Researchers around the world are seeking to search and destroy pervasive “forever chemicals.”
geochemistry
Posted inFeatures
Chemical Companies Are Churning Out New PFAS. Where in the World Are They Ending Up?
Bans on older versions of “forever chemicals” seem to be working. But emerging variants behave in ways that scientists are only beginning to pin down.
Posted inNews
A Peculiar Polymer Paired with Sunlight Could Remove PFAS
A new photocatalyst might help take the “forever” out of “forever chemicals” present in water.
Posted inNews
Engineering a Cleaner Way to Extract Lithium
The new chemical solvent technique could cut water use, speed extraction, and unlock reserves like California’s Salton Sea.
Posted inEditors' Vox
A Double-Edged Sword: The Global Oxychlorine Cycle on Mars
Global detections of oxychlorine salts reveal a complex, 4-billion-year chemical cycle on Mars. They can act as de-icing agents, oxidants, a hazard and a vital resource for future human exploration.
Posted inNews
The AMOC of the Ice Age Was Warmer Than Once Thought
An analysis of sediment cores indicates that North Atlantic waters were relatively warm and continued to circulate even under major climate stress during the Last Glacial Maximum.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
How the Spring Thaw Influences Arsenic Levels in Lakes
Four lakes near Yellowknife, Canada, show that there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
Posted inNews
Primordial Impact May Explain Why the Moon Is Asymmetrical
Analysis of surface samples from the Chang’e-6 mission suggests that an asteroid may have vaporized parts of the lunar mantle, suppressing volcanic activity on the farside of the Moon.
Posted inNews
Meet the Mysterious Electrides
These chemical oddities may explain why Earth seems to be deficient in certain elements—and could prove useful in catalysts and more.
Posted inNews
How the Rise of a Salty Blob Led to the Fall of the Last Ice Age
Scientists have long suspected that high salinity levels in the deep ocean were responsible for keeping carbon dioxide locked away during the last ice age. New research finds the strongest evidence yet.