For the first time, astrophysicists detected a supernova embedded in a wind rich with silicon, sulfur and argon. Observations suggest the massive star lost its outer hydrogen and helium layers long before exploding. Discovery offers direct evidence of the long-theorized inner shell structure of massive stars.

In a groundbreaking study, University of Utah researchers found strong evidence that exposure to industrial pollutionduring pregnancy can shape a grandchild’s neurodevelopment. A child has a higher risk of an intellectual disability if their grandmothers lived near industrial facilities while pregnant with a parent, especially the mother. Higher density of industrial facilities corresponded to higher risk for the grandchild.

A team of scientists from Korea and Japan has discovered a new type of crystal that can "breathe"—releasing and absorbing oxygen repeatedly at relatively low temperatures. This unique ability could transform the way we develop clean energy technologies, including fuel cells, energy-saving windows, and smart thermal devices.

Computer modeling could solve the real-world problem of detecting designer drugs. These drugs are developed to replicate the effects of known drugs but evade law enforcement. The chemical structure variations that help these compounds avoid detection also make them unpredictable and potentially dangerous in the body. A research team has created a database of predicted chemical structures for improved designer drug identification. They will present their results at ACS Fall 2025.

An international team of scientists led by researchers from Germany has observed the earliest steps of charge separation in a complex dye molecule. As the researchers report in the journal Nature Chemistry, high-frequency vibrations of atomic nuclei within the molecule play a central role in this light-induced charge transfer. Their experiments showed that the forces that these vibrations exert on electrons initiate charge transport, whereas processes in the surrounding solvent, which were previously assumed to initiate charge transfer, begin only at a later stage.