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.
ResearchListening to quantum beats could reveal rhythm of birds’ migratory compass
Laser technique to read out oscillating spin states could help uncover how animals’ magnetic sense works
- Research
40-year-old mystery of why some molecules break all cyclisation rules has been solved
Molecules that blatantly violate Woodward–Hoffmann rules could lead to general theory of cyclisation in polar compounds
- Research
Comets’ green colour comes from dicarbon dissociation, experiments confirm
First direct observation of C2 photodissociation explains why some comets have a green halo
- News
Chemistry Nobel laureate Robert Grubbs dies at 79
US chemist shared 2005 prize for his role in developing the metathesis method in organic synthesis
- News
Head of UK’s Medical Research Council apologises over bullying complaint
UKRI has taken action over whistleblower complaint against stem cell biologist Fiona Watt
- Podcast
Book club – Murder isn’t Easy by Carla Valentine
Delving into Agatha Christie’s pioneering forensic writing with special guests Raychelle Burks and Kathryn Harkup
- News
The curious incident of the catalytic amine that never was
A series of unfortunate events and a missed control experiment meant palladium sneaked its way into a supposedly amine-catalysed reaction
- Article
June Lindsey, another forgotten woman in the story of DNA
Her discovery of adenine and guanine’s structure was a key part of solving the DNA double helix puzzle – yet her contributions are almost forgotten
- News
Van ’t Hoff’s Amsterdam lab becomes historic chemical landmark
Now a café and exhibition space, the building once contained the first chemistry Nobel prize winner’s research space
- Research
Gel-forming proteins could help tardigrades survive extreme conditions
Biophysical dissection of tardigrade’s disordered protein could uncover how microscopic animals survive conditions that kill most other forms of life
- News
Public inquiry into Novichok poisoning death of Dawn Sturgess announced
UK investigation will examine any Russian involvement in the case of a woman who died after coming into contact with a nerve agent in 2018
- Research
Record-breaking hexagon made out of fused aromatic rings
90 rings form the largest structure of its kind ever made
- Research
Glassware found to promote reactions in Miller–Urey 'primordial soup' experiment
By running their famous 1952 experiment in glass flasks, Stanley Miller and Harold Urey might have unintentionally simulated the role of rocks on early Earth
- Opinion
Arlene Blum: ‘Our summit is reduced toxics’
The biophysical chemist on the link between climbing and reducing the use of toxic chemicals
- Research
Explainer: why has asymmetric organocatalysis won the chemistry Nobel prize?
In a rather unexpected move by the Nobel committee, this year’s prize in chemistry has been awarded to Benjamin List and David MacMillan
- Research
Record NMR shift in metal-bound phosphorus
Second record for iron complex as chemical shift beyond –10,000ppm discovered in phosphorus atoms directly bound to the metal
- Research
First fluoronium crystal solves structure controversy
X-ray analysis of elusive cation finally proves it to be a symmetric near-covalent structure, not a carbocation
- Research
Flip battery sideways for NMR studies
By turning button batteries on their side they can be studied by nuclear magnetic resonance without removing their metal casing
