Reviving organobismuth chemistry
Despite its low cost and low toxicity, bismuth has found limited applications in organic synthesis. Liam Ball is working to change that
These flexible fuel cells still work after being pierced with toothpicks and cut into pieces
Power sources made from cotton yarn could power new wearable electronics
Photocatalytic process converts carbon dioxide into ethylene with 99% selectivity
New process uses light and gold nanoparticles to hydrogenate carbon dioxide into key chemical feedstock
Nuclear waste might one day be used to create tritium to fuel fusion power plants
Los Alamos National Lab team is modelling the efficiency and cost of reactor designs that can generate tritium from waste
Tale of Britain’s post-Roman economic crash overturned by ancient metal pollution discovery
Apprenticeship students outperformed those taking a traditional chemistry degree at the University of Bradford
Thioesters could explain how proteins first formed on early Earth
This deep-sea worm turns two toxins into a harmless mineral
Electron irradiation converts hydrocarbon crystals into nanodiamonds
First valence electron measurements capture fleeting reaction process
Highlights
Kesterite solar cells break efficiency ceiling after decade-long stall
Once-promising kesterite solar technology has finally broken through its efficiency ceiling, jumping from a decade-long stall at 12.6% to nearly 17% in just three years – putting commercial viability within reach.
From flying ointments to healing herbs: the forgotten chemistry behind historical witchcraft practices
The unusual concoctions of village witches have historically been dismissed as nonsense hocus pocus – but is this the whole story? Victoria Atkinson investigates the chemistry behind the myth and whether there was more to witchcraft than ritual and superstition
Consumers question safety of parabens and PFAS in personal care products amid health concerns
Growing research into cosmetic ingredients has been raising safety concerns among consumers. Bárbara Pinho explores the future of safer chemistry amid the ‘clean beauty’ trend
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
Topics
Modelling suggests waste heat from AI data centres could power carbon capture and water purification
Analysis considering thermodynamics, economics and emissions shows how AI could flip its environmental footprint to become both water-positive and carbon-negative
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
‘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
Reviving organobismuth chemistry
Despite its low cost and low toxicity, bismuth has found limited applications in organic synthesis. Liam Ball is working to change that
Ancient ‘Egyptian Blue’ pigment recipes recreated
Work could aid conservation of Egyptian artefacts
Snuff tube residues push back date of oldest hallucinogen use in Peruvian Andes
Chemical analysis reveals traces of a number of psychoactive compounds thought to have been used to secure leaders’ status
Iron from single meteorite found in ancient Polish artefacts
Discoveries indicate meteoritic iron was falling out of fashion in the late iron age
Exploring the frontiers of the periodic table: bismuth catalysis and its applications
Join us on 16 October to learn about state-of-the-art synthesis coming from one of the world’s leading catalysis research groups
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
‘Chemistry changed the world before, we just need to do it again’: Stockholm declaration reimagines future
Paul Anastas talks to Chemistry World about organising call for chemistry to transform itself and make the world more sustainable
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
AI helps identify over 1000 dubious open-access journals from screen of 15,000 titles
Program compares favourably with human integrity experts
Apprenticeship students outperformed those taking a traditional chemistry degree at the University of Bradford
Study highlights the academic advantages of vocational chemistry courses
Iupac wants its new responsible chemistry principles in undergrad textbooks
Leaders of responsible chemistry initiative argue that the ethical aspects of chemistry belong in university chemistry classrooms alongside green chemistry principles
New UK facility to turbo-charge development of novel RNA therapies
Government to invest £30 million in RNA biofoundry to accelerate therapies for cancer and genetic disorders
Science content on Bluesky attracts more engagement and originality than on X
New social media site is proving better for sharing research findings