Rebecca Trager
Senior US correspondent, Chemistry World
I became the US Correspondent for Chemistry World in September 2014, based out of Washington, DC, after writing for the magazine on a freelance basis since 2007. With a background in policy, and a passion for journalism, I have found my niche covering the world of science policy since 1997. The interest was sparked after spending summers during college as a press intern for the National Institutes of Health. Before joining Chemistry World, I was the US Editor for Research Europe, covering the White House, as well as government departments and US agencies, and am also the former managing editor of The Blue Sheet, an Elsevier biomedical research and health policy publication. I studied philosophy and political theory at Haverford College in Pennsylvania.
- News
Periodic table of food initiative to uncover exactly what’s in our food
Project will create database of food compounds to standardise understanding of biomolecular composition of foods
- News
Chinese scientist who published Sars-CoV-2 genome without approval regains access to lab
Following Zhang Yongzhen and his team’s eviction from their lab, a protest appears to have forced a U-turn from authorities
- News
Ban on most uses of dichloromethane finalised in US
New rule phases out consumer use of the chemical within a year, and prohibits most industrial and commercial uses within two years
- Research
Monsoons launch surprising amounts of ozone-depleting substances into lower atmosphere
Findings challenge past assumptions about ozone layer recovery
- Research
National Institutes for Health boosts pay for PhD students and postdocs in the US
Stipend increases apply to more than 17,000 early-career researchers
- News
Chemists funded to cut the environmental footprint of their labs
The Royal Society of Chemistry to support 33 projects in 11 countries aiming to make chemistry research greener
- News
US National Academy of Sciences launches $8m fund to support Ukraine’s science community
The fund draws on support from philanthropic organisations, including the Simons Foundation and the Chan Zuckerberg Foundation
- News
Canada pledges dramatic pay rise for PhDs, postdocs – but many will not benefit
Budget commits $825 million over five years to boost PhD stipends and postdoctoral fellowships, after over 20 years of stagnation
- News
New $132 million chemistry building opens at University of Maryland
Facility will act as a focal point for quantum chemistry, molecular nanoscience and sustainability research
- Business
Rail company will pay $600 million to settle East Palestine lawsuits
Norfolk Southern reaches agreement to resolve litigation related to last year’s train derailment that spilled hazardous chemical cargo
- News
US finally gets nationwide regulation of PFAS in drinking water
Long-awaited rule is significantly stricter and covers six PFAS, with a five-year phase in for water utilities
- News
EPA’s clean air rule cuts chemical plant pollution
New regulation affects about 200 facilities in the US, reducing emissions of ethylene oxide, chloroprene and three other chemicals
- Research
Using analytical chemistry to illuminate the unlisted ingredients in tattoo inks
Discovery that more than 80% of the tattoo inks sampled had unlisted ingredients prompts New York-based lab to launch a website providing chemical information to tattoo artists and their clients
- Business
$6.6 million settlement follows 2019 fire at Texas petrochemical facility
Site owner to pay compensation for environmental damage caused by release of hazardous chemicals during days-long fire
- News
US government scientists follow academics in unionising for better conditions
California Association of Professional Scientists joins a national trade union to boost bargaining power
- Business
3M finalises PFAS settlement with US water suppliers
Court-approved scheme will see up to $12.5 billion to fund cleanup of public drinking water systems
- Research
Brewing better Belgian beer with artificial intelligence
Machine learning tool can predict a beer’s taste and quality and which flavour compounds could improve it
- Research
Why are there metal particles in never-used cannabis vapes?
Findings cast doubt on past research showing metals are solely released by e-cigarettes when the devices’ coils are heated
- Research
Model explains why water can freeze at different temperatures
The research could have applications in snowmaking, cloud seeding and beyond