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.
ResearchSuper-fast setting sticky polymers can suture tricky internal wounds
Chemical wizardry allowed unstable polymer produced from bio-based precursor to be stabilised
ResearchIsotope analysis reveals origins of asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs
The end-Cretaceous mass extinction was caused by a ruthenium-rich carbonaceous chondrite asteroid
ResearchLayered material displays strength of ceramic with toughness of metal
Lattice-matching prevents brittleness usually associated with ceramics
ResearchNanopore proteins designed from scratch and turned into biosensors
Artificial ion channels used to detect disease indicators and pharmaceuticals
ResearchPFAS from rechargeable batteries pose environmental threat
Electrolyte material used in lithium-ion batteries is highly mobile and potentially toxic
ResearchImpossible 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
ResearchIsotope 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
ResearchIntermediate considered ‘too reactive to isolate’ finally tamed
Nitrene species stabilised for three days with careful choice of substituent
ResearchHow 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
Research1D perovskites break free from 2D sheets and could enable production of cheap lasers
Nanowire perovskites offer path to low-cost sensors
NewsExplainer: how chemistry powers heat pumps
Seen as an answer to low-carbon heating we look at how they work and what their future holds
ResearchLabs 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
ResearchPrecious metal-free catalyst conjured using sugar can turn CO2 into chemical feedstock
Simulations and analysis uncover more active metastable phase of molybdenum carbide
ResearchLiquid metal synthesis of diamonds achieved at atmospheric pressure
Combining nickel, iron and silicon with gallium enabled diamond film synthesis from methane
ResearchStructural disorder key to high-capacitance carbon electrodes
Finding could lead to supercapacitors that store more charge
ResearchAlgorithm designs proteins from scratch that can bind drugs and small molecules
Strategy could stop an overdose or produce an antidote to a poison
ResearchIodide addition could make high energy lithium-sulfur batteries commercially viable
Next generation batteries given self-healing properties and vastly improved electronic conductivity by sulfur iodide inclusion
ResearchDeep learning algorithm predicts structures of biomolecular assemblies
RoseTTAFold extended to predict structures of proteins bound to small molecules
ResearchViolent volcanic lightning created the nitrogen compounds essential for the chemistry that led to life
First direct evidence of nitrates linked to eruptions discovered
