Image source: Link below Topics: African Americans, Black History Month, Chemistry, Civil Rights, Diversity in Science, Education, Women in Science Overcoming the dual hurdles of racial and gender bias, Marie Maynard Daly (1921–2003) conducted influential studies on proteins, sugars, and cholesterol. In 1947 she became the first Black woman to receive a PhD in chemistryContinue reading “Dr. Marie Maynard Daly…”
Category Archives: Chemistry
89 Seconds…
Topics: Applied Physics, Chemistry, Entropy, Environment, Existentialism Humans tend to chronicle worst-case scenarios, such as Armageddon (Judao-Christian), Pralaya (Hindu), and Ragnarok (Norse). If you follow the scripts for each, there is a “hack”: a insisted upon “happy ending” where everything is reborn anew, and those bothersome “others” that you couldn’t legislate or exterminate are killedContinue reading “89 Seconds…”
Plasmons and Diamonds…
Topics: Chemistry, Materials Science, Plasmons, Quantum Mechanics, Semiconductor Technology Researchers report plasmons in boron-doped diamond; quantum applicationsDiamond, often celebrated for its unmatched hardness and transparency, has emerged as an exceptional material for high-power electronics and next-generation quantum optics. Diamond can be engineered to be as electrically conductive as a metal, by introducing impurities like theContinue reading “Plasmons and Diamonds…”
Water and Lithium…
Emissions of Carbon Dioxide in the Transportation Sector, Motor Vehicle Miles Traveled, and Emissions per Mile Traveled by Light-Duty Vehicles Measured as a Percentage of Their Value in 1975 – Transportation sector emissions have not risen nearly as much as vehicle miles traveled because gains in fuel economy have reduced emissions per mile of travel.Continue reading “Water and Lithium…”
Lead, Iron, and Empires…
Ice sample on the melter during continuous ice core chemical analyses at the Desert Research Institute (Credit: Sylvain Masclin) Topics: Chemistry, Civilization, Democracy, Environment, Existentialism It’s perhaps historically appropriate that the word “ironic” contains “iron.” Mining and smelting minerals like iron represented technological highs at the Roman Empire’s peak. But those activities also produced enoughContinue reading “Lead, Iron, and Empires…”
The Matter of Methane…
Image source: https://www.istockphoto.com/photos/methane-molecule Topics: Chemistry, Civilization, Climate Change, Entropy, Environment, Global Warming The “good news”: you can download the PDF for free by registering an email, or read the report from the National Academies of Science and Medicine here. Citizenship takes work and effort to be informed. It would be nice to carry on aContinue reading “The Matter of Methane…”
Who is STEM for…
Mutant Reviews of the 1981 movie “Excalibur,” with the caption to this photo: “Yes, Merlin got struck by lightning a lot.“ Topics: Applied Physics, Astrophysics, Chemistry, Civics, Civilization, Computer Modeling “Who is STEM for?”: a fairy tale. The title of this post is from a question Dr. Fatima Abdurrahman raised on her YouTube channel regardingContinue reading “Who is STEM for…”
Driven to Caveat Emptor…
Meinzahn/Getty Images Topics: Applied Physics, Atmospheric Science, Chemistry, Climate Change, Global Warming Note: It’s disheartening that geoengineering, made popular by science fiction novels and plots in Star Trek, is being considered because we’re too selfish to change our behavior. More and more climate scientists are supporting experiments to cool Earth by altering the stratosphere orContinue reading “Driven to Caveat Emptor…”
Twist in Storage…
Power with a twist: Twisted ropes made from single-walled carbon nanotubes could store enough energy to power sensors within the human body while avoiding the chemical hazards associated with batteries. (Courtesy: Shigenori UTSUMI) Topics: Applied Physics, Battery, Carbon Nanotubes, Chemistry, Materials Science, Nanoengineering Mechanical watches and clockwork toys might seem like relics of a bygoneContinue reading “Twist in Storage…”
Canceling V.I.P.E.R…
The completed VIPER rover awaits one of two fates: be sent to the Moon by an organization other than NASA or be cannibalized for its parts and instruments. Credit: NASA Topics: Astrobiology, Astronautics, Astrophysics, Chemistry, COVID-19, NASA, Space Exploration, Spectrographic Analysis “Boldly going” has budget constraints, but all is not lost. “Plan B” is atContinue reading “Canceling V.I.P.E.R…”
Physics and Nano 