Stereo Chemistry revisited: ‘Wicked amazing scientist’ James Harris’s untold story
Stereo Chemistry
Little was publicly known about the first Black scientist to codiscover an element. Chemists may know James Harris as the first Black scientist to be credited with codiscovering an element. In fact, we referenced this in a previous episode of Stereo Chemistry about making superheavy elements. But beyond this memorable factoid, details about this accomplished nuclear chemist are scarce, and most sources repeat the same superficial information. Kristen Frederick-Frost, curator of modern science at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, wants to change that. After discovering that...
info_outline
C&EN Uncovered: Behind the scenes of the chaotic COP30
Stereo Chemistry
In this episode of C&EN Uncovered, host Craig Bettenhausen speaks with C&EN Policy and Regulation reporter, Delger Erdenesanaa, about her article talking about the trials and takeaways of the 30th annual United Nations climate summit. Check out on COP30 and the proposed biobased climate solutions and how they may impact the future of the chemical industry and the world. Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on , , or wherever you listen to podcasts. Credits Executive producer: David Anderson Host: Craig Bettenhausen Reporter: Delger Erdenesanaa Video + Audio Producer: David...
info_outline
Bonus episode: The ancient, ‘juicy’ origins of antibiotic resistance
Stereo Chemistry
C&EN’s award-winning podcast Inflection Point leans on our 100-year archive to trace headline topics in science today back to their disparate and surprising roots. In each episode, we explore three lesser-known moments in science history that ultimately led us to current-day breakthroughs. With help from expert C&EN reporters, this show examines how discoveries from our past have shaped our present and will change our future. In the third episode of our second season, hosts David Anderson and Gina Vitale travel back in time to relive three historical moments that ultimately led...
info_outline
Bonus episode: The electric innovations that brought lithium-ion batteries online
Stereo Chemistry
C&EN’s award-winning podcast Inflection Point leans on our 100-year archive to trace headline topics in science today back to their disparate and surprising roots. In each episode, we explore three lesser-known moments in science history that ultimately led us to current-day breakthroughs. With help from expert C&EN reporters, this show examines how discoveries from our past have shaped our present and will change our future. In this episode, hosts David Anderson and Gina Vitale charge up the time machine to relive three historical moments that led to the lithium-ion battery. They...
info_outline
Inflection Point: The era-spanning epiphanies that enabled gene editing
Stereo Chemistry
C&EN’s award-winning podcast Inflection Point leans on our 100-year archive to trace headline topics in science today back to their disparate and surprising roots. In each episode, we explore three lesser-known moments in science history that ultimately led us to current-day breakthroughs. With help from expert C&EN reporters, this show examines how discoveries from our past have shaped our present and will change our future. In the second episode of our second season, hosts David Anderson and Gina Vitale travel back in time to relive three historical moments that ultimately led to...
info_outline
Inflection Point: How under-appreciated critters inspired GLP-1 drugs
Stereo Chemistry
In the first episode of our second season, hosts David Anderson and Gina Vitale travel back in time to relive three historical moments that led to blockbuster drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. They also talk with C&EN reporter Aayushi Pratap about how future GLP-1 drugs may expand on the current slate of options. C&EN’s latest podcast, Inflection Point, leans on our 100-year archive to trace headline topics in science today back to their disparate and surprising roots. In each episode, we explore three lesser-known moments in science history that ultimately led us to current-day...
info_outline
MOFs: What is this Nobel-prize-winning group of materials?
Stereo Chemistry
In this episode, Uncovered hops back to the first episode of C&EN’s StereoChemistry, which delved into the materials that won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Reporter Matt Davenport spoke with now-laureate Omar Yaghi and a handful of other researchers in and around this exciting subfield of chemistry. For more from C&EN on MOFs, . Similarly, to read more about this year’s Nobel Prizes, and look back at other years, . Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on , , or wherever you listen to podcasts. Credits Executive producer: David Anderson Host: Craig...
info_outline
Inside the cavernous crystals that won the Chem Nobel
Stereo Chemistry
The 2025 Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded on Oct. 8 to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M. Yaghi for their work on metal organic frameworks (MOFs). Senior editor Prachi Patel joins a bonus episode of Stereo Chemistry to discuss what MOFs are, why they are so useful, and how they were discovered. Check out Prachi’s story on how MOFs won this year’s prize at . Listen to our 2018 Stereo Chemistry episode on MOFs here: Subscribe to now on , , or wherever you listen to podcasts. Executive producer: David Anderson Host: Gina Vitale Reporter: Prachi Patel Audio...
info_outline
Uncovered: The Strange Copy and Paste Chemistry of Skeletal Editing
Stereo Chemistry
Will Skeletal Editing revolutionize the way we see chemical interactions? In this episode of C&EN Uncovered, host Craig Bettenhausen speaks with C&EN associate editor, Brianna Barbu, about her article diving into the new and exciting frontier of Skeletal Editing. Check out on Skeletal Editing and how it may impact the future of the chemical industry. Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on , , or wherever you listen to podcasts. Signal Awards Voting (Inflection Point) Limited Series & Specials, Best Co-Host Team: Limited Series & Specials, Science & Education: Credits...
info_outline
Bonus: C&EN's Future of Chemistry Degrees Panel
Stereo Chemistry
In this bonus episode of Stereo Chemistry, we are featuring a panel discussion from this year's ACS Fall Meeting. Our panelists, Stefan France, Glory Onajobi-Lee, Victor Olet, and John Gavenonis discuss the future of chemistry degrees, the importance of collaboration, and the fluidity of tech-based skills in the chemical industry at large. We are actively seeking new topics, discussions, and formats for 2026 ACS Future of Chemistry Events. Please use to tell us how we're doing and make some recommendations for next year's events. Thank you! Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on , , or wherever...
info_outlinePer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a class of chemicals known as PFAS, are often called “forever chemicals” because of how long they persist in the environment. They are prevalent in drinking water and have been linked to negative health outcomes.
A slew of cleantech start-ups are cropping up with the aim of breaking down and destroying PFAS molecules. In this episode of C&EN Uncovered, reporter Britt Erickson explores the technologies behind these companies and the competition among them.
C&EN Uncovered, a project from C&EN’s podcast, Stereo Chemistry, offers a deeper look at subjects from recent stories. Check out Britt’s cover story on the destruction techniques for these “forever chemicals” at cenm.ag/foreverchemicals.
Cover photo: Argon gas plasma, which can break down PFAS, on the surface of liquid water
Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
A transcript of this episode is available now at cen.acs.org.
Credits
Executive producer: Gina Vitale
C&EN Uncovered host: Craig Bettenhausen
Reporter: Britt Erickson
Audio editor: Ted Woods
Copyeditor: Bran Vickers
Story editor: Michael McCoy
Episode artwork: Courtesy of Selma Mededovic Thagard/Clarkson University
Music: “Hot Chocolate,” by Aves
Contact Stereo Chemistry: Contact us on social media at @cenmag or email cenfeedback@acs.org.