Chemistry

California’s lawsuit against Exxon is about ending the lie that most plastic is recyclable

Food science can explain why mozzarella melts like a dream while feta and ricotta don’t

Joint Nobel laureates aren’t necessarily direct scientific collaborators, and the prize money isn’t always split evenly

Experts explain the differences between popular retinol products and the way they trigger molecular changes deep in the skin

New research harnessed the highly absorbent dye tartrazine, used as the common food coloring Yellow No. 5, to turn tissues in living mice clear—temporarily revealing organs and vessels inside the animals

Scientists propose that large chunks of gold could form from earthquakes’ pressure

New evidence points to a carbonaceous asteroid from the outer solar system as the culprit for Earth’s most recent mass extinction

This chemistry professor helped police around the world solve arsons and homicides

Ultrathin gold was achieved with the help of a century-old sword-making technique

Chemists are hard at work figuring out how to make tattoos last—and ensure they’re safe.

Promethium, one of the rarest and most mysterious elements in the periodic table, has finally given up some crucial chemical secrets

A number of whole-body deodorants are coming to market. But are they safe and effective?