Latest News and Application Notes

Ever since its development in 1883, the Kjeldahl method of protein determination had been the standard in laboratories across the world. It wasn't until the 1990s that the Dumas method began acquiring a foothold. Though the Dumas method was technically older than the Kjeldahl, only recent technological developments have made it easily accessible to labs, and "easily accessible" is certainly one way to describe the modern Dumas method of protein determination, especially how LECO does it.

The world of GC-MS applications is constantly expanding, growing into novel applications and improving classical uses. To celebrate the advancements of this powerful technology, LECO and The Analytical Scientist created an eBook that takes a look at some of the emerging uses of GC-MS. From measuring volcanic emissions to predict eruptions to developing the ultimate untargeted technique with GCxGC-MS, these articles explore a variety of topics.

Most fasteners are essentially springs, and when these fasteners fail it is usually abrupt, "out of nowhere," and caused by fatigue. Fatigue failure is estimated to account for 80-90% of all fastener breaks. However, by its very definition, fatigue damage happens over time, due to repeated loading that stresses an already weakened location. ASTM E1823-10a, Terminology Relating to Fatigue and Fracture Testing, defines fatigue as: "The process of progressive localized permanent structural change occurring in a material subjected to conditions that produce fluctuating stresses and strains at some point or points and that may culminate in cracks or complete fracture after a sufficient number of fluctuations." Preventing fatigue failure is a critical part of engineering designs.

While plant-based proteins have been part of humanity's diet for centuries, it wasn't until the advent of the original textured vegetable protein (TVP) in the 1960s that it started becoming a viable replacement for animal-based protein sources in more mainstream diets. The first commercially available plant-based proteins would not be mistaken for animal-based protein sources and were largely of interest only to vegans, vegetarians, and pescatarians. 

Things have changed dramatically in the plant-based protein sector, especially in the last ten years. Meat-substitutes that looked, smelled, felt, and tasted similar to meat swept the market, and in an age where consumers are becoming more and more informed and interested in sustainability and stewardship of the planet, plant-based protein has risen as a viable alternative for about one in four consumers, those who consider themselves flexitarians.

For many of us, COVID-19 changed the way we work. It changed the way we communicate, gather, and network. Large tradeshows like Pittcon moved virtual or shuttered their doors entirely, and sometimes, that wasn't the worst thing. Less time traveling meant more time available in the lab, attending to your instruments. But after three years of this, it's time to step away from your instruments and let automation take over.

Soil moisture is a strong indicator of the health and potential of soils in a field, but there is no set value that means soil is "good." The makeup of soil is just as important as the types of plants attempting to grow in said soil to know what levels of soil moisture are optimal for any given situation. Furthermore, nature has a nasty tendency to throw a curveball, knocking carefully balanced irrigation plans out of whack.

When you think of a sports competition, you may picture several athletes at the tops of their game duking it out for supremacy, whether on a pitch, a track, a course, a pool, or wherever else their sport takes them. But sport competitions can transcend humans challenging each other. The competition in the sports equipment industry is just as fierce as that between players.

The Rockwell hardness test is one of the fastest and most convenient hardness testing methods used around the world. With the lack of sample prep and optical requirements, it is the easiest to work into automated production lines, and the common Rockwell hardness scale C (HRC) is an easy way to refer to the hardness of metals that even the lay person can understand. However, it is not the only hardness testing method. Knoop (HK) and Vickers (HV) hardness testing methods can also find the hardness of a material, but the values are not interchangeable. To compare material hardness, the values must be in the same hardness scale.

It remains impossible to predict the future accurately, no matter how much we try. While market forecasts and trends tend to illustrate the future of products, reality always has a chance to throw a curveball. Between the global COVID-19 lockdowns suppressing most markets and a trend toward renewable energy sources, coal was expected to start decreasing in market value. Instead, a war between Russia and Ukraine and the lifting of lockdowns has actually driven a higher demand.

Few things in the world bring people together like food. Flavor and aroma are often central pillars of a good time. Whether it’s developing a meat substitute or characterizing the subtle intricacies of liquor, the study of food, flavor, and aromas is critical to so many industries that touch everyone around the world.