John Chasse

A recent study investigated the use of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) as a viable technique for detecting and quantifying trace technetium-99 (^99Tc) for future molten salt reactor applications, where long-lived fission products must be carefully monitored. Spectroscopy spoke to Hunter Andrews of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Oak Ridge, Tennessee), corresponding author of the paper resulting from their research, about their findings.

Returned samples from asteroid Bennu by the NASA OSIRIS-REx mission were analyzed using complementary spectroscopic and microspectroscopic techniques, including Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) microscopy (μFTIR), scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM), and secondary-ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), revealing a previously unknown polymeric organic phase enriched in nitrogen and oxygen. Spectroscopy spoke to Scott Sandford and Michel Nuevo of NASA’s Ames Research Center (Moffett Field, California), and Zack Gainsforth of the University of California’s Space Sciences Laboratory (Berkeley, California), three of the authors of the paper (1) resulting from the research team’s analysis.

In the first part of our interview with Ken Marcus of Clemson University, he discusses what he enjoys about the Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry. Marcus also dives into his research and how the instrumentation his group uses allows for better separation of isobars without the need for chemical intervention, enhancing the accuracy of mass spectrometry (MS) readings.

Researchers explored near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) spectroscopy as a fast, noninvasive, and portable alternative for chemical warfare agent detection, addressing limitations of existing on-site analytical methods. Spectroscopy spoke to Jelle C. de Koning, corresponding author of the paper resulting from this work

In this video clip, discover insights from Alexander Scheeline's talk on transient discharges at the Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry.

A recap of a few interviews Spectroscopy editors have conducted with key opinion leaders at the forefront of technique innovation in 2025. These experts share their views on technological breakthroughs, analytical challenges, and the trends poised to redefine how we interrogate matter at every scale.

A recent study provides a detailed introduction to uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP) for analyzing LA-ICP-TOF-MS data. By converting high-dimensional MSI data into two-dimensional spaces, UMAP facilitates automated visualization to identify spectral clusters. Spectroscopy spoke to the paper’s lead author, Katharina Kronenberg of the University of Graz, about her group’s work.

Paolo Oliveri of the University of Genoa (Italy) sat down with Spectroscopy to discuss the case for artificial intelligence’s (AI) increasing influence in chemistry, and maintained that the chemometrics field has long employed tools now labeled as AI and machine learning (ML).

Researchers at the University of Lausanne investigated the potential of rapid and portable spectroscopic techniques such as Raman and NIR for illicit drug profiling, with the aim of enhancing the timeliness and operational utility of the generated intelligence for ongoing investigations as opposed to utilizing gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy.

Spectroscopy spoke to Benjamin Manard, Senior R&D Staff Scientist and the Group Leader of the Chemical & Isotopic Mass Spectrometry Group at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) as well as to Sarah Szakas and Jordan Stanberry, postdoctoral researchers at ORNL, regarding their work using examined single-particle inductively coupled plasma time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-TOF-MS) as a novel technique for uranium particle isotope ratio measurements.

In this interview clip, Yingchan Guo of the University of Florida previews her talk on Tuesday and gives her reaction of the conference thus far.

Researchers at the University of the Basque Country, along with Català Restauradors S.L. analyzed the emergence of soluble salts on mural paintings in the vault of the Valencia Cathedral, using Raman and micro-energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy combined with ion chromatography.

Metabolite identification is critical in drug development, with mass spectrometry (MS) as the primary tool, but limited in full structural elucidation. Infrared ion spectroscopy (IRIS) overcomes some of these limitations by combining MS sensitivity with IR-based structural fingerprints, enabling characterization without reference standards. Spectroscopy spoke to Giel Berden regarding applications in metabolite identification by determining the site of glucuronidation and phase I oxidation in selected drug molecules.

Researchers from the U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory’s Agricultural Research Service present a preliminary characterization of the citrus peel materials responsible for elevated high performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) chromatogram baselines from citrus peel extracts through the use of Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and proton-nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy.

Researchers at the Central University of Venezuela (Caracas, Venezuela) have developed a robust, definite, and economical methodology for rapid and accurate quantification of theobromine and caffeine in cocoa beans extracts from Venezuelan cocoa using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)

Spectroscopy spoke to Shreya Singh of Cornell University, author of a recent article dealing with using DRIFTS for the photocatalytic conversion of CO₂.

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen (Denmark) are using chromatography and spectroscopy combined to help predict wine ratings. The team investigated the relationship between chemical composition and consumer liking, using Vivino ratings as quality endpoints.

Spectroscopy spoke to Lingyan Shi of the University of California San Diego, about her team's research exploring a noninvasive cancer classification tool.

A joint study conducted by Applied Spectra (West Sacramento, California) and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley, California) used laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) to measure uranium with a detection limit as low as 1.3 picograms, achieving unprecedented sensitivity by optimizing the uranium emission line, system hardware, and light collection efficiency. Richard Russo is the corresponding author for the paper that resulted from this research, and will receive, on behalf of the rest of his team, the 2024 Spectrochimica Acta Part B Best Paper Award.

In the final part of our interview with 2025 Charles Mann Award recipient Marc Porter, Distinguished Professor in Chemical Engineering at the University of Utah, imagines a world where diagnosing deadly diseases is as easy as pulling out a handheld device. With portable Raman spectrometers entering decentralized healthcare, even the most remote settings can benefit from instant analysis—slashing turnaround times and costs while boosting patient care.

In the second part of our interview with 2025 Charles Mann Award recipient Marc Porter, Distinguished Professor in Chemical Engineering at the University of Utah, discusses how surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) enables faster, more reliable detection in point-of-need settings, and explore its potential for real-world clinical deployment.

Spectroscopy speaks with Marc Porter, Distinguished Professor in Chemical Engineering at the University of Utah, for the first of a three-part conversation regarding his work involving the development and evaluation of a highly sensitive biomarker detection strategy using surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS), which offers stronger signal amplification than traditional surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Porter will receive the 2025 Charles Mann Award, presented to an individual who has demonstrated advancement(s) in the field of applied Raman spectroscopy.

Lisa Flanagan and fellow researchers at the University of California, Irvine (Irvine, California) conducted a study exploring a method to isolate astrocyte-biased human neural stem and progenitor cells (hNSPCs), which are valuable for treating neurological diseases. Flanagan will receive the 2025 Mid-Career Award from the AES Electrophoresis Society, awarded for exceptional contributions to the field of electrophoresis, microfluidics, and related areas by an individual who is currently in the middle of their career.

Spectroscopy spoke to Steven Bell, corresponding author of a paper revealing that aromatic molecules adsorb strongly onto Ag and Au nanoparticles via π-metal interactions under ambient conditions, using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). This overturns the prior belief that such interactions are weak for IB metals like Ag and Au. Bell will receive the 2025 Charles Mann Award, awarded for outstanding contributions to the chemical sciences in the area of analytical chemistry.

In a paper published in Nature Communications (1), Prashant Jain and a team of researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Urbana, Illinois) demonstrate how in situ nanoscale surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) can reveal detailed surface chemistry during CO₂ reduction on silver (Ag) nanoparticles under photocatalytic conditions.Jain will receive the 2025 Clara Craver Award from the Coblentz Society, presented annually to an outstanding young molecular spectroscopist whose efforts are in applied analytical vibrational spectroscopy.

Researchers proposed Raman spectroscopy (RS) as a tool to obtain the biochemical profile of circulating extracellular vesicles in the context of breast cancer.

The intersection of atomic and molecular physics with astrophysics has become a cornerstone in unraveling the mysteries of the universe. A paper by Diriba Gonfa Tolasa of the Department of Physics at Assosa University (Assosa, Ethiopia) explores the pivotal role of spectroscopic techniques in probing celestial phenomena, enabling researchers to decode the composition, temperature, density, and motion of astronomical objects through the analysis of spectral lines.For this year’s National Space Day, Tosala spoke to Spectroscopy about his paper.

Research was conducted exploring the dehydration pathways of gypsum (CaSO₄·2H₂O) and its interactions with chloride (Cl) salts under a range of thermal and environmental conditions relevant to Earth and Mars.Spectroscopy spoke to Merve Yeşilbaş, corresponding author of a paper based on this work (1), about the research.

Established to develop a community-sourced glossary covering key functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) terms, including those related to the continuous-wave (CW), frequency-domain (FD), and time-domain (TD) NIRS techniques, the fNIRS Glossary Project features over 300 terms categorized into six key domains: analysis, experimental design, hardware, neuroscience, mathematics, and physics. It also includes abbreviations, symbols, synonyms, references, alternative definitions, and figures where relevant.

A recent study conducted at the LaserLaB Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (the Netherlands) explored spectroscopic imaging techniques, including Raman and fluorescence microscopy, for characterizing microplastics (MPs), focusing on optimizing sample preparation, particularly density separation, and Nile Red staining.Spectroscopy spoke to Merel Konings, corresponding author of the paper resulting from the study, about her work