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.
![An image showing a [M2(BzN6-Mes)]n− complex](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAMAAAACCAQAAAA3fa6RAAAADklEQVR42mNkAANGCAUAACMAA2w/AMgAAAAASUVORK5CYII=)
ResearchMetal sandwich stabilises first benzene triplet-state aromatic
Benzene diradical dianion is the first monocyclic molecule that’s Baird aromatic in the ground state
- Feature
The search for the grand unification of aromaticity
Researchers have been trying to find a full definition of aromaticity for almost two centuries, and yet keep discovering new types. Katrina Krämer asks when chemists will get to the bottom of this elusive concept.
- Podcast
Book club – Science in Black and White by Alondra Oubré
Exposing racially biased research by delving into the nature versus nurture debate
- Research
Gold double helix assembles with DNA-like precision
DNA construction principles create first ever double-helical gold nanocluster assembly
- Research
Historical lead from petrol still poisons London’s air 20 years after its ban
Two decades after leaded petrol was banned in the UK, the toxic metal still hangs around London’s dusty roads – and it’s not going away
- Podcast
Book club – Vampirology by Kathryn Harkup
A scientific investigation of vampires’ lust for blood and weakness to garlic
- Research
Potassium’s electrons slowly transform into anions under pressure
Electride transition solves the mystery of how a liquid can be denser than a close-packed solid
- Research
Deepest ocean trenches hold vast amounts of mercury
Despite only comprising 1% of deep sea areas, sediments in Pacific Ocean trenches contain up to 30% of marine mercury
- News
Publishers grapple with an invisible foe as huge organised fraud hits scientific journals
Hundreds of fake research manuscripts from paper mills have flooded biochemical and biomedical journals in recent years. But how do you stop large-scale fraud barely anything is known about?
- Research
Bamboo bats could beat traditional willow at affordable cricket
While bamboo bats break cricket traditions, it might make the sport more accessible to its growing fanbase
- Research
First ever triply bridging phosphine glows in two colours when crushed
Copper triangle topped with μ3-bridging phosphorus ligand shows unusual colour-changing mechanochromic luminescence
- Podcast
Book club – The Disordered Cosmos by Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
Exposing how racism and sexism shapes science
- News
How Covid gave the world a lesson in tackling air pollution
The pandemic has given atmospheric chemists the opportunity to study pollution and carbon emissions like never before
- News
Bath becomes first UK university to sign green chemistry pledge
79 institutes around the world have now agreed to focus on green principles in chemistry education
- Research
A glimpse at alien volcanoes that spew metal
Hypothetical ferrovolcanoes explored with world’s only lava flow simulator
- News
UK science minister’s review aims to cut red tape for researchers
Report will identify solutions to free up researchers from unnecessary admin
- Research
Programmed cyclodextrin synthesis picks out specific molecule from 117,655 possibilities
Thioacetate orienting group allows for fine-tuned cyclodextrin functionalisation
- Research
Giant glowing fabric made into shirtsleeve display
Flexible textile woven from conductive polymer and luminescent fibres made into wearable display and keyboard device
- Podcast
Book club – Never Mind the B#ll*cks, Here’s the Science by Luke O’Neill
Serious punk rock science
![An image showing a [M2(BzN6-Mes)]n− complex](https://d2cbg94ubxgsnp.cloudfront.net/Pictures/100x67//4/0/8/514408_index_128835.jpg)
