Organic Chemistry

The subtle scent left behind by ancient Egyptian mummies may hold much more information than previously thought. By analyzing volatile chemical compounds emitted into the air from mummified remains, researchers have been able to uncover new details about how embalming methods evolved over more than two millennia. Illustration: depositphotos.com

How do mummies smell? Chemical analysis reveals the secrets of ancient Egyptian mummification

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Researchers from the University of Bristol have identified 81 volatile organic compounds in thousands of years old mummified samples, showing how embalming materials have become more complex and sophisticated over the generations.
Nebula appearance with stars in the night sky, spectacular colors and amazing details. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Unstable carbon compounds in space? A new discovery may explain the cosmic origins of life 

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Researchers at the University of Maryland have developed a new method to produce unstable carbon compounds, specifically hydroxymethylene, using UV rays to break down methanol. This discovery not only explains the formation of carbon compounds on the surface of a sphere
From the right: Dr. Yara Oppenheimer-Shanan and Dr. Tamir Klein. The race to the top

The bacteria that climbed a tall tree

Storage of hazardous materials. Illustration: depositphotos.com

A common detergent is linked to a significant increase in the incidence of Parkinson's disease

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For the past hundred years, the chemical trichloroethylene [TCE] has been used in decaffeinated coffee, metal cleaners, and dry-cleaned clothes. The substance itself is known to be a carcinogen, it is associated with abortions, congenital heart disease
Schematic representation of individual molecules in a crystal showing the development of order from lowest (red) to highest (blue)

Formation games - about the order emerging from disorder

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Micro-CT imaging of the crystal

Crystal in surprise

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The new inhibitor (in purple) that the researchers discovered binds with extraordinary efficiency to the MKK7 protein from the kinase group (in gray). Courtesy of Prof. Nir London, Weizmann Institute

Cellular censorship

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The structure of the substance glycolonitrile and the celestial gram in which it was found [Courtesy: Víctor M. Rivilla & Ben Mills & Herschel-SPIRE 500 microns]

A building block of life has been located in the star formation region of space

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The substance 'carbocation' - a molecule with a carbon atom charged with a positive charge. Illustration: shutterstock

A new way of turning oil into useful compounds

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Quantum tunneling. Illustration: shutterstock

Does quantum tunneling play a role in the activity of biological molecules?

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Fluorite crystal - the mineral is mentioned in writings from the 16th century, is used, among other things, for ornamental purposes and is considered one of the most colorful minerals in the world. Photo: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

What does the crystal signify?

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A composite nanomaterial as seen in an electron microscope: carbon nanotubes (thin wires) separated from each other are wrapped around cylindrical crystals of an organic dye. Photo: Boaz Rivchinsky, Weizmann Institute

Just mix and serve

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Nose. Illustration: Spokesperson of the Weizmann Institute

Weizmann Institute of Science scientists inserted a miniature "nose" into a living cell

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William Henry Parkin. From Wikipedia

The accidental discovery of William Henry Parkin is the basis for the organic chemistry and pharmaceutical industries

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Illustration. Photo: US Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez.

Organic materials that glow in the dark

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Membrane for water purification. High economic viability. Source: Weizmann Institute magazine.

Recycle membrane

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Prof. Ilan Mark. Source: Technion.

Technion researchers succeeded in creating new "reaction sites" in organic molecules

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molecules. Source: kennysarmy / flickr.

The mysteries of the molecule

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DNA computing. Illustration: shutterstock

Organic computers are closer than ever

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protein. Image: shutterstock

Proteins, quanta and electric currents

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plastic. Illustration: shutterstock

Extremely strong and recyclable plastic

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A woman uses a polyurethane gun to repair a wall. Illustration: shutterstock

Vegetable oils for making bioplastics

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An artist's illustration of the protoplanetary disk surrounding the young star MWC 480. The ALMA telescope discovered the organic molecule methyl cyanide in the outer regions of the disk, where comets are thought to form. This is another evidence that organic chemistry is complex of the kind needed for life, it is universal. Figure: (NRAO/AUI/NSF)

Complex organic molecules, the basis of life, were discovered in the disk of a nascent solar system

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Benzene. Illustration: shutterstock

Programmed synthesis to obtain benzene derivatives

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Bionic liquids - solvents consisting of lignin and hemicellulose. Image: Lawrence Berkeley Labs

Bionic liquids from lignin for biofuel production

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A double coil made of nanocubes of magnetite. Photographed using a scanning electron microscope

small cubes

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Chemical analysis of the meteorite fragment that crashed into Shatter Mill may indicate that rocks in space contained the molecules required for the development of life. Photo: Prof. Sandra Fitzgerald, Arizona State University

Life started out easy, because the organic compounds that came from space were more complex than we thought until now

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the blood-brain barrier. Photo: Ben Brahim Mohammed via Wikimedia Commons

The gates of hope - it turns out that the AIDS virus can actually help introduce drugs into the brain

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Prof. Ilan Mark. Photo: Technion

Technion researchers have found an innovative way to create molecules that will shorten drug development processes

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The cycle of organic matter from the cores of stars to the planets. Figure: NSF

Astronomers have discovered complex organic matter in space

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LSD molecule

The Bad Trip of Tesco the Elephant: On the History of LSD

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chocolate. From Wikipedia

What does chocolate really smell like?

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Sitting from right to left: Ilya Shirman, Eyal Shimoni. Standing from right to left: Elisha Krieg, Dr. Boris Rivchinsky and Dr. Haim Wiseman. green alternatives

Knots in the water

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Innovative glucose meter. Image: University of Illinois

Pocket chemistry: sugar meters that detect more than sugar

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Z-form selective "cross-metathesis" using a molybdenum catalyst

A new method for preparing carbon-carbon double bonds

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Two molecules are placed in close proximity within a defined niche within independently constructed monolayers.

A breakthrough in organic chemistry - an innovative method for examining chemical reactions

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Blue and orange glow in response to purple lighting

A new family of light-emitting materials

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Professor Graham Hutchings FRS

Innovative use of a gold catalyst

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Protein folding (full explanation of the image in the original article)

An innovative method for photographing proteins during their folding

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Brown University researchers Aaron Socha (left) and Jason Slough demonstrate the biodiesel production process

A simple method for obtaining biodiesel

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Nobel Prize Medal

The "molecule makers" won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry - extended explanation

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Dr. Little Alfonte and Dr. Michael Mailer. Photo: Danny Machlis, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.

A large research grant from the European Union to Dr. Little Alfonte

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Trifluoromethyl is attached to a benzene ring (the hydrogen atoms attached to the ring are not shown)

A novel synthesis method for pharmaceuticals

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Professor Nicholas Hood from the Technical School of Chemistry and Biochemistry (right) and graduate student Reagan Buckley discovered a pathway where the RNA building block could have formed. - Guanine in the world before the formation of life. Image: Gary Meek

Origin of life: Ultraviolet radiation helps to create guanine

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An organic molecule is complex in space. Illustration: UCLA

Super complex organic molecules are found in the interstellar medium

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Sugar cubes - from Wikipedia

A new method for the preparation of libraries of important sugars

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An example of polyene - Amphotericin B

A new method for preparing important medicines

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From the right: Prof. Mati Friedkin and Prof. Yoram Schechter.

Inventors 2009 of the Weizmann Institute

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Cosmic scene with DNA, stars, solvents and atomic circles in oral flow.

A new method for making safer medicines

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Cosmic scene with DNA, stars, solvents and atomic circles in oral flow.

A breakthrough in the production of tiny biofuel cells

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