All articles by James Urquhart – Page 2
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Research
Artificially expanded genetic alphabet evolves enzymes for the first time
Libraries of short DNA sequences incorporating synthetic nucleotides perform better as enzymes than ordinary DNA
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Research
NMR spectroscopy used to guide evolution of better enzymes
Identifying mutagenic ‘hotspots’ could speed development of new proteins
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Research
Yeast engineered to ferment sugars into chemotherapy drug precursors
Semisynthesis offers new route to anticancer drug vinblastine
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Research
Carbon-negative concrete blocks could be made using magnesium from seawater
Electrolyser route avoids need for calcination step
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Research
Electrochemical ‘game-changer’ could make aniline production greener
Sustainable production of important feedstock for dyes, drugs and herbicides is scalable
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Research
Mystery of how plants make strychnine solved 75 years after characterisation
Three-quarters of a century after Robinson and Woodward cracked structure chemists unravel poison’s biosynthesis
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Research
Encapsulated bacteria show promise as injectable living drugs factories to treat diseases
Engineered E. coli produce insulin and vaccines in vivo
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Research
Breaking bacteria’s genetic silence to synthesise antibiotics that evade resistance
Prospecting in bacterial genomes offers hope in search for new antimicrobial drugs
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Research
Discovery of polymorph using ball milling holds promise for drug discovery
Interchangeable switching between three polymorphs demonstrated for the first time
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Research
Machine learning finds fluoride battery materials that could rival lithium
AI could help make new battery type that could store more energy than lithium-ion batteries viable
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Research
Freeze–thaw cycles could explain how ancient RNA replicated without enzymes
Discovery solves puzzle of RNA world hypothesis
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News
Environmental concerns ground mercury-based satellite thrusters
UN takes steps to outlaw mercury propellant that could have seen tonnes of the heavy metal rain down on Earth every year
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Research
Reprogrammed bacterium turns carbon dioxide into chemicals on industrial scale
Process achieved at industrial scale in 120 litre reactor
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Research
Freefall flights test feasibility of making oxygen on the moon and Mars
Efficiency of water electrolysis is reduced at lower gravity
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Research
Rising ozone pollution threatens east Asia’s cereal crops
Losses of wheat, rice and maize add up to $63 billion every year
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Research
Simple campfire chemistry hints how ancient humans produced pigments
Process to make red ochre didn’t require close control of temperature
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Research
Iodine ion drive propels satellite in space for the first time
Halogen could provide a cheaper, more efficient alternative to xenon
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Research
Polymerisation used to synthesise 2D material inside living cells
Sheets are larger than those cells can take up and the technique could find uses in imaging
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Research
‘Self-inflating’ synthetic cells can capture, store and release cargo
Entirely artificial system can use chemical energy to ‘swallow’ payloads like bacteria
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Research
Chemical definition of brine as water could help clear up Chile’s lithium controversy
As evidence grows that lithium mining damages water sources, reclassifying brine as water – rather than as mineral – could empower Indigenous communities to protect their rights and convince mining companies to act more responsibly