All articles by Philip Ball – Page 8
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Research
Microscopy reveals secret of beryl’s iron heart
Discovery of metal stuffed channels in mineral family that includes emerald and aquamarine points way to tuning the material’s colour
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Opinion
Time to revolt against impact factors
Perverse incentives hurt science – the top universities need to fight back
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Opinion
How Frankenstein left chemistry with a monstrous reputation
Shelley’s masterpiece was inspired by the cutting-edge science of her time
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Research
Bond activation probed using x-ray laser
Observations of the oxygen–ruthenium bond could help improve catalyst design
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Opinion
General dietary advice should be taken with a pinch of salt
We must move away from labeling foods as universally good or bad and start talking about dose
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Research
Quantum computer simulates hydrogen molecule
Prototype shows potential for more complex electronic structure calculations
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Opinion
What's the point of synthesising the human genome?
A plan to build our genome from scratch should be challenged on its scientific merit, not whether it is creating life, argues Philip Ball
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Opinion
How game theory could explain complex life
Philip Ball asks if the building blocks of life benefit from cooperation
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Research
Scientists claim to have seen ‘new state’ of water
Scepticism that water molecules with delocalised protons can be described as an unknown phase of water
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Opinion
Homing pigeons should thank quantum chemistry
Philip Ball asks whether quantum biology holds the secret to how birds navigate
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Opinion
Why salty water foams
Philip Ball seeks the answer to a question more complex than it appears
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Research
Bonding accurately predicted in diatomics by new scheme
Hopes that simple theoretical framework can be extended to tackle polyatomic molecules
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Research
New buzz around vibrational smell theory
Controversial theory bolstered by discovery that ordinary and deuterated odour compounds elicit different responses in honeybee brains
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Opinion
What is a molecule?
Despite being a standard scientific concept, it’s virtually impossible to agree a satisfactory definition, says Philip Ball
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Research
Chemical reaction flipped back and forth under scanning probe microscope
Work demonstrated on Bergman cyclisation offers route to valuable new reactions
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Opinion
The periodic table name game
Proposed new rules on how elements are named save confusion but sacrifice romance, argues Philip Ball
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Research
Freezing oil droplets put on a show
Drops of hexadecane adopt geometric shapes more appropriate to crystals
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Opinion
Why we need more research risks
Scientists are playing it too safe when choosing topics for investigation, warns Philip Ball