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.
- Research
Metal–organic framework captures carbon dioxide at industrially relevant temperatures
Material could improve energy efficiency of capturing carbon from industy’s exhaust gases
- Research
First 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
- Research
New spectroscopy method maps out water’s hydrogen-bonded network
Technique can be used to study other liquids and amorphous materials
- Research
Graphene oxide sponge soaks up gold from electronic waste
Composite many times more effective at capturing gold than existing materials
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Cinchona plant alkaloid catalyst subtracts hydrogen to invert alcohols’ chirality
Blue light desymmetrisation of diols holds promise for drug synthesis
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Super-fast setting sticky polymers can suture tricky internal wounds
Chemical wizardry allowed unstable polymer produced from bio-based precursor to be stabilised
- Research
Isotope analysis reveals origins of asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs
The end-Cretaceous mass extinction was caused by a ruthenium-rich carbonaceous chondrite asteroid
- Research
Layered material displays strength of ceramic with toughness of metal
Lattice-matching prevents brittleness usually associated with ceramics
- Research
Nanopore proteins designed from scratch and turned into biosensors
Artificial ion channels used to detect disease indicators and pharmaceuticals
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PFAS from rechargeable batteries pose environmental threat
Electrolyte material used in lithium-ion batteries is highly mobile and potentially toxic
- Research
Impossible aerogel that reflects more visible light than it receives prompts scepticism
Material made from salmon sperm and gelatin touted as greener way to cool buildings
- Research
Isotope tracking suggests that plants cycle carbon faster than previously thought
New analysis suggests that vegetation is less able to offset climate change than had previously been calculated
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Intermediate considered ‘too reactive to isolate’ finally tamed
Nitrene species stabilised for three days with careful choice of substituent
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How many molecules of water does it take to dissociate HCl? It’s complicated
New work sheds lights on when hydrogen chloride turns into hydrochloric acid
- Research
1D perovskites break free from 2D sheets and could enable production of cheap lasers
Nanowire perovskites offer path to low-cost sensors
- News
Explainer: how chemistry powers heat pumps
Seen as an answer to low-carbon heating we look at how they work and what their future holds
- Research
Labs across the globe networked by AI discover state-of-the-art emitters for lasers
Demonstration shows how algorithms could organise timing and match specialist equipment to experiments
- Research
Precious metal-free catalyst conjured using sugar can turn CO2 into chemical feedstock
Simulations and analysis uncover more active metastable phase of molybdenum carbide
- Research
Liquid metal synthesis of diamonds achieved at atmospheric pressure
Combining nickel, iron and silicon with gallium enabled diamond film synthesis from methane
- Research
Structural disorder key to high-capacitance carbon electrodes
Finding could lead to supercapacitors that store more charge