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The article focuses on solar geoengineering and views of researchers about it. Topics discussed include comments from Frank Keutsch of Harvard University on need to deal with the cause behind climate change, Daniel Cziczo of Massachusetts Institute of Technology on injection of sulfates into the air as a response to climate change and solar geoengineering models debuted by researchers.

The article discusses Robert J. Linhardt of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Jian Liu of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and coworkers have used chemoenzymatic synthesis to make a synthetic heparin that is less prone to contamination and more amenable to protamine reversal than other heparins. It also mentions a research led by Rafal Pawlinski has added a sulfate that makes the heparin easier to synthesize and which retains protamine reversibility.

The article discusses a research by K. Barry Sharpless and Peng Wu, who found bifluoride salts are efficient and cost-effective catalysts for the synthesis of materials such as polysulfates and polysulfonates. It mentions researchers used acidic bifluoride catalysts Q+[FHF] in the research. It also mentions reaction is an extension of sulfur fluoride exchange to combine silyl ethers with fluorosulfates to form polysulfates.

The article reports that a lipid associated with seafood toxicity has been constructed in a laboratory for the first time. According to the author, the compound is a chemical oddity because it is a lipid that features both a sulfate group and six chlorine atoms. The work opens the possibility of developing tools to detect and study the molecule, the author adds.

The article reports on the results of a modeling study which suggests further damage to the ozone layer in polar regions from global warming initiatives which involves pumping of large amounts of sunlight-reflecting sulfate into the atmosphere. Atmospheric chemist Paul Crutzen and colleagues suggested injecting sulfate into the atmosphere to mitigate global warming but only as a last resort.

The article highlights the results of a study by geochemist Pascal Philippot and international colleagues showing that ancient bacteria and archaea used sulphate reduction to sulphide as an energy source. The researchers note that microorganisms from 3.5 billion years ago preferred elemental sulphur instead of sulphate. They believe that microbes from remote Australia got their energy by enzymatically disproprotionating sulphur to hydrogen sulphide and sulphate.

The article reports that Jonathan L. Sessler and his team at the University of Texas have synthesized and studied cyclo[8]pyrrole, a doughnut-shaped molecule consisting of eight pyrrole units. Each pyrrole unit bears an 11-carbon alkyl chain to make the molecule more soluble inorganic solvents. The team found that a toluene solution of the cyclo[8]pyrrole can extract sulfate anion out of aqueous solutions that are much richer in nitrate anion which is the situation found in radioactive waste.

Examines a novel type of macrocycle synthesized by a team of U.S. and Russian chemists that may find use in radioactive waste remediation. Ability of the macrocycle to bind with sulfate anions in the presence of nitrate anions; Composition of the hybrid macrocycle; Influence of sulfate anions on vitrification.