Latest

Fertiliser spraying

Feature

Nitrous oxide emissions accelerate as agriculture drives climate threat

With N2O emissions up 40% in four decades, scientists are searching for answers. Anthony King looks at potential solutions to keep fertiliser nitrogen in the soil

Spinning tops

Feature

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

Microscopy image

Opinion

The lost treasure of electron microscopy

Unpublished images should be brought to light to aid science communication and speed up discovery

MOF

Opinion

‘Making MOFs is the most fun I have ever had in the lab’

A personal connection to the 2025 Nobel prize in chemistry

Yeast

Opinion

The molecular mechanisms behind cell cognition

Condensate formation is central to how budding yeast cells decide their response to environmental and internal conditions

Fountain pen nib, writing

Letters: November 2025

By

Readers discuss sustainable fuels, the magic of the placebo effect and the deaths of DFT and expensive calculators

Nice

Otto’s ozoniser and the value of nurturing inventors

By

Marius-Paul Otto (1870–1939) patently used his entrepreneurial spirit to clean up

Scientist in the lab

What makes a scientific breakthrough truly chemical?

By

Why MOFs are a great choice for the Nobel prize in chemistry

Support

Spin-out support is stretched thin

By

University entrepreneurs need more consistent help to bridge the gap betweeen ideas and businesses

A brief intro to altermagnetism

By

Experiments only directly confirmed the existence of this type of magnetic material last year but it’s already making waves

Odile Eisenstein: ‘Some of the most important advice is to be persistent’

By

The pioneering theoretical chemist on teaching herself programming and the importance of freedom

When the cat’s away, the bats will play

By

Does Felis catus play nicely with its seasonal partners? 

(−)-Novofumigatonin

By

Oxidations abound in this satisfying synthesis, with a delicate nitrile hydrolysis to finish

Rift

News

Just 29% of the UK public have a personal interest in R&D

Survey results suggest ‘broad but shallow’ public support for research sector

A photograph of James Watson sitting next to a molecular model of DNA's double helix

News

Geneticist James Watson who co-discovered the structure of DNA dies at 97

Famed for his work on DNA’s structure, but Watson courted controversy throughout his career

Research

When it comes to correcting the scientific record, chemists prefer to have a quiet word

Those surveyed even report introducing ‘errors’ into their work to satisfy reviewers

Opinion

Otto’s ozoniser and the value of nurturing inventors

Marius-Paul Otto (1870–1939) patently used his entrepreneurial spirit to clean up

News

Flame retardants no longer required in many UK baby and children’s products

Move should reduce exposure of children to chemicals that have come in for criticism for their persistence and bioaccumulation

Sponsored

Tattoos

The chemist who commemorates lab discoveries on his body

University of Nebraska’s drug design centre director is communicating his team’s scientific breakthroughs with tattoos and now has 29 on his arm

Lars

Starting a chemistry PhD as a mature student

The benefits and challenges of returning to academia after a period away

Jobs and skills for a circular economy

Going round in circles over skills

Closing skills gaps in key professional groups requires collaboration between government, industry and educators 

CV held by robot hands

Five ways AI can help your career

From exploring career options to mastering interviews