Liver toxicity remains an unpredictable hurdle for medicinal chemists
The liver’s complex role in metabolising drugs makes it both a critical consideration and potential stumbling block
Deadly fentanyl contamination exposes drug safety challenges
Bacterial conatmination in medical fentanyl has killed at least 51 people in Argentina, highlighting pressures on generic drugmakers
Ask probing questions to work effectively in diverse teams
Sometimes, what you really want may not be what you say you want
What I learned from going back to university in my 30s
Advice for the young student (at heart)
The clean beauty movement highlights wider challenges in balancing chemical risks and benefits
The ‘clean beauty’ movement exemplifies broader challenges in how we evaluate chemical safety, balancing risks against benefits while avoiding regrettable substitutions.
Benzene at 200
Celebrating the molecule that changed the world
Nurturing socioeconomic inclusion for a brighter tomorrow
Understanding why individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are underrepresented in the chemical sciences
Normalising huge substrate scopes worsens wellbeing
And holds up the pace of scientific progress
Our columnists
Philip Ball is an award-winning journalist, author and broadcaster who explores the history and philosophy of chemistry
Quantum deception attempts turning water into wine
The effect lasts only a few picoseconds but demonstrates a way to manipulate the optical properties of materials
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
Ask probing questions to work effectively in diverse teams
Sometimes, what you really want may not be what you say you want
Chemjobber is a US-based industry insider, telling tales of tank reactors and organic obstacles
Make versus buy (or steal)
How methylamine reveals a routine question for chemists
Derek Lowe is a medicinal chemist in the US, sharing wit and wisdom from a life spent in preclinical drug discovery
Liver toxicity remains an unpredictable hurdle for medicinal chemists
The liver’s complex role in metabolising drugs makes it both a critical consideration and potential stumbling block
Alice Motion is an associate professor in Australia interested in citizen science, public outreach and education
Learning about chemistry in prenatal class
Opportunities for infographics to contribute to health literacy
Chris Nawrat (aka BRSM) is a process chemist at a major pharmaceutical company in the US
(–)-Bipinnatin J
A stepping stone to greater things?
Vanessa Seifert explores philosophical issues from the novel perspective of chemistry
The conceptual challenge of consumer safety
Understanding causation can motivate product improvements
Andrea Sella is a professor of inorganic chemistry in the UK with a passion for unravelling the unlikely origins of scientific kit
Ure’s steam bath
A heating device from a fan of heated disputes
Research landscape
Letters: September 2025
Readers discuss negative results, chemistry cold spots and more
What I learned from going back to university in my 30s
Advice for the young student (at heart)
Chemistry ‘deserts’ threaten to push poorer undergraduates out
Course and departmental closures in the UK are creating ‘cold spots’, leaving students high and dry
If the UK wants growth fuelled by R&D, universities need relief now
The spending review has left universities struggling with deficits with few options but to hope for good news
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
Industry landscape
Liver toxicity remains an unpredictable hurdle for medicinal chemists
The liver’s complex role in metabolising drugs makes it both a critical consideration and potential stumbling block
Deadly fentanyl contamination exposes drug safety challenges
Bacterial conatmination in medical fentanyl has killed at least 51 people in Argentina, highlighting pressures on generic drugmakers
The clean beauty movement highlights wider challenges in balancing chemical risks and benefits
The ‘clean beauty’ movement exemplifies broader challenges in how we evaluate chemical safety, balancing risks against benefits while avoiding regrettable substitutions.
Will oral weight loss drugs challenge injectables?
Pills may offer convenience for manufacturers, but it’s not clear they will overtake existing drugs
Letters: September 2025
Readers discuss negative results, chemistry cold spots and more
Profiles
How I became the crossword compiler for Chemistry World
Paul Board has been setting Chemistry World’s crosswords for over 15 years. To celebrate the centenary of the (fully) cryptic crossword, he explains his crossword setting process and dissects some of his favourite science-based clues
Nora de Leeuw: ‘Some of my best PhD students weren’t that great at passing exams’
The computational chemist on perspectives from outside academia and the importance of inquisitiveness
Ponnadurai Ramasami: ‘You will learn more by going the more difficult way’
The trailblazing computational chemist on the joys of teaching, inaugurating a virtual conference, and the importance of doing things the hard way
Ponnadurai Ramasami: ‘You will learn more by going the more difficult way’
The trailblazing computational chemist on the joys of teaching, inaugurating a virtual conference, and the importance of doing things the hard way
RNA as a replacement for chemical pesticides
Argentinian start-up Apolo Biotech is teaching plants to fight infections
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
From professional ballet dancer to quantum chemist
Creativity has been central to James Shee’s career across both art and science
Exploring the potential uses of usnic acid
By Charlotte Sterland
As well as protecting lichen, this compound could have medical and cosmetic applications – if toxicity concerns can be overcome
I’m sorry, I’ve forgotten the words
By Edward Neal
The challenges of learning chemistry in your non-native language