Katrina Krämer
After finishing my A-levels, I wanted to study arts or languages, but then decided that being a chemist in a white coat was definitely cooler.
So I went on and spent ten years studying chemistry in Germany, Spain and the UK, before realising that not working in a lab can also be fun. After one year in the Royal Society of Chemistry’s graduate trainee scheme, I joined Chemistry World first as editorial assistant and now as science correspondent.
My favourite CAS number is 102-54-5.
ResearchGraphene and phosphorus make fire-stopping foam
Flame retardant hybrid material is light enough to sit on the petals of a flower
ResearchElectric shock brings diamines to life
A combination of electrochemistry and organic catalysis transforms alkenes into hard-to-make vicinal diamines
ResearchUV protection shines in sunlight
DNA coating that protects skin from damaging radiation gets better the longer it is exposed to sunlight
ResearchMagnetic microbot traps single cell
Origami boxes capture and release yeast cell using energy from a magnetic field
ResearchDecacene takes title of longest acene
Molecule of 10 fused benzene rings in a row has been made for the first time
NewsElsevier launches chemistry preprint server
Community-driven network will allow scientists to share ideas and post pre-peer review papers
News£100 million fund to attract top researchers to UK
Rutherford Fund part of government’s strategy to make UK ‘go-to place for scientists, innovators and tech investors’
ResearchTwo-way artificial synapse mimics brain chemistry
Device could lead to neural network computers but experts are concerned about its high power consumption
NewsFire at University of St Andrews chemistry department
Firefighters took three hours to put out the blaze which caused only minor damage
ResearchNanosized ice crystals might be the most cubic possible
Ultrafast freezing at supersonic speed produces ice with 80% cubic crystal structure
NewsGame over for the original kilogram
The big K has performed admirably for over a century but all the data is in to redefine the kilogram using natural constants
![Top view of the single-crystal X-ray diffraction structure of a dithienothiophene (DTT)-bridged [34]octaphyrin](https://d1w9csuen3k837.cloudfront.net/Pictures/100x67/3/6/2/132362_Bicyclic-Baird-type-aromaticity-fig-1-c.jpg)
ResearchUnusual bicyclic molecule extends frontier of aromaticity
Odd resonance stabilisation observed in ground state opens door to studying poorly understood phenomenon
ResearchSelf-destructing material mimics nature
Unstable chemical system inspired by ATP-consuming cells could be programmed to release drugs
ResearchLemony chicken and a series of fortunate flavours
Citrus-flavoured sulfur compound found in fried chicken could replace unstable natural lemon aroma
ResearchHypothetical molecule might take wing in bird geometry
Yet-to-be-synthesised iodabenzene could be stabilised by functional groups that support a bird-shaped isomer
ResearchSpongy metal energises lithium–oxygen batteries
An ultra-light nickel cathode boosts performance and lifetime of promising battery technology
NewsEU regulation to curb trade in conflict minerals
Companies importing metals from countries affected by violence and exploitation will have to audit their supply chain
ResearchShortest double-walled nanotube made
Cyclic aromatic compounds assembled into Russian doll complexes expand menagerie of curious carbon structures
ResearchHydrogens squeezed into record-breaking proximity
Shortest van der Waals interaction beats previous record holder by 0.051Å
