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Feature
The young female astronomer who worked out what the sun is made of
100 years ago, Cecilia Payne deduced that the sun is mainly made of hydrogen – but was encouraged to downplay her findings by her PhD supervisor. Mike Sutton takes up the story
Feature
Hibernation awakens interest for drug discovery
With many different species entering torpor for a variety of reasons, scientists are looking to their sleepy secrets for ways to treat human diseases. Anthony King reports
Opinion
Benzene’s 200-year legacy of transformation
As we celebrate the anniversary of benzene’s isolation, we must remember that scientific centenaries carry additional agendas
Research
Most energetic molecule ever made is stable – in liquid nitrogen
Nitrogen allotrope releases double the energy of the most powerful chemical explosives
‘Microlightning’ released by peeling tape can drive chemical reactions
Intense localised electric fields can break bonds
Bacterium engineered to produce paracetamol from plastic bottle waste
Research demonstrates new ways to remediate plastic and upcycle chemicals derived from waste
Centrosymmetric crystal displays chiral optical responses previously believed to be impossible
Linear structure gives dysprosium complex record-breaking magnetic properties
Pitfalls in cytotoxicity studies could be tripping up chemists
Mammoth task of identifying legal ivory made simpler and cheaper by isotope analysis
Path to carbon dioxide-based chemicals smoothed with a dash of acid
Why some sunscreens turn clothes crimson when bleached
Position of flask on magnetic stirrers can drastically affect reproducibility of experiments
Fatal explosion and fire at Indian pharmaceutical ingredients plant
At least 42 dead and 25 injured at Sigachi Industries near Hyderabad
11 executives jailed over Italian PFAS pollution
Convictions relate to groundwater contamination around Miteni fluorochemicals plant
US approves twice yearly injection to prevent HIV
Good network connections help startup founders and employees to succeed
Contemporary chemistry owes a lot to benzene's beginnings
The startups that grew out of the Pfizer redundancies
UK industrial strategy prioritises advanced manufacturing and life sciences
Critical metals supply strained
The future of oil refining in the UK
Helping remote schools be in their element
The element sets now found in over half of Australian high schools
Letters: July 2025
Readers ponder polymorphs, period products, PFAS and more
Chemistry's capital C
From refinery scale to a nanosecond existence, carbon is everywhere – in life as well as chemistry
Contemporary chemistry owes a lot to benzene's beginnings
Celebrating what started when Faraday found the molecule with no end
(–)-Bipinnatin J
A stepping stone to greater things?
Critical metals supply strained
Conflict - both military and political - is having profound effects on supplies of a wide range of materials
Faraday’s laboratory manual and the isolation of benzene
Instruction on how to be as much at home in the lab as was the man himself
The future of oil refining in the UK
Can plants adapt to be compatible with a lower-carbon environment?
Forensic taphonomy: the chemistry of delivering justice
Join forensic experts on 22 July to discover the chemical processes that occur after death and how they’re revolutionising criminal investigations
Modelling amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) release mechanisms
Learn how thermodynamic modelling and molecular simulation can help our understanding of amorphous solid dispersion
Accelerating chemical synthesis: digital innovations from lab to industrial scale
Explore how digital chemistry is advancing synthetic chemical development and enhancing innovation
In conversation with Melanie Sanford
Join us for an exclusive live interview with renowned chemist Melanie Sanford
News
How do you rebuild your lab after it is hit by an Iranian missile?
Milko van der Boom talks to Chemistry World about dealing with destruction at the Weizmann Institute, saving samples and people coming together
News
Aria seeks new chief as Ilan Gur steps down
After three years at the helm, Gur to step down from blue-skies research funder
Opinion
Helping remote schools be in their element
The element sets now found in over half of Australian high schools
Careers
Good network connections help startup founders and employees to succeed
Career success is easier with help from others
Sponsored
We need to build the data that chemistry deserves - here’s how we can do it
Creating a purpose-built repository of standardised reaction data is a tall order, but the reward would be huge
Free energy methods and digital transformation of drug discovery
Synergistic application of AI-based generative chemistry and free energy methods streamlines molecule discovery and optimisation
Accelerating chemical synthesis: digital innovations from lab to industrial scale
Explore how digital chemistry is advancing synthetic chemical development and enhancing innovation
Design of experiments: Smarter methods, better results
Delve into this two part workshop and discover a better way to experiment
How AI is transforming chemistry research
Artificial intelligence is revolutionising everything from workflows to networking - so how can you bring AI into your research practice?
Pittcon: over 75 years of supporting science
The legacy of passion and purpose that makes Pittcon a one-of-a-kind event
Setting new standards for British laboratories
Lab Innovations brings together experts from all corners of the industry
AstraZeneca synthetic chemistry prize winner celebrates ‘culmination of a high-quality academia-industry collaboration’
Ruth Webster from University of Cambridge wins 2024 AstraZeneca prize in synthetic chemistry for her work on iron catalysis
How to excel at public speaking
A five-step approach to present effectively
Good network connections help startup founders and employees to succeed
Career success is easier with help from others
The startups that grew out of the Pfizer redundancies
18 months on, three former Pfizer employees explain how they’ve seized opportunities to fill gaps in the market
Choosing the right mentor
Taking part in a mentoring programme can provide you with the support you need for career success
First-generation graduate chemists face challenges throughout their entire academic lifetime
Nurturing socioeconomic inclusion for a brighter tomorrow
Careers in science policy
The art of failing forward
Can scientific curiosity and pressure to work long hours be balanced with well-being?
Time off for menstruation is a good idea. Period.