Chemistry

Banning formaldehyde hair relaxers might help protect Black women’s health, but won’t end the racism that drives their use

Researchers discovered that a heart-shaped molecule will jump in straight lines when given an electric jolt

Can waste plastic can be converted into hydrogen gas and a type of graphene—at a profit?

Gluten’s unique chemistry gives foods like bread and rolls their airy, stretchy textures

The search for room-temperature superconductors has suffered scandalous setbacks, but physicists are optimistic about the field’s future

Growing evidence suggests certain hair products marketed toward Black women may be harmful to their health. Scientists, entrepreneurs and policy makers are taking steps to fix the problem

One of the world’s most prestigious science journals has retracted a major paper from embattled superconductivity researcher Ranga Dias

Three scientists won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their discovery of quantum dots, an entirely new class of material that is used in large-screen TVs and cancer surgery

A molecular additive allows different kinds of plastic to be recycled together

Scientists are now growing mycelium, the fungal root network, into fire-retardant sheets to provide a safer, nontoxic way to protect buildings

Scientists accidentally discover metals that mend themselves without human intervention

How does bourbon, “America’s spirit,” get its distinctive taste and color?