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.
NewsJournal impact factors wrongly used to evaluate research
Despite criticism, some universities still use the metric as a proxy for research quality
NewsLettuce could be used to grow drugs on Mars
Infecting plants with a bacterium that can genetically modify plants could be an answer to producing drugs on other planets
NewsIupac names 10 chemistry innovations that will change the world
Nanopesticides, MOFs and 3D bioprinting among potential breakthrough technologies for a sustainable future
ResearchCatalyst that never needs to touch its reactant breaks textbook principle
Calculations show how catalyst confined in optical cavity can influence reagent without the two ever coming into contact
ResearchFrozen fluorine’s structure revisited after 50 years
Second ever crystal structure of solid fluorine solves 50-year-old crystal symmetry conundrum
ResearchOdd boron compound gets two nitrogen molecules to link up
Bis-dinitrogen made directly from nitrogen gas in first-of-its-kind reaction
Business47 dead in China chemicals plant explosion
Enormous blast at China chemicals producer flattens large parts of industrial park and injures more than 600 people
NewsChemical analysis supports EU’s toxic tattoo ink ban
Report finds 20% of tattoo inks contain ‘negative list’ chemicals, although little is known about long-term effects
ResearchCo-crystals fish out cannabinoid from plant extract
Purifying cannabidiol from natural cannabis extract made cheap and easy thanks to amino acid partner
ResearchHole-punching antifungal used as molecular prosthesis for cystic fibrosis
Drug creates artificial ion channels that could replace broken version in cystic fibrosis patients’ lung cells
ResearchSqueezable copper–nitrogen compound made under extreme pressure and heat
Scientists create copper diazenide in first direct reaction between nitrogen and copper
ReviewThe Poison Squad
Katrina Kramer reviews a biography of Harvey Wiley, who transformed US food safety laws
ResearchCopper mixes with alcohol abuse drug for anticancer action
Chemical model reveals how alcoholism drug disulfiram joins copper to kill cancer cells with oxidation overload
Research16 benzene rings make up bulkiest ever acene
Largest perphenylacene behaves like tetracene in an inert hydrocarbon sheath
ResearchLiquid metal turns back time on fossil fuel burning
Electrochemical reduction with liquid metal electrode converts carbon dioxide back into carbon
NewsTwitter chemistry poster conference continues to grow as it celebrates its fifth anniversary
Royal Society of Chemistry’s Twitter poster conference hopes to get chemistry trending on social media
NewsEU creates €10 billion fund for climate friendly technology
Investment programme aims to boost low-carbon technologies in Europe
ResearchThe five reactions on every organic chemist’s wish list
Synthesis has some catching-up to do to create the reactions every drug discovery chemist dreams of
ResearchApp quantifies chemicals in thin layer chromatography
Most basic analytical procedure gets a smartphone makeover for quantitative measurements