Jennifer Newton
As the daughter of a chemistry teacher, chemistry has always been in my blood. Teaching science for 5 weeks in Ghana when I was 16 confirmed my suspicions that I didn’t also want to be a teacher.
I studied natural sciences at the University Bath, doing a little bit of everything, mainly chemistry and pharmacology but no physics. My degree included a year-long industrial placement at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, part of the Ministry of Defence – although if I told you what I did there, I’d have to kill you.
I joined the Royal Society of Chemistry in September 2008, collecting over 4 years of experience in journals publishing, before moving to Chemistry World in April of 2013. Cooking and gardening dominate when I'm not at work.
OpinionRewriting the narratives surrounding radical transformations
Don’t let tired clichés get in the way of selective and sustainable chemistry
- Opinion
Janine Cossy: ‘Negative results are more important’
The synthetic chemist on champagne, art and living in Paris
- Research
Beautiful molecules ring up with a purpose
How Stephen Goldup used his experience in organic synthesis to find a supramolecular niche
- Podcast
Book club – The Alchemy of Us by Ainissa Ramirez
Materials scientist Ainissa Ramirez’s new book uncovers the human side of world-changing inventions
- Review
The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another
A book about world-changing inventions, crammed with fascinating stories you’ve probably never heard of
- Podcast
Book Club – Smoke & Mirrors by Gemma Milne
Science journalist Gemma Milne’s first book promises to be a guide on how to recognise hype and how to cut through it
- Research
Introducing chirality to give organic electronics a twist
Medicinal molecules and electronic materials aren’t often found in the same research group. Meet Matthew Fuchter, who’s excelling at both
- Opinion
Time for a clear stance on raw NMR data storage
Impressive technological tools are pointless without data transparency
- Research
Unlocking geological time capsules with analytical chemistry
Blavatnik award winner Kirsty Penkman discusses her research developing techniques to date fossils
- Opinion
Fit to 3D print
Construction from the bottom up has benefits but users must proceed with caution
- Review
Transcendence: How Humans Evolved through Fire, Language, Beauty and Time
A fast-paced journey through the entire history of humans, trying to answer the question of what makes us different from other animals
- Podcast
Book Club – Transcendence by Gaia Vince
We discuss prize-winning author Gaia Vince’s new book Transcendence, and discover how collaboration made humans Earth’s most successful species
- Opinion
Electrolytes are no longer a postscript to the battery story
Just because electrolytes are effectively inert, doesn’t mean they can’t be sophisticated
- Podcast
Book Club – How to by Randall Munroe
We discuss xkcd comic creator Randall Munroe’s new book that deals out absurd – but scientifically accurate – advice for everyday problems
- Review
How to: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems
Have you ever considered the practicalities of building a swimming pool out of cheese?
- Opinion
Only boring elements get bored
Prizes for best, most boring and most overlooked element up for grabs
- Opinion
Margaret Brimble: 'Spiroketals are my favourite molecules'
The New Zealand chemist on careers, creativity and why everything just has to be blue
- Opinion
The third degree on actinide covalency
The often ignored elements are attracting chemists’ attention again
