Antibiotics designed with the help of AI attack bacteria in entirely new ways
Two new compounds display potent activity against deadly drug-resistant bacteria
Protein prediction AI could help reactivate dormant immune system in crops
Precision engineering could be used to return natural immunity to crops that have lost it over time
AI enables quicker search for MOFs to soak up carbon dioxide
Thousands of candidates screened allowing the best to be investigated experimentally
Branched polymers protect cell mimics that can interact with biological cells
Dendritic polymers encase coacervate microdroplets, enabling them to closely mimic natural cells
Ring of pure carbon stabilised by its catenane connections
Scientists turn to candles to make complex multi-metal nanoparticles
Molecular motor stitches together catenane rings
New adhesive is so sticky it can glue a rubber duck to a seaside rock
Rule-breaking reaction unlocks a new level for photoredox catalysis
Recoded E. coli strain shows that life can function with significantly compressed genetic code
Highlights
How stable isotope analysis reveals what ancient humans and Neanderthals ate
Analytical chemistry can tell us what our ancestors ate thousands – or even millions – of years ago. Rachel Brazil gets her teeth into the evidence
The chemistry of fear
Recent advances in measurement techniques have shed light on the different roles of various biomolecules during frightening and stressful situations. Anna Demming looks at how it may lead to new therapeutic interventions for conditions like PTSD
How atomic weights change with scientific understanding
Why do the atomic weights on the periodic table keep changing? Kit Chapman meets the team behind the decimal places
Serial femtosecond crystallography reveals protein dynamics in real time
Proteins are constantly moving, but our structures of them are static. Clare Sansom talks to the researchers using free-electron lasers to make time-resolved structures
Carbon in an ice world
Antarctica may seem pristine and almost devoid of life, but there’s plenty of chemistry going on. Victoria Atkinson explains what it can tell us about the climate and pollution across the globe
Topics
Antibiotics designed with the help of AI attack bacteria in entirely new ways
Two new compounds display potent activity against deadly drug-resistant bacteria
AI tools turned to creating designer proteins for personalised cancer therapies and antibiotics
Powerful new class of AI model could dramatically speed up process of producing new kinds of drug candidates
LLMs could rewrite how AIs predict reactions and plan syntheses
Chemists welcome approach but warn that unthinking dependence on AI should be avoided
‘CrystalGPT’ set to enhance how chemists design crystals in silico
Unprecedented pentacoordinate oxygen cluster isn’t so new after all
An overlooked bonding motif appears in many more proteins than was previously realised
Fluorine surprises by becoming heaviest atom ever to quantum tunnel
Strain can unlock electron-donating orbital in tetravalent carbon atoms
Unique Iron Age kohl from Iran differs from that of ancient Egypt
Eye makeup found to contain graphite and manganese but not organic ingredients
Iron from single meteorite found in ancient Polish artefacts
Discoveries indicate meteoritic iron was falling out of fashion in the late iron age
Ancient Vesuvius victim’s brain contains first natural organic glass ever seen
Extreme heating followed by rapid cooling formed unique material in a Herculaneum man
This nanotechnology expert works with both plant and brain cells
Could Markita Landry’s research group be any more interdisciplinary?
US charity launches $100 million green chemistry initiative
Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to fund seven year project headed by sustainable chemistry pioneer Paul Anastas
Pitfalls in cytotoxicity studies could be tripping up chemists
Team proposes how to broaden and standardise biological testing in sustainable chemical research
Light-driven catalytic system makes ammonia from nitrogen and water
Dual catalyst system operates under ambient conditions, offering a way to reduce ammonia production’s environmental impact
Chemists urged to build a greener future by Stockholm declaration document
‘Father of green chemistry’ Paul Anastas among those spearheading call to action
Filter paper simplifies squaramide synthesis
Capillary-driven flow distributes reagents evenly
Seed oil-based polymer should survive a day in the rain but degrade within years in the sea
Researchers create polyesteramides from brassylic acid and explore their potential as a replacement for polyethylene
American Chemical Society announces new support for at-risk master’s and PhD chemistry students
$2.5 million programme launched to fund 100 students whose PI’s grants were cancelled by the Trump administration
What are the top journals in chemistry right now?
Following the recent release of journal impact factors, we round up the leading journals across 10 chemistry fields
Uncovering the fraudsters and their schemes responsible for polluting the scientific literature
Analysis claims poor quality articles containing faked data are in danger of overwhelming journals
‘An act of national self-harm’: UK visa system deters top chemistry talent
Immigration policies are making it much more difficult to get scientific talent to come to the UK at a time of global flux
European Commission proposes partial suspension of Israel from Horizon Europe research programme
Move would affect start-ups and other innovative small businesses but not hit universities directly