Chemistry
Fire Safety without Harm
Last week, scientists and regulators from more than 20 countries gathered in San Francisco to discuss the latest research on flame retardants. The conference lasted four days, but the theme of the meeting was clear from just a few talks: Do we need toxic chemicals to achieve fire safety?
Post on Apr 17, 2013 by Liza Gross from KQED Science
Bay Area Biotech Industry Braces for Gene Patenting Court Case
The Supreme Court is hearing a case on a key question: can you patent a human gene?
Audio Report on Apr 12, 2013 by Lauren Sommer from KQED Science
Comets May Have Delivered Life's Early Building Blocks
The building blocks of life on Earth may have originated in space.
Post on Mar 08, 2013 by Sean Greene from KQED Science
Think Before You Drink Grapefruit Juice
You should discuss with your doctor or pharmacist whether ingesting grapefruit could cause an unintentional drug overdose. Eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice affects how the body metabolizes certain drugs, and the number of drugs that adversely interact with grapefruit has increased according to new research results.
Post on Jan 07, 2013 by Jennifer Huber from QUEST Northern California
Top KQED Science & QUEST Stories from 2012
From the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to killer whales, bicycles to cheese — it's been another year of diverse storytelling from the KQED Science and Environment team. Here's a round-up of the top 10 stories shared on our website (based on page views) that you've enjoyed in 2012.
Post on Dec 10, 2012 by Jenny Oh from KQED Science
Flame Retardants, Redux: From Toxic Couches to Buildings
Last June, Gov. Jerry Brown directed state agencies to change California's flammability standard to ensure fire safety without dousing furniture and other foam products with toxic chemicals. Now activists are focusing on an even bigger market for flame retardants: foam insulation in buildings.
Post on Nov 28, 2012 by Liza Gross from QUEST Northern California
Tracing the Origins of the Durian’s Stench
Researchers in Germany have identified compounds in durian that might be responsible for its unique smell.
Post on Nov 07, 2012 by Melissae Fellet from QUEST Northern California
Playing Whack-a-Mole with Flame Retardants
Countless consumer products sold in California contain a flame retardant flagged as a possible carcinogen nearly 35 years ago. As of this week, finally, they must carry a warning that the chemical causes cancer. But is it enough when manufacturers simply replace one toxic chemical with another?
Post on Oct 31, 2012 by Liza Gross from QUEST Northern California
Creative Use of a Cancer Mutation May Improve Nylon Production
Chemists want to reengineer metabolic proteins and pathways in microbes so they can convert sugar into commodity chemicals. Now a mutant protein found in cancer cells provides clues to help scientists improve a protein that could help microbes create a precursor to nylon. In science, as in so much of life, inspiration can come from unusual places.
Post on Sep 26, 2012 by Melissae Fellet from QUEST Northern California
West Coast a Test Bed for Ocean Acidification
Scientists say the waters off the West Coast could be hit hard by ocean acidification, but thanks to the natural conditions, it's a good place to study how ocean species might adapt.
Audio Report on Sep 25, 2012 by Lauren Sommer from QUEST Northern California
H2-Whoa: Computing With Water Instead of Electrons
Superhydrophobic surfaces enable simple water-based data storage and logic.
Post on Sep 12, 2012 by Melissae Fellet from QUEST Northern California
Starbucks' Food Waste Fuels Experimental Biorefinery
Most of our plastics come from petroleum-based chemicals. Now, thanks to engineered microbes, similar materials might be made using food waste from Starbucks.
Post on Aug 29, 2012 by Melissae Fellet from QUEST Northern California
Building a Better, Tastier Tomato
Many tomatoes have been bred to travel well and look appealing, but now researchers are focusing on making them more nutritious and better tasting.
Audio Report on Aug 17, 2012 by Lauren Sommer from QUEST Northern California
NASA's Roving Robotic Chemist Will Collect Clues For Life on Mars
Scientists are looking for elements and molecules that signify life as we know it. But even if they don’t find those molecules, minerals contain important information about the Martian environment. That could help scientists determine if life could have survived on the planet.
Post on Aug 15, 2012 by Melissae Fellet from QUEST Northern California
Prescription Drug Disposal: Who Should Foot the Bill?
A new ordinance in Alameda County requires the pharmaceutical industry to pay for disposal of extra medicine. The regulation is part of a larger movement to shift responsibility for waste disposal from local governments to companies that make products like paint, medicine and batteries.
Post on Aug 01, 2012 by Melissae Fellet from QUEST Northern California
Smelly Rocks: Researchers Reveal The Source of "Stinkspar" Stench
The source of the stench in crushed “stinkspar” is a 200-year old mystery. Solving this puzzle took a mixture of old-fashioned chemical analysis and modern instruments.
Post on Jul 18, 2012 by Melissae Fellet from QUEST Northern California
Post on Jul 04, 2012 by Melissae Fellet from QUEST Northern California
Shining a New Light on the Chemistry of Art Conservation
Conserving delicate artwork requires knowing what paints and techniques were used to create a piece. A new imaging technique helps restorers look at the pigments in frescos even while visitors are enjoying the works in a gallery.
Post on Jun 20, 2012 by Melissae Fellet from QUEST Northern California
KQED Science Fan Spotlight
We'd like to share your stories about why you're passionate about science.
Post on Jun 13, 2012 by Jenny Oh from QUEST Northern California
The Fungus Among Us Could Help Clean Oily Soil
There’s more to fungi than just mushrooms. Buried in the soil live large fiber networks of fungi. And these fibrous microbes might be able to help clean up polluted soil.
Post on Jun 06, 2012 by Melissae Fellet from QUEST Northern California
