Latest
Opinion
Purdue Pharma’s opioid prosecution enables bankruptcy settlement
$5 billion criminal sentence paves the way for resolution of civil liabilities through bankruptcy court
Feature
The battery chemistry race shaping the future of electric vehicles
Science and global politics intertwine in the rivalry between lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxides and lithium iron phosphate
Feature
The curious case of disappearing polymorphs
From crystallographers’ beards to billion-dollar lawsuits, the phenomenon of disappearing polymorphs has puzzled chemists for decades. Now researchers are finally unravelling the science behind why stable crystal forms suddenly vanish – and discovering how to bring them back
Research
Vanadium’s promise in medicine and the researchers who refuse to give up
It mimics phosphate, kills cancer cells in the lab and almost changed how we treat diabetes. So why has a vanadium compound never made it to the clinic?
Careers
How chemists are making laboratories more sustainable
A collection of articles sharing tips from researchers who reduced their environmental impact with support from the RSC’s Sustainable Laboratories grants
Silver bullet catalyst works magic transforming stable C–H bonds into amines
Method allows for late-stage, stereoselective aminations to drug-like molecules
MOF magnet with virtually no external magnetic field ideal for advanced electronics
Researchers say that the material could be used in spintronic devices
Dopant boosts carbon nanotubes’ conductivity tenfold
First total synthesis of macrocycle with four stereocentres at the heart of bacterial photosynthesis
Methane zapped into plasma bubbles makes low-emission methanol
Three-atom bismuth ring reveals new form of aromaticity
Catalyst converts plastic waste into hydrogen and valuable chemical building blocks
Carbon-free ferrocene analogue synthesised
Vanadium’s promise in medicine and the researchers who refuse to give up
Purdue Pharma’s opioid prosecution enables bankruptcy settlement
$5 billion criminal sentence paves the way for resolution of civil liabilities through bankruptcy court
‘Basic research is needed more than anything else’
Christian Hackenberger, co-founder of Tubulis, is excited that his team’s initial research is now creating clinical impact
Stringent regulations on dichloromethane are forcing US labs to rethink use of common solvent
The evolving landscape of pain drug discovery
Major drug regulators advancing routes to reduce animal testing
Fatal incident at US catalyst refiner under investigation
China’s comprehensive new chemical safety law due to take effect
The battery chemistry race shaping the future of electric vehicles
Bursting bubbles break down PFAS
Purdue Pharma’s opioid prosecution enables bankruptcy settlement
$5 billion criminal sentence paves the way for resolution of civil liabilities through bankruptcy court
The complicated legacy of J Craig Venter
By attempting to commercialise parts of the human genome, he sped up the development of gene sequencing technologies
Breaking a priceless chemistry artefact didn’t make the best first impression
But I found something precious in the department archives that will last for generations
The evolving landscape of pain drug discovery
Harnessing the power of human-relevant in vitro models
Major drug regulators advancing routes to reduce animal testing
US, UK and EU all have goals to eliminate animal testing
How much history should there be in science education?
Understanding how previous shifts in scientific understanding occurred affects how we view current theories
When vanadium almost changed how we treat type 2 diabetes
Chris Orvig tells the story of BEOV
Collective interactions dominate gene regulation in eukaryotes
A new technique shows DNA binding domains are not central to transcription factor targeting in human cells, unlike in bacteria
Discovering the elements: no simple stories
Join us on 10 June to discover the true nature of scientific discovery
How and why soap works: the science behind the suds
Join us on 25 June to discover the chemistry behind our favourite household cleaner
Driving the future of compliance: digital reference materials transforming regulated analytical testing
Explore how digital tools and frameworks are transforming regulated analytical testing, compliance and industry-wide adoption
Visualising data for scientific discovery
Turn complex data into clear insight through hands-on learning and expert guidance
Vanadium-based medicines & sustainable labs
Vanadium-based medicines? We discuss the 23rd element’s little-known potential in pharmaceuticals. Plus, how labs across the UK are making achievable changes to increase their sustainability.
Inert materials & the Mary Celeste
In this episode, we discuss how to ensure experimental instruments are truly inert, chemistry’s answer to the fate of the Mary Celeste, and hear the latest headlines.
Two states of water & science sleuths
In this episode, we discuss the two-state model of water, how science sleuths are fighting disinformation, and hear the latest headlines.
Atomic radii & synthetic food dyes
In this episode, we discuss the where the true limits of an atom lie, the US’s plan to eliminate synthetic food dyes, and hear the latest headlines.
Opinion
The complicated legacy of J Craig Venter
By attempting to commercialise parts of the human genome, he sped up the development of gene sequencing technologies
Opinion
Breaking a priceless chemistry artefact didn’t make the best first impression
But I found something precious in the department archives that will last for generations
News
UC Berkeley chemistry professor accused of sexual harassment
Almost 800 current and former students, graduate researchers and faculty are calling for change following claims by former grad student
Podcast
Vanadium-based medicines & sustainable labs
Vanadium-based medicines? We discuss the 23rd element’s little-known potential in pharmaceuticals. Plus, how labs across the UK are making achievable changes to increase their sustainability.
Opinion
How much history should there be in science education?
Understanding how previous shifts in scientific understanding occurred affects how we view current theories
Sponsored
Karl Fischer titration for moisture analysis: applications in batteries, fuels and food
Accurate moisture analysis has consequences that extend well beyond the laboratory. Karl Fischer titration is what keeps them in check. The question is whether the reagent is up to the task.
Why data visualisation is so important in the age of AI
Machines don’t need to draw charts and plots to work with data, but humans will still need datavis skills to work with machines.
Pittcon 2026 heads to San Antonio for analytical chemistry showcase
The world’s largest laboratory science conference returns to San Antonio in March 2026, featuring Nobel laureate Frances Arnold as keynote speaker and showcasing cutting-edge analytical instrumentation across five days of technical sessions and networking events.
Biphenyl: 20 years of Restek innovation
How Restek’s Biphenyl column changed chromatography
Explainer: the Welch Award in Chemistry
Many people have never heard about one of the biggest awards in chemistry. Chemistry World sets the record straight.
Optimising method transfer in regulated environments
Learn how to minimise risk and promote data quality with data-driven approaches and digital tools
SYNTHIA for chemists: faster route design
Discover how SYNTHIA accelerates retrosynthesis by helping chemists design, compare and refine routes with customisable filters and commercial building blocks
Developing a CITK protein degrader using the QuicTPD™ platform
Learn about the latest technology to accelerate the design of cancer treatments
Vanadium-based medicines & sustainable labs
Vanadium-based medicines? We discuss the 23rd element’s little-known potential in pharmaceuticals. Plus, how labs across the UK are making achievable changes to increase their sustainability.
How chemists are making laboratories more sustainable
A collection of articles sharing tips from researchers who reduced their environmental impact with support from the RSC’s Sustainable Laboratories grants
Sustainable laboratories: Reducing plastics
When to reuse plastic pipette tips and how to overcome psychological barriers to recyling single-use items
Sustainable laboratories: Reducing water
How to adapt water cooling for water-stressed regions and investigate the carbon footprint of different circulation options
Sustainable laboratories: Reducing energy
Sustainable laboratories: Cleaner solvents and substrates
Sustainable laboratories: Recovering metals
Sustainable laboratories: Best lab practice
Three chemistry Nobel laureates shared their failures – and how they overcame them
Meet the researchers who are making bonds outside of the lab