Andy Extance
Before becoming a full-time science writer, Andy Extance worked for six and a half years in early-stage drug discovery research, followed by brief stint in silicone adhesive and rubber manufacturing.
However, when he had his first feature – on a cause of common heart-related problems in new drug candidates – published in Chemistry World in 2004, the course of his career shifted. After working as news editor for Compound Semiconductor magazine, he went freelance in 2009. Today Andy’s science writing explores everything related to chemistry, from Earth’s environment to space, from food to fusion, and from solar cells to how we smell.
- Research
Screening reveals thousands of ‘undrugged, yet druggable’ proteins
Collaboration involving Pfizer develops freely accessible AI tool to probe protein–compound interactions
- Research
First mirror-image cyclodextrins come together ‘like Lego’
L-enantiomers could be more stable than their existing, more common, forms
- Research
Carbon’s allotrope explosion demonstrates how the element is both versatile and fickle
New all carbon materials are relatively easy to predict but challenging, if not impossible to make, experts tell Andy Extance
- Research
Pulsating chemical computers vie with their quantum rivals
The Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction powers cellular automata and optimisation calculations
- Research
Kinky findings drive crystal growth paradigm shift claim
How molecules attach chemically at surfaces can be more important than how strongly solvents bind them in determining growth rate
- Research
First GPT-4-powered AI lab assistant independently directs key organic reactions
Large language model takes control after being prompted to do Suzuki and Sonogashira couplings
- Feature
Reaching into the non-covalent toolbox
Alongside supramolecular stalwarts, budding bonding forms are vying to be valuable, finds Andy Extance
- Feature
Using DNA evidence to picture suspects
Forensic DNA phenotyping predicts people’s appearance and reveals their ancestry, finds Andy Extance, but has some significant challenges to overcome
- Business
Positive trial sets stage for therapeutic use of MDMA in US
Hallucinogen-assisted psychiatric treatment heads to regulators, amid cost and other concerns
- Feature
The drug developers fighting the antibiotic resistance problem
Andy Extance talks to the researchers innovating across different drug classes in the hunt to develop new treatments
- Feature
Can biorefineries eliminate fossil fuels and petrochemicals?
Plans to develop the world’s largest vegetable oil refinery reveal diverging views on the sustainability, profitability and scale of plant-based supply chains, finds Andy Extance
- Research
Organic catalyst could cut the chlor-alkali process’s enormous appetite for energy
Cheap molecule achieves similar performance as existing costly metallic catalysts – but faces major questions about its stability
- News
New results vindicate suspect 63-year-old claim on synthesis of first catenane
Researchers hoping to debunk Edel Wasserman’s doubted claims of the first interlinked rings end up supporting them
- Research
Rapid alternating polarity brings new life to 189-year-old electrochemical reaction
A more sustainable approach to the Kolbe reaction could reduce chemists’ reliance on oil-derived materials
- Research
Machine learning ecosystem evolves MOF design
Mofdscribe handles all stages from collecting data to evaluating performance
- Research
Record room-temperature superconductor could boost quantum computer chips
New material reduces pressures needed more than a hundredfold, but experts urge caution over structural questions and previously retracted research
- News
UK begins exploration of whether to build its own billion-pound-plus XFEL
Advanced designs could transform x-ray science economics, reducing the cost per experiment
- News
US accelerator accident hospitalises worker, delays XFEL startup
The SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory lab director has stood down after the latest in a series of safety incidents and complaints
- Business
Merck & Co identifies nitrosamine source in diabetes drugs
Investigation uncovers the cause of contamination in sitagliptin medicines, but the wider nitrosamine problem is ballooning
- Research
AI model accurately classifies reaction mechanisms
Machine learning ‘surpasses chemist experts’ in identifying chemical processes