This study used molecular spectroscopic techniques to characterize fibers found at a crime scene and those from the suspects.

Young spectroscopists need to know how to work with instruments and acquire the necessary scientific knowledge required in their field, but equally important are skills such as writing and communication.

A plain-language glossary of 40 spectroscopic and elemental analytical methods—FTIR, Raman, ICP-MS, XRF, atomic absorption, and more—with verified references for lab professionals, students, and instrument buyers.

Top articles published this week include an inside look at university archaeology programs and a couple previews of two Spectroscopy-focused conferences that are upcoming.

Ramon M. Barnes, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at UMass Amherst and a pioneering figure in ICP spectrochemistry, has died at 86. He founded the Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry and edited the ICP Information Newsletter for decades.

An upcoming poster at the American Chemical Society (ACS) Fall 2026 Meeting will present how terahertz spectroscopy is being used to study Mars.

How has research on boron atoms advanced over the last decade-plus? A talk at the American Chemical Society (ACS) Fall 2026 Meeting will explore this question.

The Eastern Analytical Symposium will take place November 16–18, 2026 in Plainsboro, New Jersey. Here, we preview the award winners.

The Eastern Analytical Symposium will run November 16–18, 2026, giving laboratories and suppliers time to plan as venue details remain pending.

Atomic spectroscopy is making strides in fields such as forensics and environmental analysis. This Q&A explores how atomic spectroscopy-based techniques are being used and what the future looks like for these techniques.

Electrothermal vaporization (ETV) sample introduction into ICP-OES enables direct analysis of solids, liquids and slurries with minimal sample prep, offering results comparable to ICP-MS after digestion in 80-100 seconds per sample.

A talk at the upcoming American Chemical Society (ACS) Fall 2026 Meeting will present a new method for measuring the electronic state of individual atoms within multinuclear clusters.

Students who study archaeometry are building skills and conducting work that is similar to other disciplines.

Top articles published this week include a discussion about hands-on learning when it comes to spectroscopy curricula and a new “Focus on Quality” column on spectrometer validation.

The suite has three configurations to help laboratories standardize workflows.

In the second episode of “Spectroscopy Around the Globe,” we will shift from Egypt to England, where we will explore how spectroscopy is helping us learn more about Stonehenge, a popular tourist attraction.

This "Focus on Quality" column will explore how a regulated laboratory can leverage supplier software development and testing to reduce User Acceptance Testing (UAT) of a configured spectrometer software.

Measuring neonicotinoids in drinking water is not heavily regulated in the United States, but low-cost, rapid analytical tools are changing the conversation.

An upcoming talk at the American Chemical Society (ACS) Fall 2026 Meeting will discuss new insights into the origins of Mars’s early water.

An upcoming talk at the American Chemical Society (ACS) Fall 2026 Meeting will discuss how spectroscopy is advancing the assessment of novel psychoactive substances.

This review critically examines the progress in the characterization of carbon nanotubes and graphene, emphasizing how each X-ray technique probes a different aspect of structure–property relationships.

An upcoming poster session at the American Chemical Society (ACS) Fall 2026 Meeting will explore how spectroscopy can be used to identify the origin of lithium in oilfield wastewater.

Revisiting Spectroscopy’s State of the Industry poll published last year indicates the direction the field is going, and how spectroscopists can succeed in a competitive job market.

Not all universities and colleges have the equipment people use in industry, which puts students at a disadvantage compared to those who can access and use these instruments.

A rule proposed by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) would give political appointees final authority over discretionary grant decisions ahead of peer reviewers, allow agencies to terminate active grants without a formal right of appeal, and restrict international collaboration and publication funding across federal science agencies. For the optical, molecular, vibrational, and atomic spectroscopy community, the proposal could affect the grants, journal support, and student and postdoctoral positions that sustain the field.

Top articles published this week include a new “IR Spectral Interpretation” column and a preview of the upcoming American Chemical Society (ACS) Fall 2026 Meeting.

A recent study showcased an auto-focusing laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) imaging system that uses a motor-driven focusing mirror to track surface height changes in real time, cutting signal variability on irregular surfaces and improving spectral stability more than eightfold compared to conventional static systems.

Can spectroscopy help cities manage water quality during monsoons?