Stereo Chemistry

How do we build water systems that are sustainable and also equitable? On this episode of Stereo Chemistry, Jessica Ray and William Tarpeh talk with C&EN reporter Katherine Bourzac about how they use their chemical engineering know-how to develop simple systems for filtering toxic chemicals from our water and harvesting useful chemicals from urine. They also discuss finding ways to thrive as assistant professors and building support networks as Black junior faculty. A transcript of this episode is available at https://bit.ly/3pggyGU. Sign up for C&EN's weekly newsletter at bit.ly/chemnewsletter. Contact us: [email protected] Image credit: Will Ludwig/C&EN/University of Washington/Courtesy of William Tarpeh

What motivates a creative scientific mind? How does an accomplished scientist pinpoint new subjects to explore? How is the field of chemical biology evolving? In this episode of Stereo Chemistry, we probe those questions with scientists and serial entrepreneurs David Liu and Stuart Schreiber, both pioneers in developing tools that use chemistry to explore biology. A transcript of this episode and links to past C&EN coverage of David Liu and Stuart Schreiber are available at bit.ly/3D4L4HB. Read Stuart Schreiber's Harvard Magazine article about discovering his family's secrets at https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2019/07/dna-testing-schreiber Sign up for C&EN's weekly newsletter at bit.ly/chemnewsletter. Image credit: Will Ludwig/C&EN/Beam Therapeutics/Stuart Schreiber

Stereo Chemistry's new season will launch on Nov. 23, featuring eight chemistry greats in conversation with . . . each other. In each episode, two sensational chemists will pair up for in-depth conversations moderated by a C&EN reporter. Listen now as show host Kerri Jansen reveals the lineup with new Stereo Chemistry team member Attabey Rodríguez Benítez. Image credit: C&EN/Shutterstock Want to contact Stereo Chemistry? Email [email protected]

The 2021 Nobel Prize in Chemistry went to Benjamin List and David W. C. MacMillan for their development of asymmetric organocatalysis, which has proved to be a powerful tool for building molecules. In this special episode of Stereo Chemistry, host Kerri Jansen, C&EN reporter Leigh Krietsch Boerner, and C&EN editorial fellow Emily Harwitz delve into the science behind the prize. Merck's Rebecca Ruck also joins the Stereo Chemistry crew to weigh in on how organocatalysis has impacted drug development. An edited transcript of this episode is available at bit.ly/2WOGCNR. Read more about the 2021 Nobel Prize in Chemistry in Leigh Krietsch Boerner's article on the prize at bit.ly/3iD0hs2. Image credit: © Frank Vinken (List); Princeton University, Department of Chemistry, © Todd Reichart (MacMillan)

This month, Stereo Chemistry is sharing an episode of Third Pod from the Sun, a podcast from the American Geophysical Union, featuring an interview with retired astronaut and former professional athlete Leland Melvin. In the episode, Melvin describes how an early⁠—and explosive⁠—interest in chemistry grew into a scientific career at NASA and two missions to the International Space Station. Find more stories from Third Pod from the Sun at thirdpodfromthesun.com, Apple podcasts, and wherever you get podcasts. Image credit: Courtesy of Third Pod from the Sun/C&EN

This month, Stereo Chemistry is sharing an episode of Orbitals that features an interview with forensic chemist Shari Forbes, an expert in human decomposition who studies the odors of decomposition at a body farm in chilly Quebec. Research at body farms—research facilities dedicated to studying what happens to human bodies after death—supplies law enforcement with valuable information about the process of decomposition in various scenarios. A transcript of this episode is available at bit.ly/3jdvLFN. Find more stories from Orbitals on the American Chemical Society's website, acs.org, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Image credit: Courtesy of Orbitals/C&EN

(Part 2/2) This month, Stereo Chemistry is sharing a pair of episodes from Distillations, a podcast from the Science History Institute. We rely on rare-earth elements to make many essential technologies like smartphones, medical imaging devices, and wind turbines. But how much do you know about where these extraordinary materials come from? In this two-part series, Distillations hosts Alexis Pedrick and Elisabeth Berry Drago explore the source of rare earths' "magic," the costs of acquiring these elements and what scientists are doing to try to find a way to produce them sustainably. A transcript of this episode is available at https://bit.ly/373odhN. Find more stories from Distillations at Distillations.org. Image credit: Courtesy of Distillations/C&EN

(Part 1/2) This month, Stereo Chemistry is sharing a pair of episodes from Distillations, a podcast from the Science History Institute. We rely on rare-earth elements to make many essential technologies like smartphones, medical imaging devices, and wind turbines. But how much do you know about where these extraordinary materials come from? In this two-part series, Distillations hosts Alexis Pedrick and Elisabeth Berry Drago explore the source of rare earths' "magic," the costs of acquiring these elements and what scientists are doing to try to find a way to produce them sustainably. A transcript of this episode is available at https://bit.ly/373odhN. Find more stories from Distillations at Distillations.org. Image credit: Courtesy of Distillations/C&EN

This month, we're sharing an episode of the podcast My Fave Queer Chemist. Hosted by graduate students Bec Roldan and Geraldo Duran-Camacho, the show celebrates the excellence of LGBTQ+ chemists everywhere. Stereo Chemistry is excited to share this recent episode featuring inorganic photochemist Irving Rettig. In the episode, Rettig discusses his background in art conservation, his experiences finding support and community in grad school, and his work promoting transgender-inclusive name change policies within academic publishing. Note: This episode includes the use of slang terms for some members of the LGBTQ+ community. A transcript of this episode is available at bit.ly/3624azW. Follow My Fave Queer Chemist on Twitter at @MFQCPod. Find new episodes at anchor.fm/mfqc. Read C&EN's article "LGBTQ+ Chemists You Should Know About" at cenm.ag/historiclqbtq. Image credit: My Fave Queer Chemist/Will Ludwig/Yang Ku/C&EN

More than 50 years of missions to Mars paint a clear picture of a cold, dry, desert planet. And at the same time, photographs, minerals, and other data tell scientists that Mars once had as much water as Earth, or even more. Why are the two planets so different today? In this episode of Stereo Chemistry, we talk to scientists about the latest research on Mars's water and where they think the water went. Listen to the end of the episode for an announcement about the future of Stereo Chemistry. Sign up for C&EN's newsletter at bit.ly/chemnewsletter. A transcript for this episode is available at bit.ly/3hPfHcP. Image credit: Kevin Gill/Flickr based on data from NASA/JPL/University of Arizona/USGS

Toxic elements like lead, arsenic, mercury, and cadmium in food are not a new problem. But when they show up in pureed vegetables and other foods intended for babies, alarm bells go off. That's what happened in recent months following a bombshell congressional report that found neurotoxic metals in baby food from multiple manufacturers. In this episode of Stereo Chemistry, host Kerri Jansen and C&EN reporter Britt Erickson explore the fallout from that report and renewed efforts by baby food manufacturers, regulators, advocacy groups, and agricultural scientists to rein in the problem. Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Instructions for adding Chemistry Update to your smart speaker are available at cenm.ag/chemistryupdate. An edited transcript of this episode is available at bit.ly/32JQhox. Image credit: Ollinka/Shutterstock

Living longer has been a human obsession for centuries, but while medical science has helped extend average life span, not all those extra years can be healthy. It turns out that aging is a major risk factor for disease. Follow along as host Kerri Jansen and reporter Laura Howes ask if instead of extending life span, we could extend health span and how modern science could make that a reality. An edited transcript of this episode is available at bit.ly/2NKNZkV. Help us shape the future of Stereo Chemistry by taking the survey at bit.ly/StereoChemSurvey. Image credit: Yang H. Ku/C&EN

Where do you take your career after you've won all of science's biggest prizes? In this episode of Stereo Chemistry, C&EN executive editor Lisa Jarvis sits down with Nobel laureates Frances Arnold and Jennifer Doudna to hear about whether their career goals changed after they got that early-morning phone call in October and how the pandemic has shifted the way they approach their work. A script of this episode is available at bit.ly/3u7jCW7. Sign up for C&EN's newsletter at cenm.ag/chemnewsletter. Catch up on last year's package of trailblazing women chemists, edited by Jennifer Doudna, at cenm.ag/2020trailblazers. Image credit: Caltech (Arnold)/Laura Morton Photography (Doudna)

Researchers want to invent the technologies of the future, but there are plenty of chemical questions lurking in the past. In this episode of Stereo Chemistry, C&EN assistant editor Gina Vitale joins host Kerri Jansen to explore the centuries-old secrets and nagging mysteries that keep science historians up at night—and how these researchers go about solving them. A script and additional resources are available at bit.ly/3qGGHg5. Sign up for C&EN's Grad Student Survival Guide at cenm.ag/gradsurvivalguide. Image credit: Marjolijn Bol/Lawrence Principe/John Haldon

As we prepare for a new US president, many chemists are wondering how the administration change may affect them and their work. Will President-Elect Joe Biden change immigration policies that have reduced the number of foreign students studying at US universities? How might scientific integrity standards in the federal government change under the Biden-Harris team? And will this administration grant the chemical industry's wish to stop the trade war with China and other US trading partners? In this episode of Stereo Chemistry, C&EN policy reporter Cheryl Hogue joins host Kerri Jansen to help orient listeners to how a Biden administration is likely to impact the world of chemistry. A script for this episode is available at bit.ly/37oPYT9. Find all C&EN's COVID-19 coverage at cenm.ag/coronavirus. Make a donation to support C&EN's nonprofit science journalism at cenm.ag/donate. Image credit: Luca Perra/Shutterstock

Many grad students may be surprised to learn their university's policies for reimbursing medical fees for lab injuries do not cover grad students, or cover grad students only under certain circumstances. And it can be hard to get clarity on what is and is not covered. That's left some grad students in an uncomfortable limbo of seeking answers after they've already racked up thousands of dollars in bills for an injury in the lab. In the latest episode of Stereo Chemistry, we uncover the source of this confusion and ask what—if anything—grad students can do about it. A script for this episode is available at https://bit.ly/3kMwE5O. Read C&EN's cover story, "Who pays when a graduate student gets hurt?" at bit.ly/2INB4M5. Sign up for the Grad Student Survival Guide at cenm.ag/gradsurvivalguide. Image credit: danielfela/Shutterstock

Helium shortage 3.0 is winding down. But 2021 is likely to bring more changes to the global market for this critical, non-renewable gas. And even if there isn't another crunch, scientists who use helium are tired of unstable supply of a material they need to keep their instruments running. In this episode of Stereo Chemistry, we'll look at what's behind the wobbly helium market and what scientists and instrument makers are doing to lift the heavy burden of helium use. A script for this episode is available at bit.ly/34nmunf. Find all of C&EN's COVID-19 coverage at cenm.ag/coronavirus. Make a donation to support C&EN's nonprofit science journalism at cenm.ag/donate. Image courtesy of Bruker BioSpin

In August 2020, Black chemists and allies took to Twitter to celebrate the inaugural #BlackInChem week. The social media campaign highlighted the diversity and accomplishments of Black chemists at all stages of their career and also created space for candid discussions about the discrimination these scientists face in chemistry. In the latest episode of Stereo Chemistry, host Kerri Jansen and reporter Ariana Remmel hear from Black chemists from a variety of disciplines across academia and industry about the current state of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the chemical sciences and what non-Black allies can do to support Black chemists. Update 11/24/20: In response to listener feedback, C&EN has added an editor's note to this episode. View the note at bit.ly/361aFUR Sign up for C&EN's newsletter at bit.ly/chemnewsletter 9 Black chemists you should know about: bit.ly/2FioR0l More resources and a script for this episode are available at bit.ly/361aFUR Image credit: Daniel Fishel

Scientists have been naming ideas, theorems, discoveries, and so on after other scientists for a very long time (Newton's laws of motion, anyone?). Chemists are no different. They've been naming reactions after each other since about the early to mid 1800s. Nowadays, organic chemists in particular use them as a kind of shorthand. However, because the majority of name reactions honor white men, some organic chemists wonder if using these names is exclusionary. In the latest episode of Stereo Chemistry, host Kerri Jansen and reporter Leigh Krietsch Boerner hear from a plethora of organic chemists on how reactions get named, who they're named after, and whether the practice should stop. A script of this episode is available at bit.ly/3kU3enk. Share your thoughts with us on Twitter! Tweet at us @cenmag, @absoluteKerri, and @LeighJKBoerner, using the hashtag #namereactions. View the Twitter thread that inspired this episode at bit.ly/34a2dS6. Read about the 2020 class of C&EN's Talented 12 at cenm.ag/T12. Register for C&EN's Futures Festival at futuresfestival.org. Image credit: Yang Ku/C&EN

Rosalind Franklin and her lab assistant famously imaged the structure of DNA using X-ray crystallography, an achievement that directly facilitated James Watson and Francis Crick's discovery of the double helix. For what would be Rosalind's 100th birthday, the Stereo Chemistry team consults scientists and historians to envision the many ways the world might be different without the now-famous Photograph 51. Listen to the Distillations episode "Science on TV" at bit.ly/30yjZuU. A script of this episode is available at bit.ly/3hqR9Uf. Image credit: Henry Grant Collection/Museum of London

This month marks 4 years since the Toxic Substances Control Act, or TSCA, was revised to boost confidence in chemical safety in the US by strengthening regulations. The updated law gave the Environmental Protection Agency sweeping new authority to ensure that the tens of thousands of chemicals in everyday products do not pose unreasonable risks to human health and the environment. In this bonus episode of Stereo Chemistry, host Kerri Jansen and C&EN senior reporter Britt Erickson examine how the EPA is using that authority to evaluate new chemicals before they hit the market and to assess the risks of chemicals that have been in use for decades. Is the EPA protecting public health by sufficiently evaluating the risks of chemicals, or is it giving industry a free pass to market chemicals with little toxicity data? A script of this episode is available at bit.ly/2UTlD8F. Image credit: Barry Barnes/Shutterstock

Months before the novel coronavirus took hold of the globe in late 2019, clusters of patients began appearing in emergency rooms throughout the US with a mysterious lung disease. Investigators quickly linked the illnesses not to a pathogen, but to patients' use of vaping products. By examining the chemicals in these products, they eventually found a chief suspect: vitamin E acetate. The compound was being used as a cutting agent in some counterfeit or illicit cannabis-based vaping products. Still, many questions remain about how vitamin E acetate could have caused those injuries and whether it was acting alone. In this episode of Stereo Chemistry, host Kerri Jansen and C&EN senior reporter Britt Erickson sift through the complicated chemistry of vaping and explore some new evidence in the investigation. They'll also discuss how the tragic events of last summer could prove to be a wake-up call for chemical regulators as they evaluate vaping products. A script of this episode is available at bit.ly/2ZJ1JjW. Find all of C&EN's COVID-19 coverage at cenm.ag/coronavirus. Make a donation to support C&EN's nonprofit science journalism at donate.acs.org. Image credit: Fedorovacz/Shutterstock

As COVID-19 continues to spread, so does the effort to treat and vaccinate against the novel coronavirus that causes the disease. Around the world, scientists are working nonstop on the different therapies that they hope will quell the loss of life during this pandemic while, at the same time, setting us up to prevent future outbreaks. What's not clear is which, if any, of these treatments will work. Much about SARS-CoV-2 remains unknown. In this episode of Stereo Chemistry, we dig into the efforts to beat the novel coronavirus and why, in some cases, it's like throwing spaghetti up against the wall to see what sticks. Image credit: NIAID-RML

Fifty years ago this week, an explosion on the Apollo 13 moon mission stranded three astronauts hundreds of thousands of miles from home. You probably know that Fred Haise, Jim Lovell, and Jack Swigert made it home safely (water landing shown, with two of the astronauts in white). You may not know the chemist behind the rocket engine that saved them, which began its life as an apparatus for measuring chemical reaction rates. This bonus episode of Stereo Chemistry tells the story of the engine's design with help from two of the people who created it. Listen now to a tale that starts with an explosion and ends with SpaceX's pioneering reusable rockets, with one small step for a man along the way. CORRECTIONS: This episode was updated on April 15, 2020, to reflect that Fred Haise, not Ken Mattingly, flew aboard Apollo 13. On April 22, 2020, this podcast description was also corrected to reflect Haise's role and clarify that the photo shows only two of the astronauts. To learn more about the chemistry of rocket fuel, check out Ep. 23 of Stereo Chemistry: https://cen.acs.org/physical-chemistry/astrochemistry/Podcast-rocket-chemistry-blasted-off/97/i42 Image credit: NASA

Chemistry is going the way of computing: It's getting smaller and faster. High-throughput experimentation, or HTE, is part of this push. Borrowing from biologists and biochemists, HTE has brought in microplates and multichannel pipettes to miniaturize reactions, as well as robots to run those reactions rapidly without sacrificing precision. But it's also been around for decades. So why are so many in the field excited about HTE right now? Stereo Chemistry looks at the technology and culture shift behind the current buzz. See more at cenm.ag/showmetherobots. Nominate an amazing early-career chemist for our annual Talented 12 feature at cenm.ag/t12nom Photo credit: Shutterstock

As the novel coronavirus responsible for causing COVID-19 continues to spread, questions about the virus, the disease, and its impacts on our daily lives mount. To help you stay current with the science, policy, and business implications of this outbreak, C&EN has made all of its coronavirus coverage freely available at cenm.ag/coronavirus. And in the latest bonus episode of Stereo Chemistry, we discuss one of the largest questions on the business front: How is the coronavirus affect-ing the global drug supply? UPDATE: This podcast was updated on March 18, 2020 to help ensure listeners are aware of the podcast's original publication date (March 10). Image credit: Shutterstock

Stereo Chemistry talked with six chemists who spent a year in Washington on a policy fellowship to find out what they learned and what advice they would give to other scientists who are interested in science policy. Check out Andrea Widener's AAAS policy fellows story on C&EN at https://cen.acs.org/policy/Lessons-learned-from-a-year-in-Washington/98/i4. And learn more about the AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowship at https://www.aaas.org/programs/science-technology-policy-fellowships. Photo credit: James Kegley

Climate change is on the public's mind, thanks in no small part to the efforts of Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and protests and rallies involving young people around the world. In the latest episode of Stereo Chemistry, host Kerri Jansen talks to early-career researchers developing the tools and knowledge we'll need to thrive in a changing climate. These scientists are part of a generation who will experience the effects of climate change throughout their lifetimes. They share what drew them to climate science and what keeps them motivated when the questions—and the obstacles—are so vast. A script of this episode is available at cen.acs.org/environment/climate-change/Podcast-5-climate-scientists-share/98/i6 Read C&EN's special issue on climate change adaptation at cenm.ag/adapt Image credit: Ink Drop/Shutterstock

M&A, the FDA, and an empty elevator. In this bonus episode, C&EN reporters Ryan Cross and Megha Satyanarayana share their takeaways from their time at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare conference a few weeks ago. Read more about JPM 2020 here: https://cen.acs.org/business/investment/JP-Morgan-Healthcare-Conference-slow/98/i3 Image credit: Credit: Megha Satyanarayana/C&EN

Although the Wuhan coronavirus is currently dominating headlines across the globe, influenza kills hundreds of thousands of people worldwide each year. In the US, millions of people roll up their sleeves annually for a flu shot. But this ritual is confusing for many. Why is it that most vaccines are effective for a lifetime while the flu vaccine is only effective for a year? And why do we sometimes get the flu even when we've gotten the vaccine? The answer is evolution: the flu is constantly evolving to evade our immune systems. In this episode of Stereo Chemistry, scientists who study flu evolution and pandemics explain what makes fighting the flu so difficult. For more, visit cenm.ag/flucast. Image credit: US Army photographer

Late last year, C&EN contributing editor Mark Peplow toured a new battery company's R&D facility in Sweden. That company, called Northvolt, aims to produce the world's greenest lithium-ion batteries, to help meet the growing demand for electric vehicles. Ride along with Mark to learn more about the company, its work, and its goals in the first bonus episode of Stereo Chemistry. Check out Mark's full story for C&EN here: https://cen.acs.org/energy/energy-storage-/Northvolt-building-future-greener-batteries/97/i48 Image credit: Northvolt

The discovery of the ozone hole in the mid-1980s sent shock waves through the scientific community and society at large. As scientists scrambled to make sense of the unprecedented phenomenon, a clear culprit emerged. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)—once thought of as near-miraculous compounds that revolutionized refrigeration—were suddenly revealed to be one of the biggest environmental dangers known to humankind. What followed was an international push by scientists, media, and policy makers to ban CFCs. In October 2019, NASA announced the ozone hole is the smallest recorded since 1982. In this episode of Stereo Chemistry, we hear from some of the scientists who were instrumental in discovering—and helping heal—the ozone hole and who think lessons learned could help us fight climate change. A script of this episode is available here. To read more from C&EN on hot trends in chemistry, check out our 2019 Year in Chemistry issue at cenm.ag/yic2019. Image credit: D. Murphy/NOAA

For its latest episode, Stereo Chemistry handed its recorders over to kid journalists interviewing grown-up chemists about cutting-edge research. Listen in as the children get answers to questions about DNA, environmental clean-up, and even C-H activation. The kids' reporting was part of an outreach event called Science Storytellers that took place during the American Chemical Society National Meeting in San Diego in August. Science Storytellers empowers kids to ask questions as they interact, one-on-one, with real scientists. In this episode, you'll hear from the creator of the Science Storytellers program, Jenny Cutraro, to learn how this outreach activity is designed to break down barriers between scientists and the public. For a full transcript and additional resources, visit our website. And here's our Facebook Live event from the ACS Kid Zone.

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 that Goodenough, along with fellow battery pioneers M. Stanley Whittingham and Akira Yoshino, has won the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Read our coverage of the award and these scientists' contributions to lithium-ion batteries at C&EN. CORRECTION 10/23/19: The material Akira Yoshino used for his seminal battery anode was petroleum coke, a graphite-like material derived from petroleum. Researchers, including Samar Basu, had previously worked with graphite but found that it broke down in the battery's electrolyte. Also, estimates for the voltage of Stan Whittingham's TiS2 battery vary. This podcast episode refers to a 2.4-volt battery; some sources estimate the voltage at 2.5 V. A script of this podcast is available here. "Shir Hama'alos" is by Even Sh'siyah, provided courtesy of Mitch Jacoby. "Plain Loafer" by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under CC BY 3.0. Image credit: Mitch Jacoby/C&EN

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 licensed under CC BY 4.0. Image credit: NOAA

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 University of California

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 year's Talented 12 feature. Music credits: "School" and "Mall" by Komiku are licensed under CC0 1.0. "Blind" by Meydän is licensed under CC BY 4.0. "The Confrontation" by Podington Bear is licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0. "May the Chords Be with You" by Computer Music All-stars is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Image credit: Jessica Lily (Jen Heemtra's headshot); Matt Davenport/C&EN (Photo collage)

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...(Insert Problem Here)" by GR∑Y is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0. "Raccoon Family Robinson", "Robot Park", and "The Confrontation" by Podington Bear are licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0. "Wireless" by Lee Rosevere is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0. Image credit: J. Am. Chem. Soc.

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.org/people/nobel-prize/directed-evolution-changing-world/96/i44 Alex Sable-Smith's tweet about his dad's Nobel win https://twitter.com/alexsablesmith/status/1047453987006377985?lang=en New definitions for the kilogram and mole | C&EN https://cen.acs.org/analytical-chemistry/New-definitions-kilogram-mole/96/web/2018/11 "Clarinet Cora Theme" by Lobo Loco is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 "The Confrontation" by Podington Bear is licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0 Clips from "A Mole Is a Unit," "Amazing Spoons," and "Mendeleev" were provided courtesy of Mike Offutt

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_city_on_his_chest_v3_1305 "The road we use to travel when we were kids" by Komiku is licensed under CC0 1.0. http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Komiku/Tale_on_the_Late/Komiku_-_Tale_on_the_Late_-_03_The_road_we_use_to_travel_when_we_were_kids "The Confrontation" by Podington Bear is licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0. http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/Passages/The_Confrontation "LoveChances" by Makaih Beats is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0. http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Makaih_Beats/Fake_Love_makaihbeatsnet/LoveChances_makaihbeatsnet The podcast's script will soon be on cen.acs.org, but here is a draft version in the meantime: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ytvUHzffzdEZ6GTqA0IupVCNI3zkdDDkNGXBzXOWFRA/edit?usp=sharing

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 William Lawrence Bragg pun, but does feel conflicted over not including William Henry Bragg, Max von Laue, photographic plates, and other important players in the history of X-ray crystallography.