In Our Environment
Fuel Gauge
Raman spectroscopy is used to analyze fuel-air ratios in an engine, with a view to understanding efficiency.
Photo: energy.gov
Eruptive Technology
Fei Yan (European Southern Observatory, Germany, and National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China) operates a UV spectrometer to observe the sulfur dioxide absorption in the plume of Mount Etna.
For more info:http://www.eso.org/~rfosbury/tmp/poster-Etna-trip-2014.pdf
Photo: Leonardo Testi
Homemade Spectroscopy
A modern-day John Browning observes the sun's spectrum at Neamt Citadel, Moldavia, Romania.
Photo: Stefan-Constantin Scanteie, Bucharest, Romania
Deep Sea Firing
A naturally occurring outcrop of gas hydrate (off the coast of Northern California, in the Eel River Basin at 1623 meters depth) is examined using an in-situ laser Raman spectrometer by researchers from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in California, USA. The laser is held and positioned by the robotic arm of the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and the Raman signals are collected in real time via Ethernet communications with the ROV.
Photo: Peter Walz, Peter Brewer and Edward Peltzer ©2013 MBARI
Forna Fingerprints
In Baccharis trimera, a medicinal plant native to South America, irregular monoterpenes, such as carquejol and carquejol acetate, are considered chemical markers. Studying the species in Centro de Pesquisa e Conservação da Natureza-Pro Mata in Brazil showed us that metabolism differences between the male and female specimens should be also considered.
Photo: Manuel Minteguiaga and Eduardo Dellacassa, Laboratorio de Biotecnología de Aromas. Facultad de Química, Universidad de la República. Montevideo, Uruguay.
Hands on History
A finely-constructed small glass Schrotter reaction vessel (1890s) in front of the laboratory procedure for analysis of carbonic acid in limestone, from Outlines of Quantitative Analysis by A. Humboldt Sexton 1903.
Photo: Andy Brill (via Flickr)
Laser Chamber
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) is used to probe the chemical makeup of engine exhaust gases generated in Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s Engine Emissions Laboratory. Understanding the complex chemistry may unlock ways to reduce engine emissions and help the environment.
Photo: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Have Lab, Will Travel
A makeshift portable field laboratory for on-site determinations of total iron in mine drainage from several sites in southwestern Pennsylvania. Mark Stauffer (University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg) performed spectrophotometric determination of iron using iron(II)-chelating agent Ferene S, a Vernier Spectro-Vis diode-array single-beam spectrophotometer, a Vernier LabQuest microprocessor, and a plastic cuvet. The best aspect of a lab-in-a-car? Staying dry and warm on a cold December day.
Photo: Mark Stauffer
Scent of a Woman
Christine Drea, Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology at Duke University and her student Jeremy Chase Crawford (who has since moved to the University of California) collected secretions from ring-tailed lemurs for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. “Chemical richness” decreased with pregnancy, more so for dams bearing male offspring. For more: tas.txp.to/0815/lemur
Photo: David Haring
Click the links below for more When Art Meets Science:
Rich Whitworth completed his studies in medical biochemistry at the University of Leicester, UK, in 1998. To cut a long story short, he escaped to Tokyo to spend five years working for the largest English language publisher in Japan. "Carving out a career in the megalopolis that is Tokyo changed my outlook forever. When seeing life through such a kaleidoscopic lens, it's hard not to get truly caught up in the moment." On returning to the UK, after a few false starts with grey, corporate publishers, Rich was snapped up by Texere Publishing, where he spearheaded the editorial development of The Analytical Scientist. "I feel honored to be part of the close-knit team that forged The Analytical Scientist – we've created a very fresh and forward-thinking publication." Rich is now also Content Director of Texere Publishing, the company behind The Analytical Scientist.
"Making great scientific magazines isn’t just about delivering knowledge and high quality content; it’s also about packaging these in the right words to ensure that someone is truly inspired by a topic. My passion is ensuring that our authors’ expertise is presented as a seamless and enjoyable reading experience, whether in print, in digital or on social media. I’ve spent seven years writing and editing features for scientific and manufacturing publications, and in making this content engaging and accessible without sacrificing its scientific integrity. There is nothing better than a magazine with great content that feels great to read."
I have an extensive academic background in the life sciences, having studied forensic biology and human medical genetics in my time at Strathclyde and Glasgow Universities.
