Benzene at 200
Celebrating the molecule that changed the world
Benzene’s 200-year legacy of transformation
As we celebrate the anniversary of benzene’s isolation, we must remember that scientific centenaries carry additional agendas
Why I returned the Faraday prize to the Royal Society
Andrea Sella explains how inaction over Elon Musk’s membership motivated him to act
Nurturing socioeconomic inclusion for a brighter tomorrow
Understanding why individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are underrepresented in the chemical sciences
Way’s electric light and flashes of brilliance
The continuing adventures of John Thomas Way under the mercury-powered spotlight
Normalising huge substrate scopes worsens wellbeing
And holds up the pace of scientific progress
Take two polls to help Iupac define molecular machines
An Iupac committee wants your input to guide its recommendations for key terms in the field
Multi-disciplinary scientists are ready to solve global chemical pollution
Are governments ready to act?
Our columnists
Philip Ball is an award-winning journalist, author and broadcaster who explores the history and philosophy of chemistry
Benzene’s 200-year legacy of transformation
As we celebrate the anniversary of benzene’s isolation, we must remember that scientific centenaries carry additional agendas
Raychelle Burks is an associate professor in the US and an award-winning science communicator and broadcaster.
Sinister snakebites
Accidental death, or a murder carried out with venom?
Nessa Carson is a synthetic organic research chemist based in Macclesfield, UK
The value of good software extends beyond its cost
Whether third-party or built in-house, thoughtful design and implementation can improve workflows and make science more inclusive
Chemjobber is a US-based industry insider, telling tales of tank reactors and organic obstacles
Are you fooling yourself?
Charles Piller’s Doctored and the reality of falsehoods in science
Derek Lowe is a medicinal chemist in the US, sharing wit and wisdom from a life spent in preclinical drug discovery
Women are not just another confounding factor in drug development
Ignoring physiological differences between the sexes is indefensible
Alice Motion is an associate professor in Australia interested in citizen science, public outreach and education
The women-led health projects doing things differently
Innovative approaches to awareness and participation
Chris Nawrat (aka BRSM) is a process chemist at a major pharmaceutical company in the US
(–)-Scabrolide B (again!)
Proverbially, comparison may not bring joy – but it can be educational
Vanessa Seifert explores philosophical issues from the novel perspective of chemistry
How feminist bioethics can improve women’s health
From correcting research imbalances to placing value on lived experiences
Andrea Sella is a professor of inorganic chemistry in the UK with a passion for unravelling the unlikely origins of scientific kit
Why I returned the Faraday prize to the Royal Society
Andrea Sella explains how inaction over Elon Musk’s membership motivated him to act
Research landscape
Normalising huge substrate scopes worsens wellbeing
And holds up the pace of scientific progress
Can scientific curiosity and pressure to work long hours be balanced with well-being?
Younger researchers must beware the trap that sees their scientific fervour take over their lives
‘Real danger in this moment’ for America’s research enterprise
There are stark warnings for the US amid science agency cuts, terminated research grants and detained graduate students
Chemists amid coronavirus five years on: Krystle McLaughlin
An assistant chemistry professor at a small college in New York gets her career back on track, thanks to a tenure clock extension and teaching release
Chemists amid coronavirus five years on: Liang Zhang
Lockdown gave a young chemistry professor in China the space and time to consider the most worthwhile projects, and that has benefited his team
Putting research on the chopping block risks mortgaging countries’ futures
Many countries in the global north are taking a short-sighted approach to their science budgets
Forming bonds through Covid-19
How studying chemistry helped ward off loneliness during the pandemic
Industry landscape
Safety is everyone’s responsibility
Maintaining culture and investment is key, especially in the absence of incidents
Non-hallucinogenic psychedelics
Chemical insights and advances are contributing to a new therapeutic avenue for mental health conditions
Safety is everyone’s responsibility
Maintaining culture and investment is key, especially in the absence of incidents
Ignoring women’s health shouldn’t be an option
Developing therapies for conditions that predominantly affect women is a neglected, but enormous, opportunity
Letters: June 2025
Readers discuss chemical emergencies, honey adulturation, and more
Profiles
RNA as a replacement for chemical pesticides
Argentinian start-up Apolo Biotech is teaching plants to fight infections
Robyn Norton: ‘We needed to make sure that women were included’
The pioneering global health researcher on the importance of including women in medical research, face-to-face networking and kindness
How Bathabile Ramalapa is making a place for chemistry in health innovation
The award-winning scientist is solving health problems in the global south and inspiring other girls to follow suit
How Bathabile Ramalapa is making a place for chemistry in health innovation
The award-winning scientist is solving health problems in the global south and inspiring other girls to follow suit
Willie May: ‘We need to find and support the “missing millions”’
The analytical chemist on growing up Black in Alabama in the 1950s and 1960s and his journey through NIST, academia and the AAAS presidency
Paul Alivisatos: ‘Physical chemistry brought me back into the fold’
The nanomaterials pioneer talks about coming from a family of immigrants, wandering as an undergraduate and finding his compass
Hidden from view: being a scientific advisor for the emergency services
Stephen Yao’s expertise helps the emergency services deal with chemical incidents
Sara Shinton’s career developing research leaders
UKRI’s Future Leaders Fellows Development Network director is on a mission to improve research culture through good leadership
Benzene at 200
By Nazario Martín
Celebrating the molecule that changed the world
Nurturing socioeconomic inclusion for a brighter tomorrow
By Stephen Hendry
Understanding why individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are underrepresented in the chemical sciences