Chemist dabbles with a practical philosopher’s stone

The catalysts used to fuel chemical reactions in the creation of everyday products are often expensive and difficult to come by, but one scientist is working to reduce dependence on such elements. The New York Times delves into how Dr. Paul Chirik of Princeton is researching a process that could see more abundant materials used as dissolved catalysts instead of metals like platinum. The ultimate goal is to reduce the environmental impact on valuable elements, allowing them to be used in more practical scenarios, but the new process comes with its own hurdles.