Chemicals

An intriguing new study has found a chemical excreted by babies can influence aggression in humans. The findings reveal curious sex-specific responses to the chemical, triggering aggression in women but blocking aggression in men.

A study is offering one of the most comprehensive investigations ever conducted into the origins of cannabis' unique “skunk-like” smell, discovering an entirely new family of sulfur compounds that are chemically similar to compounds found in garlic.

A first-of-its-kind study has measured levels of plasticizer chemicals in a number of fast food products. The findings reveal high concentrations of a number of potentially harmful chemicals, such as phthalates, in almost all samples studied.

Researchers are calling for urgent action limiting the use of chemicals called phthalates in the production of plastics. A new study estimates up to 100,000 premature deaths in the United States every year could be attributed to phthalate exposure.

A first-of-its-kind study has found traces of hundreds of unknown chemicals in electronic cigarette vaping liquid and aerosols. The study details a huge array of unidentified chemicals plus a handful of known and potentially harmful compounds.

Following recent recommendations by an expert panel, the European Union has formally banned food coloring E171 from all foods, beginning in 2022. Also known as titanium dioxide, the chemical is commonly used as a white colorant in processed foods.

The 2021 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to Benjamin List and David MacMillan, for their work developing a new class of catalyst. The technique is based on small organic molecules and has been instrumental in pharmaceutical research since.

You'll be hearing a lot more about ammonia as a clean fuel option in the race to zero carbon by 2050. In particular, it looks like a strong option for long-haul ships and trucks. So what is it, how is it made, and how does it shape up as green fuel?

Research has found a common pesticide may promote obesity by slowing the calorie-burning ability of certain fat cells. The animal study indicates chlorpyrifos, to be banned in the US, promotes food intake and suppresses thermogenesis in brown fat.

After years of court battles the EPA has announced it will ban agricultural uses of chlorpyrifos, a pesticide suspected of causing health problems in children. The ban comes into effect in six months, with a further review of non-food uses to follow.

Australian scientists have found chronic pain is associated with lower levels of key neurotransmitters in the brain. It is believed this chemical disruption plays a role in the difficulties people with chronic pain have in regulating negative emotions.

New research led by the University of California Riverside has identified a relatively simple catalyst that can remove common pollutants called perchlorates, helping reduce water and soil pollution not just on Earth but potentially on Mars one day.