Best of the Week: Raman Spectroscopy, Analytica 2024 Awards

This week, Spectroscopy published a variety of articles on the hottest topics in analytical science. Below, we’ve highlighted some of the most popular articles, according to our readers. Happy reading!

An Inside Look at the 2024 Analytica Awards Program

Aaron Acevedo

For over 50 years, Analytica has been a trade fair for laboratory technology, analysis, and biotechnology, where such topics can be discussed on an international scale. During Analytica 2024, which will be held in Munich, Germany from April 9–12, 2024, there will be two award presentations. Both events will be presented by the GDCh Division of Analytical Chemistry, a division of the German Chemical Society, which was founded in 1867. In this article, we go over the two awards that will be presented, the criteria through which nominees are judged, and the organizations that sponsor the awards.

Liquid Instruments FPGA Technology Now Compatible with Apple Vision Pro

Will Wetzel

Last month, Liquid Instruments, a company that specializes in reconfigurable test instrumentation, announced that its Moku platform is now compatible with Apple Vision Pro headsets. With this technology, Moku, which uses field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) to deliver and entire suite of instruments and adapt to new technologies, can now be used to interact with multiple instruments without the need for monitors, with hand and eye gestures now being the only tools necessary. This integration was created to, as the company says, accelerate testing in optics, quantum, and photonics research laboratories.

The Latest Applications in Raman Spectroscopy

Will Wetzel

Raman spectroscopy is known for being a versatile method of forensic analysis; this can be attributed to its ability to enable qualitative and quantitative analysis by measuring the frequency and intensity of scattered radiations, respectively. This spectroscopic approach remains popular among analytical scientists since it can provide detailed information on the vibrational and rotational modes of molecules. Ongoing advancements in Raman techniques and instrumentation can further enhance its significance in tissue discovery and characterization. In this article, we discuss the many uses Raman spectroscopy has, and how it can be developed further.

Rigaku Receives Third Year of Funding from TSA

Aaron Acevedo

On April 1, Rigaku Analytical Devices announced that it was awarded a third year of funding for an optional three-year research and development contract from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). This contract, which is part of the TSA’s Alarm Resolution Program (ARP), aims to provide near-term improvements of security operations and capabilities for resolving explosive and non-explosive prohibited item alarms at airport checkpoints. Here, we discuss the technology the TSA uses to screen for potentially dangerous materials, and how this agreement furthers efforts to maintain travelers’ safety.

Fourier Transform Near Infrared Spectroscopy Analyzing the Composition of Cookies

Will Wetzel

Fourier transform near-infrared spectroscopy (FT-NIR) is useful for analyzing food samples quickly and accurately, all without destroying the sample in the process. The technique is often used to check chemical and physical parameters to ensure flour is appropriate for baking, in addition to checking the moisture and protein content of flours and cereals. In this study led by Cristina Quintelas and Antonio L. Amaral from the University of Minho, FT-NIR was used to predict nutritional parameters in cookies to ensure their safety and quality for consumers.