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
Single-celled marine organism first to be found releasing oxygen in the dark
2022-01-11T10:28:00
Discovery of new biological pathway in widespread archaea could transform understanding of oceans’ fertility
Feature
How elements are made beyond the stars
2022-01-05T11:45:00
Tim Wogan looks at what recent astronomical discoveries have added to our understanding of stellar nucleosynthesis, and the mysteries that remain
Research
Algorithm out of Google’s DeepMind finesses DFT calculations
2021-12-15T09:30:00
Machine learning creates algorithm that avoids large errors in solutions to certain problems
News
James Webb Space Telescope poised to provide insight into chemical evolution of universe
2021-12-08T14:30:00
Launch later this month could provide new understanding of exoplanets and the origins of heavier elements
Research
Perovskite frozen in MOF glass glows in rainbow colours
2021-11-11T13:30:00
Porous material preserves lead halide perovskite’s luminescent form while tailoring emission colour
Research
Flawless quasicrystals may be possible to synthesise simply
2021-10-28T08:30:00
Cutting misalignment should allow perfect structures to form
Research
Squeezed crystal becomes better catalyst
2021-10-21T13:30:00
Fine-tuning platinum’s lattice strain with removable atomic spacers boosts its catalytic activity by up to 50%
Research
Tiny shear forces have big effect on protein reactions
2021-10-15T08:35:00
Proteins react faster under the forces they experience when they squeeze through blood vessels
Research
New process could turn scrap metal into hi-tech steel in demand for cars and alloys
2021-10-08T08:30:00
Ultra-low carbon steel created electrochemically
Research
Semimetal study links spiral magnetism to Weyl fermions
2021-09-01T13:05:00
Findings may help explain spatial modulations seen in the magnetism of other rare earth intermetallic compounds
Research
Tusk isotopes reveal a mammoth’s life
2021-08-16T13:30:00
17,000 years after its death, scientists use strontium analysis to trace animal’s movements throughout its 28-year life
Research
There was more than simple oxygen depletion to ancient mass extinction event
2021-08-05T08:30:00
Thallium isotopes reveal that rapid swings in ocean oxygenation preceded the events that wiped out 90% of species 250 million years ago
Research
First fleeting glimpse of metallic water
2021-08-02T13:30:00
Electron doping briefly turns water into golden metal
Research
Chemists control reaction path with mechanical force
2021-07-15T08:30:00
Mechanochemical mechanism exploited to access unconventional trajectories on a reaction’s potential energy surface
Research
Best sighting yet of exotic crystals composed entirely of electrons
2021-07-05T08:30:00
2D materials used to stabilise Wigner crystals
Research
Quantum chemical reaction behind birds’ internal compass
2021-06-24T13:37:00
Can migratory robins ‘see’ Earth’s magnetic field at night?
Research
Reaction between ultracold molecules reveals limits of quantum statistics
2021-05-24T13:32:00
Real-world molecules don’t always follow the quantum-statistical model
Research
Surprise as nickel vapour is found in comet tails far too cold for metal sublimation
2021-05-20T10:33:00
Discovery points to unusual organometallic chemistry going on in deep space
Research
Integrated design gives lithium–air battery room to breathe safely
2021-04-28T09:32:00
Improved stability and cycling brings battery with highest theoretical energy density closer to market
Research
Ion trapping desalination membrane fishes out valuable materials
2021-04-15T18:02:00
Selectively trapping toxic or useful ions could reduce toxicity of brine waste and offset costs

More by Tim Wogan