Research
Polytope formalism offers a new way to chart chemical space
Framework can investigate regions of chemical space that are normally inaccessible, painting a clearer picture of how molecules can form, transform and interconvert
Unconventional catalyst support promotes record green methanol synthesis from carbon dioxide
Iran conflict cuts off gulf oil and chemicals trade
New computer file could standardise how chemists report MOF syntheses
Quantum tunnelling harnessed to radically improve efficiency of separation of deuterium from water
Compromise on ethanol hand gels and disinfectants should head off showdown over carcinogenicity
In depth
Clean hydrogen project cancellations point to narrower future
Plants actually being built tend to use hydrogen as feedstock, not fuel
The quest to understand where atoms end
Atomic size measurements like van der Waals and covalent radii are central to chemistry, but are they grounded in reality?
Explainer: Why is the US eliminating synthetic food dyes?
What’s the evidence for harm, and how does the US approach compare internationally
Explainer: What is epibatidine?
The science behind the dart frog toxin that was allegedly used to kill the Russian politician Alexei Navalny
Methanol poisoning: the chemistry behind how a toxic alcohol gets into drinks
Methanol in alcoholic drinks kills thousands every year. How does this toxic compound enter drinks, why is it dangerous and what can you do to stay safe?
Explainer: why have metal–organic frameworks won the Nobel prize in chemistry?
Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar Yaghi scooped the Nobel prize for their work on MOFs – here’s everything you need to know
Google’s AlphaGenome wants to do for DNA what AlphaFold did for proteins
Model predicts effect of mutations on sequences up to 1 million base pairs in length and is adept at tackling complex non-coding regions
AI research tools benefit individual scientists but may slow scientific progress
There may be a conflict between personal and collective gain in the sciences
AI tool dramatically reduces computing power needed to find protein-binding molecules
New protocol is up to 10 million times faster than current docking-based methods
AI agents set to democratise computational chemistry
Large language models are powering a new generation of AI agents that could transform computational chemistry from a specialist discipline into one any researcher can use, reports Julia Robinson
AI flexes its protein design muscles for harsh environments
‘Creative architect’ can produce proteins that are four times stronger than natural counterparts
UKRI opens up grant proposal data to explore using AI to smooth peer review
Surging applications has led the UK’s main funder to look at ways to reduce the burden on reviewers
‘AI will have a very large impact on chemistry’: £100 million AI materials hub to be built in Liverpool
Aim-Hi project to speed use of AI in materials science and accelerate discovery science
'Chemistry is incredibly complicated’: The interface between chemistry and art
Liverpool PhD student Emma Brass talks to Chemistry World about her AI-powered art installation
Worldwide
Iran conflict cuts off gulf oil and chemicals trade
Effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has stranded exports from Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar
How air pollution is rewiring gut chemistry and fuelling chronic disease
The impact of air pollution on our bodies’ microbiomes is only just beginning to be uncovered
Working towards an Australian First Nations periodic table
Zahra Khan finds out how a team of scholars is working with the Gadigal to develop a chart that celebrates Indigenous knowledge of the chemical elements
‘A philosophical attack on the nature of science’
Norine Noonan and Susan Coady Kemnitzer, who have retired from decades-long senior leadership roles at key science agencies and the White House, talk about the importance of collecting data at this historic moment
Ireland’s five-year plan for research aims to boost PhD numbers and spin-outs
‘Ukrainians are a strong nation – we persevere’: Four years on scientists remain resilient in face of adversity
‘We’re in the rupture’: AAAS leadership reflects on past year under Trump
Opaque UK funding changes herald cuts to facilities and research programmes paused
‘A philosophical attack on the nature of science’
Norine Noonan and Susan Coady Kemnitzer, who have retired from decades-long senior leadership roles at key science agencies and the White House, talk about the importance of collecting data at this historic moment
Ireland’s five-year plan for research aims to boost PhD numbers and spin-outs
‘We’re in the rupture’: AAAS leadership reflects on past year under Trump
Opaque UK funding changes herald cuts to facilities and research programmes paused
Australia closes one beamline at national synchrotron, with another saved
Chinese Academy of Sciences proposes capping pay-to-publish fees for high-profile journals
Journals charging article processing charges for open access in excess of $5000 are likely to be hit
‘A philosophical attack on the nature of science’
Norine Noonan and Susan Coady Kemnitzer, who have retired from decades-long senior leadership roles at key science agencies and the White House, talk about the importance of collecting data at this historic moment
At least 41 dead in two industrial explosions in India
Police taking action against owners following incidents at an industrial explosives plant and fireworks factory left at least 38 others injured
Clean hydrogen project cancellations point to narrower future
Plants actually being built tend to use hydrogen as feedstock, not fuel
Ireland’s five-year plan for research aims to boost PhD numbers and spin-outs
Explainer: Why is the US eliminating synthetic food dyes?
How will repealing the ‘endangerment finding’ hit US action on climate?
‘We’re in the rupture’: AAAS leadership reflects on past year under Trump
EU adds hefty anti-dumping duties to 1,4-butanediol
UK government sets out plan to tackle PFAS threat
India–EU trade deal will cut tariffs and enable economic migration
Clean hydrogen project cancellations point to narrower future
Plants actually being built tend to use hydrogen as feedstock, not fuel
Aria for chemist who wants to tackle key challenge of our age
Chemistry World spoke to Mark Symes, an electrochemist heading up Aria’s geoengineering programme
National scientific organisations consistently underrepresent women within their membership
Change is happening slowly but institutional processes continue to stymie the progression of women
Royal Society asks for help as it unveils interactive UK map charting memorialisation of women in science
Locations, landmarks and monuments dotted throughout the UK highlight the contributions of women
Royal Society of Chemistry calls for labs to become more inclusive for disabled chemists
Innovative thinking could address many of the problems that makes labs inaccessible