April 16th 2025
A new deep learning-enhanced spectroscopic platform—SERSome—developed by researchers in China and Finland, identifies medicinal and edible homologs (MEHs) with 98% accuracy. This innovation could revolutionize safety and quality control in the growing MEH market.
AI Shakes Up Spectroscopy as New Tools Reveal the Secret Life of Molecules
April 14th 2025A leading-edge review led by researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and MIT explores how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the study of molecular vibrations and phonon dynamics. From infrared and Raman spectroscopy to neutron and X-ray scattering, AI is transforming how scientists interpret vibrational spectra and predict material behaviors.
Advanced Raman Spectroscopy Method Boosts Precision in Drug Component Detection
April 7th 2025Researchers in China have developed a rapid, non-destructive Raman spectroscopy method that accurately detects active components in complex drug formulations by combining advanced algorithms to eliminate noise and fluorescence interference.
New Multi-Spectroscopic System Enhances Cultural Heritage Analysis
April 2nd 2025A new study published in Talanta introduces SYSPECTRAL, a portable multi-spectroscopic system that can conduct non-invasive, in situ chemical analysis of cultural heritage materials by integrating LIBS, LIF, Raman, and reflectance spectroscopy into a single compact device.
Tomas Hirschfeld: Prolific Research Chemist, Mentor, Inventor, and Futurist
March 19th 2025In this "Icons of Spectroscopy" column, executive editor Jerome Workman Jr. details how Tomas B. Hirschfeld has made many significant contributions to vibrational spectroscopy and has inspired and mentored many leading scientists of the past several decades.
Raman Spectroscopy Aflatoxin Detection Enhances Peanut Safety
March 11th 2025A research team from Jiangsu University has developed a Raman spectroscopy-based method to detect aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in peanuts with improved accuracy and efficiency. By employing a two-step hybrid strategy integrating backward interval partial least squares (BiPLS) and variable combination population analysis (VCPA), the new model significantly enhances the precision of AFB1 detection, providing a more reliable approach for food safety monitoring.
A New Radiation: C.V. Raman and the Dawn of Quantum Spectroscopy, Part II
March 10th 2025In this Icons of Spectroscopy column, Executive Editor Jerome Workman Jr. delves into Part II of the Raman Effect, discovered by C. V. Raman, a physicist whose major contributions to vibrational spectroscopy have helped shape the field and advance one of the most important quantum-based spectroscopy tools of recent generations.
Transforming Connectivity with a Comprehensive Review of IoT Sensors
March 3rd 2025A recent review by researchers at Nagpur University and Seth Kesarimal Porwal College explores the ever advancing landscape of the Internet of Things (IoT) and its essential components—sensors and actuators. The review paper classifies various IoT sensors and examines their role in integrating the physical and digital worlds to enable smarter devices and enhanced automation.
A New Radiation: C.V. Raman and the Dawn of Quantum Spectroscopy, Part I
March 3rd 2025In this "Icons of Spectroscopy" column, executive editor Jerome Workman Jr. delves into Part I of the life and work of C. V. Raman, a physicist who has made major contributions to the science of vibrational spectroscopy and created an understanding for one of the most important quantum-based spectroscopy tools in generations.
Investigating ANFO Lattice Vibrations After Detonation with Raman and XRD
February 28th 2025Spectroscopy recently sat down with Dr. Geraldine Monjardez and two of her coauthors, Dr. Christopher Zall and Dr. Jared Estevanes, to discuss their most recent study, which examined the crystal structure of ammonium nitrate (AN) following exposure to explosive events.
New Raman Spectrometer Paves the Way for Lunar and Planetary Exploration
February 17th 2025Researchers from Shandong University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed the Shandong University Remote Raman Spectrometer (SDU-RRS), a remote Raman system designed to enhance mineral detection in planetary exploration.
A Proposal for the Origin of the Near-Ubiquitous Fluorescence in Raman Spectra
February 14th 2025In this column, I describe what I believe may be the origin of this fluorescence emission and support my conjecture with some measurements of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Understanding the origin of these interfering backgrounds may enable you to design experiments with less interference, avoid the laser illuminations that make things worse, or both.
New AI-Powered Raman Spectroscopy Method Enables Rapid Drug Detection in Blood
February 10th 2025Scientists from China and Finland have developed an advanced method for detecting cardiovascular drugs in blood using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and artificial intelligence (AI). This innovative approach, which employs "molecular hooks" to selectively capture drug molecules, enables rapid and precise analysis, offering a potential advance for real-time clinical diagnostics.
Micro-Raman Spectroscopy to Detect Microplastic Pollution in the Zarafshan River
February 6th 2025A new study published in Green Analytical Chemistry reveals significant microplastic pollution in Uzbekistan’s Zarafshan River, highlighting regional differences, industrial contributions, and the urgent need for improved monitoring and mitigation strategies.