A recent study explored new rapid screening alternatives to traditional methods for detecting pork adulteration in meatballs, aiding halal food authentication efforts.

In a paper published in Nature Communications (1), Prashant Jain and a team of researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Urbana, Illinois) demonstrate how in situ nanoscale surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) can reveal detailed surface chemistry during CO₂ reduction on silver (Ag) nanoparticles under photocatalytic conditions.Jain will receive the 2025 Clara Craver Award from the Coblentz Society, presented annually to an outstanding young molecular spectroscopist whose efforts are in applied analytical vibrational spectroscopy.

In this Icons of Spectroscopy article, Executive Editor Jerome Workman Jr. delves into the life and impact of Bruce Kowalski, an analytical chemist whose major contributions to chemometrics helped establish the field of applying advanced quantitative and qualitative mathematics to extract meaningful chemical information from complex datasets. Kowalski’s visionary approach to chemical data analysis, education, and software development has transformed the landscape of modern analytical chemistry for academia and industry.

Top articles published this week include an interview with Pooja Sheevam about her study analyzing Hawaii’s PTA-2 drill core, several news stories on recent meteorite studies, and a news article on using Raman spectroscopy and artificial intelligence (AI) to detect adulteration in maple syrup.

Spanish scientists have combined Raman imaging with powerful chemometric tools to identify and map organic molecules in a Martian meteorite, offering key insights for future Mars sample return missions and the search for past life on the Red Planet.

In Part I of our video interview with Pooja Sheevam, she discusses why she and her team used both LWIR and SWIR spectroscopy in analyzing Hawaii's PTA-2 drill core, and how the two techniques complemented each other in the study.

A proposed solution is a coal species classification method that combines terahertz time-domain spectroscopy with machine learning - specifically, principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA). By using terahertz (THz) time-domain spectroscopy (TDS), the absorption coefficient, dielectric constant, and refractive index of each sample were obtained from lignite, bituminous coal, and anthracite samples.

A new study published in Marine Pollution Bulletin reveals significant microplastic contamination at 5000-meter depths in the Central Indian Ocean Basin, highlighting the widespread reach of plastic pollution and the urgent need for regulatory action.

A team of scientists in Poland has unveiled the first detailed structural and magnetic analysis of the Ribbeck meteorite, a recently recovered space rock classified as an aubrite. Using Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and advanced magnetic testing, researchers revealed the meteorite's unique mineralogy and its connection to deep space conditions.

Researchers in China have pioneered a rapid, green, and non-destructive detection system using NIR spectroscopy and machine learning to ensure yak milk powder quality.

Researchers in Rome used advanced spectroscopic techniques to probe the mineralogy of the CM2 carbonaceous chondrite NWA 12184. This revealed the effects of space weathering and provided insights into C-type asteroid evolution.

A new study published in the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis by researchers at the University of Sharjah reveals that while most cat foods sold in Sharjah meet international safety standards, some contain elevated metal levels, prompting calls for stricter regulation and quality control to protect pet health.