chemistry news stories on Newser

New Elements Fl, Lv Named

Kevin Spak — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 13:56:15 CST

You can pencil two new elements onto your periodic table, because prospective elements 114 and 116 have finally gotten names. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry today dubbed the two elements flerovium (Fl) and livermorium (Lv) respectively, MSNBC reports. But do use pencil, because the names aren’t entirely...

Chemical Reaction Brought Down Twin Towers: Scientist

Kevin Spak — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 14:36:05 CDT

The melting aluminum hulls of the jetliners that smashed into the twin towers may have combined with sprinkler water to set off the explosions that ultimately brought down the towers, according to a new report from a technology research group in Norway. “If my theory is correct, tons of aluminum...

Periodic Table Gets 2 New Elements

Sarah Whitmire — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 13:08:54 CDT

Two new chemical elements have been officially added to the periodic-table torment of high school kids everywhere. But as-yet-unnamed Nos. 114 and 116 aren’t like their new buddies carbon, gold, or zinc—they were created by slamming two lighter elements together in the hopes they’d stick, said a chair on...

Why Van Gogh's Yellows Are Turning Brown

Rob Quinn — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 06:19:03 CST

Vincent van Gogh's paintings of sunflowers aren't as vivid as they used to be and the sun is to blame, say researchers who have solved a problem that has long stumped art conservationists. A team of chemists experimenting with ultraviolet light and tubes of paint belonging to 19th-century artists found...

Self-Healing 'Smart Mud' Could Replace Plastic

Rob Quinn — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 05:45:00 CST

Japanese researchers have developed a clay-based substance they believe has the potential to become an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic. The team mixed small amounts of clay with water, a thickening agent called sodium polyacrylate, and a specially designed molecular glue, producing a gel strong enough to hold its own...

Map of Cell's Machinery Wins Chemistry Nobel

Jason Farago — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 05:51:05 CDT

The Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded today to three scientists who mapped the structure of the ribosome, the part of the cell that reads DNA and uses its information to create proteins. All three chemists constructed three-dimensional models of the ribosome, using X-ray crystallography to chart hundreds of thousands...

New Chocolate Has 90% Fewer Calories, Doesn't Melt

Jason Farago — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:47:44 CDT

A mistake in the labs of the world's largest chocolate producer inadvertently led researchers to the ultimate in confectionery: a recipe that's not only heat-resistant, but that contains 90% fewer calories than normal chocolate. Food engineers fooling around at Barry Callebaut, which makes products for Nestlé and Cadbury, ended up...

New Element Joins Periodic Table

Rob Quinn — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 03:01:01 CDT

The periodic table of elements will soon gain a new—and the heaviest known—element, the BBC reports. Element 112 was first discovered over a decade ago and its existence has now been confirmed after extensive experiments. Authorities have temporarily named it "ununbium," and its German discoverers have been tasked...

In NASCAR, the Secret Weapon Is Motor Oil

Katherine Thompson — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 09:12:53 CDT

How do you make a race car go faster? For NASCAR teams, one of the only options is to attempt to concoct the perfect motor oil. With technology restricted across the sport, engineers can't tinker too much with the hardware, but better oil actually helps. The Wall Street Journal looks...