Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Using a touchscreen can be tough for people with long, manicured fingernails or dry, calloused fingertips. So Manasi Desai, a chemistry student at Centenary College of Louisiana (@centenarydotedu), set out to formulate a conductive nail polish that’s compatible with any personal style.
"Modification of nail polish formulations for conductivity to operate capacitive touchscreens"
Presented at ACS Spring 2026 on March 23, 2026
Presenter: Manasi Desai
Principal investigator: Joshua Lawrence, Ph.D.
To read an ACS press release about this research, go to acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/presspacs/2026/march/end-to-the-battle-between-touchscreens-and-long-fingernails.html
Video credits:
Written and produced by Anne Hylden
Edited and animated by Nora Rappaport
Narrated by Anne Hylden
Series produced by Vangie Koonce, Anne Hylden, Andrew Sobey, and Jefferson Beck
Executive produced by Matthew Radcliff
Research videos courtesy of Manasi Desai, Joshua Lawrence, Ph.D., Chloé LaCarriere, and Anaiah Lamont
Additional video by Anne Hylden
Produced by the American Chemical Society (ACS), one of the world’s largest scientific societies. ACS is a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals, and scientific conferences.
Join the #AmericanChemicalSociety! bit.ly/Join_ACS
#nails #science #chemistry #ACS #ACSSpring2026
Using a touchscreen can be tough for people with long, manicured fingernails or dry, calloused fingertips. So Manasi Desai, a chemistry student at Centenary College of Louisiana (@centenarydotedu), set out to formulate a conductive nail polish that’s compatible with any personal style.
"Modification of nail polish formulations for conductivity to operate capacitive touchscreens"
Presented at ACS Spring 2026 on March 23, 2026
Presenter: Manasi Desai
Principal investigator: Joshua Lawrence, Ph.D.
To read an ACS press release about this research, go to acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/presspacs/2026/march/end-to-the-battle-between-touchscreens-and-long-fingernails.html
Video credits:
Written and produced by Anne Hylden
Edited and animated by Nora Rappaport
Narrated by Anne Hylden
Series produced by Vangie Koonce, Anne Hylden, Andrew Sobey, and Jefferson Beck
Executive produced by Matthew Radcliff
Research videos courtesy of Manasi Desai, Joshua Lawrence, Ph.D., Chloé LaCarriere, and Anaiah Lamont
Additional video by Anne Hylden
Produced by the American Chemical Society (ACS), one of the world’s largest scientific societies. ACS is a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals, and scientific conferences.
Join the #AmericanChemicalSociety! bit.ly/Join_ACS
#nails #science #chemistry #ACS #ACSSpring2026










