International audienceStrontium is a chemical element without biological functions in humans. In fact, only two biological roles are known, both as a biomineral constituent. However, strontium and calcium (a significant biometal) present chemical similarities; hence, the absorption of the former by living organisms is plausible. Based on the particular properties of isotopes of strontium several applications of this chemical element in biological sciences have been developed. These include its radioactive and non-radioactive isotopes in medical applications or resorting to its stable isotopes as analytical tools in isotope fingerprinting (87Sr/86Sr) to study dietary habits and migration patterns of ancient populations, food authentication and forensic sciences. This article, reviews papers published between 2012 and 2016, highlights the use of strontium isotope ratios for such biological related applications and compiles an analytical database, providing a valuable tool for future studies in the area. © 2017 Elsevier B.V

A convenient and clean route to transform, in aqueous medium, various alkanes to carboxylic acidsvia single-pot carboxylation with CO and water, under mild conditions, has been achieved, proceeding efficiently and selectively even without any metal catalyst and any acid additive, at low temperatures; the relevant hydroxylating role of H₂O and radical mechanisms are disclosed by radical-trap, H₂ ¹⁸O and DFT studies.