Physical chemistry
The latest chemistry news and research on physical chemistry, including quantum and theoretical, bonding, computational and surfaces and interfaces, from the Royal Society of Chemistry's magazine, Chemistry World
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News
Twenty ways AI is advancing chemistry
List reveals how machine learning is already changing the central science
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Feature
How AI protein structure prediction and design won the Nobel prize
David Baker, Demis Hassabis and John Jumper won this year’s Nobel prize in chemistry. Jamie Durrani investigates the origins of a biochemistry revolution
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News
Protein design and structure prediction wins chemistry Nobel prize
David Baker, Demis Hassabis and John Jumper were rewarded for creating computational tools to design proteins and predict their structures that have ‘revolutionised biological chemistry’
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Research
Quantum tunnelling explains why several supposedly stable benzene isomers will never be made
Research highlights importance of considering quantum effects in computational studies on strained molecules
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Research
One-electron covalent bond between two carbons pushes limits of bonding
Linus Pauling proposed exotic bonds but they have never been seen between two carbons until now
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News
Beyond hydrogen bonding: new definitions for secondary bonding interactions to end confusion
The 20-year struggle to define secondary bonding interactions
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Research
Proteins with multiple structures open up AlphaFold’s black box
AI prediction model often fails to identify fold-switching, helping show how it works and the limits of its usefulness
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Opinion
Fermi’s questions and the importance of estimation
Knowing how to approximate the unknown is a much undervalued skill
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Research
Chloride ions tunnel free from PVC
Computational clues uncover quantum escape route from common plastic
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News
Predictions for the 2024 chemistry prize highlight growing importance of AI and computational methods
Protein structure prediction, efficient simulations and clean energy among the fields tipped for recognition by chemistry’s top prize
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Research
Hydrogen dimers finally detected at room temperature
Researchers revisit spectrum of fragile dimer with high-sensitivity spectroscopy
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Research
Scratch-resistant metal oxide films made with simple printing technique
The easy-to-make ultrathin materials are flexible, transparent and ideally suited for use in smartphone screens
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Webinar
Accelerating density functional theory for faster calculations
Learn how to significantly speed up simulations on molecular structures with Accelerated DFT
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Research
The catalyst speedup toolkit
A rundown of the various strategies scientists are exploring to cheat the Sabatier limit
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Feature
How a new strategy aims to break the catalytic speed limit
The Sabatier principle normally defines the maximum reaction rate enabled by catalyst materials, but scientists now think that they can go even faster, explains Andy Extance
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Research
Amorphous clusters across a vast range of sizes found to affect crystal nucleation
The clusters provide sites for nucleation, which contradicts classical nucleation theory
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Research
Optical trap experiments pick up recoil of a single alpha particle blasting off
High sensitivity measurements were able to detect electrons ejected by force of departing helium nucleus
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News
Robert Mulliken’s Nobel prize medal latest to go up for auction
Mulliken won the Nobel prize in chemistry in 1966 for developing molecular orbital theory
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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
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Opinion
A common misunderstanding about wave-particle duality
Instead of treating quantum particles as shape-shifters, we should think in terms of probability distributions