Stereo Chemistry

Rocket propellant research had its heyday in the mid-20th century, when the space race and the Cold War meant chemists had plenty of money and long leashes. Few of their most interesting ideas ended up in working rockets, but they charted new areas of chemical space, some of which, like boron chemistry, have proved useful in other fields. Geopolitical shifts, along with a growing emphasis on health, safety, and the environment, dampened propellant chemistry in the last decades of the 1900s. But the need for high-performance propellants hasn’t gone away, and neither has chemists’ interest in pushing the envelope. In this episode of Stereo Chemistry, we hear from chemists who lived through the heady days of the ’50s and ’60s and the ones carrying rocket chemistry’s torch today. A script of this episode is available here.  Music credits: “Leaving Earth” by Stanley Gurvich  “Plain Loafer” by Kevin MacLeod  Rocket launch sound illustration adapted from NASA audio  Image credit: NASA

Without fail, the name John Goodenough crops up during Nobel Prize season. Many scientists believe he’s deserving of chemistry’s top honor. The University of Texas at Austin materials scientist is credited with developing a material that led to mass commercialization of lithium-ion batteries, the technology that powers our smartphones, laptops, electric vehicles, and other gadgets big and small. Though Goodenough, aged 97, hasn’t yet won a Nobel Prize, he’s not mired down by what could have been. He is renowned for his scientific accomplishments, warm personality, and infectious laugh. In this episode of Stereo Chemistry, C&EN reporter Mitch Jacoby joins cohost Kerri Jansen to tell the story of how a former meteorologist with a background in physics came up with a key material that enabled an electronics revolution and how he continues to pursue big questions in electrochemistry today.   Register for C&EN’s Nobel Prize predictions webinar at bit.ly/nobelwebinar19.   UPDATE: We're happy to announce tha

In our last episode of Stereo Chemistry, we talked to chemists who had survived accidents at the bench to learn what went wrong and what lessons we could share to improve lab safety. In this episode, we’re looking at what it takes to build a culture of safety. That is, what can organizations do to let researchers know that their safety is not only valued, but expected? Hosts Jyllian Kemsley and Matt Davenport talk to experts about the importance of leadership, commitment, and education to transform lab safety from an exercise in compliance to a core element of the central science. Find the transcript for this episode on our webiste. Visit ACS Webinars to learn more about their excellent programming.  Music credits: “Played by Ear” by Unheard Music Concepts is licensed under CC BY 4.0. “Compassion (keys version),” “Let That Sink In,” and “Thought Bubbles” by Lee Rosevere are licensed under CC BY 4.0. Image credit: Shutterstock/C&EN

Research science is full of hazards. Chemists and safety professionals do their best to minimize the danger, but accidents do happen and the stakes can be extremely high. So how can chemists ensure that when things do go wrong—or when they nearly go wrong—that we learn from those experiences to work toward a safer future? Communication is key. In this episode of Stereo Chemistry, we talk with four chemists who have survived accidents and shared their stories so others can learn from them. Read the full transcript of this episode here.  Nominate a Start-Up to Watch by August 1!  Music credits: "Pure Water" and "Interplanetary Forest" by Meydän are licensed under CC BY 4.0. "Let That Sink In" and "We Don't Know How it Ends" by Lee Rosevere are licensed under CC BY 4.0. "Blue Lobster" by Daniel Birch is licensed under CC BY 4.0.  Image credit: Shutterstock/C&EN

In the aftermath of a building fire, investigators study the scene for clues to the fire’s cause. They look for burn patterns and suspicious materials while chemists search charred debris for traces of flammable liquids. But investigating fires is not as straightforward as it once was, because investigators now know more about the complexity of how fires burn. In this episode of Stereo Chemistry, host Kerri Jansen explores how scientists are working to better pinpoint specific chemicals amid the chaos a fire leaves behind and how a new understanding of the chemistry and physics of fire has revolutionized the way fire scenes are interpreted. Nominate innovative young companies for C&EN’s 10 Start-Ups to Watch feature at cenm.ag/startupnom. A script of this episode is available on our website.  “Blonde” by Nctrnm is licensed under CC BY 4.0.  “Plain Loafer” by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under CC BY 3.0.  Image credit: UL FSRI

Robots in the ocean are giving scientists more details about processes above and below the surface that affect our weather, our food supply, and more. They’re also helping chemical oceanographers understand and record the effects that climate change is having on our waters. The past 2 decades have seen a growing fleet of uncrewed research vessels and a proliferation of chemical sensors, which together are giving chemical oceanographers access to an unprecedented wealth of data. That’s changing not just the way they think the oceans work but also how they themselves work. In this episode, pioneers of ocean robotics and scientists developing new sensors for the crewless vehicles tell tales of that work. And hacky sacks. For a script of this podcast and a video of a sail drone, visit our website. Music credits: “Blind Love Dub” by Jeris is licensed under CC BY 3.0 “Morning Cruise,” “September Sky,” and “Dance of the Pixies” by Jens Kiilstofte are licensed under CC BY 4.0.  “Where Was I?” by Lee Rosevere is licen

In honor of the International Year of the Periodic Table, Stereo Chemistry explores the stories behind some of the elements in this episode. C&EN and ACS on Campus hosted periodic table pub trivia during the ACS Spring 2019 National Meeting in Orlando, Florida. Inspired by the event, its participants, and its questions, host Kerri Jansen investigated what it takes to make a new superheavy element, starting a half century ago and tracking the making of new elements through time. She tells the tales of scientists commonly associated with shaping the periodic table but also of the unsung heroes behind the scenes. A script of this podcast is available at our website.  Read all of C&EN's International Year of the Periodic Table stories. Sign up for C&EN’s weekly newsletter at bit.ly/chemnewsletter. Music credits: “Rewound” by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under CC BY 4.0. “Plain Loafer” by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under CC BY 3.0. Image credit: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory/The Regents of the Un

Being a chemistry professor is Jen Heemstra’s dream job. How she got there was a bit of a nightmare. But now she’s running her own team at Emory University and has become a social media celebrity by sharing her experiences and leadership advice on Twitter. She credits her personal tragedy and professional setbacks for making her who she is today. In the latest episode of C&EN’s Stereo Chemistry podcast, we spent two days with Heemstra and her team to learn more about her and her approach to graduate education. Heemstra’s adversity has not only shaped her attitude but also how she runs her lab. She’s helping her students develop skills that go beyond the bench—things like how to manage motivation, how to develop research ideas, and how to write grants. Listen now to hear more about Heemstra’s journey and philosophy. Here's a link to Jen’s PhD Balance post on Instagram (PhD Balance was formerly The PhDepression).  Ask Jen a question for her Office Hours column!  Nominate an early-career chemist for this yea

They say love is a many-splendored thing, and we have to agree. In the latest episode of Stereo Chemistry, love unites rotovap romance, intimate feelings formatted for the Journal of the American Chemical Society, and the slow but tireless march of equality. C&EN spoke with five chemistry couples about their love stories, as well as what advice they have for those trying to give love a chance in a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) profession. You’ll hear real talk about fears and doubts, about struggling with work-life balance, and about solving the two-body problem. And you’ll also hear some of the cutest gosh-darn stories we’ve ever had the privilege of sharing. Read a script of this podcast on our website.  Music credits: “In Your Arms” by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under CC BY 3.0.  “Plain Loafer” by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under CC BY 3.0. 

RNA should be a terrible drug target. It’s long, noodle-like structure lacks the nooks and crannies that small molecule drugs use to grab onto proteins and thereby control them. But a decades-old disregard for RNA is starting to change. In August 2018, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the first-ever RNA interference (RNAi) drug, which uses a double-stranded RNA molecule to prevent the production of disease-related proteins. In the past two years, several startups have launched to show that some RNAs can, just like proteins, be drugged with small molecules. And a third group of companies recently emerged with plans to drug proteins that make modifications to RNA, part of the budding field of epitranscriptomics. In this episode, C&EN visits Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, and Accent Therapeutics to discuss these three strategies, and to understand how RNA-modulating therapies will compete in the wider world of drug discovery. Visit our website for a script of this podcast. Music credits: “And

Closing out the inaugural year of Stereo Chemistry, host Kerri Jansen and C&EN reporter Tien Nguyen share a collection of stories about ways of distilling complex chemistry. Join us for a resonant take on organic chemistry reactions, an abridged explanation of some Nobel Prize–winning work, and the story behind a chemical earworm. A script of this episode is available at cen.acs.org/education/science-communication/Finding-fun-ways-simplify-complicated/96/web/2018/12. Read about the year’s most memorable chemistry at cenm.ag/yic2018. Other stories referenced in this episode: Unusual mash-ups of art and science | C&EN https://cen.acs.org/articles/96/i9/Unusual-mash-ups-art-science.html Frances H. Arnold, George P. Smith, and Gregory P. Winter share 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry | C&EN https://cen.acs.org/biological-chemistry/Frances-H-Arnold-George-P-Smith-and-Gregory-P-Winter-share-2018-Nobel-Prize-in-Chemistry/96/web/2018/10 How is directed evolution changing the world? | C&EN https://cen.acs.

The smell of old books. The crinkle of the yellowing pages. While admiring the wonders of libraries, have you ever wondered how paper ages and why some sheets last longer than others? Paper conservation scientists have. Stereo Chemistry caught up with a slew of these researchers after hearing about a special collection of books at the U.S. Library of Congress. The more than 1,000 volumes in this collection have essentially donated their bodies to science. We embarked on a time-travel journey to learn more about this collection and the self-trained chemist, a polarizing figure, who donated it and who helped bring about modern-day paper preservation testing. Read "The Great Promoter: William J. Barrow and His Role in the History of Conservation" by Sally Cruz Roggia here: https://cool.conservation-us.org/coolaic/sg/bpg/annual/v20/bp20-09.pdf “The Ants Built a City on His Chest” by Doctor Turtle is licensed under CC BY 4.0. http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Doctor_Turtle/The_Double-Down_Two-Step/the_ants_built_a

Even scientists can have superstitions: a lucky shirt, a supernatural paper towel, an elaborate ritual to keep the NMR running smoothly. In this episode of Stereo Chemistry, we’re sharing superstitions from our listeners to celebrate Halloween. Join host—and proud black cat owner—Kerri Jansen as she explores the not-exactly-scientific notions of the chemistry world. View a transcript of this episode at https://cen.acs.org/people/Chemists-share-lab-superstitions/96/i44. Watch videos from the Talented 12 symposium at the American Chemical Society national meeting in Boston at bit.ly/t12vids2018. Read more about the honorees’ research at bit.ly/2OKJ2Dw. This episode was written, hosted, and produced by Kerri Jansen. Music: “Moonlight Hall” by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under CC BY 3.0 “The Confrontation” by Podington Bear is licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0

Deborah Blum's new book, "The Poison Squad," comes out Sept. 25. The author and award-winning science writer sat down with us to discuss the crusading chemist—and crazy experiment—behind the book's title and America's first food safety regulation. To register for C&EN's Nobel Prize prediction webinar, visit https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/acs-webinars/popular-chemistry/predicting-nobel-4.html "Glass Bells Dancing With A Synthesizer" by Daniel Birch is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0 http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Daniel_Birch/Minimal_Bells_From_The_Deep/Glass_Bells_Dancing_With_A_Synthesizer "The Confrontation" by Podington Bear is licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0 http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/Passages/The_Confrontation "Drive Til Dawn" by Rockit Maxx is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0 http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rockit_Maxx/Rockit_Maxx/Rockit_Maxx_-_Rockit_Maxx_-_04_Drive_Til_Dawn

Graduate students handle myriad challenges, including a labmate’s annoying habit and loneliness when transplanted into a foreign country. C&EN reporters Kerri Jansen, Matt Davenport, and Linda Wang spoke to several international Ph.D. candidates to learn how they stay motivated, productive, and find balance amid the chaos. Find a transcript of this episode and even more thoughts from grad students around the world at https://cen.acs.org/education/graduate-education/Hear-stories-grad-students-around/96/web/2018/09 Register for the Nobel Prize predictions webinar at https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/acs-webinars/popular-chemistry/predicting-nobel-4.html This episode was written and produced by Kerri Jansen. “The Zeppelin” by Blue Dot Sessions is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0 http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Blue_Dot_Sessions/Aeronaut/The_Zeppelin_1908 “The Confrontation” by Podington Bear is licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0 freemusicarchive.org/music/Podingto…_Confrontation

Three of chemistry’s rising stars joined us on stage at the ACS national meeting in Boston for a light-hearted look at some of this summer’s most buzzworthy chemistry news. Luisa Whittaker-Brooks (University of Utah), Staff Sheehan (Catalytic Innovations and the Air Company), and Jillian Dempsey (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill)—all members of C&EN’s Talented 12 this year or in past years—went head-to-head in our quiz show that covered everything from avocados to ZIF-8, a metal organic framework. To hear the full episode and find all the stories featured in the quiz, visit our website at bit.ly/stereochemlive. Check out all of C&EN's meeting coverage at http://bit.ly/CENmeetingnews "Beach Wedding Dance" by Rolemusic is licensed under CC BY 4.0. "60's Quiz Show" by Podington Bear is licensed under CC BY 3.0. "Funky perc" loop is by eshar. https://www.looperman.com/loops/detail/50060/funky-perc-by-eshar-free-120bpm-funk-percussion-loop

The European X-ray Free Electron Laser recently came online as the biggest and brightest source of X-rays on planet Earth. This will allow chemists to do groundbreaking research, but with great science comes great responsibility. In our latest Stereo Chemistry podcast, C&EN contributing editor Mark Peplow visits the X-ray facility to learn about its growing pains, its staff’s unique approach to keeping it running, and some of its early successes. “Kitty In The Window” by Podington Bear is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License. http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/Said_Lion_To_Lamb_Box_Set_Disc_3/Kitty_In_The_Window “The Confrontation” by Podington Bear is licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0. http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/Passages/The_Confrontation “Gerald's Place” by Raleigh Moncrief is licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0. http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Raleigh_Moncrief/Vitamins_EP/Raleigh_Moncrief_-_Vitamins_EP_-_06_Geralds_Place Matt stands by his awful W

Although genome sequencing has helped scientists reveal proteins wreaking havoc in our bodies, that doesn’t guarantee scientists can invent the drugs to take them down. Depending on who you talk to, up to 85% of the human proteome is currently “undruggable,” meaning these proteins lack easy-to-find pockets where therapeutics, such as small molecules, can bind. But a wave of biotech companies, each one armed with new technology, has arrived to tackle the problem. Industry and academic scientists explain why they think the business and scientific environment is ripe for finally overcoming the most elusive drug targets. For a full transcript and more links, visit https://cen.acs.org/pharmaceuticals/drug-discovery/quest-drug-undruggable/96/i26 Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on iTunes, Google Play, or TuneIn. “Soundboy” by 4bstr4ck3r is licensed under CC BY-4.0. http://freemusicarchive.org/music/4bstr4ck3r/4bstr4ck3r/4bstr4ck3r_-_4bstr4ck3r_-_01_Soundboy_CC-BY-NC “The Ascent” by A. A. Aalto is licensed under CC

Our bones contain chemical information about our diet, our behavior, and even our geographic origin. With the right tools, scientists can decode that information to learn about the past lives behind skeletal remains. Christine France of the Smithsonian’s Museum Conservation Institute uses stable isotope ratio analysis to help anthropologists answer questions about possible 18th-century pirates and more. Sign up for C&EN’s newsletter at bit.ly/chemnewsletter. Find a full transcript of the episode at http://cenm.ag/storyinbones. Stereo Chemistry is published by C&EN, the newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society. Contact us at cen_multimedia@acs.org. This episode was written, hosted, and produced by Kerri Jansen. Music: “Shoe Glaze” by Jesse Spillane is licensed under CC BY 4.0

Stereo Chemistry had its recorders rolling for four days during the ACS national meeting in New Orleans in March. Listen to our latest episode to hear what brought a wide range of chemists to the meeting, including a Priestley Medal winner, a hurricane survivor, and an (in)famous duck. Find the full transcript and links to the stories we talk about here: https://cen.acs.org/acs-news/acs-meeting-news/Lets-hear-ACS-national-meeting/96/web/2018/04 “The Confrontation” by Podington Bear is licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0. http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/Passages/The_Confrontation “Analog” by Jon Luc Hefferman is licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0. http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jon_Luc_Hefferman/20170730112628534/Analog_1208