A current take on the Swern oxidation
Electrochemical update to a classic reaction trades cryogenic conditions for room temperature, to selectively convert primary and secondary alcohols into aldehydes and ketones
AI tool paints bigger picture of global impact of millions of research grants, papers and patents
Team behind Funding the Frontier hope it will help funders and policymakers make better decisions but others worry system might favour ‘safe’ research
Transforming toxic arsenic sludge into a valuable commodity for green technologies, electronics
A simple process extracts valuable pure arsenic metal from groundwater treatment waste
Water squeezed into 2D channels conducts electricity 100,000 times better
Network of quasi-2D hydrogen bonding may be responsible for effect
Civet coffee kopi luwak’s reputedly superior flavour may have chemical basis
Explainer: the Welch Award in Chemistry
Quantum tunnelling drives aromaticity flip-flop
This fragment-based drug discovery library is designed to be sociable
Calcium bicarbonate crystals synthesised for first time
All stirred up: chemical engineers refute claims that ‘stirring doesn’t matter’
Highlights
Magnetic spin waves could slash computer energy consumption
Researchers are developing magnonic processors that use magnetic spin waves instead of electric current to process data. Rachel Brazil discovers how it could potentially reduce energy consumption by 90% and offer new possibilities for neuromorphic computing
AI tools tackle paper mill fraud overwhelming peer review
With more article submissions and fraudulent activity than ever before, journal peer review processes are creaking under the pressure. Nina Notman discovers how AI and automated tools are taking some of the strain
How the pioneers of metal-organic frameworks won the Nobel prize
From wooden models to thousands and thousands of structures, Julia Robinson tells the story of how Richard Robson, Susumu Kitagawa and Omar Yaghi won the 2025 Nobel prize in chemistry
Rethinking workplaces for neurodivergent staff
Neurodivergent people often excel in skills highly valued in chemistry. Nina Notman investigates how employers are breaking down barriers and harnessing these talents through workplace adjustments and recruitment reforms
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.
Topics
Quantum tunnelling drives aromaticity flip-flop
Augmented pentalene structure could be a molecular Schrödinger’s cat, aromatic and antiaromatic at the same time
Neural network trained to classify crystal structure errors in MOF and other databases
Study serves as a reminder that machine learning models are only as good as the data they are trained on
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
AI tools turned to creating designer proteins for personalised cancer therapies and antibiotics
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
How does Clarivate pick its potential Nobel prize winners?
Chemistry World talks to the head of research analysis at the Institute for Science Information on how they decide which researchers are producing Nobel-worthy research
First-generation graduate chemists face challenges throughout their entire academic lifetime
Study highlights need for mentorship and more inclusive networks
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
Exploring the frontiers of the periodic table: bismuth catalysis and its applications
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 tool paints bigger picture of global impact of millions of research grants, papers and patents
Team behind Funding the Frontier hope it will help funders and policymakers make better decisions but others worry system might favour ‘safe’ research
The cost of a visa for a researcher moving to the UK is 22 times that of international average
Royal Society is warning that the high upfront costs are putting off talented researchers
Cardiff University scales back proposed cuts to chemistry department following consultation
Department still set to merge with two others but there will be no compulsory redundancies
Restoring integrity: tackling fraud and data manipulation in scientific research
Join us on 27 November to learn how you can fight back against fraudulent research and paper mills
UKRI announces changes to simplify and improve efficiency of fellowships
Changes introduced to make fellowships easier to manage and understand