Science, suffrage and misogyny
By Rachel Brazil Rachel Brazil looks back at women’s fight for professional equality in chemistry Source: © Archives, Imperial College Martha Whiteley was a pioneering female chemist and one of the first female members of the Chemical Society December 2018 marks the centenary of the first UK general election in which women could vote – […]
A taste of wine chemistry
By Nina Notman Nina Notman talks to the wine detectives uncovering the flavour molecules in our favourite tipples ‘Wine is a rare example of a consumer packaged good where variation is not just tolerated, it is celebrated,’ explains Gavin Sacks, wine chemist at Cornell University in New York state, US. Over 400,000 different wines are […]
Chemistry graduate student gets seven years for poisoning co-worker
By Rebecca Trager Queen’s University in Canada was the scene of a poisoning of one lab scientist by another A graduate student who pleaded guilty to poisoning a fellow chemist at Queen’s University in Kingston, Canada has received a seven-year prison sentence for ‘administering a noxious substance’ and ‘aggravated assault’. The court deducted time already […]
Fluorinated compounds in cosmetic products
By Emma Lockyer Moisturisers, shaving foam and foundation investigated as sources of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances Source: © Jayannpo/Shutterstock Swedish scientists have investigated the levels of a group of notorious fluorinated compounds in cosmetic products. Their findings indicate the presence of fluorinated substances unaccounted for by the listed ingredients, along with high concentrations of substances […]
Wearable sensor checks blood alcohol content using sweat
[:pb] By Kirsten Hall Device shows how sweat could be used as a non-invasive source of biochemical information Source: © Jason Heikenfeld Sweat alcohol levels correlate with blood alcohol levels, new research confirms. The findings come from a study by US researchers who have made a wearable device that stimulates sweat production and measures its […]
Chemputer makes three drugs without human help in effort to make chemistry more reproducible
[:pb] By Andy Extance Scientists in the UK have developed an organic chemistry automation system and programming languages that they hope will make it easier and simpler for people to reproduce complex reactions. The Chemputer from Lee Cronin’s team at the University of Glasgow has demonstrated these capabilities by autonomously making three drugs, including Viagra […]
