ACS Spring 2023

Fermented coffee could bring a fruity taste to your morning cup of joe. This new kind of beverage has a raspberry-like taste and aroma, but what causes these sensations has been a mystery. Scientists now report six compounds that contribute to the fermented coffee experience. The researchers will present their results today at ACS Spring 2023.

Colorful particles of plastic drift along under the surface of most waterways. These barely visible microplastics — less than 5 mm wide — are potentially harmful to aquatic animals and plants, as well as humans. Now, a team reports a two-stage device made with steel tubes and pulsing sound waves that removes most of the plastic particles from real water samples. The researchers will present their results today at ACS Spring 2023.

The ancient art of origami is well known for transforming sheets of paper and other foldable materials into complex 3D shapes. But now, chemical engineers have extended the centuries-old practice to produce intricate shapes made of glass or other hard materials. Their thoroughly modern method, which can be combined with 3D printing, could have applications ranging from sculpture to catalysis and beyond. The researchers will present their results today at ACS Spring 2023.

Naloxone — a fast-acting opioid antidote — has saved lives, but it’s less effective against powerful synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl. In an interesting twist, researchers are now investigating cannabidiol (CBD), a component of marijuana, as a possible alternative to the popular antidote. Today, a team reports compounds based on CBD that reduce fentanyl binding and boost the effects of naloxone. The researchers will present their results today at ACS Spring 2023.

Have a cough, sore throat and congestion? Any number of respiratory viruses could be responsible. Today, scientists report using a single-atom-thick nanomaterial to build a device that can simultaneously detect the presence of the viruses that cause COVID-19 and the flu — at much lower levels and much more quickly than conventional tests for either. The researchers will present their results today at ACS Spring 2023.

Nobody likes needles, but they’re necessary for delivering many vaccines and biologics into the body. But what if they could be puffed through the skin instead, with just a little pressure, like being hit in the arm with a foam toy? Today, scientists report a method that can deliver both slow-release and fast-acting therapies in powder form with a “MOF-Jet.” The researchers will present their results today at ACS Spring 2023.

Squids and octopuses are masters of camouflage. But some aspects of how they become reversibly transparent are still “unclear,” because researchers can’t culture cephalopod skin cells in the lab. Now, researchers have replicated the tunable transparency of squid skin in mammalian cells, which are more easily cultured. Their work could shed light on basic squid biology and lead to better ways to image cells. The researchers will present their results today at ACS Spring 2023.

In chemistry, we have He, Fe and Ca — but what about do, re and mi? Using a technique called data sonification, a recent college graduate has converted the visible light given off by each of the elements into soundwaves. The notes produced for each element are unique, complex mixtures and are the first step toward an interactive, musical periodic table. The researcher will present his results today at ACS Spring 2023.

The cold blast of an air conditioner can be a relief as temperatures soar, but “A/C” units require large amounts of energy and can leak greenhouse gases. Today, scientists report an eco-friendly alternative — a plant-based film that cools when exposed to sunlight and comes in many textures and bright, iridescent colors. The material could someday keep buildings, cars and other structures cool without requiring power. The researchers will present their results at ACS Spring 2023.