Researchers have successfully demonstrated that human nails can serve as a reliable biological matrix for detecting fentanyl use. By combining attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopy with machine learning, the study achieved over 80% accuracy in distinguishing fentanyl users from non-users. These findings highlight a promising, noninvasive method for toxicological and forensic analysis.
A recent study out of Ben-Gurion University investigated how Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflectance (FT-IR-ATR) spectroscopy can detect fungal contamination in bread.
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).
Researchers at the University of Lublin and the Medical University of Lublin have demonstrated the first application of FT-IR imaging in zebrafish larvae, revealing that frozen samples better preserve tissue structure than chemical fixation.
A research team is claiming significantly enhanced accuracy of non-invasive blood-glucose testing by upgrading Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) with multiple-reflections, quantum cascade lasers, two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy, and machine learning. The study, published in Spectrochimica Acta Part A, reports achieving a record-breaking 98.8% accuracy, surpassing previous benchmarks for non-invasive glucose detection.
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.
Presentations held during the first half of SPIE Photonics West 2025 highlighted the latest technological advancements in spectroscopy and how they can improve quality of life for people around the world.
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.
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.
In the fourth installment of our review of infrared spectral interpretation, we will discuss the spectroscopy of hydrocarbons. We will look at the stretching and bending vibrations of methyl (CH3) and methylene (CH2) groups, how to distinguish them, and how to know whether one or both of these functional groups are present in a sample. We will also discuss aromatic hydrocarbons, specifically the C-H stretching and bending peaks of mono- and disubstituted benzene rings, and how to distinguish them.
This excerpt from The Concise Handbook of Analytical Spectroscopy, which spans five volumes, serves as a comprehensive reference, detailing the theory, instrumentation, sampling methods, experimental design, and data analysis techniques for each spectroscopic region.
A recent study from researchers in Brazil examined a-pinene’s chemical composition using mid-infrared (MIR) Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy.
A recent study examines how vibrational spectroscopic techniques are being used to evaluate the quality of seaweed.
Spectroscopy recently sat down with Isao Noda of the University of Delaware and Young Mee Jung of Kangwon National University to talk about the principles of two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS) and its key applications.
Researchers from Northern Border University in Saudi Arabia have developed a rhein-loaded self-nano emulsifying drug delivery system (RS-SNEDDS), significantly enhancing the compound's solubility, bioavailability, and therapeutic potential, particularly for neurological applications.
A comprehensive review in the Microchemical Journal highlights ATR FT-IR spectroscopy's transformative role in forensic bloodstain analysis, detailing its applications, challenges, and potential advancements for more precise and reliable crime-solving methodologies.
A recent study looked at how spectroscopy can be used to differentiate ink based on its color and brand.
A recent study used Fourier transform mid-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and machine learning (ML) algorithms to understand the mineral content in camel’s milk.
A recent study explored how polymer-based tea bags contribute to the release of microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPL).
It has occurred to me that, in the 10+ years I have been writing about molecular vibrations, I have never introduced my readers to its basic theory! I will rectify that now. Some of this is new material, and some will be review. Either way, it is important that all this material be covered in one place.
As part of Spectroscopy’s Icons of Spectroscopy Laureate Series, associate editorial director Caroline Hroncich sat down with Jeanette Grasselli Brown to discuss her career.
A new study in Infrared Physics & Technology highlights the pivotal role of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy in identifying and quantifying microplastics, emphasizing its advantages, limitations, and potential for advancement in mitigating environmental pollution.
A recent study by researchers from the University of Belgrade highlights the transformative potential of attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FT-IR) spectroscopy for analyzing protein structures. This versatile method not only provides insights into secondary structures but also excels at tracking aggregation processes, offering advantages over traditional techniques like X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.
A new model corrects errors in analyzing complex mixtures using ATR FT-IR, paving the way for more accurate chemical insights.
