Catherine Hodges
After finishing up my MChem at Durham University in 2017, I knew I preferred running around outside the lab, talking to people about research, than being stuck by the fumehood. I wanted to spend my time communicating science so I headed down south to intern at the Science Museum London, where I got to write, research and help develop exhibits on all kinds of cool areas of science – space technology, circadian rhythms, medicine and more! But I wanted a bit more chemistry in my life, so after the internship, joined the RSC as a publishing editor on the physical and nanoscience portfolios. Now I’m a Development Editor for the Royal Society of Chemistry’s organic journals, where I get to go to conferences and talk to lots of interesting scientists about their research and write about the most exciting chemical developments for Chemistry World too!
ResearchAntiaromaticity relief mechanism linked to DNA photostability
Textbook organic chemistry concepts bring new understanding to protective biological mechanisms
ResearchTranslating snail venom research from beach to bench and beyond
Meet Mandë Holford, an interdisciplinary scientist following tangents that arise when exploring the molecular-level workings of venom peptides
ReviewA Small Illustrated Guide to the Universe
The book designed to fill the reader with awe at the natural world, accessible to all ages and scientific backgrounds
PodcastMinoxidil and Finasteride
Catherine Hodges explores the chemical solutions to thinning hair and patchy beards, examining the popularity of minoxidil and the cautionary tale of finasteride
PodcastBook Club – Antimony, Gold, and Jupiter’s Wolf by Peter Wothers
We talk about chemist Peter Wothers’ first popular science book that uncovers the surprising origins of the elements’ names
ResearchTemplate molecules round-up extra-large cyclodextrins from enzymatic synthesis
Scientists rethink how they use enzymes in chemical synthesis by exerting thermodynamic, rather than kinetic, control
ResearchC–H fluoroalkylation tackles plastic waste
Photocatalytic method that upcycles aromatic polymers could breathe new life into rubbish
ResearchNew hydroamination reactions discovered after revisiting old mechanism
Unexpected but reasonable results show there’s nothing boring about organoboron chemistry
ResearchScreening strategy pursues photocatalytic couplings for drug discovery
High-throughput screening and flow-based scale-up combo identifies chemistry needed to functionalise drug fragments and obtain useful amounts of product
ResearchDouble umpolung approach to amino amide synthesis
Unusual disconnection strategy behind stereocontrolled route to β-amino amides
ResearchUsed cooking oil helps weed out fertiliser pollution
Inverse vulcanisation used to turn waste canola oil into controlled-release fertiliser
ResearchRules to distinguish between tetrel and hydrogen bonds
Quantum calculations reveal subtle but significant geometric differences
ResearchValence bond theory probes fundamental nature of hydrogen bonding
New insight reignites covalent versus electrostatics debate