those…
New Antifreeze Cream Prevents Frostbite Injuries to Skin
Skiers, hikers, soldiers and others exposed to extreme cold temperatures can experience frostbite — a painful injury that occurs when ice crystals form in the…
Wearable Air Sampler Measures Personal COVID Virus Exposure
Masks, social distancing, proper hygiene, and ventilation can help reduce the transmission of COVID-19 in public places, but even with these measures, scientists have detected…
A Single Clothes Dryer Can Discharge Up to 120 Million Airborne Microfibers Annually
Clothes Dryers Are an Underappreciated Source of Airborne Microfibers No one likes when their favorite clothes develop holes or unravel after many laundry cycles. But…
Weight-Loss Drugs, Revisited: New Molecules To Help People Safely Shed Extra Pounds
Drugs that promise to help people lose weight have had a checkered past, such as the infamous fen-phen that was pulled from the market in…
Creating New Meat Alternatives With 3D Printing – And Cocoa Butter
No longer just a dream of vegetarians and vegans, fake meat is becoming more widely available in grocery stores and restaurants. And more options are…
