While theNobel Prizesget all the news headlines, important research is also highlighted each year by the Ig Nobels, which are awarded to researchers whose findings might make you laugh at first but then pause and consider the significance of the results.
Take the winners in biology, who figured out that painting stripes on cows to make them look a little more like zebras significantly decreased the number of biting flies that attacked them, simultaneously reducing the cows’ fly-repelling behavior (throwing their heads, stamping their feet, flicking their tails, and twitching their skin). Since this behavior can result in less milk yield for dairy cows and less beef yields from feedlot cattle, these findings can be economically significant.
The Peace prize went to a team who discovered that a modest drink can improve speaking a newly learned foreign language. German speakers in the study who consumed alcohol had significantly better Dutch pronunciation compared with those who did not. However, alcohol did not prove beneficial to test bats, who flew slower and echolocated more poorly in a different study. It’s not as outlandish an idea for a study as it might seem at first, because animals are known to encounter fermented fruit in the wild.
While the ideas for some of these studies might seem to border on brilliance, telling people they are intelligent can temporarily boost their egos, according to the winners of the psychology award. Subjects in the study who completed an IQ test and were told their results were above average experienced a temporary increase in feelings of confidence, uniqueness, and narcissistic grandiosity.
Finally, the longest-running experiment to receive an award this year was in the field of literature. William B. Bean obsessively tracked the growth of one of his fingernails, beginning at the age of 32 and continuing for 35 years, demonstrating that nail growth slows with age. The Ig Nobel was awarded posthumously for his documentation of his results.
You’re not alone. Due to the perceived high cost of a single crystal diffractometer, many crystallographers and chemists have put off purchasing one, relying on third-party labs for structure analysis.
In this webinar, we’ll walk you through the hardware and software of the XtaLAB mini II. You might think a benchtop diffractometer might not be up to the task. You can decide for yourself after seeing real-world data and published examples that demonstrate its capabilities.
The perfect addition to any synthetic chemistry laboratory, the XtaLAB mini II single crystal X-ray diffractometer will enhance research productivity by offering affordable structure analysis capability without the necessity of relying on a departmental facility. With the XtaLAB mini II benchtop diffractometer, you no longer have to wait in line to determine your structures. Instead your research group can rapidly analyze new compounds as they are synthesized in the lab without having to queue up in the departmental core facility.
Join us for the next MiniFlex Office Hour on Novemeber 11, 2025, at 10:30 AM CDT, a LinkedIn Live session where we’ll answer your real-time questions about the MiniFlex X-ray diffractometer. Hosted by Akhilesh Tripathi, X-ray Diffraction Application Manager, and Aya Takase, Head of Global Marketing Communications at Rigaku, this interactive session is your chance to connect, ask questions, and explore all things MiniFlex. Whether you're new to XRD or a longtime user, we welcome your insights.
This is just the beginning of a recurring series, so stay tuned for more opportunities to join the conversation. You can alsobrowse all previous episode recaps here. Drop your questions in the chat, and let’s talk XRD!
The prize was shared between Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar M. Yaghi. This video features discussion with Martyn Poliakoff, Ben Pilgrim, Matthew Cliffe, and James Stephenson.
September 12, 2025: Researchers have unveileda recyclable, self-healing solar glass that functions as a luminescent solar concentrator—promising transparent, power-generating windows for buildings. The lead-free perovskite derivative (ETP2SbCl5) can be reheated at about 200 °C to repair damage and chemically recycled back to its phosphor state. After ten phosphor↔glass recycling cycles, photoluminescence remained roughly 95% of original levels. The work aims to cut cost and waste versus nanocrystal-doped solar glass; real-world durability and large-area performance still need proving.
September 14, 2025: A new study introducesa dynamic simulation model for an electric flash clay calcination plant designed to decarbonize cement production. The process uses kaolinite-rich clays instead of limestone and relies on electric resistive heating, ideally powered by renewable energy, to achieve near-zero CO₂ emissions. Results show that this system can replace up to half of traditional clinker while maintaining product quality, offering a scalable route to low-carbon cement manufacturing. The simulation framework also supports process optimization and control for next-generation, electrified cement plants.
October 21, 2025: Researchers have unveiled a synthetic, dynamic helical polymer that behaves like a molecular spring. At lower temperatures the polymer coils tightly; when heated, it unfolds—and under certain conditions it can even break down into its original molecular building blocks. The Shanghai Tower, with its spiral shape, served as the inspiration for the project following a visit five years ago.
October 25, 2025: As chips become more powerful and densely packed, heat removal has become a critical bottleneck in semiconductors. Researchers have developeda micrometer-thick polycrystalline diamond layerthat can be grown at temperatures below 400 °C directly on semiconductor devices. Because diamond is one of the highest thermal‐conductivity materials yet electrically insulating, it acts as an ideal ‘heat blanket’ by spreading and diluting hotspots right at the source.
Featured Application Notes
Standardless FP Analysis of Plant, Animal and Food Samples Applying Correction by Scattering Line
Organic compounds are the main components in plant, animal and food samples. Since it is difficult to accurately analyze the major elements of organics (i.e., C, H, O and N) by XRF, an organic compound is set as the balance component in standardless FP analysis of these materials. However, since only a single compound can be set as the balance component, the chemical composition of the organic compounds must be different from that of the balance component, which causes analysis error.
This application note demonstrates analysis results from plant, animal and food samples by standardless FP analysis with the SQX Scatter FP Method.
The analysis of glass and raw materials is demonstrated in the manufacturing of soda-lime glass using theNEX CG II. This system is an indirect excitation EDXRF analyzer that uses secondary targets rather than tube filters. Its Cartesian Geometry optical kernel provides monochromatic excitation and removes background, supporting ultra-low detection limits. NEX CG II runs Rigaku RPF-SQX Fundamental Parameters (FP) software with Matching Library.
The FP approach with Matching Library was used for the measurements of finished glass and compositional analysis of the raw materials, dolomite and limestone. Semiquant FP with no Matching Library is also shown, ideal for screening contaminant elements for measuring the purity of the raw materials, sand and soda ash.
X-ray Fluorescence Analysis of Liquid Samples without Helium Gas
By Yuri Maruko
Helium gas is becoming more difficult to obtain these days due to decreased supply and increased demand. In X-ray fluorescence analysis, helium gas is often used in the analysis of liquid samples, while processing samples as solids is possible under a vacuum. In this article we introduce two liquid sample processing methods for measurements under a vacuum: the droplet method and the oil solidification method. In the droplet method a solution sample is dropped onto a filter paper and dried, and in the oil solidification method an oil sample is mixed with a solidifying agent and solidified.
The Opioid Matrix is a podcast for anyone looking for the latest information in the illegal drug supply chain—beginning to end. Each episode will feature a discussion with industry experts about the current opioid crisis, including drug trafficking, drug manufacturing, drug identification, drug addiction, as well as the role of government, law enforcement, new health and social programs, and more.
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