Without fail, the name John Goodenough crops up during Nobel Prize season. Many scientists believe he's deserving of chemistry's top honor. The University of Texas at Austin materials scientist is credited with developing a material that led to mass commercialization of lithium-ion batteries, the technology that powers our smartphones, laptops, electric vehicles, and other gadgets big and small. Though Goodenough, aged 97, hasn't yet won a Nobel Prize, he's not mired down by what could have been. He is renowned for his scientific accomplishments, warm personality, and infectious laugh. In this episode of Stereo Chemistry, C&EN reporter Mitch Jacoby joins cohost Kerri Jansen to tell the story of how a former meteorologist with a background in physics came up with a key material that enabled an electronics revolution and how he continues to pursue big questions in electrochemistry today.

Register for C&EN's Nobel Prize predictions webinar at bit.ly/nobelwebinar19.

UPDATE: We're happy to announce that Goodenough, along with fellow battery pioneers M. Stanley Whittingham and Akira Yoshino, has won the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Read our coverage of the award and these scientists' contributions to lithium-ion batteries at C&EN.

CORRECTION 10/23/19: The material Akira Yoshino used for his seminal battery anode was petroleum coke, a graphite-like material derived from petroleum. Researchers, including Samar Basu, had previously worked with graphite but found that it broke down in the battery's electrolyte. Also, estimates for the voltage of Stan Whittingham's TiS2 battery vary. This podcast episode refers to a 2.4-volt battery; some sources estimate the voltage at 2.5 V.

A script of this podcast is available here.

"Shir Hama'alos" is by Even Sh'siyah, provided courtesy of Mitch Jacoby.

"Plain Loafer" by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under CC BY 3.0.

Image credit: Mitch Jacoby/C&EN

In our last episode of Stereo Chemistry, we talked to chemists who had survived accidents at the bench to learn what went wrong and what lessons we could share to improve lab safety. In this episode, we're looking at what it takes to build a culture of safety. That is, what can organizations do to let researchers know that their safety is not only valued, but expected? Hosts Jyllian Kemsley and Matt Davenport talk to experts about the importance of leadership, commitment, and education to transform lab safety from an exercise in compliance to a core element of the central science.

Find the transcript for this episode on our webiste.

Visit ACS Webinars to learn more about their excellent programming.

Music credits:

"Played by Ear" by Unheard Music Concepts is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

"Compassion (keys version)," "Let That Sink In," and "Thought Bubbles" by Lee Rosevere are licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Image credit: Shutterstock/C&EN

Research science is full of hazards. Chemists and safety professionals do their best to minimize the danger, but accidents do happen and the stakes can be extremely high. So how can chemists ensure that when things do go wrong—or when they nearly go wrong—that we learn from those experiences to work toward a safer future? Communication is key. In this episode of Stereo Chemistry, we talk with four chemists who have survived accidents and shared their stories so others can learn from them.

Read the full transcript of this episode here.

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Music credits:

"Pure Water" and "Interplanetary Forest" by Meydän are licensed under CC BY 4.0.

"Let That Sink In" and "We Don't Know How it Ends" by Lee Rosevere are licensed under CC BY 4.0.

"Blue Lobster" by Daniel Birch is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Image credit: Shutterstock/C&EN

In the aftermath of a building fire, investigators study the scene for clues to the fire's cause. They look for burn patterns and suspicious materials while chemists search charred debris for traces of flammable liquids. But investigating fires is not as straightforward as it once was, because investigators now know more about the complexity of how fires burn. In this episode of Stereo Chemistry, host Kerri Jansen explores how scientists are working to better pinpoint specific chemicals amid the chaos a fire leaves behind and how a new understanding of the chemistry and physics of fire has revolutionized the way fire scenes are interpreted.

Nominate innovative young companies for C&EN's 10 Start-Ups to Watch feature at cenm.ag/startupnom.

A script of this episode is available on our website.

"Blonde" by Nctrnm is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

"Plain Loafer" by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under CC BY 3.0.

Image credit: UL FSRI

Robots in the ocean are giving scientists more details about processes above and below the surface that affect our weather, our food supply, and more. They're also helping chemical oceanographers understand and record the effects that climate change is having on our waters. The past 2 decades have seen a growing fleet of uncrewed research vessels and a proliferation of chemical sensors, which together are giving chemical oceanographers access to an unprecedented wealth of data. That's changing not just the way they think the oceans work but also how they themselves work. In this episode, pioneers of ocean robotics and scientists developing new sensors for the crewless vehicles tell tales of that work. And hacky sacks.

For a script of this podcast and a video of a sail drone, visit our website.

Music credits:

"Blind Love Dub" by Jeris is licensed under CC BY 3.0

"Morning Cruise," "September Sky," and "Dance of the Pixies" by Jens Kiilstofte are licensed under CC BY 4.0.

"Where Was I?" by Lee Rosevere is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Image credit: NOAA

In honor of the International Year of the Periodic Table, Stereo Chemistry explores the stories behind some of the elements in this episode. C&EN and ACS on Campus hosted periodic table pub trivia during the ACS Spring 2019 National Meeting in Orlando, Florida. Inspired by the event, its participants, and its questions, host Kerri Jansen investigated what it takes to make a new superheavy element, starting a half century ago and tracking the making of new elements through time. She tells the tales of scientists commonly associated with shaping the periodic table but also of the unsung heroes behind the scenes.

A script of this podcast is available at our website.

Read all of C&EN's International Year of the Periodic Table stories.

Sign up for C&EN's weekly newsletter at bit.ly/chemnewsletter.

Music credits:

"Rewound" by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

"Plain Loafer" by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under CC BY 3.0.

Image credit: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory/The Regents of the University of California

Being a chemistry professor is Jen Heemstra's dream job. How she got there was a bit of a nightmare. But now she's running her own team at Emory University and has become a social media celebrity by sharing her experiences and leadership advice on Twitter. She credits her personal tragedy and professional setbacks for making her who she is today. In the latest episode of C&EN's Stereo Chemistry podcast, we spent two days with Heemstra and her team to learn more about her and her approach to graduate education. Heemstra's adversity has not only shaped her attitude but also how she runs her lab. She's helping her students develop skills that go beyond the bench—things like how to manage motivation, how to develop research ideas, and how to write grants. Listen now to hear more about Heemstra's journey and philosophy.

Here's a link to Jen's PhD Balance post on Instagram (PhD Balance was formerly The PhDepression).

Ask Jen a question for her Office Hours column!

Nominate an early-career chemist for this year's Talented 12 feature.

Music credits:

"School" and "Mall" by Komiku are licensed under CC0 1.0.

"Blind" by Meydän is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

"The Confrontation" by Podington Bear is licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.

"May the Chords Be with You" by Computer Music All-stars is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Image credit: Jessica Lily (Jen Heemtra's headshot); Matt Davenport/C&EN (Photo collage)

They say love is a many-splendored thing, and we have to agree. In the latest episode of Stereo Chemistry, love unites rotovap romance, intimate feelings formatted for the Journal of the American Chemical Society, and the slow but tireless march of equality. C&EN spoke with five chemistry couples about their love stories, as well as what advice they have for those trying to give love a chance in a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) profession. You'll hear real talk about fears and doubts, about struggling with work-life balance, and about solving the two-body problem. And you'll also hear some of the cutest gosh-darn stories we've ever had the privilege of sharing.

Read a script of this podcast on our website.

Music credits:

"In Your Arms" by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under CC BY 3.0.

"Plain Loafer" by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under CC BY 3.0.

RNA should be a terrible drug target. It's long, noodle-like structure lacks the nooks and crannies that small molecule drugs use to grab onto proteins and thereby control them. But a decades-old disregard for RNA is starting to change. In August 2018, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the first-ever RNA interference (RNAi) drug, which uses a double-stranded RNA molecule to prevent the production of disease-related proteins. In the past two years, several startups have launched to show that some RNAs can, just like proteins, be drugged with small molecules. And a third group of companies recently emerged with plans to drug proteins that make modifications to RNA, part of the budding field of epitranscriptomics. In this episode, C&EN visits Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, and Accent Therapeutics to discuss these three strategies, and to understand how RNA-modulating therapies will compete in the wider world of drug discovery.

Visit our website for a script of this podcast.

Music credits:

"And...(Insert Problem Here)" by GR∑Y is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.

"Raccoon Family Robinson", "Robot Park", and "The Confrontation" by Podington Bear are licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0.

"Wireless" by Lee Rosevere is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.

Image credit: J. Am. Chem. Soc.

Closing out the inaugural year of Stereo Chemistry, host Kerri Jansen and C&EN reporter Tien Nguyen share a collection of stories about ways of distilling complex chemistry. Join us for a resonant take on organic chemistry reactions, an abridged explanation of some Nobel Prize–winning work, and the story behind a chemical earworm. A script of this episode is available at cen.acs.org/education/science-communication/Finding-fun-ways-simplify-complicated/96/web/2018/12. Read about the year's most memorable chemistry at cenm.ag/yic2018. Other stories referenced in this episode: Unusual mash-ups of art and science | C&EN https://cen.acs.org/articles/96/i9/Unusual-mash-ups-art-science.html Frances H. Arnold, George P. Smith, and Gregory P. Winter share 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry | C&EN https://cen.acs.org/biological-chemistry/Frances-H-Arnold-George-P-Smith-and-Gregory-P-Winter-share-2018-Nobel-Prize-in-Chemistry/96/web/2018/10 How is directed evolution changing the world? | C&EN https://cen.acs.org/people/nobel-prize/directed-evolution-changing-world/96/i44 Alex Sable-Smith's tweet about his dad's Nobel win https://twitter.com/alexsablesmith/status/1047453987006377985?lang=en New definitions for the kilogram and mole | C&EN https://cen.acs.org/analytical-chemistry/New-definitions-kilogram-mole/96/web/2018/11 "Clarinet Cora Theme" by Lobo Loco is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 "The Confrontation" by Podington Bear is licensed under CC BY-NC 3.0 Clips from "A Mole Is a Unit," "Amazing Spoons," and "Mendeleev" were provided courtesy of Mike Offutt