The biggest chemistry-related stories from 2017
From a march for science to shifting environmental priorities in the policy realm, chemistry has been on the move and in the headlines in 2017. Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, reviews the most intriguing chemistry stories of the year.
On the research front, advances in computing pushed the chemistry-predicting capabilities of conventional devices and inched the field closer to the realization of quantum computers. And spurred by last year's Nobel recognition of molecular machines, chemists debuted a slew of new examples, such as a souped-up motor-rotor combo and polymer pulleys that could boost battery performance. The world also saw the inaugural nanocar race this year. In other news, chemists took to the streets with their colleagues from other disciplines, as well as concerned members of the public, to show their support for science. And environmental groups raised objections to the Trump administration's delayed implementation of the Toxic Substances Control Act (known as TSCA) and the industry ties of EPA officials.
The magazine also takes a look back at research advances from 2007 to see what happened in those areas over the last decade. Finally, C&EN reporters look ahead to 2018 and list a few topics to keep an eye on, such as liquid metals and perfluorocarbon contamination of drinking water.
Discover what moved chemistry and science in 2017. Acces the stories via the link in the right box.
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