
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
Used masks and plastic packaging turned into high-octane fuel at low temperatures
Endothermic reaction coupled with an exothermic one to keep the processes energy costs down
- Research
Unique molecular state at ultracold temperatures points way to controlling chemical reactions
Deeper understanding of interactions close to absolute zero could also aid creation of exotic quantum matter
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Zircon study prompts redox state rethink surrounding hydrothermal pools thought to harbour life’s first molecules
Research combining experiments with modelling suggests hydrothermal fluid was 30% as saline as sea water today and more oxidised than the surrounding mantle
- Research
Super-resolution microscopy ditches fluorescent tags for gentler imaging of live cells
Infrared laser technique could deliver benefits for study of cells’ biochemistry
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3D-printed single-atom catalysts brings industry use closer
Printing technique could allow more widespread application of exceptional catalytic particles
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Ionic cooling offers way to end greenhouse gas use in refrigeration
A refrigeration cycle based on dissolving a salt could be a more environmentally-friendly method of cooling
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Algorithm produces one of the best solutions to molecules’ Schrödinger equations yet
But aggressive ‘pre-training’ actually damages its predictive powers
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Warming gold nanofilm can stop glasses fogging-up
Coating that absorbs sun’s infrared light could end steamed up lenses
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Machine learning massively speeds up scouring of periodic table for stable structures
Algorithm investigated 31 million crystal structures with calculations taking seconds instead of hours
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Powerful rare-earth free magnet ‘evolved’ and refined by machine learning algorithm
Combination of iron, cobalt and boron points to alternatives to metals beset by geopolitical battles
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AI beats human experts when it comes to peptide design
Algorithm throws up some counter-intuitive structures in contest
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Homogeneous catalysis boosted by electrochemical recovery of precious metal complexes
Process can recover metals from industrially important catalysts
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Bond switching stops hard ceramic from cracking under stress
Deformable silicon nitride absorbs compression stress through gradual phase change
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Machine learning navigates vast materials space to discover new high-performance alloys
Neural net suggested unusual element combination to create better Invar alloys
- News
Explainer: How do sunscreens safely protect our skin?
And which is best – inorganic or organic sunscreens?
- Research
Diamond capsules allow ambient analysis of high-pressure samples
Crystalline forms of argon and neon can now be analysed using techniques that would previously have been impossible
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Electrons become chiral reagent in polymer synthesis
Chiral polymer made from completely achiral chemicals using only electrons’ angular momentum
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Visualising sigma orbitals opens path to new understanding of surface chemistry
Photoemisssion orbital tomography extended beyond pi orbitals
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Metallic deuterium made at pressures rivalling those found at the centre of a planet
Synthesis could aid study of high-pressure superconductors
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Highly stable aerogel could protect firefighters and spacecraft from extreme heat
Amorphous structure studded with nanocrystals survives stress and strain that would break an ordinary aerogel