When Industrial Chemistry, Public Health, and International Law Collided

Few environmental crises demonstrate the power—and peril—of chemistry as starkly as Minamata disease. What began as unexplained neurological symptoms in a Japanese fishing community in the 1950s evolved into one of the most significant environmental disasters of the 20th century. It ultimately reshaped global chemical regulation, culminating in the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a legally binding international treaty adopted in 2013.

The Rise of a Material That Defies Traditional Chemistry and Reshapes Modern Industry

In 2026, metallic glass—also known in materials science as amorphous metal—has re-emerged as one of the most transformative materials of the decade. Its rise reflects a larger truth about materials chemistry: profound industrial change often comes not from discovering new elements, but from reorganizing atoms in ways nature rarely permits.