The two states of water & science sleuths | The chemical breakdown podcast
Chemistry in its element
This week, we discuss the peculiarities of water's behaviour and how science sleuths are fighting disinformation with Philip Robinson and Emma Pewsey. A recent study from researchers at Stockholm University has found the existence of a critical point in supercooled water, which could prove the existence of two types of water. How did they do it, and what does this mean for our understanding of this fundamental substance? And, in the growing age of disinformation, how can we equip ourselves to discern fact from false data? We discuss the latest wave of science sleuths aiming to...
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Atomic radii & synthetic food dyes | The chemical breakdown podcast
Chemistry in its element
This week, we discuss team discuss the boundaries of the atom and breakdown the US’s plan to eliminate synthetic food dyes with Jennifer Newton and Phillip Broadwith. The atomic radius of an atom is a concept we are taught from early in our chemistry careers, but for such an important value its definition remains ambiguous. Why is there no single answer to the size of an atom? And, US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr announced last year that the US will phase out all petroleum-based synthetic dyes in foods. But what are these chemicals, and what concerns exist around their consumption?...
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AAAS annual meeting & plasma chemistry | The chemical breakdown podcast
Chemistry in its element
This week, we discuss reflections from this year’s American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual meeting and the latest advances in plasma chemistry with Rebecca Trager and Mason Wakley. The annual meeting of the AAAS kicked off in Phoenix, on the heels of the recent minibus spending package announcement, as well as the rescinding of the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding. We'll fill you in on some of the conversations that took place that weekend. And, plasma is often described as the fourth state of matter, but what exactly is it made of? We’ll...
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AlphaGenome & the RNA world hypothesis | The chemical breakdown podcast
Chemistry in its element
Welcome to our latest podcast series, The chemical breakdown. Each week, we dive deeper into two stories we've covered here at Chemistry World, providing insight into the facts, why you should care, and what it means for the chemistry community. We also give you that week’s headlines to keep you up to date with what’s happening in the chemistry community. And finally, we’ll end each episode with a brief section on what was happening this week in chemistry history. This week, we discuss the new deep learning model AlphaGenome and visit the very beginning of life on Earth with Mason...
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Batteries: The bedrock of the sustainable future
Chemistry in its element
In this special podcast produced in partnership with Waters Corporation, find out how understanding the chemistry and materials that go into batteries marks the first step towards making them safer and increasing energy density, and unlocks new opportunities for reuse and recycling
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Cinnamaldehyde: Chemistry in its element
Chemistry in its element
How did a tree bark from Sri Lanka become one of the essential flavours of the festive season? We explore the history of cinnamon and the compound that gives it its distinctive taste and aroma
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Azidoazide azide: Chemistry in its element
Chemistry in its element
A compound so explosively unstable that nobody has been able to measure how sensitive it is without it, well, exploding.
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Ochre: Chemistry in its element
Chemistry in its element
How one of mankind's oldest pigments helped shepherds secure their sheep and inspired one of the most popular songs of the twentieth century
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Maltodextrin: Chemistry in its element
Chemistry in its element
A sweet compound that provides ample energy for extreme endurance events – find out how maltodextrin helped Anna Ploszajski swim the English channel
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Ionic liquids: Chemistry in its element
Chemistry in its element
Liquid salts, ionic melts, fused salts, or ionic glasses – call them what you like, these much-hyped solvents show great promise. Katrina Krämer speaks to chemical engineer Jason Bara about ionic liquids.
info_outlineAlso known as 'milk of amnesia', propofol helps to prevent perception of pain in surgery – just don't forget its dangerous side