In celebration of the 2025 International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the editors of Spectroscopy highlight the work of women in analytical chemistry.

Spectroscopy sat down with Oskar Hagelskjaer, Founder and CEO of Microplastic Solution, to discuss his latest study whose findings challenge EU Directive 2020/2184 regarding microplastic detection in potable water.

A recent study proposed a compact, cost-effective, handheld fiber-optic device using simplified DRS technology to track the accuracy of pedicle screw placement in spinal fusion procedures. Spectroscopy spoke to Merle Losch, corresponding author for the paper resulting from this study, about the device and the team’s efforts to produce it.

Top articles published this week include a video interview that explores using label-free spectroscopic techniques for tumor classification, an interview discussing how near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy can classify different types of horsetails, and a news article about detecting colorless microplastics (MPs) using NIR spectroscopy and machine learning (ML).

Spectroscopy sat down with Juergen Popp of the Leibniz Institute for Photonic Technology to talk about the Photonics West Conference, as well as his work using label-free spectroscopy techniques for precise tumor margin control.

A recent study from China explores how hyperspectral imaging (HSI) can be used to develop camouflage technology.

A new study published in Green Analytical Chemistry reveals significant microplastic pollution in Uzbekistan’s Zarafshan River, highlighting regional differences, industrial contributions, and the urgent need for improved monitoring and mitigation strategies.

This new study highlights the potential of visible-near-infrared (Vis-NIR) spectroscopy for predicting phosphorus sorption parameters.

A recent study conducted by Shanghai researchers developed a high-accuracy model for identifying plastic pollution.

In a new study, a team of scientists used gel permeation chromatography, three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy, and UV-visible spectroscopy to assess road runoff from drinking water treatment plants to evaluate the method' capacity for removing dissolved organic matter (DOM).

A recent study explores how smaller microplastics (MPs) are routinely found in potable water, calling into question EU Directive 2020/2184.

A recent study highlights how anisotropic nanostructures can improve surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) analysis of cultural artifacts, including artwork.

Spectroscopy sat down with Knut Baumann of the University of Technology Braunschweig to discuss his latest research examining the classification of two closely related horsetail species, Equisetum arvense (field horsetail) and Equisetum palustre (marsh horsetail), using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR).

Last year, we released a content series titled “Advancing Agriculture for Future Generations.” Here, we compile some of the latest studies in this space.

In this edition of “Inside the Laboratory,” Elise Granek of Portland State University, in Portland, Oregon, and Susanne Brander of Oregon State University, in Corvallis, Oregon, discuss their collaborative research efforts and what their laboratories are working on.

Top articles published this week include a video interview that explores quantifying microplastics and anthropogenic particles in seafood, an interview discussing how spectroscopy can assess salmon freshness, and a news article about using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy in classifying tea.

Spectroscopy recently sat down with Elise Granek, Susanne Brander, and Summer Traylor to discuss their recent study quantifying microplastics (MPs) and anthropogenic particles (APs) in the edible tissues of black rockfish, lingcod, Chinook salmon, Pacific herring, Pacific lamprey, and pink shrimp.

A recent paper published in Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy argued that near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy technology is the most sustainable choice for food production.

Researchers have demonstrated the potential of deep ultraviolet Raman spectroscopy (DUVRS) as a rapid, nondestructive, and sensitive tool for detecting antihistamines like cetirizine in oral fluid samples, paving the way for broader forensic applications.

A recent study from Texas Tech University explored using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopy in age determination as part of forensic investigations.

A recent study from Chiba University examined a new way to improve single-cell inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (scICP-MS).

The editors of Spectroscopy provide a compilation of talks that spectroscopists should consider attending on Tuesday January 28th during the Photonics West Conference in San Francisco, California.

A recent study explored how laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) signals are influenced by ambient gas properties.

To better determine fish freshness within the context of rapid spectroscopic analyses, salmon fillet was analyzed via hand-held fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy devices across the visible and near-infrared (vis-NIR) range and benchmarked against industry-standard potentiometry and the gold-standard laboratory procedure, nucleotide extraction assays, over a 11-day period.

The editors of Spectroscopy provide a compilation of talks that spectroscopists should consider attending on Monday January 27th during the Photonics West Conference in San Francisco, California.

A comprehensive understanding of aging phenomena and the resulting performance loss occurring in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is essential for ongoing improvement of the technology. The formation of a uniform solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) is of crucial importance for the performance, lifetime, and safety of LIBs. Transition metal dissolution (TMD), caused by degradation of the cathode, and subsequent TM deposition on the anode surface can deteriorate the protective properties of the SEI, possibly leading to reconstruction of the SEI and loss of active lithium. We explore this topic here.

In recent years, advances in X-ray optics and detectors have enabled the commercialization of laboratory μXRF spectrometers with spot sizes of ~3 to 30 μm that are suitable for routine imaging of element localization, which was previously only available with scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS). This new technique opens a variety of new μXRF applications in the food and agricultural sciences, which have the potential to provide researchers with valuable data that can enhance food safety, improve product consistency, and refine our understanding of the mechanisms of elemental uptake and homeostasis in agricultural crops. This month’s column takes a more detailed look at some of those application areas.

In this "Icons of Spectroscopy" column, executive editor Jerome Workman Jr. details how Van Zandt Williams from Perkin-Elmer Corporation and American Cyanamid, and Norman E. Wright from the Dow Chemical Company, have made significant contributions to the field of vibrational spectroscopy.