Best of the Week: Prebiotic Chemistry, Real-Time Chemical Analysis, Previewing ISMS 2026

Particle-correlated Raman spectroscopy (PCRS) is being used in pharmaceutical nasal spray formulations, demonstrating it can be effective for chemical identification and real-world particulate characterization.¹ We’ll talk about it here. Also, a recent video interview tackles how Raman spectroscopy is being applied in the oil and gas industry as a tool for real-time chemical analysis and process monitoring.² And finally, the International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy (ISMS) conference takes place next week. We interviewed Miguel Sanz-Novo as part of our coverage, and we’ll share his insights here.^3,4

This is the Best of the Week.

PCRS combines high-resolution optical imaging with Raman spectroscopy to link a particle's physical traits to its chemical makeup. Automated workflows identify particles, measure their shape, and capture Raman spectra, while specialized software ties it all together into a traceable, particle-level data set.¹ Because the technique works across wet, dry, and semi-solid samples, it supports high-throughput, reproducible analysis on a wide range of materials. Its use in pharmaceutical nasal spray formulations shows just how effective it can be for real-world particulate characterization and chemical identification.¹

Next, in the first part of a five-part interview series, Janam Pandya, a Product Manager at Thermo Fisher Scientific, talks about how Raman spectroscopy is gaining ground in the oil and gas industry as a tool for real-time chemical analysis and process monitoring. Pandya points to parts of the value chain still lacking real-time measurement capabilities and where Raman can make the biggest difference, drawing on his industry experience to highlight the technology's speed, non-destructive nature, and impact on efficiency, quality, and safety.²

With ISMS 2026 just a week away, we sat down with Miguel Sanz-Novo of the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, who is this year's Miller Prize recipient. He shared insights into his research on complex organic and sulfur-bearing molecules in star-forming regions, and what they could mean for prebiotic chemistry and planet formation.^3,4 He also previewed his upcoming Miller Prize lecture and offered advice for early-career researchers attending the conference, encouraging them to step outside their specialties, network actively, and put real effort into their presentations.^3,4

And finally, a new study found microplastics in sediments from Spain's UNESCO-protected Urdaibai Estuary, a reminder that protected status doesn't guarantee protection from plastic pollution.⁵

That's the Best of the Week.

References

1. Sestak, M. Particle Correlated Raman Spectroscopy (PCRS): A Workflow for Correlating Particle Morphology with Chemical Identification. Spectroscopy 2026, 41 (3), 8–14. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/particle-correlated-raman-spectroscopy-pcrs-a-workflow-for-correlating-particle-morphology-with-chemical-identification
2. Pandya, J.; Wetzel, W. Where is Raman Spectroscopy Delivering the Most Value for Real-Time Chemical Analysis in Oil and Gas? Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/where-is-raman-spectroscopy-delivering-the-most-value-for-real-time-chemical-analysis-in-oil-and-gas- (Accessed June 17^th, 2026).
3. Sanz-Novo, M.; Wetzel, W. Understanding the Origins of Prebiotic Chemistry. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/understanding-the-origins-of-prebiotic-chemistry (Accessed June 17^th, 2026).
4. Sanz-Novo, M.; Wetzel, W. Tips for Young Researchers Attending ISMS 2026 Next Week. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/tips-for-young-researchers-attending-isms-2026-next-week (accessed June 18^th, 2026).
5. Wetzel, W. Microplastics Found in UNESCO-Protected Basque Estuary for First Time. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/microplastics-found-in-unesco-protected-basque-estuary-for-first-time (Accessed June 17^th, 2026).