Food isn’t always what it seems. In crime labs worldwide, scientists regularly examine foods for hidden drugs after crimes or seizures. But testing isn’t straightforward—chocolate, drinks, or even gummy candies behave differently when mixed with substances like cannabis, painkillers, or sedatives. E
Scientists have found a new way to learn about the habits of city residents by looking at their sewage. The technique, called wastewater‑based epidemiology, usually tracks drug use but now also measures food and drink markers. A fresh laboratory test can spot more than 40 different substances in raw
Scientists have created a new material that can help detect harmful chemicals in our food. This material is a type of polymer, which is a big molecule made up of many smaller molecules. The polymer is porous, meaning it has tiny holes that can trap and hold onto other molecules. In this case, the po
Forensic investigators have a tough job. They need to find tiny bits of explosives left after a blast. This helps them figure out what happened and who did it. But old ways of collecting these bits, like using cotton swabs or special liquids, don't always work well. They miss a lot of evidence, espe
