Nanochemistry podcasts

Sophia Chen interviews Matt Dickerson of the Air Force Research Laboratory about manufacturing nanofibrous ceramics with additive methods. The discussion explains how block copolymers direct preceramic polymers into fibers, followed by heating that removes the block polymer and converts the precursor to ceramic. Compared with electrospun mats, printing offers control over component geometry. Ceramic springs illustrate repeated deformation without degrading their mechanical properties, with possible applications in catalysts, batteries and high-temperature components.

Hosted by Sophia Chen

Donna Blackmond discusses why biological molecules favour a single handedness and how that asymmetry might have emerged. The homochirality discussion begins at 6:18. The episode also covers antiparasitic medicines recognised by the 2015 medicine Nobel prize, blood-based estimates of time since death, Matt Gunther’s interview with chemistry laureate Tomas Lindahl about DNA repair, polymer additives designed to reduce aviation-fuel fires, and carbon quantum dots produced from urine.