Though experimentation is still king in most chemists’ minds, computational chemistry has the potential to transform the field.
Moon soil catalyzes reactions needed to sustain a lunar settlement
Using solar energy, water, and lunar soil, scientists were able to carry out reactions needed to sustain human life on the Moon.
How biogas from human waste will lead to energy independence
Chicken feathers enhance the quality of biogas produced from human waste, allowing impoverished communities to generate their own power.
Emmett Chappelle, lighting up biology
Biochemist and astrobiologist Emmett Chappelle created a simple means of identifying life and opened a new world for fluorescence testing.
Optimizing a century-old chemical process
A new chemical looping approach helps optimize the Ostwald reaction, making the production of nitric acid a little “greener”.
Innovative science in 2021
Catch up on some of the most exciting and impactful developments in science from this year, published on ASN and selected by our editors.
Large impacts created a toxic planet
New research on Venus reveals how large impacts from rocky bodies may have altered its development during planetary infancy.
What scientists hope to learn with the new James Webb Space Telescope
The new James Webb Space Telescope will collect infrared light from distant corners of the cosmos, enabling scientists to see further than ever before.
Fuel for thought — The future of Martian colonization
A biorefinery built on the Red Planet could help produce rocket fuel required for a return journey, but some snags need to be worked through first.
Common concerns of the clean energy transition
With questions centered around cost and how long the transition will take, how do we convince people that the transition to renewables will be worth it?