All articles by James Urquhart
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ResearchLight-driven enzyme engineered and repurposed to catalyse unnatural reaction
Directed evolution used to create photoenzyme that can perform new-to-nature radical cyclisation
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ResearchCross-coupling technique cracks open alcohols for chemical synthesis
A new alcohol–alcohol cross coupling reaction could become a powerful new tool for synthetic chemists
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ResearchCanadian oil tar sands operations emit far more pollution than reported
Analysis of all types of organic pollution reveals emissions underreported by as much as 6300%
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ResearchPhotochemistry converts dry-cleaning solvent waste into useful chemicals
One-pot reaction offers way to upcycle industrial solvent waste
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ResearchBiocatalysis breakthrough enables synthesis of lactam building blocks for drugs
Enzymatic cyclisation of oxazolone reagents offers a cheap and simple route to important antibiotic precursor
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ResearchDNA-damaging device could make mutant discovery safer and simpler
Cool microplasma jets create a stream of radicals that induce mutations
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ResearchAssembly theory puts chemistry centre stage to explain molecular complexity and life’s origins
Concept that attempts to join physics and biology via chemistry met with interest but also harsh criticism
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ResearchCryo-EM scaffold supports imaging of small proteins previously tricky to study
Improved understanding of the structure of small proteins could aid drug designers
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ResearchStrings that draw-up brine could help supply the world with lithium
Concept takes lithium extraction into the third dimension away from cumbersome, slow pools of brine
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ResearchUnexpected reactivity of silica places question mark over safety of food additives
Discovery that silica particles – thought to be inert – can oxidise thiols requires further investigation
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ResearchProtein folding stability set to be unravelled on a massive scale
Technique can analyse a million protein sequences at a time to provide data for machine learning models
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ArticleLight-activated molecular motor drives drug delivery
Drug-delivery system is a ‘step towards using molecular motors in the clinic’
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ResearchMolecular fossils solve evolutionary mystery
Fossilised protosteroids confirm Nobel-prizewinner’s decades-old prediction
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ResearchCarbene chemistry built into microbe’s metabolism in first for biosynthesis
Proof-of-concept work opens pathway to bacteria engineered to synthesise new-to-nature products
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ResearchBio-nano approach flips artificial photosynthesis for hydrogen on its head
Bacterium supplies electrons to nanoparticles to catalyse water splitting
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ResearchUnexpected autocatalytic effect gives light-driven enzyme a boost to synthesise green fuels
Discovery could enhance production of liquid fuels by algae
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ResearchWired-up symbiotic multi-organism can turn sunlight and air into valuable proteins
Symbiont could enable microfactories to produce biochemicals for food, farming and drugs
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Research‘Incredibly important advance’ reveals how wildfires could slow ozone layer recovery
Chlorine chemistry discovery shows how wildfire aerosols can reduce ozone in southern hemisphere by up to 5%
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NewsUK national facility poised to expand use of state-of-the-art electron diffraction
Greater access to ED will allow characterisation of tiny crystals, deepening our understanding of everything from batteries and drugs to catalysts
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ResearchMolecular trap that snares many different drugs could save lives during overdoses
Macrocyclic compound can mop up drugs of abuse in animal tests – including those for which no reversal agent exists