When it comes to even the most advanced materials, the adage “if it does not bend, it breaks” is often true. But before that final snap, most materials experience microscopic damage that could be fixed — but only if you know it’s there. In a study published in ACS Central Science, researchers introduce a new technique…
Toward Clothes That Fix Their Own Rips
Ripped pants or a torn shirt usually means a trip to the tailor or a garbage can is in one’s future. But scientists could be closing in on a new solution. They report in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces a fabric coating made of squid proteins that allows rips in cotton, linen and…
Surprising Way Laundry Adds Flame Retardants to Surface Waters
In recent years, evidence has been building suggesting that flame retardants, which are used in furniture and electronics, are potentially linked to health problems. And studies have shown that the substances leach out of products, and end up in indoor dust, air and in us. Now, scientists report in ACS’ journal Environmental Science & Technology how flame…
Toward Clothes That Fix Their Own Rips
Ripped pants or a torn shirt usually means a trip to the tailor or a garbage can is in one’s future. But scientists could be closing in on a new solution. They report in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces a fabric coating made of squid proteins that allows rips in cotton, linen and wool to…
How Do Sparklers Work?
Now that the Fourth of July is just around the corner you firework lovers out there are gearing up for the big day. We on the other hand have been taking an up close, slow motion look at the chemistry of how sparklers work.
Acetone Dissolves Styrofoam into Goo
Have you ever seen a foam cup appear to melt away in acetone? Foam cups, bowls and containers are made of a lightweight but strong material – expanded polystyrene. How then does acetone reduce this substance to a blob of goo? In this week’s video, we team up with chemistry professor Matt Hartings, Ph.D., to…
Harnessing Solar and Wind Energy in One Device Could Power IoT
The “Internet of Things” could make cities “smarter” by connecting an extensive network of tiny communications devices to make life more efficient. But all these machines will require a lot of energy. Rather than adding to the global reliance on fossil fuels to power the network, researchers say they have a new solution. Their report…
How Joe DeSimone Is Changing 3D Printing
Joe DeSimone cofounded Carbon (formerly Carbon3D) to bring chemistry to bear on 3D printing. Join us as we learn how this has enabled the company to print at unprecedented speeds and churn out materials that have never been printed before. And find out why Carbon believes it’s poised to kick off a new era of…
Why Does Metal Rust?
Reactions viewer Peter Sterckx asked us, “Why do metal things corrode?” Great question. It’s number two in our Reactions Q and A series. And did you know that metals actually PREFER to be rusted? Believe it. And while you’re believing it, be sure to leave your questions in the comments and we will try to…
Toward Dissolvable Electronics for Implants and Sensors
Tiny electronic sensors and devices that can be implanted in the body and then dissolve almost without a trace are getting closer to reality. Scientists have tested several biodegradable materials, including DNA, proteins and metals, for making transient electronics. Now one team, reporting in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, has taken another step toward…
Making Biodiesel with Used Cooking Oil and a Microwave
Weaning cars and trucks off of gasoline and diesel made from fossil fuels is a difficult task. One promising solution involves biodiesel, which comes from natural oils and fats, but it is costly. Using a microwave and catalyst-coated beads, scientists have devised a new way to convert waste cooking oil into biodiesel that could make…
Robots Could Get ‘Touchy’ With Self-Powered Smart Skin
Smart synthetic skins have the potential to allow robots to touch and sense what’s around them, but keeping them powered up and highly sensitive at low cost has been a challenge. Now scientists report in the journal ACS Nano a self-powered, transparent smart skin that is simpler and less costly than many other versions that have been…
The Chemistry of Matches (In Super Slow Motion)
To fire up the grill or the gas stove, we often reach for a match. It turns out there’s a lot of chemistry going on to make those little wooden wonders work. The best way to find out about the chemistry of burning matches is to watch it in ultra-slow motion.
Wearable Electronics Move Beyond Rigid Wristbands
It’s not every day that there’s a news story about socks. But in November, a pair won the Best New Wearable Technology Device Award at a Silicon Valley conference. The smart socks, which track foot landings and cadence, are at the forefront of a new generation of wearable electronics, according to an article in Chemical &…
Keeping astronauts in space longer with better air and water
As astronauts embark on increasingly ambitious space missions, scientists have to figure out how to keep them healthy for longer periods far from Earth. That entails assuring the air they breathe and the water they drink are safe — not an easy task given their isolated locations. But scientists are now reporting in the ACS…
Making Robots More Human
Most people are naturally adept at reading facial expressions — from smiling and frowning to brow-furrowing and eye-rolling — to tell what others are feeling. Now scientists have developed ultra-sensitive, wearable sensors that can do the same thing. Their technology, reported in the journal ACS Nano, could help robot developers make their machines more human. Nae-Eung…
Make Your Own Game of Thrones Sword
The fantasy epic Game of Thrones is back this Sunday night, and it is sure to be chock full of intrigue, indiscretions and, of course, swords. The most sought-after blades in Westeros are made from Valyrian steel, forged using ancient magic. But could you make your own Valyrian steel sword using real-life chemistry? Reactions collaborated…
Novel Plastic for ‘Artificial Muscles’
A plastic used in filters and tubing has an unusual trait: It can produce electricity when pulled or pressed. This ability has been used in small ways, but now researchers are coaxing fibers of the material to make even more electricity for a wider range of applications from green energy to “artificial muscles.” They will…
Plant Molecule Could Make Roads & Roofs ‘Greener’
Construction crews may someday use a plant molecule called lignin in their asphalt and sealant mixtures to help roads and roofs hold up better under various weather conditions. It also could make them more environmentally friendly, according to a researcher today at the 249th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS). The…
Many ‘Biodegradable’ Plastics Don’t Break Down as Expected
Plastic products advertised as biodegradable have recently emerged, but they sound almost too good to be true. Scientists have now found out that, at least for now, consumers have good reason to doubt these claims. In a new study appearing in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology, plastics designed to degrade didn’t break down…
Mind-Blowing Movie Explosions Explained
If there’s one man in Hollywood that knows the value of chemistry, it’s Michael Bay. He’s taught society that in the face of a half-baked plot and thin script, big budget explosions can save your box office bacon. In our latest episode, we’re going Hollywood and explaining the chemistry behind those spectacular big budget explosions.
The Woman Who Saved the U.S. Space Race
One saved the U.S. space program, another invented a better treatment for leprosy, and a third spawned an industry in the American Midwest. Mary Sherman Morgan, Alice Ball and Rachel Lloyd all had amazing accomplishments in chemistry, but their work was nearly lost to history. Celebrate their work with us in the latest episode of…
Tiny Robotic Hands Could Improve Cancer Diagnostics
Many people imagine robots today as clunky, metal versions of humans, but scientists are forging new territory in the field of ‘soft robotics.’ One of the latest advances is a flexible, microscopic hand-like gripper. The development could help doctors perform remotely guided surgical procedures or perform biopsies. The materials also could someday deliver therapeutic drugs…
Tiny Robotic ‘Hands’ Could Improve Cancer Diagnostics, Drug Delivery
Many people imagine robots today as clunky, metal versions of humans, but scientists are forging new territory in the field of ‘soft robotics.’ One of the latest advances is a flexible, microscopic hand-like gripper. The development could help doctors perform remotely guided surgical procedures or perform biopsies. The materials also could someday deliver therapeutic drugs…
New Threat Detecting Tech Could Save Lives
In today’s world, in which the threat of terrorism looms, there is an urgent need for fast, reliable tools to detect the release of deadly chemical warfare agents (CWAs). In the journal ACS Macro Letters, scientists are reporting new progress toward thin-film materials that could rapidly change colors in the presence of CWAs – an…