Raman Spectroscopy

Researchers from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and the University of Padua have uncovered the earliest direct evidence of Upper Palaeolithic humans deliberately processing the non-edible plant Isatis tinctoria, revealing complex behaviors involving medicinal or dye-related plant use over 32,000 years ago.

Top articles published this week include an interview about aromatic–metal interactions, a tutorial article about the recent advancements in tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS), and a news article about using shortwave and near-infrared (SWIR/NIR) spectral imaging in cultural heritage applications.

Researchers have developed an analytical method combining remote near-infrared and Raman spectroscopy with machine learning to noninvasively map moisture and salt damage in historic buildings, offering critical insight into ongoing structural deterioration.

Researchers in Thailand have developed a cost-effective standoff Raman spectroscopy system using a night-vision intensified spectrometer and digital correction algorithms. The system reliably detects chemical compounds at distances up to 60 meters with high spectral resolution.

In this tutorial article, Yukihiro Ozaki explores the recent advancements and broadening applications of tip-enhanced Raman scattering (TERS), a cutting-edge technique that integrates scanning probe microscopy (SPM) with surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). TERS enables highly localized chemical analysis at the nano- to subnano-scale, achieving spatial resolution well beyond the diffraction limit of light. Ozaki highlights the versatility of TERS in various experimental environments—ranging from ambient air to ultrahigh vacuum and electrochemical systems—and its powerful utility in fields such as single-molecule detection, biomolecular mechanism studies, nanomaterial characterization, and high-resolution imaging.

Raman spectroscopy emerges as a powerful tool for quantifying adenine in nucleic acid therapeutics, enhancing analytical efficiency and quality assessment.

A recent review in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis highlights how AI, particularly deep learning, is revolutionizing Raman spectroscopy by enhancing its accuracy, efficiency, and applications in drug development, quality control, and clinical diagnostics.

A recent study explored new rapid screening alternatives to traditional methods for detecting pork adulteration in meatballs, aiding halal food authentication efforts.

In this Icons of Spectroscopy article, Executive Editor Jerome Workman Jr. delves into the life and impact of Bruce Kowalski, an analytical chemist whose major contributions to chemometrics helped establish the field of applying advanced quantitative and qualitative mathematics to extract meaningful chemical information from complex datasets. Kowalski’s visionary approach to chemical data analysis, education, and software development has transformed the landscape of modern analytical chemistry for academia and industry.

Spanish scientists have combined Raman imaging with powerful chemometric tools to identify and map organic molecules in a Martian meteorite, offering key insights for future Mars sample return missions and the search for past life on the Red Planet.

A team of scientists in Poland has unveiled the first detailed structural and magnetic analysis of the Ribbeck meteorite, a recently recovered space rock classified as an aubrite. Using Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and advanced magnetic testing, researchers revealed the meteorite's unique mineralogy and its connection to deep space conditions.

Researchers in Rome used advanced spectroscopic techniques to probe the mineralogy of the CM2 carbonaceous chondrite NWA 12184. This revealed the effects of space weathering and provided insights into C-type asteroid evolution.

Researchers at McGill University have developed a fast, eco-friendly method using portable Raman spectroscopy and deep learning to accurately assess the antioxidant content of maple syrup on-site.

Researchers at Guangdong University of Technology have developed a fast, non-destructive Raman spectroscopy method to accurately detect active ingredients in complex drug formulations.

A recent study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports reveals that a multi-headed snake motif at Argentina's La Candelaria rock shelter was created through multiple painting events over time.

Researchers have developed a powerful deep learning model that automates the identification of minerals using Raman spectroscopy, offering faster, more accurate results even in complex geological samples. By integrating attention mechanisms and explainable AI tools, the system boosts trust and performance in field-based mineral analysis.

A new review by researchers from IIT Delhi and the University of Queensland highlights how Terahertz (THz) and low-wavenumber Raman (THz-Raman) spectroscopy are advancing quality control and efficiency in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and mineral industries. These powerful non-invasive tools enable detailed multi-parameter sensing, offering deeper insight at the molecular level.

In this “Icons of Spectroscopy” column, Spectroscopy Executive Editor Jerome Workman, Jr. explores the life and contributions of Albert Abraham Michelson, a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, who showed early brilliance in physics and mathematics, eventually resulting in a teaching position at the Academy and the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1907.

A new comprehensive review explores how wearable plasmonic sensors using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) are changing the landscape for non-invasive health monitoring. By combining nanotechnology, AI, and real-time spectroscopy analysis to detect critical biomarkers in human sweat, this integration of nanomaterials, flexible electronics, and AI is changing how we monitor health and disease in real-time.

In this interview, S. Michael Angel, a consultant on the SuperCam team, explains how the instrument analyzes Martian rocks and what it reveals about Mars’ geology and potential for past life.

The Perseverance rover is equipped with many cameras and different instruments to conduct scientific experiments on Mars, including several spectrometers. We describe some of them here.

In a new study published in Measurement, researchers explored the power of low-frequency Raman spectroscopy for non-invasive drug analysis.

A new deep learning-enhanced spectroscopic platform—SERSome—developed by researchers in China and Finland, identifies medicinal and edible homologs (MEHs) with 98% accuracy. This innovation could revolutionize safety and quality control in the growing MEH market.

A new study published in Spectrochimica Acta Part A by Dominik Heger and colleagues at Masaryk University reveals that phenol's photophysical properties change significantly when frozen, potentially enabling its breakdown by sunlight in icy environments.

Researchers at Delft University of Technology have developed a novel method using single compound spectra to enhance the transferability and accuracy of Raman spectroscopy models for real-time fermentation monitoring.

Researchers are using AI-enabled Raman spectroscopy to enhance the development, administration, and response prediction of cancer immunotherapies. This innovative, label-free method provides detailed insights into tumor-immune microenvironments, aiming to optimize personalized immunotherapy and other treatment strategies and improve patient outcomes.

A recent study introduces a new development in cancer research using Raman spectroscopy.

A recent study demonstrated the utility of Raman spectroscopy and machine learning (ML) algorithms to classify plastic types found in waste of electric and electronic equipment (WEEE) streams.

A leading-edge review led by researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and MIT explores how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the study of molecular vibrations and phonon dynamics. From infrared and Raman spectroscopy to neutron and X-ray scattering, AI is transforming how scientists interpret vibrational spectra and predict material behaviors.