Chocolate’s tasty flavors might pose a risk in other desserts

Genotoxic substances in baked sweets?

03-Jun-2024 - What makes chocolate taste and smell so delicious? Chemistry, of course! A variety of molecules work together to create that unmistakable aroma, but those same molecules might carry some unwanted health effects if there are too many around. According to research published in ACS’ Journal of ...

Protecting art and passwords with biochemistry

New technology is based on a pool of one hundred million different DNA molecules and protects against counterfeiting

10-Apr-2024 - A new molecular test method helps to prove the authenticity of works of art. The new method could also help to make passwords secure against quantum computers. Instead of using algorithms, the method employs the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing. Security experts fear Q-​Day, the ...

Using metabolomics for assessing safety of chemicals may reduce the use of lab rats

"We hope that learnings from this research will be included in new guidance for the chemical industry to allow commercial laboratories to provide these services widely"

26-Feb-2024 - Scientists have discovered a more robust way of grouping chemicals and using read-across for toxicological data to meet regulatory requirements, which could greatly reduce animal testing. The safety of chemicals is taken incredibly seriously by regulators and as such industry must meet certain ...

BASF to research on alternatives to animal testing on behalf of the European Chemicals Agency

Number of animal experiments required for safety assessments of chemical substances to be further reduced

07-Feb-2024 - The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has contracted a consortium that includes BASF to conduct scientific studies on the reliability and relevance of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) as alternatives to animal testing and to promote the use of such methods in the future. The aim of the contract ...

Merck Expands Newest Biologics Testing Center in Shanghai

Further develops its biosafety testing laboratories to meet local demand

23-Nov-2023 - Merck has completed the second phase of its new € 29 million Biologics Testing Center in China adding 1,500 square meters to the lab, which opened last year. These are the first biosafety laboratories for Merck in this market, enabling clients to locally access a broad range of testing services ...

Start-up Better Basics Laborbedarf Wins First Place at the "Wiley Analytical Science Award 2024"

SmartRack® wins in the Separation, Laboratory Automation & Equipment Category

22-Nov-2023 - Better Basics Laborbedarf, the developer and provider of the first organizational system for laboratory workspaces, has been awarded the first place in the Separation, Laboratory Automation & Equipment category of the Wiley Analytical Science Award 2024 for its SmartRack®. This coveted prize is ...

analytica 2024: Food analysis for sustainable nutrition

From PFAS to microplastics: focus on new harmful substances

16-Nov-2023 - From meat-free cold cuts to vegan salmon, the food market is changing. More and more consumers want to eat sustainably, but without sacrificing the taste of familiar products. “Modern analytical methods play a key role in the development of alternative foods, which is why analytica is ...

Checking for counterfeit medication using a smartphone

Surface texture of packaging as a fingerprint

06-Nov-2023 - Particularly when it comes to medication or medical devices sold online, end-users often wonder whether these are real or fake. The SmartID counterfeit-proof barcode system means anyone can use a smartphone to check a product is genuine, provided the manufacturer uses SmartID. It can be ...

Anti-counterfeiting fluorescent marker developed - Sweet code with laser printing

07-Jun-2023 - A team of researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (MPICI) has developed a method that could make it more difficult to counterfeit products in the future. The new and patented method makes it possible to produce unique, non-copyable fluorescent patterns quickly, ...

Merck Increases Global Commitment to Biosafety Testing With € 35 Million Investment in Scotland

Expansion creates nearly 500 new jobs in Glasgow and Stirling

02-Jun-2023 - Merck invests € 35 million in biosafety testing at its Glasgow and Stirling sites, Scotland. Biosafety testing is a critical step in the drug development and manufacturing process that ensures drugs are safe, efficacious, and meet regulatory requirements. The expansion will create nearly 500 new ...