Scientists discover more effective, and potentially safer, crystallized form of DDT

A team of scientists has discovered a new crystal form of DDT that is more effective against insects than the existing one. Its research, which appears in the journal Angewandte Chemie, points to the possibility of developing a new version of solid DDT—a pesticide that has historically been linked to human-health afflictions and environmental degradation—that can be administered in smaller amounts while reducing environmental impact.