Stereo Chemistry

C&EN Uncovered: Sustainable Earth Mining in Brazil 24.06.2026 20min

In this episode of C&EN Uncovered, host Craig Bettenhausen speaks with C&EN Editor, Matt Blois, about an article he wrote regarding recent sustainable breakthroughs in Rare Earth Mining. Together, they talk about these claims as well as the potential future of mining for rare earth materials crucial to our technology. You can find the link to the article here. Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Credits Executive producer: David Anderson Host: Craig Bettenhausen Reporter: Ananya Palivela Video + Audio Producer: David Anderson, Jeremy Barr Music: Commercial Flow, Shutterstock Contact Stereo Chemistry: Contact us on social media at @cenmag or email cenfeedback@acs.org.

Inflection Point: Retinol, the magical molecule's bizarre history 10.06.2026 32min

In this episode, hosts David Anderson and Gina Vitale travel as far back as ancient Egypt to unearth the wide-ranging uses of retinol. They also bring in C&EN reporter Craig Bettenhausen to discuss why retinol is such a powerhouse molecule for skin care, and they hear from a contraceptives researcher about how an early candidate for a birth control pill for men affected the retinol pathway. C&EN's award-winning podcast Inflection Point leans on our 100-year archive to trace headline topics in science today back to their disparate and surprising roots. In each episode, we explore three lesser-known moments in science history that ultimately led us to current-day breakthroughs. With help from expert C&EN reporters, this show examines how discoveries from our past have shaped our present and will change our future. Subscribe to Inflection Point now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

C&EN Uncovered: A Quantum Milestone 14.05.2026 25min

In this episode of C&EN Uncovered, host Craig Bettenhausen speaks with C&EN Editor, Ananya Palivela, about her featured article about a recent breakthrough in quantum computing. Together, they talk about IBM's benchmark collaboration with two research laboratories and how it may change the way we look at the Quantum Realm. You can find the link to the article here. Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Credits Executive producer: David Anderson Host: Craig Bettenhausen Reporter: Ananya Palivela Video + Audio Producer: David Anderson, Jeremy Barr Episode artwork: Oak Ridge National Laboratory Music: Commercial Flow, Shutterstock Contact Stereo Chemistry: Contact us on social media at @cenmag or email cenfeedback@acs.org

Bonus: C&EN's Future of Chemistry Designing Out Pollution Panel 20.04.2026 59min

In this bonus episode of Stereo Chemistry, we are featuring a panel discussion from this year's ACS Spring Meeting. Our panelists, Mohamed Ateia Ibrahim, Ann Lee-Jeffs, Juliana Vidal, and Adelina Voutchkova-Kostal discuss the future of chemistry designing out chemistry pollution, outlining key opportunities and challenges and share how all chemists can advance a more sustainable, less wasteful enterprise. Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Credits Executive producer: David Anderson Hosts: Christine Dell'Amore, Liam Conlon Panelists: Mohamed Ateia Ibrahim, Ann Lee-Jeffs, Juliana Vidal, Adelina Voutchkova-Kostal Audio Producer: Jeremy Barr Episode artwork: American Chemical Society Music: Shutterstock Contact Stereo Chemistry: Contact us on social media at @cenmag or email cenfeedback@acs.org.

C&EN Uncovered: Is Vitrification a Clear Solution for Nuclear Waste? 03.04.2026 21min

In this episode of C&EN Uncovered, host Craig Bettenhausen speaks with C&EN Editor, Fionna Samuels, about her featured article detailing a recent breakthrough coming from the Hanford Site: nuclear waste vitrification. Together, they delve into the history of one of the most notorious nuclear production facilities as well as look forward to the future of nuclear energy, waste management, and public transparency. You can find the link to the article here. Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Credits Executive producer: David Anderson Host: Craig Bettenhausen Reporter: Fionna Samuels Video + Audio Producer: David Anderson, Jeremy Barr Episode artwork: Robley L. Johnson Music: Commercial Flow, Shutterstock Contact Stereo Chemistry: Contact us on social media at @cenmag or email cenfeedback@acs.org.

C&EN Uncovered: From Alchemy to AI, and the Funds Behind It All 04.03.2026 24min

In this episode of C&EN Uncovered, host Craig Bettenhausen speaks with C&EN Editor, Chris Gorski, as well as graphic artist and freelance illustrator, Ryan Inzana, about their collaborative efforts to make one of C&EN's most innovative articles to date. This illustrative and immersive article dives into the funds behind some of the chemical industry's most impactful discoveries throughout the centuries. Spanning from early records of Alchemical Experiments to the modern day innovations powered by Artificial Intelligence. You can find the link to the article here. Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Credits Executive producer: David Anderson Host: Craig Bettenhausen Reporter: Chris Gorski Video + Audio Producer: David Anderson, Jeremy Barr Episode artwork: Ryan Inzana Music: Commercial Flow, Shutterstock Contact Stereo Chemistry: Contact us on social media at @cenmag or email cenfeedback@acs.org.

Stereo Chemistry revisited: 'Wicked amazing scientist' James Harris's untold story 18.02.2026 46min

Little was publicly known about the first Black scientist to codiscover an element. Chemists may know James Harris as the first Black scientist to be credited with codiscovering an element. In fact, we referenced this in a previous episode of Stereo Chemistry about making superheavy elements. But beyond this memorable factoid, details about this accomplished nuclear chemist are scarce, and most sources repeat the same superficial information. Kristen Frederick-Frost, curator of modern science at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, wants to change that. After discovering that the museum's database lacked material on Harris, she scoured archival records and sought out former colleagues, friends, and family members to fill in details of his life and career. In this bonus episode of Stereo Chemistry, host Kerri Jansen and special guest Darryl Boyd join Frederick-Frost to explore Harris's story beyond the discoveries that made him famous. And we even get an unexpected peek into his lab, courtesy of the US National Archives. Boyd, a polymer chemist, previously researched James Harris while writing a short article for C&EN's "Black Chemists You Should Know About." Listen to our April 2019 Stereo Chemistry episode "If You Want to Change the Element, You Have to Change the Nucleus." Read the Ebony magazine profile about James Harris. Read about James Harris's experiments with element 104. Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

C&EN Uncovered: Behind the scenes of the chaotic COP30 28.01.2026 26min

In this episode of C&EN Uncovered, host Craig Bettenhausen speaks with C&EN Policy and Regulation reporter, Delger Erdenesanaa, about her article talking about the trials and takeaways of the 30th annual United Nations climate summit. Check out Delger's story on COP30 and the proposed biobased climate solutions and how they may impact the future of the chemical industry and the world. Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Credits Executive producer: David Anderson Host: Craig Bettenhausen Reporter: Delger Erdenesanaa Video + Audio Producer: David Anderson, Jeremy Barr Episode artwork: Andre Penner/Associated Press Music: Commercial Flow, Shutterstock Contact Stereo Chemistry: Contact us on social media at @cenmag or email cenfeedback@acs.org.

Bonus episode: The ancient, 'juicy' origins of antibiotic resistance 26.01.2026 38min

C&EN's award-winning podcast Inflection Point leans on our 100-year archive to trace headline topics in science today back to their disparate and surprising roots. In each episode, we explore three lesser-known moments in science history that ultimately led us to current-day breakthroughs. With help from expert C&EN reporters, this show examines how discoveries from our past have shaped our present and will change our future. In the third episode of our second season, hosts David Anderson and Gina Vitale travel back in time to relive three historical moments that ultimately led to our current understanding of antibiotic resistance. They also bring in C&EN reporter Rowan Walrath to offer a glimpse into a doomsday-scenario future when antibiotics are no longer effective. Subscribe to Inflection Point now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Bonus episode: The electric innovations that brought lithium-ion batteries online 24.12.2025 39min

C&EN's award-winning podcast Inflection Point leans on our 100-year archive to trace headline topics in science today back to their disparate and surprising roots. In each episode, we explore three lesser-known moments in science history that ultimately led us to current-day breakthroughs. With help from expert C&EN reporters, this show examines how discoveries from our past have shaped our present and will change our future. In this episode, hosts David Anderson and Gina Vitale charge up the time machine to relive three historical moments that led to the lithium-ion battery. They also bring in C&EN reporter Prachi Patel to discuss the shortcomings of lithium-ion batteries, whether we're facing a lithium shortage, and new battery chemistry still on the horizon. Subscribe to Inflection Point now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Inflection Point: The era-spanning epiphanies that enabled gene editing 10.12.2025 32min

C&EN's award-winning podcast Inflection Point leans on our 100-year archive to trace headline topics in science today back to their disparate and surprising roots. In each episode, we explore three lesser-known moments in science history that ultimately led us to current-day breakthroughs. With help from expert C&EN reporters, this show examines how discoveries from our past have shaped our present and will change our future. In the second episode of our second season, hosts David Anderson and Gina Vitale travel back in time to relive three historical moments that ultimately led to scientists being able to edit genes. They also bring in C&EN reporter Max Barnhart to offer a glimpse into the future of gene editing technology. Subscribe to Inflection Point now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Inflection Point: How under-appreciated critters inspired GLP-1 drugs 26.11.2025 37min

In the first episode of our second season, hosts David Anderson and Gina Vitale travel back in time to relive three historical moments that led to blockbuster drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. They also talk with C&EN reporter Aayushi Pratap about how future GLP-1 drugs may expand on the current slate of options. C&EN's latest podcast, Inflection Point, leans on our 100-year archive to trace headline topics in science today back to their disparate and surprising roots. In each episode, we explore three lesser-known moments in science history that ultimately led us to current-day breakthroughs. With help from expert C&EN reporters, this new show examines how discoveries from our past have shaped our present and will change our future. Subscribe to Inflection Point now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

MOFs: What is this Nobel-prize-winning group of materials? 07.11.2025 32min

In this episode, Uncovered hops back to the first episode of C&EN's StereoChemistry, which delved into the materials that won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Reporter Matt Davenport spoke with now-laureate Omar Yaghi and a handful of other researchers in and around this exciting subfield of chemistry. For more from C&EN on MOFs, check out our MOF topic page. Similarly, to read more about this year's Nobel Prizes, and look back at other years, we have a topic page for that as well. Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Credits Executive producer: David Anderson Host: Craig Bettenhausen Reporters: Matt Davenport, Mitch Jacoby Audio Producer: David Anderson, Jeremy Barr, Matt Davenport Episode artwork: H2MOF Music: 'Commercial Flow', Shutterstock ––– 'Inflection', Jeremy Barr Contact Stereo Chemistry: Contact us on social media at @cenmag or email cenfeedback@acs.org.

Inside the cavernous crystals that won the Chem Nobel 09.10.2025 17min

The 2025 Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded on Oct. 8 to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M. Yaghi for their work on metal organic frameworks (MOFs). Senior editor Prachi Patel joins a bonus episode of Stereo Chemistry to discuss what MOFs are, why they are so useful, and how they were discovered. Check out Prachi's story on how MOFs won this year's prize at cenm.ag/chemnobel2025. Listen to our 2018 Stereo Chemistry episode on MOFs here: http://cenm.ag/moftalk Subscribe to Inflection Point now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Executive producer: David Anderson Host: Gina Vitale Reporter: Prachi Patel Audio editor: Jeremy Barr Music: Shutterstock Episode artwork: Lingmei Liu et al. Episode artwork source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s42004-020-00361-6

Uncovered: The Strange Copy and Paste Chemistry of Skeletal Editing 26.09.2025 16min

Will Skeletal Editing revolutionize the way we see chemical interactions? In this episode of C&EN Uncovered, host Craig Bettenhausen speaks with C&EN associate editor, Brianna Barbu, about her article diving into the new and exciting frontier of Skeletal Editing. Check out Brianna's story on Skeletal Editing and how it may impact the future of the chemical industry. Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Signal Awards Voting (Inflection Point) Limited Series & Specials, Best Co-Host Team: Click here to check out and vote for the finalists Limited Series & Specials, Science & Education: Click here to check out and vote for the finalists Credits Executive producer: David Anderson Host: Craig Bettenhausen Reporter: Brianna Barbu Video + Audio Producer: David Anderson, Jeremy Barr Episode artwork: Christian Gralingen Music: 'Commercial Flow', Shutterstock ––– 'Inflection', Jeremy Barr Contact Stereo Chemistry: Contact us on social media at @cenmag or email cenfeedback@acs.org.

Bonus: C&EN's Future of Chemistry Degrees Panel 10.09.2025 1h 8min

In this bonus episode of Stereo Chemistry, we are featuring a panel discussion from this year's ACS Fall Meeting. Our panelists, Stefan France, Glory Onajobi-Lee, Victor Olet, and John Gavenonis discuss the future of chemistry degrees, the importance of collaboration, and the fluidity of tech-based skills in the chemical industry at large. We are actively seeking new topics, discussions, and formats for 2026 ACS Future of Chemistry Events. Please use this link to tell us how we're doing and make some recommendations for next year's events. Thank you! Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Credits Executive producer: David Anderson Host: Laura Howes Panelists: Stefan France, Glory Onajobi-Lee, Victor Olet, John Gavenonis Audio Producer: Jeremy Barr Episode artwork: American Chemical Society Music: Commercial Flow, Shutterstock Contact Stereo Chemistry: Contact us on social media at @cenmag or email cenfeedback@acs.org.

C&EN Uncovered: Global Top 50 Chemical Firms in 2025 27.08.2025 20min

Can the world's top 50 chemical firms bounce back from a global economic downturn? In this episode of C&EN Uncovered, host Craig Bettenhausen speaks with C&EN senior correspondent, Alexander Tullo, about his coverage of C&EN's Global Top 50 Chemical Firms list. Uncovered offers a deeper look at subjects from recent stories pulled from the pages of Chemical & Engineering News. Check out Alex's story on the world's top 50 chemical firms. Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Credits Executive producer: David Anderson Host: Craig Bettenhausen Reporter: Alexander Tullo Video + Audio Producer: Jeremy Barr Episode artwork: Will Ludwig Music: Commercial Flow, Shutterstock Contact Stereo Chemistry: Contact us on social media at @cenmag or email cenfeedback@acs.org.

Inflection Point: The mind-bending innovations that built quantum computing 13.08.2025 28min

Hosts David Anderson and Gina Vitale travel back in time to relive three historical moments that were meaningful to the development of quantum computers. They also bring in C&EN reporter Mitch Jacoby to discuss scientific advances enabled by quantum chemistry. C&EN's Inflection Point leans on our 100-year archive to trace headline topics in science today back to their disparate and surprising roots. In each episode, we explore three lesser-known moments in science history that ultimately led us to current-day breakthroughs. With help from expert C&EN reporters, this new show examines how discoveries from our past have shaped our present and will change our future. Subscribe to Inflection Point now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

C&EN Uncovered: Will Emerging Technology Lead Us Into A New Antibiotic Golden Age? 30.07.2025 28min

Are we on the cusp of a new era of Biochemical discovery? In this episode of C&EN Uncovered, host Craig Bettenhausen speaks with C&EN reporter Max Barnhart about his recent C&EN cover story on the frontiers of bioprospecting for new antibiotics. Uncovered offers a deeper look at subjects from recent stories pulled from the pages of Chemical & Engineering News. Check out Max's story on the recent advancements of Bioprospecting. Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Credits Executive producer: David Anderson Host: Craig Bettenhausen Reporter: Max Barnhart Video + Audio Producer: Jeremy Barr Episode artwork: Madeline Monroe Music: Commercial Flow, Shutterstock Contact Stereo Chemistry: Contact us on social media at @cenmag or email cenfeedback@acs.org.

Bonus Episode: 'Inflection Point' traces the serendipitous origins of PFAS 16.07.2025 25min

Inflection Point leans on C&EN's 100-year archive to trace headline topics in science today back to their disparate and surprising roots. In each episode, we explore three lesser-known moments in science history that ultimately led us to current-day breakthroughs. With help from expert C&EN reporters, this new show examines how discoveries from our past have shaped our present and will change our future. In our second episode, hosts David Anderson and Gina Vitale travel back in time to relive three events that ultimately led to the proliferation of PFAS. They also bring in C&EN reporter Britt Erickson to analyze how these 'forever chemicals' could shape our future. Subscribe to Inflection Point now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.