Stereo Chemistry

Latest Episodes:

Bonus: Shaping the Future of Chemistry Societies Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of ACS, C&EN is convening perspectives across two panel discussions to explore how chemistry societies might support science into the future. As chemistry remains the "central science," AI, climate change, and a shifting global landscape are some of the factors putting these institutions under pressure to adapt. This is an opportunity to hear from global thought leaders as they explore what the future for communities of science might look like.

Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Executive producer: David Anderson Hosts: Nick Ishmael-Perkins, Liam Conlon Panelists: Kate Biberdorf, Mathieu Denis, Rao Kotamarthi, Jennifer Schwartz Poehlmann Audio Producer: Jeremy Barr Episode artwork: American Chemical Society Music: Shutterstock Contact Stereo Chemistry: Contact us on social media at @cenmag or email cenfeedback@acs.org.

C&EN Uncovered: Sustainability In Space Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of C&EN Uncovered, host Craig Bettenhausen speaks with C&EN Editors, Fionna Samuels and Brianna Barbu, about their contributions to C&EN's Space Package and how sustainability and geochemistry will have an effect on humanity's future space endeavors. You can find their articles here and here.

Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Credits

Executive producer: David Anderson

Host: Craig Bettenhausen

Reporter: Laurel Oldach

Video + Audio Producer: David Anderson, Jeremy Barr

Music: Commercial Flow, Shutterstock

Contact Stereo Chemistry: Contact us on social media at @cenmag or email cenfeedback@acs.org.

Bonus: Can we carbon-capture our way out of climate change? Aug 05, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Stereo Chemistry's sister podcast, Inflection Point, hosts David Anderson and Gina Vitale travel back in time to understand how we are capturing carbon at the source and removing existing CO2 from our atmosphere. They also bring in C&EN reporters Alex Scott and Fionna Samuels to explain how CO2-scrubbing technology from a 19th-century submarine is still basically used today and how making the ocean more basic might help us mitigate our emissions.

C&EN's award-winning podcast Inflection Point leans on our 100-year archive to trace headline topics in science today back to their disparate and surprising roots. In each episode, we explore three lesser-known moments in science history that ultimately led us to current-day breakthroughs. With help from expert C&EN reporters, this show examines how discoveries from our past have shaped our present and will change our future.

Subscribe to Inflection Point now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Uncovered: The Laser Edge of Cryo-Electron Microscopy Jul 23, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of C&EN Uncovered, host Craig Bettenhausen speaks with C&EN Senior Editor, Laurel Oldach, about an ultrabright breakthrough in laser technology that may change the way we look at cry-electron microscopy. You can find the link to the article here.

Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Credits:

Executive producer: David Anderson

Host: Craig Bettenhausen

Reporter: Laurel Oldach

Video + Audio Producer: David Anderson, Jeremy Barr

Music: Commercial Flow, Shutterstock

Contact Stereo Chemistry: Contact us on social media at @cenmag or email cenfeedback@acs.org.

C&EN Uncovered: Sustainable Earth Mining in Brazil Jun 24, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of C&EN Uncovered, host Craig Bettenhausen speaks with C&EN Editor, Matt Blois, about an article he wrote regarding recent sustainable breakthroughs in Rare Earth Mining. Together, they talk about these claims as well as the potential future of mining for rare earth materials crucial to our technology. You can find the link to the article here.

Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

CORRECTION: This episode description was updated on July 20, 2026, to correct the reporter's name in the credits. It is Matt Blois, not Ananya Palivela.

Credits

Executive producer: David Anderson

Host: Craig Bettenhausen

Reporter: Matt Blois

Video + Audio Producer: David Anderson, Jeremy Barr

Music: Commercial Flow, Shutterstock

Contact Stereo Chemistry: Contact us on social media at @cenmag or email cenfeedback@acs.org.

Inflection Point: Retinol, the magical molecule's bizarre history Jun 10, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, hosts David Anderson and Gina Vitale travel as far back as ancient Egypt to unearth the wide-ranging uses of retinol. They also bring in C&EN reporter Craig Bettenhausen to discuss why retinol is such a powerhouse molecule for skin care, and they hear from a contraceptives researcher about how an early candidate for a birth control pill for men affected the retinol pathway.

Subscribe to Inflection Point now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

C&EN Uncovered: A Quantum Milestone May 14, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of C&EN Uncovered, host Craig Bettenhausen speaks with C&EN Editor, Ananya Palivela, about her featured article about a recent breakthrough in quantum computing. Together, they talk about IBM's benchmark collaboration with two research laboratories and how it may change the way we look at the Quantum Realm. You can find the link to the article here.

Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Credits

Executive producer: David Anderson

Host: Craig Bettenhausen

Reporter: Ananya Palivela

Video + Audio Producer: David Anderson, Jeremy Barr

Episode artwork: Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Music: Commercial Flow, Shutterstock

Contact Stereo Chemistry: Contact us on social media at @cenmag or email cenfeedback@acs.org

Bonus: C&EN's Future of Chemistry Designing Out Pollution Panel Apr 20, 2026

Show notes

In this bonus episode of Stereo Chemistry, we are featuring a panel discussion from this year's ACS Spring Meeting. Our panelists, Mohamed Ateia Ibrahim, Ann Lee-Jeffs, Juliana Vidal, and Adelina Voutchkova-Kostal discuss the future of chemistry designing out chemistry pollution, outlining key opportunities and challenges and share how all chemists can advance a more sustainable, less wasteful enterprise. Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Credits Executive producer: David Anderson Hosts: Christine Dell'Amore, Liam Conlon Panelists: Mohamed Ateia Ibrahim, Ann Lee-Jeffs, Juliana Vidal, Adelina Voutchkova-Kostal Audio Producer: Jeremy Barr Episode artwork: American Chemical Society Music: Shutterstock Contact Stereo Chemistry: Contact us on social media at @cenmag or email cenfeedback@acs.org.

C&EN Uncovered: Is Vitrification a Clear Solution for Nuclear Waste? Apr 03, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of C&EN Uncovered, host Craig Bettenhausen speaks with C&EN Editor, Fionna Samuels, about her featured article detailing a recent breakthrough coming from the Hanford Site: nuclear waste vitrification. Together, they delve into the history of one of the most notorious nuclear production facilities as well as look forward to the future of nuclear energy, waste management, and public transparency. You can find the link to the article here.

Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Credits

Executive producer: David Anderson

Host: Craig Bettenhausen

Reporter: Fionna Samuels

Video + Audio Producer: David Anderson, Jeremy Barr

Music: Commercial Flow, Shutterstock

Contact Stereo Chemistry: Contact us on social media at @cenmag or email cenfeedback@acs.org.

C&EN Uncovered: From Alchemy to AI, and the Funds Behind It All Mar 04, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of C&EN Uncovered, host Craig Bettenhausen speaks with C&EN Editor, Chris Gorski, as well as graphic artist and freelance illustrator, Ryan Inzana, about their collaborative efforts to make one of C&EN's most innovative articles to date. This illustrative and immersive article dives into the funds behind some of the chemical industry's most impactful discoveries throughout the centuries. Spanning from early records of Alchemical Experiments to the modern day innovations powered by Artificial Intelligence. You can find the link to the article here.

Subscribe to Stereo Chemistry now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Credits

Executive producer: David Anderson

Host: Craig Bettenhausen

Reporter: Chris Gorski

Video + Audio Producer: David Anderson, Jeremy Barr

Music: Commercial Flow, Shutterstock

Contact Stereo Chemistry: Contact us on social media at @cenmag or email cenfeedback@acs.org.