Research
Reviving organobismuth chemistry
Despite its low cost and low toxicity, bismuth has found limited applications in organic synthesis. Liam Ball is working to change that
Nuclear waste might one day be used to create tritium to fuel fusion power plants
Discussions begin on association of Australia to Horizon Europe
Tale of Britain’s post-Roman economic crash overturned by ancient metal pollution discovery
UK biofuels production collapsing in face of cheap imports
Why has the EU banned a key chemical in gel nail products?
In depth
Plastic treaty negotiations go down to the wire
Capping production and limiting use of harmful chemicals are key topics for negotiators to consider
As AI-designed drug looks to pass final hurdle, will this tech change drug discovery forever?
AI-led drug for chronic lung disease set to enter phase 3 clinical trials, though experts remain divided on AI’s impact in pharma
Why has the EU banned a key chemical in gel nail products?
Trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide is a photo-initiator used to harden nail polish under UV light
Explainer: The chemistry of permastink and how to prevent it
How to avoid throwing out smelly polyester sportswear
Explainer: Why is the UK banning disposable vapes?
Prior to the ban, almost seventy million single-use e-cigarettes were being discarded each year in the UK – containing enough lithium for a thousand electric vehicle batteries
Why does asparagus make my urine smell?
The chemistry of the organosulfur compounds that result in a fragrant toilet
AI helps identify over 1000 dubious open-access journals from screen of 15,000 titles
Program compares favourably with human integrity experts
Modelling suggests waste heat from AI data centres could power carbon capture and water purification
Analysis considering thermodynamics, economics and emissions shows how AI could flip its environmental footprint to become both water-positive and carbon-negative
Antibiotics designed with the help of AI attack bacteria in entirely new ways
Two new compounds display potent activity against deadly drug-resistant bacteria
AI tools turned to creating designer proteins for personalised cancer therapies and antibiotics
Powerful new class of AI model could dramatically speed up process of producing new kinds of drug candidates
LLMs could rewrite how AIs predict reactions and plan syntheses
Chemists welcome approach but warn that unthinking dependence on AI should be avoided
As AI-designed drug looks to pass final hurdle, will this tech change drug discovery forever?
AI-led drug for chronic lung disease set to enter phase 3 clinical trials, though experts remain divided on AI’s impact in pharma
‘CrystalGPT’ set to enhance how chemists design crystals in silico
Model for predicting molecular crystal properties is readily adaptable to specific tasks, even with limited data
AI predicts transition states with exceptional precision
Model can complete tasks in under a second that take conventional methods hours
Worldwide
Indian chemist dies after methanol inhalation incident
Preliminary investigation highlights lack of protective equipment
Congo’s cobalt conundrum
DRC government is intervening to revive prices and stabilise supply chains
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
Apprenticeship students outperformed those taking a traditional chemistry degree at the University of Bradford
Study highlights the academic advantages of vocational chemistry courses
Proportion of US students taking chemistry fails to keep pace with other science disciplines
‘An act of national self-harm’: UK visa system deters top chemistry talent
Chemistry ‘cold spots’ emerging across the UK, RSC warns
Researcher severely injured in 2016 Hawaii lab explosion receives £5 million settlement
American Chemical Society announces new support for at-risk master’s and PhD chemistry students
$2.5 million programme launched to fund 100 students whose PI’s grants were cancelled by the Trump administration
Trump’s latest rule on research grants sidelines scientific merit and adds bureaucracy, academic groups warn
‘It’s carnage’: Former NIH director decries Trump administration efforts to slash research spending
US government cancels mRNA vaccine research
European Commission proposes partial suspension of Israel from Horizon Europe research programme
AI helps identify over 1000 dubious open-access journals from screen of 15,000 titles
Program compares favourably with human integrity experts
Discussions begin on association of Australia to Horizon Europe
Australia considers joining 20 other non-EU countries in world’s largest research programme
UK biofuels production collapsing in face of cheap imports
Bioethanol plants closing after US tariffs removed, while biodiesel faces competition from China
Proposal to limit US student visa durations draws criticism
Academic groups warn that the proposed rule will deter talented researchers, harm the economy and add bureaucracy
Pharma sector jolted by unpredictable US tariffs policy
Trump’s latest rule on research grants sidelines scientific merit and adds bureaucracy, academic groups warn
‘It’s carnage’: Former NIH director decries Trump administration efforts to slash research spending
US government cancels mRNA vaccine research
‘An act of national self-harm’: UK visa system deters top chemistry talent
The UN’s new scientific panel on chemical pollution faces an uncertain future
European Commission proposes partial suspension of Israel from Horizon Europe research programme
Chemistry for the visually impaired that can be felt, heard and smelt
The Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, recently brought chemistry alive for students with sight loss
First-generation graduate chemists face challenges throughout their entire academic lifetime
Study highlights need for mentorship and more inclusive networks
Under legal pressure American Chemical Society ends diversity programme
The society is replacing its 30-year-old Scholars Program for minorities with a larger one that does not consider race
American Chemical Society diversity programme comes under attack
New year honours recognise chemists’ services to inclusion and diversity
Nobel prize winners far more likely to come from wealthy families highlighting inequality in the sciences
Women stay in science far longer than thought, study of OECD countries suggests