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.
ResearchFour-leaf clover molecule with metal centre is first in a new family of aromatics
First molecule made of four fused aromatic rings around an osmium atom
- Opinion
Theodora Greene’s protecting groups
Katrina Krämer uncovers the woman behind the book on every organic chemist’s shelf
- Opinion
Shankar Balasubramanian: ‘All chemists can cook, right?’
The sequencing pioneer on endurance, creativity and an unexpected question from Prince William
- Research
A new way to measure pressure is born from efforts to redefine temperature
20 years after the idea was first dreamt up, scientists can now realise the SI unit Pascal by measuring helium’s electrical properties
- Research
Giant, long-lived bacteria could make microbial farms more productive
Biochemical production could be boosted using Escherichia coli engineered to grow to 13 times their usual size
- Research
Nickel catalyst switches on double stereochemistry in reaction between racemic alkanes
First-of-its-kind reaction creates stereocentres by stitching together racemic nucleophiles and electrophiles
- Podcast
Book Club – You Look Like a Thing and I Love You by Janelle Shane
We talk about Janelle Shane’s dive into the depths of AI weirdness
- Business
Researchers call for stricter rules on drug-like medical devices
More oversight is needed over products in the grey area between medical device and medication
- Research
First benzene-mimicking molecule made entirely from palladium
Palladium hexagon is a rare example of all-metal aromatic nanocluster
- News
Researchers love their jobs but toxic competition and publishing pressures take their toll
Largest survey of its kind finds research culture is struggling – results that surprise few
- Research
‘Inside-out’ chirality discovered by chance could have been missed in many molecules
A structure assignment odyssey finds a natural product with a type of isomerism never before seen in small molecules
- Research
First atomically thin carbon may end debate on nature of amorphous materials
Images of 2D carbon rule out one of two competing theories amorphous materials’ structure
- Podcast
Book 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
- Research
Mystery around ‘stealthy’ surfactants deepens as study raises more questions
Simple explanation for why inorganic boron clusters behave like organic surfactants doesn’t convince everyone
- News
China tops chemistry research ranking, leaving US in second place
Huge growth in high-quality research means China leads this year’s Nature ranking
- News
Reusable bamboo mugs leach dangerous amounts of formaldehyde and melamine
Bamboo fibre mugs release ‘alarming’ amounts of potentially harmful compounds into hot drinks, analysis finds
- News
Bullying and harassment helpline launched
Chemical scientists who have been targeted, accused of or witnessed bullying can now contact the Royal Society of Chemistry’s support line
- 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
Christina White: ‘Discovery requires the human element’
The pioneering organic chemist on taking inspiration from sport
- Research
Mystery of why magic mushrooms go blue solved
Chemists reveal colourful indigo-like polymers that turn psychotropic mushrooms blue when cut
