At Pittcon this year, there will be numerous sessions dedicated to spotlighting the latest research that uses atomic spectroscopy or elemental analysis techniques. We highlight some of these talks below that might pique the interest of spectroscopists and researchers attending the conference this year.

At Pittcon, a symposium about advancements in forensic analysis will take place. We preview this symposium here.

On Wednesday, March 5th, the Williams Wright Award will be presented to David W. Schiering of 908 Devices. We preview the award session here.

At Pittcon this year, an oral symposium on Tuesday afternoon will discuss the increasing role of artificial intelligence in vibrational spectroscopy.

By using a handheld NIR spectrometer, researchers aimed to optimize the classification process that makes it possible to differentiate between polyolefin and non-polyolefin films with a single measurement, even for thin films. Their findings could contribute to better recycling processes, helping to address the growing plastic waste problem. Spectroscopy spoke to Hana Stipanovic, corresponding author of a paper resulting from these efforts, about this research.

Top articles published this week include an interview that provides insight into how marine monitoring can improve mitigation of plastic pollution, coverage of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) conference, and an article about next-generation infrared (IR) sensors.

A recent study published in the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis explores the potential of fluorescence anisotropy as a tool for quantifying structural anisotropy in food, offering new insights for improving plant-based alternatives and dairy product textures.

A new study published in Chemical Engineering Journal by researchers from Northeast Agricultural University in China reveals that biochar aging, influenced by environmental factors like UV exposure and wet-dry cycles, alters dissolved organic matter composition and affects its effectiveness in remediating cadmium-contaminated soil.

In this short video, Coblentz Society president Luisa Profeta of Rigaku Analytical Devices and Igor Lednev of the University at Albany preview their talks and sessions taking place at Pittcon, as well as give their opinions about what topics they hope to explore more at the conference.

At the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Conference (AAFS) 2025, several sessions will focus on the use of spectroscopy in forensic analysis.

On Wednesday, February 19th, a plenary session will explore the pros and cons of artificial intelligence. We preview this session here.

On Wednesday, February 19th, 2025, from 8:30–9:30 am EST, a keynote address will take place at the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) Conference. We preview the keynote here.

Spectroscopy sat down with Samiksha Singh to discuss her team’s latest research in microplastics research, which provided insight into how marine monitoring can improve mitigation of plastic pollution.

A joint study between the Institute for Environment and Energy, Technology and Analytics (IUTA e. V., Duisburg, Germany) and Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (Germany) explored the combination of size exclusion chromatography (SEC) with diode array detector (DAD) and capillary-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (CERS) to directly analyze hemolyzed serum samples. We spoke to Jana Thissen, first author of the paper resulting from this study, about her team’s work.

Researchers from Shandong University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed the Shandong University Remote Raman Spectrometer (SDU-RRS), a remote Raman system designed to enhance mineral detection in planetary exploration.

W. W. Coblentz was one of the preeminent researchers in the field of infrared spectroscopy with work spanning a broad range of physics, chemistry, spectroscopic theory, instrumentation, applications, and sample handling. The Coblentz Society was established in his name in 1954 by Norman E. Wright and Van Zandt Williams.

Benjamin T. Manard has won the 2025 Emerging Leader in Atomic Spectroscopy Award for his pioneering research in nuclear material characterization and isotope ratio analysis, with expertise in advanced atomic spectrometry techniques such as inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and laser ablation.

Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) microscopy using reflection methods (diffuse reflection, reflection/reflection-absorption, or attenuated total reflectance) typically requires less sample preparation than transmission. However, optimal results will depend upon the sample and, in particular, the sample surface.

This “Chemometrics in Spectroscopy” column traces the historical and technical development of these methods, emphasizing their application in calibrating spectrophotometers for predicting measured sample chemical or physical properties—particularly in near-infrared (NIR), infrared (IR), Raman, and atomic spectroscopy—and explores how AI and deep learning are reshaping the spectroscopic landscape.

Top articles published this week include an article celebrating women in spectroscopy, a video interview discussing how Raman microspectroscopy can help detect microplastics in potable water, and a news article about using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FT-IR) spectroscopy to detect fentanyl in fingernails.

In this column, I describe what I believe may be the origin of this fluorescence emission and support my conjecture with some measurements of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Understanding the origin of these interfering backgrounds may enable you to design experiments with less interference, avoid the laser illuminations that make things worse, or both.

This year, the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Conference is taking place from February 17–22, 2025. We highlight the importance of spectroscopy in this field and why we’re covering the conference this year.

The study developed an effective mid-infrared spectroscopic identification model, combining principal component analysis (PCA) and support vector machine (SVM), to accurately determine the geographical origin of five types of millet with a recognition accuracy of up to 99.2% for the training set and 98.3% for the prediction set.

Researchers at Zhengzhou Police University have developed an AI-powered Raman spectroscopy method that achieves 100% accuracy in identifying plastic beverage bottles.

Researchers from Jiangsu University review advancements in computer vision and spectroscopy for non-destructive citrus quality assessment, highlighting the role of AI, automation, and portable spectrometers in improving efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility in the citrus industry.

A new study published in Food Control combines Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and deep learning to accurately authenticate the geographical origin of Gastrodia elata f. glauca, offering a reliable method for geographical indication (GI) verification and fraud prevention in the herbal and food industry.

A recent study examined a novel method to detect adulteration in camellia oil.

In part 2 of our interview with Oskar Hagelskjaer of Microplastic Solution, he discusses the benefits of using automated Raman microspectroscopy to detect and analyze microplastics in drinking water.