Science in Action

Increasing atmospheric CO2 is causing significant warming of the Earth by changing the heat and water balances between the surface and atmosphere.

Humic materials are part of a class of compounds called biostimulants that, when applied to plants or agricultural soils, stimulate plant growth and productivity. A-TEEM fluorescence spectroscopy and can quantify the concentration of fulvic acids more efficiently.

The investigators lifted the palm print, and the readable area of that print was tiny - the size the tip of a pinky.

The Indian River Sheriff’s Department in Vero Beach uses alternate forensic light sources for their investigations every day.

How a team of nurses revolutionized the investigation of strangulation cases in the area of domestic assault.

Is there life on the icy moons of the solar system? In the subsurface of Mars? Could be, just don’t expect E.T.

In a quiet NYC neighborhood, a frustrated artist created forgeries of America’s Modernistic masters. Raman Spectroscopy did him in.

Vargas, a Ph.D., is the Lead Scientist for the Analytical and Materials Analysis Laboratories at Birla Carbon. And the Marietta, Georgia-based company’s world revolves around carbon black.

See how scientists at Chile’s largest wine maker are using HORIBA’s Aqualog with A-TEEM technology to classify grapes and wines for quality and chemical composition.

Miller focused his research on drinking water quality monitoring and management, along with treatment optimization.

Dave faced challenges managing the amount of dissolved organic material from its water source. Its main supply of raw water is the Delaware Raritan Canal. Rain events cause runoff, compounding the problem.

See how Cryogenics coupled with spectroscopy can quiet the noise of complex molecules to allow a focus on the one you want to study.

To most scientists, climate change is real. The challenge is to find more and better energy sources to generate electricity that do not emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Unveiling the secrets of cancer's early whispers: join Professor Fiona Lyng on a journey of Raman microscopy to detect precancerous signs before it's too late.

Increasingly frequent wildfires and bushfires threaten grape and wine output. Read how fluorescence spectroscopy and A-TEEM technology can quantify smoke taint and yield cost and quality benefits.

The University of Cincinnati geology professor studies paleobiology – the study of ancient life. But what he’s also doing is uncovering evidence of the possibility of life beyond this planet.

This winter, John Priscu plans to drill thousands of feet below the frozen ice of Antarctica and expects to find living creatures. If he’s successful, it could help change the way we see our planet.

Now, HORIBA Scientific has developed the perfect supplement for these highly capable research spectrofluorometers.

Elemental Analysis is a process where a sample of a material is analyzed for its elemental and sometimes isotopic composition.

Dive into Professor Peter Croot's research on biogeochemical cycles, carbon cycling, and primary productivity in the ocean, using cutting-edge fluorescence spectroscopy to unravel the mysteries of "Planet Ocean."

Visualize slicing a rock so thin it’s transparent to the eye. That’s what Eric Ellison must do to study which minerals host life.

There are a lot of quality characteristics that the winemakers are interested in that relate to the color of the wine and the phenolic content – compounds that affect the wine’s taste, color and mouthfeel.

Back at the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Department, crime scene investigators processed the tickets with chemicals to make any fingerprints on them visible.

Read about how fluorescence sensors can be used as biological detectives and also enhance display technology development.

Berezin turned his focus to imaging inflammation in the body – and how to locate it. That, he hoped, would eventually lead to the treatment of peripheral neuropathy and chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy in particular.

Humans, through the migration of populations, agricultural practices and fossil fuel consumption have interfered with the natural carbon cycle of the planet, Fluorescence spectroscopy gives us clues as to how those changes will affect our environment.

Ever bitten into a burger that exploded with smoky chipotle zing, only to later discover it was secretly infused with the ghost pepper's fiery wrath? Welcome to the thrilling world of flavor creation.

Imagine reading a newspaper with an LED-like display that folds to fit in your pocket.

Alternative light sources used by crime scene investigators help them identify evidence left by suspects at a crime scene.

The discovery of a glucose binding molecule could revolutionize diabetes management. Researchers are also working with partners to develop these molecular sensors to release insulin as needed. And the Duetta benchtop spectrofluorometer is at the heart of the discovery.

Scientists believe phenolic compounds, like those found in olive oil, can contribute to a lower rate of coronary heart disease and prostate and colon cancers.

Our planet has posed a baffling puzzle for scientists ―one that contradicts established climate theories and has enormous implications for the future.

In less than two years, mankind will begin a journey that will open new doorways in its understanding of the universe.

Nuclear fusion is viewed by many as the holy grail of clean, renewable energy.

Satellite communications, military radar systems and those 5-G networks you will soon depend on have something in common. Scientists base these systems on microelectronics – the design, manufacture, and use of integrated circuits.

The United States Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) faced a challenge. It wanted to conduct photoemission spectroscopy in the extreme low UV range using a tunable light source. It’s a difficult application. No off-the-shelf instruments existed to achieve its goals.

Researchers have focused on the terrestrial system to identify the missing carbon, such as in rivers and glaciers. Baker’s group is focusing on groundwater.

Metal recycling is key to sustainability, and Professor Mikito Ueda's groundbreaking work on using ionic liquids for energy-efficient electrolytic purification could revolutionize how we conserve vital mineral resources.

Groups of researchers are taking a giant leap in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. They are applying an established technology ― Raman spectroscopy ― to biomedical research.

Imagine killing cancer cells with oxygen compounds. Then tracking the cancer’s metabolism with near ultraviolet light sources. That’s the potential result of the pioneering work by a team at the University of Nevada-Reno.

Was there life on Mars? We'll soon find out, as the Mars 2020 expedition, which launched on July 30, 2020, will explore an ancient lake bed with XRF for signs of life. It may change our ideas of evolution in the universe.

With advancements in solid-state lithium-ion batteries, researchers like Professor Akitoshi Hayashi are pushing the boundaries of energy storage technology. Discover how his research is shaping the future of all-solid-state batteries.

A material unfamiliar to the masses may provide a huge leap in solar energy technology over the next few years.

Large, land-based gas turbines are the worker bees behind energy production. These devices convert the heat from nuclear fuel, concentrated solar power and fossil fuels like coal and gas, into electricity.

The supply of stable quality and production volume for the practical use of carbon nanotubes is critical for the proliferation of this unique group of materials. Read one expert's take on the state of research.

Richard Loomis is trying to make a better solar cell. And he’s taken a road off the beaten path to achieve that goal.

Andrew Whitley is an enigma. The classically trained Ph.D. just won the prestigious Charles Mann Award from the Federation of Analytical Chemistry and Spectroscopy Societies (FACSS) for his body of work.

A semiconductor manufacturer in the Silicon Valley faced a sizable setback. Something was contaminating its product, and the company halted production. That cost the manufacturer millions of dollars a day.

Alternative light sources are typically used in crime scene investigation and post mortem examinations to identify many forms of evidence.

See how X-ray fluorescence allowed researchers to discover the subtle paint formulations that give Van Gogh’s artwork its depth and realism

Microplastics, microscopic bits of manufactured or decayed plastics, are invading our surroundings. Researchers found it in our seas, drinking water, rainwater - and even table salt.

A common accessory - the plastic straw - is contributing to a type of contaminant affecting our ecosystems, not to mention the human food chain.

Mourou’s goal was to develop an ultra-short, high-intensity laser pulse without destroying the equipment used to produce it.

Large vaulted ceilings, old woodwork and stained glass dating back to the early 1900s overpowers you as you walk into the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

Yury Gogotsi, Ph.D., is a co-inventor of MXenes (pronounced ‘maxines’). It’s touted as the next evolutionary leap in two-dimensional nanomaterials and materials science in general, and could provide countless benefits like high-power energy storage (think of a car battery charging in a few minutes), metallic electrical conductivity, flexibility and transparency required for wearable technology.

Plastic airplanes? Nanotechnology makes it possible, with the help of AFM-Raman/TERS instrumentation. Read about how it all comes together.

A Colorado group is tackling one of the largest issues facing us with some of the smallest materials known to mankind.

Was there life on Mars? If so, will it look anything like it does on Earth? Spectroscopy will lead the investigation.

Doctors can treat certain types of cancers with non-toxic light-emitting molecules, photosensitizers, and light. This is the essence of Photodynamic therapy, an up and coming treatment model for certain cancers.

Taylor Harvey, Ph.D., of Texas A&M University-Central Texas, is deep into photovoltaic research.

Watch the interview with Taylor Harvey, Ph.D., of Texas A&M University-Central Texas on Next Generation Photovoltaics

How researchers use Raman spectroscopy and XRF to analyze paintings of Kabuki actors, sumo wrestlers and female beauties to uncover materials used in the centuries-old Ukiyo-e technique.

The proliferation of cheap plastic guns have made recovering sanded-off serial numbers a problem. What works for metal doesn’t for polymers. Raman may have an answer.

Witkowski works for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. He’s a chemist with the Trace Examination Section of the Forensic Chemistry Center. His job is to make sure the food, drugs and supplements you consume aren’t tainted or counterfeit, and he uses Raman spectroscopy to do that.

Igor K. Lednev, Ph.D. is a professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University at Albany, State University of New York. He has been developing the use of Raman spectroscopy for a variety of forensic applications.

Ion transport through cell membranes is at the heart of most biological processes. Matthew Langton of Oxford is finding ways using fluorescence spectroscopy to synthesize molecules to take the place of dysfunctional proteins.

At the nanoscale, heterogeneous interfaces take on unique properties, adding a layer of complexity that AFM-Raman and TERS can help uncover.

Gene Hall is a crusader. His mission is to find mislabeled food and dietary supplement products, and reveal them to the world.

Scientists use nanoparticles in a variety of applications, including medicine, pharmaceuticals, electronics, biomaterials, energy production and consumer products.

Vaidya and her team are developing methods of advanced water treatment that not only returns the wastewater to a healthy level, but raises the ground water level, and prevents land subsidence and seawater intrusion.

Nanomaterials have been at the forefront of scientific research for more than a decade. These tiny materials are defined as microscopic substances measuring 1 nm to 100 nm in size.

In one case, using an innovation created by SPEX Forensics, a division of HORIBA Instruments, a suspect was subsequently linked by fingerprints to 32 different outstanding felony cases.

The aim of the study was to see if fluorescence spectroscopy, using HORIBA’s proprietary A-TEEM technology, and a novel use of a multivariate algorithm could effectively and economically identify a number of wine samples produced from various regions in Australia.

Aaron Celestian's research uses Raman and XRF Spectroscopy to discover which minerals to treat toxic waste with and heal our world.

The chairman told him the news. The Nobel Committee chose Kobilka and his mentor, Robert Lefkowitz, M.D., as the 2012 co-recipients of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry.

Professor Justin Sambur, from Colorado State, talks about his group's working looking into how to best use nano materials for better...

This is the field of food science. Each food has its own unique food problem. And food scientists are responsible for designing ways to manufacture and preserve the quality and safety of those foods throughout its lifecycle.

The result of Martin’s research could help create abundant, low-cost, clean energy on a global scale.

Aaron Specht tries to improve public health conditions using X-ray fluorescence and a heavy dose of globetrotting to spot heavy metals in compromised populations.

Two-dimensional materials have the potential to replace Silicon on microprocessors in computers. If we want to replace Silicon with some of these emerging materials, we must understand everything about it and need standard characterization routes for it too. AFM-Raman with TERS is an essential tool.

What if you could create a new type of semiconductor that could be more efficient in terms of absorbing the energy of the sun? New materials and configurations help us understand inevitable defects.

“People strive to make devices faster and more energy efficient,” He said. “If we can study the fundamental properties and see if proposed materials would be suitable for these types of applications, it can help people design or make devices.”

Inside a small, neat lab, tucked away inside the engineering building at Rutgers University in New Jersey, a researcher is trying to use cheap and renewable sources in order to upgrade them to new useful products and fuels.

The primary role of a drinking water treatment plant is to provide clean drinking (disinfected) water.

Come along for a journey to detect counterfeit over-the-counter supplements using Raman Spectroscopy.

Quantum materials ― 2D sandwiches of one atom thick sheets will take us into the next electronics revolution. Read about one researcher’s quest, using a customized microscopy system performing multiple spectroscopies.

Microplastics pose a problem for our environment, food supply and health. Yet it’s ingrained in our technology and the result of our waste habits.

Microplastics – tiny plastic particles smaller than 5 mm – from that shirt or car tires are seeping into our biosphere. We ingest, inhale and absorb these particles through our skin.

Michael Gonsior studies dissolved organic materials (DOM) from an environment that scientists believe replicates many of the conditions of ancient Earth ― the majestic hot springs in Wyoming’s Yellowstone National Park.