Forensics in crisis
High-profile cases of scientific misconduct at forensics labs are upending the legal system and casting doubt on the wider field, Rebecca Trager finds
The chemistry of synapses
Scientists are decoding the brain’s exquisite molecular machinery – but there is still a long way to go, finds Andy Extance
Oil spill cleanup
Is the cure worse than the disease? Katrina Krämer looks at the new alternatives to traditional dispersants and surfactants
The science of stand-up comedy
Science Comedian Brian Malow on cracking wise about chemistry
Trailblazing in the Pacific Northwest
Life in the US–Canadian Cascadia corridor
How to form a research collaboration
Five tips for success when partnering up in the name of science
Fashioning a career in Lombardy
One of the largest chemical industries in Europe is ready to entice you to enjoy la dolce vita
Time to stop paying for work
Hidden work costs are a financial drain worth considering
Escaping the postdoc trap
Low pay and gloomy career prospects are thwarting the next generation of researchers
From our columnists
Agency provocateur
The head of the US’s environment agency is on a collision course with his own staff over science
The clues that let you trace a single sheet of paper
Forensic science has a new way to detect document fraud
Ultracold chemistry heats up
Chemists are starting to learn that quantum is very, very cool
What the pay gap report really means
The UK pay gap data is an important first step, not the last word
