Simulations suggest why highly unsaturated molecules are so abundant in the interstellar medium
Shocks, cosmic rays and x-rays seem to ionise and fragment saturated molecules via mechanisms that result in structures with the highest possible number of π bonds
Mutant moulds threaten newest antifungal drugs putting immunocompromised patients at risk
Agrichemical antifungal use is leading to fungi that can evolve resistance to novel drugs faster – even those not even on the market yet
Designer proteins to treat deadly snake bites could save thousands of lives
Small proteins can help to tackle some of the deadliest components of cobras and mambas
Computer simulation of carbonless DNA prompt researchers to consider alternative biochemistries
Researchers swap nitrogen and boron into DNA to create analogues that are geometrically and electrostatically equivalent to conventional DNA
Air pollution may contribute to almost a quarter of deaths in India
Phase-changing crystals could cut air-conditioning’s climate impact
Exceptionally flexible diamond film exfoliated using Scotch tape
Protein cement is the trick to how ticks stick
First potential antidote for hydrogen sulfide poisoning created
Wireless, light-powered device opens door to high-throughput electrosynthesis
Highlights
The promise of drugs that send proteins to the shredder
Andy Extance charts how research into revolutionary targeted protein degradation therapies is moving from serendipity to strategic discovery
A mouthful of mouthfeel
Andy Extance learns how the chemicals in food and drink create sensual culinary experiences
Life on ice
We may be able to freeze embryos, but challenges remain for larger organs. Hayley Bennett talks to the scientists trying to push the boundaries of cryopreservation
How tyres are turning green
As the shift to using renewable and recycled materials in car tyres accelerates, Nina Notman talks to the manufacturers driving the change
20 years. 20 chemists. 20 stories. Part 2
How has chemistry changed in the last two decades?
Topics
Simulations suggest why highly unsaturated molecules are so abundant in the interstellar medium
Shocks, cosmic rays and x-rays seem to ionise and fragment saturated molecules via mechanisms that result in structures with the highest possible number of π bonds
Computer simulation of carbonless DNA prompt researchers to consider alternative biochemistries
Researchers swap nitrogen and boron into DNA to create analogues that are geometrically and electrostatically equivalent to conventional DNA
Chemists use AI to uncover pigments used on Berlin Wall murals
Researchers hope work will help to preserve this art
GPT-based AI tool predicts inorganic crystal structures
AI tool learns to build molecules fragment by fragment
Large language models are better than humans at answering chemistry questions
AI robots work together to perform autonomous synthesis and analysis
Proteins with multiple structures open up AlphaFold’s black box
After-school club students in Chicago discover promising bioactive compound via goose droppings
Chicago antibiotic discovery lab engages middle school students from underrepresented communities in hands-on research
Computer program ‘paints’ porphyrin structures in the style of famous artist
Algorithm turns molecules’ structure into Mondrian-inspired representations
Pioneering preservative removal from ancient Greek ship allows accurate dating
Extraction of polyethylene glycol from ship’s wood enables radiocarbon recalibration
Lead found in Beethoven’s hair reveals new insight into his ailing health
Kidney and liver problems that killed the composer, as well as hearing loss, are associated with high lead levels
Paul Anastas: ‘I’m proudest of being part of a global green chemistry community’
The father of green chemistry on his love of the environment, striving for unattainable perfection and breathing life into an old town library
Science needs to get its house in order when it comes to energy use and waste
Labs have an outsized environmental footprint but solutions are within reach
Redox reactions ‘mine’ old fluorescent light bulbs for europium
In just three simple steps rare earth element can be recovered, avoiding ‘ecologically devastating’ mining
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
Analysis of three French chemistry labs shows how they could halve their carbon footprint by 2030
Open-source tool helps researchers evaluate a series of carbon mitigation strategies
There’s a world of chemistry in water
Managing our most precious resource
Fuel cell scientist loses over a decade of work in suspected arson attack
Crowdfunder launched to help PhD student and owner of clean energy spin-out recover
The right level of trust in the scientific literature
An overreliance on what’s gone before can hinder innovation
The value of research is measured in many ways
Academia is a broad church
One Nation One Subscription sees India grant researchers access to 13,000 journals
Scheme will involve 30 major publishers opening their journals to over 6000 institutions
Extracting treasure from trash
The corpus of scientific literature needs a drastic clean-up