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American Chemical Society

American Chemical Society, ACS is a congressionally chartered independent membership organization which represents professionals at all degree levels and in all fields of chemistry and sciences that involve chemistry.

Most Recent Articles by American Chemical Society:

Video: Spider combs tame unruly nanofibers

Cribellate spiders spin thousands of tiny nanofibers into sticky threads. To keep from getting caught in their own webs, these spiders use a nonstick comb on their back legs. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Applied Nano Materials have patterned an antiadhesive nanostructure inspired by this comb onto a foil surface, creating a handy tool to control sticky lab-made nanomaterials for medical, smart textile and other applications.
- Thursday, April 23, 2020

New COVID-19 test quickly and accurately detects viral RNA

Millions of people have been tested for the novel coronavirus, most using a kit that relies on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This sensitive method amplifies SARS-CoV-2 RNA from patient swabs so that tiny amounts of the virus can be detected. However, as the pandemic surges, this laboratory workhorse is showing signs of strain. Now, researchers reporting a proof-of-concept study in ACS Nano have developed a potentially more accurate diagnostic based on plasmonic photothermal sensing.
- Thursday, April 23, 2020

Chocolate ‘fingerprints’ could confirm label claims

WASHINGTON — The flavor and aroma of a fine chocolate emerge from its ecology, in addition to its processing. But can you be certain that the bar you bought is really from the exotic locale stated on the wrapper? Now, researchers are presenting a method for determining where a particular chocolate was produced — and someday, which farm its beans came from — by looking at its chemical “fingerprint.”
- Monday, April 20, 2020

Harnessing the power of electricity-producing bacteria for programmable ‘biohybrids’

Harnessing the power of electricity-producing bacteria for programmable ‘biohybrids’Someday, microbial cyborgs –– bacteria combined with electronic devices –– could be useful in fuel cells, biosensors and bioreactors. But first, scientists need to develop materials that not only nurture the microbes, but also efficiently and controllably harvest the electricity or other resources they make. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces have developed one such material that enabled them to create a programmable “biohybrid” system that conducts electrons from electricity-producing (exoelectrogenic) bacteria.
- Thursday, April 9, 2020

Researchers share perspectives on coronavirus pandemic

As COVID-19 ravages the globe, researchers are working tirelessly to develop new diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics. The question on the minds of scientists in many diverse fields is how they can help. Now, some researchers are publishing their thoughts on this topic in the form of editorials, perspectives and viewpoints in various ACS journals.
- Thursday, April 9, 2020

Putting remdesivir to the test for COVID-19

As the coronavirus pandemic claims lives and overwhelms health care systems throughout the world, scientists are closely watching several late-stage trials of the antiviral drug remdesivir. Developed to treat Ebola, remdesivir is now being tested against COVID-19. However, many infectious disease experts caution that the trials are unlikely to yield clear-cut results, according to an article in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society.
- Thursday, April 9, 2020

Video: Using chemistry to unlock the difference between cold- and hot-brew coffee

WASHINGTON — Cold brew may be the hottest trend in coffee-making, but not a lot is known about how this process alters the drink’s chemical characteristics. Scientists now report that the content of potentially health-promoting antioxidants in coffee brewed without heat can significantly differ from a cup of joe prepared with the same beans in the traditional way, particularly for dark roasts. The researchers are presenting their results through the American Chemical Society (ACS) SciMeetings online platform.


- Monday, April 6, 2020

New electrically activated material could improve braille readers

WASHINGTON — Refreshable braille displays translate information from computer screens into raised characters, often along the bottom of a keyboard. But this technology can cost thousands of dollars and is limited, typically displaying a string of characters much shorter than most sentences. Researchers now report an improved material that could take these displays to the next level, allowing those who are blind or who have low vision to more easily understand text and images, while lowering cost.
- Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Saliva test for cannabis could someday help identify impaired drivers

WASHINGTON — In the U.S., those who consume alcohol and drive are often subjected to roadside stops, breathalyzer tests and stiff penalties if their blood alcohol content exceeds certain limits. Currently, no such test exists for cannabis intoxication, although the substance is known to impair driving, among other activities. Scientists now report that they are one step closer to a convenient saliva test for measuring cannabis levels at roadside stops.
- Tuesday, March 31, 2020

VIDEO: Can soap really ‘kill’ the coronavirus?

VIDEO: Can soap really ‘kill’ the coronavirus?WASHINGTON, Constantly being told to wash your hands? Us, too. So we’re diving into the chemistry behind why soap is so effective against viruses like the coronavirus that causes COVID-19:
- Monday, March 23, 2020

Revamping optical fibers to transmit even more data

Across the globe, telecommunications companies have installed over 2.5 billion miles of optical fibers –– enough to reach from Earth to Neptune. This massive network rapidly transmits nearly all data, voice and video communications around the world. However, as telecom demands grow, scientists are trying to improve the data transmission capabilities of optical fibers, according to an article in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society.
- Thursday, March 19, 2020

Fish scales could make wearable electronics more sustainable

Fish scales could make wearable electronics more sustainableFlexible temporary electronic displays may one day make it possible to sport a glowing tattoo or check a reading, like that of a stopwatch, directly on the skin. In its current form, however, this technology generally depends on plastic. New research in ACS Nano describes a way to make these displays, which would likely be discarded after a single use, more environmentally friendly using a plentiful and biodegradable resource: fish scales.
- Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Special report highlights potential therapeutic agents, vaccines for COVID-19

Since the first reports of a new coronavirus disease in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, COVID-19 has spread rapidly across the globe, threatening a pandemic. Now, researchers from CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society specializing in scientific information solutions, have issued a special report in ACS Central Science. In the report, they provide an overview of published scientific information on potential therapeutic agents and vaccines for the virus, with an emphasis on patents.
- Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Detecting aromas in aged cognac

For connoisseurs of wines and spirits, part of the enjoyment is noting the various flavors and scents that are revealed with each sip. Aging transforms alcohol’s aroma further, especially in cognac, a type of twice-distilled fortified wine. Now, researchers reporting in ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry have identified a few compounds not previously known to contribute to an aged cognac’s complex aroma.
- Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Natural organic matter influences arsenic release into groundwater

Millions of people worldwide consume water contaminated with levels of arsenic that exceed those recommended by the World Health Organization. This could cause health problems, such as arsenic poisoning, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Microbes in groundwater release arsenic from sediments, and organic matter helps fuel this reaction. Now, researchers reporting in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology have discovered that the type of natural organic matter (NOM) influences the rate and level of arsenic release.
- Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Magnolia bark compound could someday help treat drug-resistant epilepsy

In patients with epilepsy, normal neurological activity becomes disrupted, causing debilitating seizures. Now, researchers report in ACS Chemical Neuroscience that they have found a potential new treatment for this disorder by turning to traditional Chinese medicine. Tests of extracts from plants used in these ancient remedies led the team to one compound, derived from a magnolia tree, that could quell drug-resistant seizures in both fish and mice.
- Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Expanding the plasmonic painter’s palette

Expanding the plasmonic painter’s paletteBy blending paints in their palette, artists can create a broad spectrum of colors with subtly different hues. However, scientists who wish to create a similar range of structural colors, like those found on butterfly wings, are much more limited. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Nano have developed a new method for mixing plasmonic red, blue and green to yield a virtually unlimited number of colors that could be used for new types of displays.
- Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Micromotors get supercharged with three ‘engines’

Micromotors get supercharged with three ‘engines’Someday, microscopic robots could perform useful functions, such as diagnostic testing in lab-on-a-chip sensors, micropatterning surfaces or repairing equipment in tight spaces. But first, scientists need to be able to tightly control the microbots’ speed. Now, researchers reporting in ACS’ Chemistry of Materials have developed micromotors with three “engines” that they can control separately with chemical fuel, magnets and light.
- Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Scorpions make a fluorescent compound that could help protect them from parasites

Scorpions make a fluorescent compound that could help protect them from parasitesMost scorpions glow a blue-green color when illuminated by ultraviolet light or natural moonlight. Scientists aren’t sure how this fluorescence benefits the creatures, but some have speculated that it acts as a sunscreen, or helps them find mates in the dark. Now, researchers reporting in ACS’ Journal of Natural Products have identified a new fluorescent compound from scorpion exoskeletons. The team says that the compound could protect these arachnids from parasites.
- Tuesday, March 10, 2020

New compounds thwart multiple viruses, including coronavirus

New compounds thwart multiple viruses, including coronavirusAccording to a February 13 report from the World Health Organization, the Wuhan coronavirus has stricken more than 46,000 people and has caused over 1,300 deaths since the first cases in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Now, researchers reporting in ACS’ Journal of Medicinal Chemistry have designed compounds that block the replication of similar coronaviruses, as well as other disease-causing viruses, in the lab. The compounds have not yet been tested in people.
- Wednesday, February 26, 2020

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