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.
ResearchChallenging mirror molecules made with stereochemistry destroying reaction
Clever catalyst repurposes classic nucleophilic substitution to make chiral quaternary carbon centres
NewsChemistry students with advisers of same gender more likely to succeed
Women with female PhD supervisors publish more papers and are 50% more likely to become academics than those with male advisers
ResearchRotten egg smell surrounds Uranus
Seventh planet’s topmost cloud layer is composed of hydrogen sulfide
Research73 new exotic nuclei discovered at Japanese institute
Hunt for remaining 4000 predicted nuclides goes on but new technology is needed to find them all
ResearchAnionic aluminium turns textbook knowledge on its head
First stable nucleophilic aluminium(I) compound offers new way to make aluminium–carbon bonds
ResearchHundreds of helium compounds could be hiding in Earth’s mantle
Although it doesn’t form any bonds, the noble gas can form compounds with salts at high pressure
ResearchIntroducing gallaarsene, the first of its kind
Molecule features rare gallium–arsenic double bond
NewsPresentation and copyright worries keep scientists from sharing data
Almost half of researchers surveyed say they don’t know how to present data to make it useful for others
ResearchEngineered enzymes make super strained rings
Mutated haem proteins make light work of synthesising bicyclobutanes
ResearchMolecular cages could uncover element 114’s true chemical nature
Flerovium-capturing sulfur cages could finally reveal where in the periodic table the superheavy element belongs
ResearchQuantum computing can go chemical with molecular qubits
Metal–organic frameworks could perform calculations to simulate molecules
ResearchJelly implant keeps an eye on body oxygen levels
A soft hydrogel implant – the first of which has survived in the foot of its inventor for four years – could detect circulatory problems that end in amputations
NewsGetting a better grasp of manganese to fight flu
A drug that can hold onto two metals atoms rather than just one becomes 1000 times more potent at knocking out a flu virus enzyme
ResearchBacteria churn out a million potential protein drugs
Modified bacteria produce enormous library of macrocycles, one of which inhibits a HIV protein
ResearchHealthier hair in just 10 minutes with graphene dye
Graphene oxide hair dye is not only non-toxic, it also imbues hair with antistatic and thermal conductive properties
ResearchLongest carbon–carbon bond yet pushes chemistry to its limits
Steric strain creates bond longer than theory thought possible
Research2D gallium stripped from molten metal
Gallenene is the first atomically thin material made by exfoliating a liquid metal
NewsNo decisive action on UK coffee cup waste problem
Despite environmental committee’s urging the UK government is hesitant to introduce a ‘latte levy’
