# Top ten stories of 2019! December 05, 2019 - [ News ](/news-categories/news) #### From gut microbes to ultracold atoms, here are the stories that got the most attention in 2019 With the year's end in sight, we're taking one more look back. Below is the top ten list of the department's most read stories from 2019. But wait! Now's your chance to give attention to the many, many advances hiding in the shadows. Browse the full list of the department's research news [here](https://chemistry.harvard.edu/news). Sort [ ![Emily Balskus and Vayu Maini Rekdal, authors of a new study out in Science](/sites/g/files/omnuum7776/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/chemistry/files/balskus_and_rekdal_square.gif?itok=cgJImE7S) ](https://chemistry.harvard.edu/news/gut-microbes-eat-our-medication) ## Gut microbes eat our medication ##### June 13, 2019 A concrete example of how one species of bacteria consumes levodopa, the primary treatment for Parkinson’s disease, could reveal more about how the microbiome impacts our health [ ![A hand reaches into a chaotic mess of lasers](/sites/g/files/omnuum7776/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/chemistry/files/lasers_for_ultracold_chemistry.jpg?itok=6JuWSriP) ](https://chemistry.harvard.edu/news/coldest-reaction) ## The coldest reaction ##### November 28, 2019 With ultracold chemistry, researchers get a first look at exactly what happens during a chemical reaction [ ![Thawing ground in Alaska sends vapors into the air over mountains](/sites/g/files/omnuum7776/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/chemistry/files/fog_over_mountains_where_snow_thaws.jpg?itok=HHT4wRZI) ](https://chemistry.harvard.edu/news/trouble-thaw) ## No laughing matter ##### April 11, 2019 The warming Arctic permafrost may be releasing more nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas, than previously thought [ ![Brian Cafferty in the lab](/sites/g/files/omnuum7776/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/chemistry/files/brian_cafferty_square.jpg?itok=Bcm0oGiV) ](https://chemistry.harvard.edu/news/storage-beyond-cloud) ## Storage beyond the cloud ##### May 1, 2019 With molecular data storage, cat videos could outlast us all [ ![](/sites/g/files/omnuum7776/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/chemistry/files/mind_control.jpg?itok=tI3BrIvY) ](https://chemistry.harvard.edu/news/future-mind-control) ## The future of mind control ##### September 4, 2019 Why neuron-like implants could offer a better way to treat Alzheimer’s disease or post-traumatic stress disorder, control prosthetics, or even enhance cognitive abilities [ ![Christoffer wears a navy suit over a bright blue and gray checkered shirt. He looks sideways at the camera as he presents MagLev, a thermos-sized tool with white blocks held together with thick screws and a clear](/sites/g/files/omnuum7776/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/chemistry/files/100419_fentanyl_372_squaresm.jpg?itok=Y8WAVAVA) ](https://chemistry.harvard.edu/news/drug-dust) ## Drug dust ##### November 12, 2019 New technology could help law enforcement detect smaller amounts of fentanyl with a higher degree of accuracy than any other field-testing tool [ ![Adam Cohen (left) and Yoav Adam](/sites/g/files/omnuum7776/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/chemistry/files/cohenadam_adamyoav.jpg?itok=9YtE0_M7) ](https://chemistry.harvard.edu/news/new-vision-neuroscience) ## New vision for neuroscience ##### May 1, 2019 Live recordings of neural electricity could revolutionize how we see the brain [ ![Assistant Professor Brian Liau](/sites/g/files/omnuum7776/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/chemistry/files/brian_liau_square_01.jpg?itok=2QWxisLA) ](https://chemistry.harvard.edu/news/scanning-cancer-treatment) ## Learning why cancer drugs work (or don't) ##### April 15, 2019 Researcher Brian Liau and his team combine CRISPR gene-editing technology with chemical profiling to tease out acute myeloid leukemia mechanisms [ ![Chemistry students dressed in suits pose for a photo on the steps of the Capitol building in the soft light of morning](/sites/g/files/omnuum7776/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/chemistry/files/at_the_capital_square.jpg?itok=W-nAWgm4) ](https://chemistry.harvard.edu/news/chemistry-students-advocate-science-legislation-dc) ## Chemists head for the hill ##### November 8, 2019 In Washington, D.C., chemistry students advocate for green energy, sustainable chemistry, and anti-sexual harassment science legislation [ ![Professor Ted Betley in his lab](/sites/g/files/omnuum7776/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/chemistry/files/professor_ted_betley_square.jpg?itok=ihbKBN4Z) ](https://chemistry.harvard.edu/news/big-game-hunting-catalysts) ## Break it up ##### September 12, 2019 How an elusive catalyst makes unusual reactions happen See also:- [ Balskus ](/news-and-events-faculty/balskus) - [ Betley ](/news-and-events-faculty/betley) - [ Lieber ](/news-and-events-faculty/lieber) - [ Ni ](/news-and-events-faculty/ni) - [ Anderson ](/news-and-events-faculty/anderson) - [ Whitesides ](/news-and-events-faculty/whitesides) - [ Cohen ](/news-and-events-faculty/cohen) - [ Liau ](/news-and-events-faculty/liau) - [ Faculty ](/news-event-type/faculty) - [ Research ](/news-event-type/research) - [ Graduate ](/news-event-type/graduate) Share on:- [ Facebook ](#) - [ Twitter ](#) - [ Linkedin ](#)