Mercury-free electrochemical lithium isotope separation could fuel a fusion future
Vanadium oxide pores selectively sequester sieve lithium isotopes
AI takes step towards cracking biology’s toughest problem – protein sequencing
The team hopes the system will eventually be as influential as AlphaFold was for protein structure prediction
Robot ramps up accuracy of AI salt stain identifier
Database with three times as many images as before boosts accuracy of technique to almost 99%
Ball milling breaks PFAS down into industrially useful fluoride source
Mechanochemistry could deal with ‘forever chemicals’
JWST reveals exoplanet composition with unprecedented clarity
Simple trick lets pure blue quantum dots maintain their performance without cadmium
‘Ageing’ cellular blobs could be linked to neurodegenerative diseases
Chemical reaction results in ‘remarkable’ swirling patterns on germanium surface
Stretching spider silk increases hydrogen bonding, improving mechanical strength
Metal layers just a few angstroms thick display unusual electronic properties
Highlights
The circles of DNA that cause cancer
Ring-shaped extrachromosomal DNA is implicated in many cancers. Rachel Brazil talks to the scientists trying to uncover their secrets
The glyphosate debate
The EU has recently approved the use of glyphosate for another decade. Bárbara Pinho examines the controversial pesticide’s presence in British farming and considers the possibility of a ban in the UK
COFs head for the big time
Two decades on from the first reported covalent organic frameworks, Nina Notman investigates what their future holds
Melanie Sanford’s route from college gymnast to groundbreaking researcher
One-time gymnast Melanie Sanford has made a name for herself in catalysis and organometallic chemistry. Rebecca Trager charts her path to success, from her mentors to her mentoring
Studying materials in action
Experiments on battery electrodes and fuel cell catalysts while they’re being used – operando spectroscopy – can revolutionise our understanding of these crucial materials. Clare Sansom reports
Topics
AI inspired by AlphaFold can predict chromatin structures found in chromosomes
System could help unravel how genome folding influences genes
Computational study says nucleophile finds σ-holes more attractive than π-holes
A σ-hole leads to a stronger bond with NH3 than a π-hole on the same atom
Computer simulations shed light on how material can shrink when heated
New theory offers insights into the origin of the very low and negative thermal expansion observed in cordierite
Simulations suggest why highly unsaturated molecules are so abundant in the interstellar medium
Computer simulation of carbonless DNA prompt researchers to consider alternative biochemistries
Chemists use AI to uncover pigments used on Berlin Wall murals
GPT-based AI tool predicts inorganic crystal structures
AI tool learns to build molecules fragment by fragment
Iron from single meteorite found in ancient Polish artefacts
Discoveries indicate meteoritic iron was falling out of fashion in the late iron age
Chemists use AI to uncover pigments used on Berlin Wall murals
Researchers hope work will help to preserve this art
Teaching enzymes new reactions through genetic code expansion and directed evolution
Anthony Green’s research group at the University of Manchester, UK, reengineers enzymes to have catalytic functions beyond those found in nature
Reading into the dangers of poison paint in Victorian-era books
Brightly coloured fabric covers hide poisonous dye legacy
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
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
Biomass, plastic waste and carbon dioxide feedstocks key to cutting chemical industry’s emissions
Royal Society report warns that without intervention defossilisation of the chemicals sector will take many decades
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
Chemistry courses to be shut down at the University of Bradford
Closures are part of a trend seen across UK universities
Europe offers refuge to America’s researchers
Schemes seek to attract top scientific talent from the US as Trump cuts research funding, attacks universities
NIH sparks concern by singling out mRNA vaccine research for added scrutiny
The Department of Health and Human Services denies mRNA research faces defunding but scientists are still worried
Bill to ban all Chinese nationals from receiving US student visas causes alarm
Legislation’s sponsor claims it will prevent espionage, but there are warnings it will harm US competitiveness
Fears China, Russia are trying to poach fired US government scientists
America’s rivals are trying to capitalise on what they see as a ‘vulnerable’ moment of mass federal layoffs at science agencies