Tim Wogan
After initially planning to study English at university, I decided that, just in case I turned out not to be the next Hillary Mantel, it might be better to devote my life to my other great love – science, where I believed I was sure to make great discoveries. Three years studying physics at Cambridge University disabused me thoroughly of that notion, and, having learned that I was never going to make a notable discovery of my own in a world full of infinitely better scientists than I was, I decided to return to plan A and make my living writing about theirs instead. I studied science communication at Imperial College London and, after a brief internship as a reporter on the European news desk of Science, I’ve been writing freelance. Since 2019, I’ve been living in the US.
- Research
Precious metal-free catalyst conjured using sugar can turn CO2 into chemical feedstock
Simulations and analysis uncover more active metastable phase of molybdenum carbide
- Research
Liquid metal synthesis of diamonds achieved at atmospheric pressure
Combining nickel, iron and silicon with gallium enabled diamond film synthesis from methane
- Research
Structural disorder key to high-capacitance carbon electrodes
Finding could lead to supercapacitors that store more charge
- Research
Algorithm designs proteins from scratch that can bind drugs and small molecules
Strategy could stop an overdose or produce an antidote to a poison
- Research
Iodide addition could make high energy lithium-sulfur batteries commercially viable
Next generation batteries given self-healing properties and vastly improved electronic conductivity by sulfur iodide inclusion
- Research
Deep learning algorithm predicts structures of biomolecular assemblies
RoseTTAFold extended to predict structures of proteins bound to small molecules
- Research
Violent volcanic lightning created the nitrogen compounds essential for the chemistry that led to life
First direct evidence of nitrates linked to eruptions discovered
- Research
Ion-beam experiments probe fundamentals of hydronium–hydroxide neutralisation
Researchers uncover new insights into one of chemistry’s most fundamental equilibrium reactions
- Research
Semiconducting graphene allows transistor creation in step toward silicon chip integration
Regular, ordered synthesis of epigraphene combines a bandgap with high electronic mobility addressing a key problem with the material
- Research
Bonding nanoparticles to rubber increases material’s fatigue resistance sixfold
Discovery puts rubber on the road to tougher tyres
- Research
Iodine compounds accelerate cloud formation over oceans and the poles
Newly discovered chemical mechanisms behind aerosol nucleation could improve climate models
- Research
Superheavy elements forged in giant stellar collisions
Nuclei with mass numbers above 260 are produced in r -process events
- Feature
When a bond gets too extreme
Chemical bonds are part of the way chemists rationalise the behaviour of atoms in the conditions of the world around them. Tim Wogan looks at how they are affected when those conditions change
- Research
‘Most slippery surface ever’ inspired by new understanding of surface roughness
Modelling and measurements reveal surprising ways slipperiness develops
- Research
Case closed on mystery of why a spinning magnet can levitate other magnets
Phenomenon discovered in 2021 that left physicists scratching their heads unravelled
- Research
All-metal fullerene cluster made for first time
Dodecahedral structure offers new insight into metal bonding
- Research
Peeking inside lithium-ion batteries offers new ways to put a stop to deadly fires
Understanding why batteries overheat could make them safer
- Research
Researchers identify metals released into the atmosphere by satellite reentry
Metals including niobium and hafnium detected in stratospheric aerosols
- Research
Long-lived excited states open the door to earth-abundant metal photocatalysts
New findings show that cobalt (III) complexes can catalyse reactions not previously thought possible