College of Chemistry

Research shines a light on development of the visual cortex during the critical period after birth

January 19, 2022
UC Berkeley, College of Chemistry Press Release

Different layers of the cortex are visualized as depths in the ocean, with the sun playing the role of light/vision

Different layers of the cortex are visualized as depths in the ocean, with the sun playing the role of light/vision. (Illustration by...

Reshaping evolution

January 10, 2022
TED Radio Hour | NPR

Illustration of DNA and parade of animals and man

Illustration of DNA with parade of animals and humans. (Adobestock)

New innovations in gene and stem cell technology have the power to shape ecosystems and even change humanity. This hour, TED speakers share the breakthroughs heralding the next scientific revolution.

Guests...

Genetically modified rice could emit fewer greenhouse gases

January 3, 2022
Eric Roston | Bloomberg

Rice planting

Photo: Worker planting rice. (Adobe Stock)

Fifteen years after their initial meeting to discuss what has become the CRISPR revolution, Professors Jill Banfield and Jennifer Doudna of UC Berkeley,...

Tiny liquid robots never run out of energy as long as they have food

January 3, 2022
Theresa Duque | Berkeley Lab

Liquid robots

Artist’s rendering of autonomous, continuous “liquid robots” in an animated GIF. (Credit: Jenny Nuss/Berkeley Lab)

When you think of a robot, images of R2-D2 or C-3PO might come to mind. But robots can serve up more than just entertainment on the big screen. In a lab, for example, robotic systems can improve safety and efficiency by performing repetitive tasks...

In Memoriam: J. Frank Valle-Riestra

December 6, 2021
by George Tyson, Judson King, and Jeffrey Reimer

Joseph Frank Villa-RiestraJ. Frank Valle-Riestra (1924-2021). Undated photo.

We are sad to report that J. Frank Valle-Riestra passed away in April of this year. Frank was a first generation American born on November 12, 1924 in Oakland, California. He was the son of Carlos and Milena (Pudil) Valle-Riestra. Carlos was originally from Peru. Milena was from the...

Technique tunes into graphene nanoribbons’ electronic potential

January 3, 2022
By Rachel Berkowitz | Berkeley Lab

Photo of nanoribbons

Photo: Scanning tunneling microscopy image of a zigzag graphene nanoribbon. (Credit: Felix Fischer/Berkeley Lab)

Ever since graphene – a thin carbon sheet just one-atom thick – was discovered more than 15 years ago, the wonder material became a workhorse in materials science research. From this body of work, other researchers...

QB3 director David Schaffer elected to National Academy of Inventors

December 7, 2021
By Robert Sanders | UC Berkeley media relations

David Schaffer

David Schaffer, newly elected fellow of the National Academy of Inventors in his lab.

David Schaffer, a UC Berkeley chemical engineer who pioneered the use of engineered viruses to deliver gene therapies — nine of his therapies are currently in clinical trials — has been...

Peidong Yang elected Foreign Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

November 22, 2021
College of Chemistry Press Release

Peidong Yang

The College is pleased to announce that Peidong Yang, the S.K. and Angela Chan Distinguished Professor of Energy and Professor of Chemistry, has been elected a Foreign Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Academy). The Academy also named...

New Technique Improves Conversion of Carbon Dioxide Into Liquid Fuels

November 17, 2021
By Rachel Berkowitz | Berkeley Lab

automobile exhaust

Cars powered by fossil fuels emit carbon dioxide (CO2), the most prevalent greenhouse gas. A team of scientists led by Berkeley Lab has developed a new technique that improves the conversion of CO2 emissions into useful chemicals and liquid fuels. (Credit: Adobe stock)

Cars powered by fossil fuels emit carbon dioxide (CO2), the most prevalent...

Markita Landry awarded Vilcek Prize in Biomedical Science

September 7, 2021
UC Berkeley, College of Chemistry Press Release

Markita Landry

Markita del Carpio Landry, an assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at UC Berkeley has been announced as a 2022 Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Biomedical Science recipient. The...