Explore every episode of the podcast Stereo Chemistry
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside the cavernous crystals that won the Chem Nobel | 09 Oct 2025 | 00:17:45 | |
The 2025 Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded on Oct. 8 to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M. Yaghi for their work on metal organic frameworks (MOFs). Senior editor Prachi Patel joins a bonus episode of Stereo Chemistry to discuss what MOFs are, why they are so useful, and how they were discovered. Check out Prachi’s story on how MOFs won this year’s prize at cenm.ag/chemnobel2025. Listen to our 2018 Stereo Chemistry episode on MOFs here: http://cenm.ag/moftalk Subscribe to Inflection Point now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Executive producer: David Anderson Host: Gina Vitale Reporter: Prachi Patel Audio editor: Jeremy Barr Music: Shutterstock Episode artwork: Lingmei Liu et al. Episode artwork source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s42004-020-00361-6 | |||
| Uncovered: The Strange Copy and Paste Chemistry of Skeletal Editing | 26 Sep 2025 | 00:16:50 | |
Will Skeletal Editing revolutionize the way we see chemical interactions? In this episode of C&EN Uncovered, host Craig Bettenhausen speaks with C&EN associate editor, Brianna Barbu, about her article diving into the new and exciting frontier of Skeletal Editing. Check out Brianna's story on Skeletal Editing and how it may impact the future of the chemical industry. Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Signal Awards Voting (Inflection Point) Limited Series & Specials, Best Co-Host Team: Click here to check out and vote for the finalists Limited Series & Specials, Science & Education: Click here to check out and vote for the finalists CreditsExecutive producer: David Anderson Host: Craig Bettenhausen Reporter: Brianna Barbu Video + Audio Producer: David Anderson, Jeremy Barr Episode artwork: Christian Gralingen Music: 'Commercial Flow', Shutterstock ––– 'Inflection', Jeremy Barr Contact Stereo Chemistry: Contact us on social media at @cenmag or email cenfeedback@acs.org.
| |||
| Bonus: C&EN's Future of Chemistry Degrees Panel | 10 Sep 2025 | 01:08:54 | |
In this bonus episode of Stereo Chemistry, we are featuring a panel discussion from this year's ACS Fall Meeting. Our panelists, Stefan France, Glory Onajobi-Lee, Victor Olet, and John Gavenonis discuss the future of chemistry degrees, the importance of collaboration, and the fluidity of tech-based skills in the chemical industry at large. We are actively seeking new topics, discussions, and formats for 2026 ACS Future of Chemistry Events. Please use this link to tell us how we're doing and make some recommendations for next year's events. Thank you! Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. CreditsExecutive producer: David Anderson Host: Laura Howes Panelists: Stefan France, Glory Onajobi-Lee, Victor Olet, John Gavenonis Audio Producer: Jeremy Barr Episode artwork: American Chemical Society Music: Commercial Flow, Shutterstock Contact Stereo Chemistry: Contact us on social media at @cenmag or email cenfeedback@acs.org. | |||
| C&EN Uncovered: Global Top 50 Chemical Firms in 2025 | 27 Aug 2025 | 00:20:48 | |
Can the world’s top 50 chemical firms bounce back from a global economic downturn? In this episode of C&EN Uncovered, host Craig Bettenhausen speaks with C&EN senior correspondent, Alexander Tullo, about his coverage of C&EN’s Global Top 50 Chemical Firms list. Uncovered offers a deeper look at subjects from recent stories pulled from the pages of Chemical & Engineering News. Check out Alex's story on the world’s top 50 chemical firms. Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. CreditsExecutive producer: David Anderson Host: Craig Bettenhausen Reporter: Alexander Tullo Video + Audio Producer: Jeremy Barr Episode artwork: Will Ludwig Music: Commercial Flow, Shutterstock Contact Stereo Chemistry: Contact us on social media at @cenmag or email cenfeedback@acs.org.
| |||
| Inflection Point: The mind-bending innovations that built quantum computing | 13 Aug 2025 | 00:28:11 | |
Hosts David Anderson and Gina Vitale travel back in time to relive three historical moments that were meaningful to the development of quantum computers. They also bring in C&EN reporter Mitch Jacoby to discuss scientific advances enabled by quantum chemistry. C&EN’s Inflection Point leans on our 100-year archive to trace headline topics in science today back to their disparate and surprising roots. In each episode, we explore three lesser-known moments in science history that ultimately led us to current-day breakthroughs. With help from expert C&EN reporters, this new show examines how discoveries from our past have shaped our present and will change our future. Subscribe to Inflection Point now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| C&EN Uncovered: Will Emerging Technology Lead Us Into A New Antibiotic Golden Age? | 30 Jul 2025 | 00:28:51 | |
Are we on the cusp of a new era of Biochemical discovery? In this episode of C&EN Uncovered, host Craig Bettenhausen speaks with C&EN reporter Max Barnhart about his recent C&EN cover story on the frontiers of bioprospecting for new antibiotics. Uncovered offers a deeper look at subjects from recent stories pulled from the pages of Chemical & Engineering News. Check out Max’s story on the recent advancements of Bioprospecting.
Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Credits Executive producer: David Anderson Host: Craig Bettenhausen Reporter: Max Barnhart Video + Audio Producer: Jeremy Barr Episode artwork: Madeline Monroe Music: Commercial Flow, Shutterstock Contact Stereo Chemistry: Contact us on social media at @cenmag or email cenfeedback@acs.org. | |||
| Bonus Episode: 'Inflection Point' traces the serendipitous origins of PFAS | 16 Jul 2025 | 00:25:57 | |
Inflection Point leans on C&EN’s 100-year archive to trace headline topics in science today back to their disparate and surprising roots. In each episode, we explore three lesser-known moments in science history that ultimately led us to current-day breakthroughs. With help from expert C&EN reporters, this new show examines how discoveries from our past have shaped our present and will change our future. In our second episode, hosts David Anderson and Gina Vitale travel back in time to relive three events that ultimately led to the proliferation of PFAS. They also bring in C&EN reporter Britt Erickson to analyze how these ‘forever chemicals’ could shape our future. Subscribe to Inflection Point now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. | |||
| C&EN Uncovered: Can altering ocean chemistry fight climate change? | 19 Jun 2025 | 00:21:40 | |
Can climate catastrophe be stymied by tweaking seawater chemistry? In this episode of C&EN Uncovered, host Craig Bettenhausen speaks with C&EN reporter Fionna Samuels about her recent C&EN cover story concerning Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE) as a method to combat climate change by increasing ocean alkalinity to absorb more CO2. Uncovered offers a deeper look at subjects from recent stories pulled from the pages of Chemical & Engineering News. Check out Fionna’s story on engineering our oceans to mitigate the effects of Climate Change.
Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Executive Producer: David Anderson Host: Craig Bettenhausen Reporter: Fionna Samuels Video + Audio Producer: Jeremy Barr Episode artwork: Michael Sswat Music: Commercial Flow, Shutterstock Contact Stereo Chemistry: Contact us on social media at @cenmag or email cenfeedback@acs.org. | |||
| C&EN Uncovered: Turning tides for endotoxin testing | 31 Mar 2025 | 00:20:41 | |
The drug industry may finally phase out using horseshoe crab blood. What took so long? In this episode of C&EN Uncovered, host Craig Bettenhausen speaks with C&EN assistant editor Laurel Oldach about the use of horseshoe crab blood in pharmaceutical endotoxin testing, the challenges of transitioning to synthetic alternatives, and the regulatory hurdles involved. Stereo Chemistry offers a deeper look at subjects from recent stories pulled from the pages of Chemical & Engineering News. Check out Laurel’s story on the fight over horseshoe crab blood at https://cen.acs.org/safety/drug-safety/Turning-tides-endotoxin-testing/102/i34. Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. | |||
| Bonus episode: Introducing Inflection Point | 25 Mar 2025 | 00:23:42 | |
The new podcast Inflection Point leans on C&EN’s 100-year archive to trace headline topics in science today back to their disparate and surprising roots. In each episode, we explore three lesser-known moments in science history that ultimately led us to current-day breakthroughs. With help from expert C&EN reporters, this new show examines how discoveries from our past have shaped our present and will change our future. In our first episode, hosts David Anderson and Gina Vitale travel back in time to relive three events that ultimately led to the development of green hydrogen. They also bring in C&EN reporter Craig Bettenhausen to analyze how this emerging technology could shape our future. Subscribe to Inflection Point now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. A transcript of this episode can be found here. | |||
| C&EN Uncovered: Indoor air monitoring goes to school | 27 Nov 2024 | 00:19:39 | |
The COVID-19 pandemic put the importance of indoor air quality in stark relief. The air in schools was of particular concern, and that concern spurred collaboration between researchers and school staff to find interventions to improve air quality to safeguard the health of students and staff. Data from indoor air monitors revealed that filter-based portable air cleaners were effective at removing airborne particulates. Ongoing research and monitoring will determine whether this effort is making a beneficial health impact and will be used to decide how to manage indoor air quality going forward. C&EN Uncovered, a project from C&EN’s podcast, Stereo Chemistry, offers a deeper look at subjects from recent stories. Check out the full story about air quality monitoring in schools at cenm.ag/airqualityinschools.
Cover photo: Undergraduate student Ricardo Reyes collects air quality measurements from the back of a classroom in Colorado.
Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
A transcript of this episode will be available soon at cen.acs.org.
Credits Executive producer: David Anderson C&EN Uncovered host: Craig Bettenhausen Reporter: Fionna Samuels Audio editor: Ted Woods Copyeditor: Brian Vickers Episode artwork: Glenn Asakawa/University of Colorado Boulder Music: “Hot Chocolate,” by Aves
| |||
| Stereo Chemistry: How the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was won | 29 Oct 2024 | 00:27:49 | |
On Oct. 9, the 2024 Nobel Prize for Chemistry was awarded to David Baker, Demis Hassabis, and John M. Jumper for their work in prediction and design of protein structures. C&EN’s executive editor for life sciences, Laura Howes, joins a special episode of Stereo Chemistry to discuss why the trio won, the significance of their work around proteins, and how she accurately predicted the win in C&EN’s annual “Who Will Win?” webinar. Stereo Chemistry offers a deeper look at subjects from recent stories pulled from the pages of Chemical & Engineering News. Check out Laura’s story on how these computational chemists won this year’s Nobel Prize in Chemistry at cenm.ag/chemnobel2024.
| |||
| C&EN Uncovered: PhD to CEO, how chemistry entrepreneurs are making the jump | 30 Sep 2024 | 00:22:47 | |
In the 20th century, corporate powerhouses like Bell Labs and DuPont Central Research funded R&D from their balance sheets, creating a clear path for postdoctoral scientists to innovate beyond their university research. In 2024, with the decay of corporate laboratories, graduates are taking the commercial start-up route more and more. C&EN, business reporter Matt Blois discusses several such start-ups, exploring how the founders are making the transition from PhD to CEO and mapping the various routes they've taken to secure funding to continue their research. C&EN Uncovered, a project from C&EN’s podcast, Stereo Chemistry, offers a deeper look at subjects from recent stories. Check out Matt’s story on how PhDs are learning to become CEOs at cenm.ag/chementrepreneurs Cover photo: Laura Stoy inside a laboratory at Rivalia Chemical Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. A transcript of this episode is available at cen.acs.org.
Credits Executive producer: David Anderson C&EN Uncovered host: Craig Bettenhausen Reporter: Matt Blois Audio editor: Ted Woods Copyeditor: Bran Vickers Episode artwork: Jim Prisching Music: “Hot Chocolate,” by Aves
| |||
| C&EN Uncovered: Solvent Waste Levels, EPA Regulations, and Disposal | 30 Aug 2024 | 00:20:47 | |
On average, from 2011 to 2021, academic labs generated around 4,300 metric tons of hazardous waste each year. One of the largest lab-used solvents discarded is dichloromethane and more than half of that waste ends up burned. In today’s episode, policy reporters Krystal Vasquez and Leigh Krietsch Boerner dive into the processes academic labs use to dispose of said waste, the consequences of new EPA regulations around dichloromethane, and what solutions academic institutions are coming up with to accommodate these new rules. C&EN Uncovered, a project from C&EN’s podcast, Stereo Chemistry, offers a deeper look at subjects from recent stories. Check out Krystal’s story on the new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations regarding dichloromethane at https://cenm.ag/dcmregs and check out Leigh’s story about solvent waste disposal in academic laboratories at https://cenm.ag/wastedisposal. Cover photo: Lab solvents C&EN July 15th cover photo Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. A transcript of this episode will be available soon at cen.acs.org. Credits Executive producer(s): Gina Vitale, David Anderson C&EN Uncovered host: Craig Bettenhausen Reporter(s): Krystal Vasquez, Leigh Krietsch Boerner Audio editor: Ted Woods Copyeditor: Bran Vickers Episode artwork: Will Ludwig Music: “Hot Chocolate,” by Aves
| |||
| C&EN Uncovered: Ongoing tragedies in Flint and East Palestine | 19 Jul 2024 | 00:18:54 | |
Tragedies in the communities of Flint, Michigan, and East Palestine, Ohio, continue to affect residents 10 years and 1 year on, respectively, from the initial events. Residents of both cities continue to rebound and rebuild despite ongoing issues revolving around the toxic chemicals that were introduced to their towns through human decisions. C&EN physical sciences reporter Priyanka Runwal traveled to both Flint and East Palestine to speak with residents about how they are recovering, how the actions of their representatives have fallen short, and their hopes to return to something of a “normal” existence in the future. C&EN Uncovered, a project from C&EN’s podcast, Stereo Chemistry, offers a deeper look at subjects from recent stories. Check out Priyanka’s cover story on Flint after 10 years at cenm.ag/flint; Check out Priyanka’s cover story on East Palestine at cenm.ag/eastpalestine
Cover photo: Residents of Flint, Michigan, march arm in arm as they demand justice and accountability for their community 10 years from the beginning of the water crisis. Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
A transcript of this episode will be available soon at cen.acs.org. Credits Executive producer: Gina Vitale C&EN Uncovered host: Craig Bettenhausen Reporter: Priyanka Runwal Audio editor: Ted Woods Copyeditor: Bran Vickers Story editor: Laura Howes Episode artwork: Brittany Greeson Music: “Hot Chocolate,” by Aves
| |||
| C&EN Uncovered: Can ‘forever chemicals’ be destroyed? | 17 May 2024 | 00:19:03 | |
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a class of chemicals known as PFAS, are often called “forever chemicals” because of how long they persist in the environment. They are prevalent in drinking water and have been linked to negative health outcomes. A slew of cleantech start-ups are cropping up with the aim of breaking down and destroying PFAS molecules. In this episode of C&EN Uncovered, reporter Britt Erickson explores the technologies behind these companies and the competition among them. C&EN Uncovered, a project from C&EN’s podcast, Stereo Chemistry, offers a deeper look at subjects from recent stories. Check out Britt’s cover story on the destruction techniques for these “forever chemicals” at cenm.ag/foreverchemicals. Cover photo: Argon gas plasma, which can break down PFAS, on the surface of liquid water
A transcript of this episode is available now at cen.acs.org. Credits Executive producer: Gina Vitale C&EN Uncovered host: Craig Bettenhausen Reporter: Britt Erickson Audio editor: Ted Woods Copyeditor: Bran Vickers Story editor: Michael McCoy Episode artwork: Courtesy of Selma Mededovic Thagard/Clarkson University Music: “Hot Chocolate,” by Aves
| |||
| C&EN Uncovered: The small-molecule drug renaissance | 09 Feb 2024 | 00:19:56 | |
As the science of drug discovery has grown in scale and gotten more complicated, so have the drug molecules themselves. But there’s a promising class of drugs made of just a handful of atoms that punch above their weight by leveraging the natural chemistry of the cell.
| |||
| C&EN Uncovered: The ocean floor is littered with valuable minerals. Should we go get them? | 11 Dec 2023 | 00:15:57 | |
Resting on the bottom of the ocean are potato-sized nodules of valuable minerals that are more or less up for grabs. Multiple corporations and some nations are racing to build deep-sea drones that can withstand the extreme conditions at the seafloor and bring these 1-20 cm nodules to eager buyers on the surface.
Many of the metals in these nodules are critical for green technologies like batteries. But these nodules are also an important part of ecosystems we are just beginning to understand. In this episode, C&EN reporter Priyanka Runwal chats with host Craig Bettenhausen about this complex issue.
C&EN Uncovered, a project from C&EN’s podcast, Stereo Chemistry, offers a deeper look at subjects from recent stories. Check out Runwal’s full story at cenm.ag/seafloormine.
For more about mining the oceans, check out this episode of Stereo Chemistry from earlier this year about filtering minerals directly out of the water: cenm.ag/ocean
Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
| |||
| C&EN Uncovered: The race to report on the Nobel Prizes | 31 Oct 2023 | 00:19:16 | |
The Nobel Prize announcements are big events at Chemical & Engineering News. But we find out the winners at the same time as everyone else.
Then, the race is on for our reporters.
This year, staffers Laurel Oldach and Mitch Jacoby took on the task of covering the science prizes. In this episode, they reflect on this year’s winning research in chemistry and medicine and share what it’s like covering the most prestigious prizes in science.
C&EN Uncovered, a project from C&EN’s podcast, Stereo Chemistry, offers a deeper look at subjects from recent stories. Check out our reporting on the 2023 Nobel Prizes at https://cen.acs.org/magazine/101/10133.html.
Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
| |||
| C&EN Uncovered: Looking back on 100 years of chemistry | 29 Sep 2023 | 00:13:38 | |
The first issue of C&EN was published in 1923 with the stated purpose of “the promotion of research, the development of the chemical industry, and the welfare of the chemist.” The world of chemistry has grown a lot since then, and the magazine has been there to report on it all. To celebrate our 100th anniversary, C&EN reporter and informal historian Alex Tullo has sifted through thousands of issues of the magazine, and in this episode, he guides our host Craig Bettenhausen on a tour through the magazine’s history from the industrialization of plastics, to the environmental movement, to the modern era of digital publication. When this episode was recorded, Tullo was preparing the From the Archives feature for the 1980s, which is now published. C&EN Uncovered, a project from C&EN’s podcast, Stereo Chemistry, offers a deeper look at subjects from recent stories. Read Alex’s entire series about the C&EN archives at cenm.ag/fromthearchives.
| |||
| Jennifer DiStefano and Jared Mondschein on the transition from the bench to the policy office | 13 Sep 2023 | 00:25:03 | |
Early-career scientists are increasingly gravitating toward science policy, but the transition from the research bench to the policy office can be a tricky one. What can that path look like, and how can chemistry knowledge translate into a successful science policy career? In this bonus episode of C&EN’s Bonding Time, Mark Feuer DiTusa sits down with recent science PhD graduates and science policy professionals Jennifer DiStefano and Jared Mondschein to hear about their intertwined journeys, what science policy looks like for them, and how they think policy is shaping the direction of chemistry in the US.
| |||
| C&EN Uncovered: Making hydrogen is easy; making it green is a challenge | 11 Aug 2023 | 00:13:54 | |
Hydrogen might be the key to a clean energy future, but only if it can be made without fossil fuels. Most hydrogen today is made from methane.
| |||
| Mining metals and minerals from seawater | 25 Jul 2023 | 00:23:07 | |
The modern world runs on electronic devices and energy systems that are powered by valuable elements such as lithium and uranium. There are a limited number of terrestrial mines that produce energy-critical elements, which makes the supply of these materials prone to disruption. So researchers are looking to an unconventional source: seawater. Almost every element on the periodic table can be found in global oceans–but most are dissolved in ultralow concentrations. In this episode of Stereo Chemistry, we’ll hear from scientists in the United States and European Union about why they’re interested in extracting metals and minerals from seawater and how they’re using chemistry to do it. | |||
| C&EN Uncovered: Can tires turn green? | 07 Jul 2023 | 00:16:05 | |
Be they powered by fossil fuels, batteries, or hydrogen, cars are here to stay. So what can be done to make tires greener? In this episode of Stereo Chemistry, C&EN reporters Alex Scott and Craig Bettenhausen look at where the rubber meets the road, literally. Scott examined efforts to make tires more sustainable in a recent cover story for C&EN. He found people working on the movement and fate of tiny specks of tire-and-asphalt dust in the environment as well as large-scale efforts to shift to biobased and recycled raw materials when making new tires.
| |||
| Here’s what happens when wastewater treatment facilities fail | 06 Jun 2023 | 00:26:22 | |
When two wastewater treatment facilities in Baltimore, Maryland, broke down in early 2021, the surrounding waterways began filling up with sewage. In this episode of Stereo Chemistry, C&EN business reporter Craig Bettenhausen takes the pod to visit the Back River Plant and Patapsco Plant in the Chesapeake Bay watershed to demystify how these facilities treat wastewater and take a deep dive into the chemistry behind enhanced nutrient removal systems. Chemical engineers, environmental advocates, and infrastructure experts explore what happens to aquatic ecosystems when wastewater treatment systems fail–and share their perspectives on reimagining wastewater as a chemical treasure trove in the future.
| |||
| Bonus: Executive producer Kerri Jansen hands over the mic | 30 May 2023 | 00:20:23 | |
Stereo Chemistry’s longtime host Kerri Jansen is stepping down from her role as executive producer of the podcast. Jansen has been with Stereo Chemistry since it began in 2018, and has played an integral role in the production of C&EN’s flagship podcast. In this bonus episode, Jansen talks with C&EN’s interim coeditors for audio & video, Ariana Remmel and Gina Vitale, about some of her favorite episodes from the Stereo Chemistry archives.
| |||
| C&EN Uncovered: The battle for Lake Maurepas | 16 May 2023 | 00:13:06 | |
Carbon capture and sequestration is the trapping of CO2 emitted by industrial processes and depositing it beneath the Earth’s surface. Spurred on by tax credits offered by recent federal legislation, companies are racing to implement the technology in geologically suitable locations such as in Louisiana.
| |||
| C&EN Uncovered: Lithium iron phosphate comes to North America | 21 Mar 2023 | 00:17:21 | |
Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries are cheaper, safer, and longer lasting than batteries made with nickel- and cobalt-based cathodes. In China, the streets are full of electric vehicles using this technology. But LFP never caught on as a chemistry for electric vehicle batteries in North America. In this episode, C&EN reporters Craig Bettenhausen and Matt Blois talk about the promise and risks of bringing lithium iron phosphate to a North American market.
| |||
| Microplastics pollute our drinking water: What are the risks? | 21 Feb 2023 | 00:27:37 | |
Researchers reported finding microplastics in drinking water nearly 5 years ago, prompting California lawmakers to require monitoring of the state’s drinking water for the tiny particles. But in 2018, there were no standard methods for analyzing microplastics. So California regulators reached out to chemists and toxicologists from all sectors to develop those methods. They also sought assistance in developing a health-based limit to help consumers understand what the monitoring results mean for their health. In this episode of Stereo Chemistry, we will hear from some of the scientists leading those groundbreaking efforts.
| |||
| C&EN Uncovered: What exascale computing could mean for chemistry | 31 Jan 2023 | 00:17:39 | |
At Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a supercomputer named Frontier has broken the exascale computing barrier, meaning it can calculate more than a million trillion floating-point operations per second. In this episode, C&EN reporters Craig Bettenhausen and Ariana Remmel discuss how Frontier works and what that kind of power could mean for computational chemistry.
A transcript of this episode is available at https://bit.ly/3HNK1S0. Credits Stereo Chemistry executive producer: Kerri Jansen Contact Stereo Chemistry: Tweet at us at @cenmag or email cenfeedback@acs.org. | |||
| Bonus: Carolyn Bertozzi and Barry Sharpless reflect on winning the 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry | 06 Dec 2022 | 00:12:49 | |
In this bonus episode of C&EN’s Bonding Time, we hear from 2022 chemistry Nobel laureates Carolyn Bertozzi and K. Barry Sharpless, who shared the prize along with Morten Meldal for their work on click chemistry and bioorthogonal chemistry. After a November symposium honoring the US-based Nobel awardees at the Embassy of Sweden in Washington, DC, the two chemists discussed their long history of collaboration, how winning the 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has changed their lives, and how they hope to use the spotlight to break down barriers within science. A transcript of this episode is available at bit.ly/3BiU3GZ. To learn even more about this year's Nobel-winning science, listen to our October bonus episode about the prize at bit.ly/3iJ1iSc. Credits Contact Stereo Chemistry: Tweet at us @cenmag or email cenfeedback@acs.org. | |||
| BONUS: Click and bioorthogonal chemistry win Nobel Prize in Chemistry | 05 Oct 2022 | 00:09:40 | |
The 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Carolyn Bertozzi, Morten Meldal and K. Barry Sharpless for their development of click and bioorthogonal chemistry which are used by chemists around the world to track biological processes and produce pharmaceuticals. In this special episode of Stereo Chemistry, hosts Gina Vitale and Ariana Remmel delve into the science behind the prize and talk with organic chemist Antoni Riera to discuss the applications of the award-winning chemistry. C&EN contributor Mark Peplow also joins the Stereo Chemistry crew to talk about his conversation with Nobel Laureate Carolyn Bertozzi. Read more about this award-winning science in Mark Peplow's article about the 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry: https://cen.acs.org/people/nobel-prize/Click-and-biorthogonal-chemistry-win-2022-Nobel-Prize-in-Chemistry/100/web/2022/10 A transcription of this episode is available at https://cenm.ag/nobelpod22. CORRECTION: On Oct. 6, 2022, part of this episode was rerecorded to correct an error at 0:48 about when the 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was announced. It was announced Oct. 5, not Oct. 6. The episode description was also updated to remove Heather Holt as copyeditor. She did not copyedit this episode. Credits Executive producer/host: Kerri Jansen Writer: Ariana Remmel, Gina Vitale Audio editor: Mark Feuer DiTusa Story editors: Jessica Marshall Production assistance: Mark Peplow, Krystal Vasquez Audience editor: Dorea I. Reeser Logo design: William A. Ludwig Episode artwork: Laura Morton (Bertozzi), University of Copenhagen (Meldal), Sandy Huffaker (Sharpless) Press conference recordings: Courtesy of ©The Nobel Foundation Music: “Rising Tide” by C.K. Martin.
Contact Stereo Chemistry: Tweet at us @cenmag or email cenfeedback@acs.org. | |||
| Lithium mining’s water use sparks bitter conflicts and novel chemistry | 13 Sep 2022 | 00:35:14 | |
Replacing gas cars with electric ones is a main pillar of plans to fight climate change. But the lithium-ion batteries used in electric cars come with a cost. Communities near the Salar de Atacama in Chile, where about a quarter of the world’s lithium is extracted from salty aquifers, say mining companies pose a serious threat to the local environment and their access to water. Mining companies strongly dispute those claims. In this episode of Stereo Chemistry, we’ll explore the environmental factors at play in the salar and the differing perspectives on how best to measure impact. And we’ll hear from a new group of mining start-ups that claim they can use chemical methods—as yet unproven—to extract lithium without the same impact on water. This is the first episode in a new series exploring the future of water. A transcript of this episode, along with English translations of all Spanish dialogue, is available at bit.ly/3QGlQpu. | |||
| Bonus: For John Goodenough’s 100th birthday, we revisit a fan-favorite interview with the renowned scientist | 25 Jul 2022 | 00:38:01 | |
Famed lithium-ion-battery pioneer and Nobel Prize–winner John Goodenough has achieved yet another milestone—a century on Earth. Goodenough celebrates his 100th birthday on July 25, 2022. In honor of the occasion, Stereo Chemistry host Kerri Jansen and C&EN reporter Mitch Jacoby revisit their 2019 interview with the renowned scientist, recorded at his office at the University of Texas at Austin just prior to his Nobel win. In the expansive and candid conversation, Goodenough tells Stereo Chemistry about childhood adventures, infernal exams with Enrico Fermi, and his path to the innovation that enabled an electronics revolution. A transcript of this episode is available at bit.ly/3otFrh3. Music credit: “Happy Birthday To You (Orchestral)” by beanstalkaudio/Pond5.com Image credit: Mitch Jacoby/Robert Bryson/C&EN/Milano M/Shutterstock | |||
| Bonus: Jess Wade on Wikipedia and work-life balance | 21 Jun 2022 | 00:55:45 | |
This month, Stereo Chemistry is sharing an episode of the podcast ChemConvos featuring an interview with materials scientist, self-described “Raman spectroscopy enthusiast,” and prolific Wikipedia editor Jess Wade. On ChemConvos, hosts Henry Powell-Davies and Medina Afandiyeva seek to uncover the story behind the scientist. In this episode, the trio discusses not only Jess’s work as a research fellow at Imperial College London but also how she manages burnout and the importance of a supportive lab culture. And, of course, they dig into the origins of her Wikipedia project, which has resulted in Wade creating more than 1,400 biographies on Wikipedia aiming to highlight women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ scientists and engineers. Follow ChemConvos on Twitter at @ChemConvosPod. Find new episodes at anchor.fm/chemconvospod or on your favorite podcast platform. A transcript of this episode is available at bit.ly/3yb4lb8. Image credit: Courtesy of ChemConvos/C&EN | |||
| Bonus: The sticky science of why we eat so much sugar | 31 May 2022 | 00:34:34 | |
Our bodies need sugar to survive. But most of us consume way more than we actually need, and many foods and beverages pack a dose of added sweeteners. So why are we eating all of this extra sugar? This month, Stereo Chemistry is sharing an episode of the podcast Tiny Matters that examines that question. In the episode, hosts Sam Jones and Deboki Chakravarti explore sugar’s impact on our bodies and trace how a genetic mutation that helped our distant ancestors survive is influencing our health today. And they dig into the debate around whether sugar can fairly be called addictive. Note: This episode contains discussion of addiction and eating disorders. Listen to Tiny Matters on the American Chemical Society’s website at https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/tiny-matters.html or on your favorite podcast platform. ACS also publishes Chemical & Engineering News, which is the independent news outlet that powers Stereo Chemistry. More on sugar from C&EN: The case against sugar
| |||
| Bonus: There’s more to James Harris’s story | 27 Apr 2022 | 00:45:37 | |
Chemists may know James Harris as the first Black scientist to be credited with codiscovering an element. In fact, we referenced this in a previous episode of Stereo Chemistry about making superheavy elements. But beyond this memorable factoid, details about the accomplished nuclear chemist are scarce, and most sources repeat the same superficial information. Kristen Frederick-Frost, curator of modern science at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, wants to change that. After discovering that the museum's database lacked material on Harris, she scoured archival records and sought out former colleagues, friends, and family members to fill in details of his life and career. In this bonus episode of Stereo Chemistry, host Kerri Jansen and special guest Dr. Darryl Boyd join Frederick-Frost to explore James Harris’s story beyond the discoveries that made him famous. And we even get an unexpected peek into his lab, courtesy of the US National Archives. Image credit: Steve Gerber/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory © 2010 The Regents of the University of California, through the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Music credit: "Just Enough for a Heartbeat" by Roy Young | |||
| Bonus: The helium shortage that wasn’t supposed to be | 24 Mar 2022 | 00:14:35 | |
Helium shortages can derail research and threaten expensive instruments that depend on the gas to operate safely. In late 2020, analysts predicted—and we reported—that pressures on the global helium market were likely to ease as new production capacity came online. Today, helium users are again facing price spikes and limited supplies, driven by a variety of factors including political instability in Europe and technical malfunctions at key suppliers. In this bonus episode of Stereo Chemistry, C&EN industrial gas reporter Craig Bettenhausen explains how we ended up here again and how the outlook for the global helium market has evolved. For more background about where helium comes from, why it's so important to science, and what happens when you can't get enough of it, check out our October 2020 podcast episode, How helium shortages have changed science. | |||
| Sarah Reisman and Melanie Sanford on how organic chemistry is changing and how they’ve learned to choose priorities | 15 Feb 2022 | 00:23:29 | |
Being a chemistry professor is a juggling act. But sometimes professors have too many balls in the air. How do they know which ones to grab and which to let drop? In this episode of Stereo Chemistry, C&EN's Leigh Krietsch Boerner sits down with organic chemists Sarah Reisman and Melanie Sanford to hear how they decide what projects to work on, what sparks joy for them in the lab, and what being an organic chemist really means to them. A transcript of this episode will be available soon at cen.acs.org. Sign up for C&EN’s Selling Your Science: The Art of Science Communication at cenm.ag/sciencecommunication. | |||
| Jose-Luis Jimenez and Kimberly Prather on the intersection of aerosol science and the COVID-19 pandemic | 18 Jan 2022 | 00:25:27 | |
Imagine you’re an atmospheric chemist. There’s a pandemic. And public health officials release information about how the virus spreads from one person to another—information that directly contradicts your knowledge of how tiny particles move in the air. What do you do? In this episode of Stereo Chemistry, Jose-Luis Jimenez and Kimberly Prather talk to C&EN editor Jyllian Kemsley about how they’ve handled that situation over the past 2 years. They share their frustrations with public health officials along with the heartbreak and rewards of communicating science with the general public, and what they plan to take from their experiences as they think about their research going forward. A transcript of this episode is available at bit.ly/3rzzCzI. Sign up for C&EN’s Selling Your Science: The Art of Science Communication at cenm.ag/sciencecommunication. Image credit: Will Ludwig/C&EN/Mariana Pereira (Jimenez)/Erik Jepsen/University of California San Diego (Prather) | |||
| Jessica Ray and William Tarpeh on clean water, turning trash into treasure, and life as assistant professors | 21 Dec 2021 | 00:27:19 | |
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. Image credit: Will Ludwig/C&EN/University of Washington/Courtesy of William Tarpeh
| |||
| David Liu and Stuart Schreiber on the science that motivates, fascinates, and tells us who we are | 23 Nov 2021 | 00:33:42 | |
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. | |||
| Preview: New season coming on Nov. 23 | 26 Oct 2021 | 00:05:03 | |
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 | |||
| BONUS: Molecule-building tool wins Nobel Prize in Chemistry | 06 Oct 2021 | 00:07:36 | |
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) | |||
| BONUS: Astronaut Leland Melvin’s journey from chemistry to the cosmos | 21 Sep 2021 | 00:37:21 | |
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 | |||
| BONUS: How body farms can help solve cases | 24 Aug 2021 | 00:23:31 | |
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. Find more stories from Orbitals on the American Chemical Society’s website, acs.org, or wherever you listen to podcasts. | |||
| BONUS: Rare earths’ magic comes at a cost (Part 2) | 27 Jul 2021 | 00:33:42 | |
(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 | |||
| BONUS: Rare earths’ magic comes at a cost (Part 1) | 27 Jul 2021 | 00:27:28 | |
(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. | |||
| BONUS: Celebrating LGBTQ+ excellence with My Fave Queer Chemist | 29 Jun 2021 | 00:48:01 | |
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. Read C&EN’s article "LGBTQ+ Chemists You Should Know About" at cenm.ag/historiclqbtq. | |||
| Ep. 41: Searching for Mars’s missing water | 25 May 2021 | 00:22:07 | |
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 | |||