New edition of the Wiley Registry of Mass Spectral Data expands compound coverage to over 915,500 reference spectra, strengthening a foundational layer of Wiley’s scientific data and research intelligence portfolio.Wiley, a global leader in authoritative content and research intelligence for the advancement of scientific discovery, innovation and learning, today released the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/products/887">Wiley Registry of Mass Spectral Data 2026</a>.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Wiley_Registry_of_Mass_Spectral_Data_2026_bc408d8245.jpg" alt="Wiley: Registry of Mass Spectral Data 2026" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Wiley_Registry_of_Mass_Spectral_Data_2026_bc408d8245.jpg 110w," sizes="100vw" width="1527" height="2162">As AI-driven research pipelines become standard practice across pharmaceuticals, materials science and forensic investigation, the quality of reference data underpinning those pipelines determines whether results are trusted—or stall at the verification stage.The Wiley Registry of Mass Spectral Data 2026 addresses this issue directly: One of the world’s largest and most trusted mass spectral reference databases for identifying unknown chemical compounds, it is now expanded and validated to meet the analytical demands of modern, AI-assisted laboratory workflows.Laboratories face increasingly complex analytical challenges—from detecting emerging environmental contaminants to identifying novel substances in forensic investigations. As a result, having access to a comprehensive, rigorously validated spectral database has become foundational to getting results right. It is also a critical validation layer for AI-driven workflows.The Wiley Registry database helps scientists and researchers around the world with environmental testing, forensic investigation, food safety research, drug analysis, defense research, homeland security, and more, providing critical reference data for identifying and analyzing chemical compounds and materials.The new edition represents a significant expansion of the collection, which now contains more than 915,500 reference spectra—the unique chemical “signatures” used to identify substances—making it among the most comprehensive databases of its kind. More than 42,000 new GC-MS spectra representing 34,100 compounds have been added, with data from laboratories, world patents and peer-reviewed scientific literature. Each spectrum is validated to the same rigorous standard, ensuring that the data perform reliably whether a researcher is running a manual comparison or feeding it into an automated identification pipeline.The Wiley Registry is part of Wiley’s growing portfolio of scientific data and research intelligence solutions, which includes spectral databases, chemistry and materials literature, and analytical tools designed to support researchers and organizations from discovery through to applied outcomes. Wiley spectral database solutions are trusted by the world’s top pharmaceutical companies and many Fortune 500 organizations—reflecting Wiley’s mission to transform knowledge into actionable intelligence, equipping researchers with the rigorous reference data that drives real-world scientific discovery.Updated every three years, the Wiley Registry is among the company’s longest-standing data products, with a history spanning decades of continuous development.“The Wiley Registry is a foundational layer of intelligence for any laboratory conducting GC-MS analysis—and increasingly, for the AI-assisted workflows being built around that analysis,” said Armughan Rafat, Wiley senior vice president and chief AI &amp; data analytics officer. “By expanding compound coverage and applying consistent quality measures across the collection, we help analysts provide a deterministic layer to move from unknown to identified faster.”Available in the most common instrumentation manufacturer formats, the Wiley Registry of Mass Spectral Data 2026 also offers bundled options to access even more data with its <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/products/885">Wiley Registry/NIST</a> and the KnowItAll GC-MS Library collection for labs seeking the most comprehensive coverage and workflow integration. The Wiley Registry is also available as a KnowItAll subscription for continued access to new data as they are added to the collection.Spectral databases contain detailed “fingerprints” of substances captured through analytical techniques such as <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/products/934">mass spectrometry (MS)</a> or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://gcms.labrulez.com/products/1271">Raman spectroscopy</a>, enabling researchers to identify unknown materials by comparing their spectral signatures against validated reference spectra. This data is essential for quality control, research verification and discovery across industries from pharmaceuticals to materials science.<blockquote>For more information about the Wiley Registry of Mass Spectral Data 2026, please <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://sciencesolutions.wiley.com/solutions/technique/gc-ms/wiley-registry-of-mass-spectral-data/">visit this website</a>.</blockquote><h4>About Wiley</h4>Wiley (NYSE: WLY) is a global leader in authoritative content and research intelligence for the advancement of scientific discovery, innovation, and learning. With more than 200 years at the center of the scholarly ecosystem, Wiley combines trusted publishing heritage with AI-powered platforms to transform how knowledge is discovered, accessed, and applied. From individual researchers and students to Fortune 500 R&amp;D teams, Wiley enables the transformation of scientific breakthroughs into real-world impact. From knowledge to impact—Wiley is redefining what's possible in science and learning. Visit us at Wiley.com.

Wiley releases the 2026 edition of the Wiley Registry of Mass Spectral Data to expand GC-MS identification intelligence

🎤Megan Farrah (Tufts University)<h4>What if Mars already had biosignatures… and destroyed them?</h4>In this episode of Concentrating on Chromatography, host David Oliva sits down with Megan Farrah to explore how GC-MS is being used to reconstruct potential biosignatures under simulated Martian conditions.Inside a Mars Simulation Chamber, Megan irradiates sterols and hopanes — two of NASA’s priority targets for life detection — in soil matrices containing oxychlorine salts similar to those detected by Mars missions.Her goal? Determine whether chlorinated hydrocarbons detected by rover-based pyrolysis GC-MS were:<ul><li>Indigenous Martian organics</li><li>Terrestrial contamination</li><li>Or molecules altered by heat during analysis</li></ul><h5>We dive deep into:</h5>🔬 SIM mode vs. full scan when you don’t know what you’re looking for 🧂 Why residual salts can destroy a GC column (and how ion chromatography prevents it) 🔥 The dangers of heating organics in the presence of perchlorates 🧪 Toluene/BHT extraction and preventing artificial oxidation 🧼 GC-MS contamination: septa, liners, plasticizers, detergents, and why her entire bench is glass 🚀 What Mars Sample Return would require from separation scientistsMegan explains why finding “organics” does not automatically mean finding life — and why Mars is far from geologically dead.We also explore how she explains Mars chemistry to fifth graders using paper chromatography… and why separation science still feels like magic.<h5>If you care about:</h5><ul><li>GC-MS method development</li><li>Column contamination control</li><li>Environmental salt matrices</li><li>Astrobiology</li><li>Or the future of life detection</li></ul>This is an episode you don’t want to miss.<h4>Topics Covered</h4><ul><li>Mars Simulation Chamber experiments</li><li>Sterols and hopanes as biosignatures</li><li>Oxidant-induced fragmentation</li><li>Derivatization with BSTFA</li><li>Ion chromatography salt cleanup</li><li>Pyrolysis GC-MS on Mars rovers</li><li>High-salt matrix challenges</li><li>Sensitivity vs column lifetime</li></ul><h3>Video Transcription</h3><h4>Introducing Separation Science Through Paper Chromatography</h4>Farrah begins by describing volunteer outreach activities at an elementary school chemistry club. One exercise involved simple paper chromatography, where students separated ink dyes into individual colors.Although young students were not learning concepts such as partition coefficients or stationary phases, the experiment provided an intuitive introduction to separation science. Watching a single ink spot separate into multiple colors allowed children to understand the idea of a mixture being divided into its individual components. Farrah noted that the experience reinforced how chromatography can be explained through visual transformations rather than technical terminology.She also draws a parallel between this classroom experiment and her own research. While children can directly observe colored compounds separating on chromatography paper, her laboratory work involves invisible molecules that require sophisticated analytical instruments to detect and identify.<h4>Simulating Martian Chemistry in the Laboratory</h4>A central component of Farrah’s research is the use of a Mars simulation chamber, where chemical compounds are exposed to conditions resembling the Martian environment.In simplified terms, the process begins with a known chemical compound. The sample is then subjected to simulated Martian sunlight and chemically reactive salts. These conditions induce chemical transformations, generating complex mixtures of degradation products. The resulting mixtures are analogous to the separated colors observed during paper chromatography, except that the individual compounds must be detected through analytical instrumentation rather than visual observation.The objective is not simply to identify compounds present in a sample, but rather to understand how organic molecules change after long-term exposure to Martian environmental conditions.<h4>The Challenge of Unknown Degradation Products</h4>Unlike many analytical projects where target analytes are known beforehand, Farrah’s work focuses on degradation products that cannot be predicted with certainty.Biomolecules exposed to simulated Martian chemistry can fragment into hundreds of compounds, many of which may never have been observed previously. As a result, traditional targeted analytical methods are insufficient.Instead, Farrah employs a broad exploratory strategy involving multiple analytical platforms:<ul><li>Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS)</li><li>Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS)</li><li>Ion chromatography (IC)</li><li>Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR)</li></ul>Samples are often analyzed using several complementary methods and instrument settings, including workflows optimized for lipids, oxidized sterols, and unknown compounds. Rather than searching for a specific molecule, the goal is to characterize the entire chemical landscape created by Martian degradation processes.<h4>Martian Organics or Analytical Artifacts?</h4>One of the most intriguing scientific questions discussed during the interview concerns organic compounds detected on Mars by NASA missions.The Viking landers and the Curiosity rover’s Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument both utilized pyrolysis GC-MS. In these systems, samples are heated to very high temperatures—up to approximately 1000 °C—to volatilize compounds prior to analysis.The complication arises because Martian soil contains abundant oxychlorine salts, including perchlorates. When organic molecules are heated in the presence of these salts, chlorinated compounds can be generated during the analytical process itself.Consequently, compounds such as chloromethane and chlorobenzene may have several possible origins:<ol><li>Indigenous Martian organic compounds altered naturally on Mars.</li><li>Terrestrial contaminants chlorinated during analysis.</li><li>Native Martian compounds transformed inside the analytical instrument.</li></ol>Farrah’s research focuses on determining whether chlorination processes could have occurred naturally on Mars through long-term exposure to ultraviolet radiation and oxychlorine-rich environments, rather than being artifacts produced during pyrolysis analysis.<h4>Misconceptions About Organic Molecules on Mars</h4>Farrah identifies two common misconceptions surrounding Martian organic chemistry.The first is the widespread assumption that the detection of organic compounds automatically implies the existence of life. She explains that organic molecules are not exclusive to biological systems. Carbon-containing compounds occur throughout the universe, including meteorites, comets, and interstellar dust clouds. Therefore, the presence of organic molecules on Mars alone does not constitute evidence of life.The second misconception is that Mars is a completely inactive world. While often described as cold and dead, Mars continues to experience geological processes and once possessed liquid water and conditions potentially suitable for habitability over geologically significant timescales. According to Farrah, subsurface environments may still preserve evidence of ancient biological activity that has yet to be discovered.<h4>Sample Preparation and Oxidation Control</h4>Because oxidation plays a major role in Martian chemistry, preventing unwanted oxidation during laboratory handling is critical.Farrah uses butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) as an antioxidant during extraction procedures. BHT functions as an oxygen scavenger, protecting analytes from oxidation that could occur during sample preparation and extraction. This ensures that observed oxidation products originate from simulated Martian processes rather than laboratory artifacts.Following liquid–liquid extraction, aqueous fractions are analyzed by LC-MS to investigate polar oxidation products. In studies involving cholesterol and related sterols, oxidation introduces functional groups such as:<ul><li>Hydroxyl groups</li><li>Ketones</li><li>Epoxides</li></ul>These modifications increase molecular polarity and influence partitioning behavior during extraction, making LC-MS particularly useful for characterizing such products.<h4>The Role of Ion Chromatography</h4>Ion chromatography serves a critical quality-control function within the workflow.Before samples are analyzed by GC-MS, Farrah uses ion chromatography (IC) to verify that residual salt concentrations remain below detection limits. This step is especially important because her samples intentionally contain large quantities of perchlorate and related salts.Introducing salts into a GC system can have severe consequences:<ul><li>Accumulation at the column inlet</li><li>Reduced chromatographic performance</li><li>Contamination of volatile analyte regions</li><li>Increased maintenance requirements</li><li>Potential damage to the analytical system</li></ul>Farrah describes ion chromatography as an “insurance policy” that helps ensure reliable GC-MS performance while preventing the accidental generation of unwanted oxidation or chlorination products during later processing steps.<h4>Derivatization for GC-MS Analysis</h4>Many oxidation products contain polar functional groups that are difficult to analyze directly by gas chromatography.Compounds containing:<ul><li>Hydroxyl groups</li><li>Carboxyl groups</li><li>Long-chain acids</li></ul>tend to form hydrogen bonds and exhibit poor volatility. To improve chromatographic behavior, Farrah performs derivatization using BSTFA (N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide).This reagent replaces active hydrogen atoms with trimethylsilyl (TMS) groups, producing derivatives that:<ul><li>Vaporize more readily</li><li>Travel through the GC column efficiently</li><li>Generate sharper chromatographic peaks</li><li>Improve analytical sensitivity and reproducibility</li></ul>The resulting enhancement in peak shape significantly facilitates compound identification and quantification.<h4>Contamination Control in GC-MS Laboratories</h4>A substantial portion of the interview focuses on contamination management, which Farrah describes as one of the most important practical aspects of GC-MS analysis.Major contamination sources include:<h5>Salts</h5>Residual salts can damage chromatographic systems and interfere with analyses.<h5>Instrument Consumables</h5>Components such as:<ul><li>Inlet liners</li><li>Syringe needles</li><li>Septa</li></ul>gradually accumulate contaminants and require routine replacement to maintain clean baselines and reliable performance.<h5>Plastic-Derived Contaminants</h5>Siloxanes and plasticizers originating from:<ul><li>Pipette tips</li><li>Vial caps</li><li>Laboratory plastics</li></ul>can contribute significant background contamination. To minimize these effects, Farrah uses predominantly glass and metal laboratory equipment and avoids unnecessary plastic contact whenever possible.<h5>Detergent Residues</h5>Common laboratory cleaning detergents represent another major contamination source. Instead of detergents, Farrah relies on solvent rinsing, nitric acid cleaning, and high-temperature baking procedures for glassware preparation.<h4>Learning from Earth’s Extreme Environments</h4>The discussion also highlights the value of terrestrial Mars analogues.Researchers in Farrah’s laboratory investigate environments such as:<ul><li>The Atacama Desert</li><li>Antarctica’s Dry Valleys</li></ul>These locations are among the harshest environments on Earth and provide useful models for understanding potential Martian chemistry.Analytical challenges encountered in these environments—including trace organic detection, salt removal, and extraction optimization—closely resemble those anticipated for future Mars sample-return missions. Techniques developed today using terrestrial analogues may therefore become directly applicable to extraterrestrial samples in the future.<h4>Balancing Sensitivity and Instrument Longevity</h4>Farrah concludes by discussing the trade-off between analytical sensitivity and instrument maintenance.Because her research focuses on detecting extremely low-abundance degradation products, analytical sensitivity is prioritized. This sometimes involves:<ul><li>High injector temperatures</li><li>Concentrated sample injections</li><li>Splitless GC operation</li><li>Aggressive chromatographic conditions</li></ul>Although such approaches can accelerate column wear, relatively low sample throughput in academic research allows greater flexibility than is often possible in industrial laboratories. Nevertheless, careful method development and extensive sample cleanup remain essential for protecting instrument performance while maximizing analytical sensitivity.<blockquote>This text has been automatically transcribed from a video presentation using AI technology. It may contain inaccuracies and is not guaranteed to be 100% correct.</blockquote><blockquote><h4>Concentrating on Chromatography Podcast</h4>Dive into the frontiers of chromatography, mass spectrometry, and sample preparation with host David Oliva. Each episode features candid conversations with leading researchers, industry innovators, and passionate scientists who are shaping the future of analytical chemistry. From decoding PFAS detection challenges to exploring the latest in AI-assisted liquid chromatography, this show uncovers practical workflows, sustainability breakthroughs, and the real-world impact of separation science. Whether you’re a chromatographer, lab professional, or researcher you'll discover inspiring content!You can find Concentrating on Chromatography Podcast in podcast apps:<ul><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1wZg67rCjoGju4yhqxI3tL">Spotify</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/tz/podcast/concentrating-on-chromatography/id1788429185">Apple podcast</a></li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://podscan.fm/podcasts/concentrating-on-chromatography">podscan</a></li></ul>and on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/@ChromatographyTalk/videos">YouTube channel</a></blockquote>

 Did Mars Destroy Its Own Biosignatures? | GC-MS, Sterols & the Search for Life

<div><div>Dr. Tomáš Cihlář, Senior Vice President of Research, Virology at Gilead Sciences, and Dr. Jeffrey Birnbaum, an American pediatrician who has long worked with young Americans at risk of HIV infection or living with the virus, visited IOCB Prague for a joint lecture. The event focused on the future of long-acting HIV prevention and treatment.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/UOCHB_Tomas_Bellon_Od_kazdodennich_pilulek_k_jedne_injekci_rocne_UOCHB_navstivili_prukopnici_prevence_HIV_f5ca13985a.jpg" alt="IOCB Prague/Tomáš Belloň: From daily pills to one injection a year. HIV prevention pioneers visit IOCB Prague: Dr. Tomáš Cihlář, Gilead Sciences" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_UOCHB_Tomas_Bellon_Od_kazdodennich_pilulek_k_jedne_injekci_rocne_UOCHB_navstivili_prukopnici_prevence_HIV_f5ca13985a.jpg 234w," sizes="100vw" width="2000" height="1333"></div></div><div>Modern HIV treatment is shifting from daily medication to long-acting prevention. This was the central theme of the joint lecture titled <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.uochb.cz/en/event-calendar/372/joint-lecture-tomas-cihlar-jeffrey-birnbaum">HIV Treatment – From Bench to Clinical Practice</a>. “HIV is by no means just a medical problem, but also a social, economic, psychological, and legal one,” said Institute Director Prof. Jan Konvalinka in his opening remarks.In 2022, Gilead Sciences’ drug lenacapavir was launched on the U.S. market. The company has a long-standing collaboration with OICB Prague, for example on tenofovir – a substance that became the basis for modern HIV drugs.“During the development of lenacapavir, we broke all the rules we’re supposed to follow when searching for new drugs,” said Dr. Tomáš Cihlář in his lecture, describing the creation of the drug that targets the virus’s protein envelope. Today, it is used not only for treatment but also for preventing infection. Its development took several decades. “Around 2010, we even wanted to give up, but then a new candidate molecule emerged,” concluded Tomáš Cihlář, recounting the story of the drug’s development.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/UOCHB_Tomas_Bellon_Od_kazdodennich_pilulek_k_jedne_injekci_rocne_UOCHB_navstivili_prukopnici_prevence_HIV_2_4e1804920e.jpg" alt="IOCB Prague/Tomáš Belloň: From daily pills to one injection a year. HIV prevention pioneers visit IOCB Prague: Jeffrey Birnbaum, M.D., MPH, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, NY, USA" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_UOCHB_Tomas_Bellon_Od_kazdodennich_pilulek_k_jedne_injekci_rocne_UOCHB_navstivili_prukopnici_prevence_HIV_2_4e1804920e.jpg 234w," sizes="100vw" width="2000" height="1333">The FDA and the European Commission approved the preventive use of lenacapavir in 2025, but research continues. The ongoing international clinical trial PURPOSE 365 is investigating whether the drug can be administered just once a year instead of the currently approved two injections.Dr. Jeffrey Birnbaum shared his experiences from daily hospital practice at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn. In his practice, he primarily sees young people from the transgender community, for whom a long-acting preventive injection is a particularly attractive option. “Patients don’t have to worry that someone will discover their medication. There’s also no risk of forgetting to take it, and they avoid pill fatigue, the long-term psychological exhaustion associated with the need to take medication regularly.”Although lenacapavir represents a significant medical advance, the way the drug reaches people is also crucial. Approximately 400 million people are currently at risk of HIV infection, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Although Gilead Sciences has six manufacturing partners on the African continent, current U.S. government cuts to HIV prevention funding are dramatically affecting the availability of HIV prevention programs.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/UOCHB_Tomas_Bellon_Od_kazdodennich_pilulek_k_jedne_injekci_rocne_UOCHB_navstivili_prukopnici_prevence_HIV_3_e7f4f6a043.jpg" alt="IOCB Prague/Tomáš Belloň: From daily pills to one injection a year. HIV prevention pioneers visit IOCB Prague" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_UOCHB_Tomas_Bellon_Od_kazdodennich_pilulek_k_jedne_injekci_rocne_UOCHB_navstivili_prukopnici_prevence_HIV_3_e7f4f6a043.jpg 234w," sizes="100vw" width="2000" height="1335"></div>

From daily pills to one injection a year. HIV prevention pioneers visit IOCB Prague

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The Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences (IOCB Prague) is a leading scientific institution in the Czech Republic, recognized internationally. Its primary mission is basic research in the fields of chemical biology and medicinal chemistry, organic and material oriented chemistry, chemistry of natural compounds, biochemistry and molecular biology, physical chemistry, theoretical chemistry, and analytical chemistry. 

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From daily pills to one injection a year. HIV prevention pioneers visit IOCB Prague

Did Mars Destroy Its Own Biosignatures? | GC-MS, Sterols & the Search for Life

Wiley releases the 2026 edition of the Wiley Registry of Mass Spectral Data to expand GC-MS identification intelligence