April 24, 2013

American Chemical Society podcast: From ancient Egypt — new technologies




The latest episode in the American Chemical Society’s (ACS’) award-winning Global Challenges/Chemistry Solutions podcast series describes how a bright blue pigment used 5,000 years ago is giving modern scientists clues toward the development of new nanomaterials. These materials could be used in remote controls for televisions, security inks, state-of-the-art medical imaging devices and other technology.

Based on a report by Tina Salguero, Ph.D., and colleagues in ACS’ Journal of the American Chemical Society, the new podcast is available without charge at iTunes and from www.acs.org/globalchallenges.

“Egyptian blue,” regarded as humanity’s first artificial pigment, was used in paintings on tombs, statues and other objects throughout the ancient Mediterranean world.