Tim Wogan
After initially planning to study English at university, I decided that, just in case I turned out not to be the next Hillary Mantel, it might be better to devote my life to my other great love – science, where I believed I was sure to make great discoveries. Three years studying physics at Cambridge University disabused me thoroughly of that notion, and, having learned that I was never going to make a notable discovery of my own in a world full of infinitely better scientists than I was, I decided to return to plan A and make my living writing about theirs instead. I studied science communication at Imperial College London and, after a brief internship as a reporter on the European news desk of Science, I’ve been writing freelance. Since 2019, I’ve been living in the US.
ResearchMicrowaves’ non-thermal effects on a chemical reaction demonstrated for first time
Molecular beam experiments shift reaction rate by manipulating reactant’s quantum state
ResearchPacemaker the size of a grain of rice could save children’s lives after surgery
Medical device powers itself using bodily fluids and then is simply absorbed by the body
ResearchBall milling breaks PFAS down into industrially useful fluoride source
Mechanochemistry could deal with ‘forever chemicals’
ResearchInorganic mechanism driving mysterious surge of powerful greenhouse gas
Sunlight triggers nitrous oxide production in ocean surface water
ResearchCentre of the Earth could hold large reservoir of iron–helium compounds
Compounds containing helium and iron can be stable at ambient pressures
ResearchAccidental discovery depolymerises commercial plexiglass
Light-triggered process breaks down waste plastic
ResearchCareful catalyst design boosts ethanol to hydrogen production
The reaction also generates acetic acid and its developers believe it can compete economically with current manufacturing processes
ResearchFar more drugs could be taken orally by formulating them with silica nanoparticles
Many more medicines could be made water soluble making taking them easier for patients
ResearchTwo-way polymerisation produces both elastic and rigid recyclable thermoset plastics
One-pot synthesis uses dihydrofuran monomers
ResearchDesigner 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
ResearchPhase-changing crystals could cut air-conditioning’s climate impact
Organic ionic plastic crystals show a ’colossal’ entropy change when undergoing a pressure-induced phase transition
ResearchExceptionally flexible diamond film exfoliated using Scotch tape
Ultraflat material could find use in the electronics industry
ResearchAI aids discovery of solar cell materials with near-record efficiency
Machine learning uncovers hidden relationships in materials design
ResearchMetal–organic framework captures carbon dioxide at industrially relevant temperatures
Material could improve energy efficiency of capturing carbon from industy’s exhaust gases
ResearchFirst detected 40 years ago, a byproduct in chloraminated drinking water has finally been identified
Researchers call for urgent investigation into the chloronitramide anion’s toxicity
ResearchNew spectroscopy method maps out water’s hydrogen-bonded network
Technique can be used to study other liquids and amorphous materials
ResearchGraphene oxide sponge soaks up gold from electronic waste
Composite many times more effective at capturing gold than existing materials
ResearchCinchona plant alkaloid catalyst subtracts hydrogen to invert alcohols’ chirality
Blue light desymmetrisation of diols holds promise for drug synthesis
ResearchSuper-fast setting sticky polymers can suture tricky internal wounds
Chemical wizardry allowed unstable polymer produced from bio-based precursor to be stabilised
ResearchIsotope analysis reveals origins of asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs
The end-Cretaceous mass extinction was caused by a ruthenium-rich carbonaceous chondrite asteroid