Research
New database unlocks predictive power of radical polarity
Resource could help reduce trial and error in synthesis
Fatal hydrogen sulfide leak at US Pemex refinery under investigation
Catalyst uses electricity to convert carbon dioxide into methane
Adnoc to buy Covestro, continuing expansion into polymers
Sunlight-powered device harvests lithium from salty water
UK sanctions Russian troops for deploying chemical weapons in Ukraine
In depth
The grim reality facing chemists in Gaza and Israel a year into war
Escalating Israel–Hezbollah conflict and Gaza war increases the pressure and threat to researchers in the region
Beyond hydrogen bonding: new definitions for secondary bonding interactions to end confusion
The 20-year struggle to define secondary bonding interactions
Explainer: what is ricin?
A doctor in the UK is on trial for attempted murder with this extremely deadly poison
Explainer: Why athletes are taking sodium bicarbonate supplements
Why runners are taking pills containing a common kitchen ingredient
Explainer: Why drug shortages happen and how can we reduce them?
Record-high numbers of drugs are in short supply, from chemotherapy and antibiotics to hormone replacements
Explainer: How is the US pharmaceutical patent system being misused?
What are ‘evergreening’ and ‘thicketing’ and what is being done to reform the system and aid competition?
Twenty ways AI is advancing chemistry
List reveals how machine learning is already changing the central science
Explainer: Why have protein design and structure prediction won the 2024 Nobel prize in chemistry?
Research that has taken us from sequence to structure and back again
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’
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
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
Commission launches call for AI ‘factories’ to aid research and industry
It is hoped these facilities will help speed up development of applications in healthcare, energy, transport, defence and manufacturing
Should scientists be paid when AI chatbots use their work?
Two major scientific publishers have recently sold access to research papers to train AIs at big tech firms
Labs 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
Worldwide
Adnoc to buy Covestro, continuing expansion into polymers
€15 billion deal sees Gulf oil producer looking to future growth beyond fuels
Scientific freedom lacking in Africa, Unesco finds
Africa represents 12.5% of world’s population but less than 1% of its research output
New Zealand set to be first country to ban PFAS in cosmetic products
Environment agency says it is taking a ’precautionary approach’ to PFAS in nail polish, shaving cream, foundation, lipstick and mascara
The grim reality facing chemists in Gaza and Israel a year into war
Escalating Israel–Hezbollah conflict and Gaza war increases the pressure and threat to researchers in the region
Science community holds its breath again as consequential US presidential election looms
Chemistry courses, departments face closure in the UK highlighting higher education’s financial woes
Budget leaves Indian researchers searching for funding following cuts to universities
Public support high for recruiting best students and talent for UK universities
UK launches £37m programme to uncover cultural heritage through chemistry
Funding will aid analysis of archaeological materials and preservation of artwork
Commission launches call for AI ‘factories’ to aid research and industry
Science community holds its breath again as consequential US presidential election looms
Nobel laureates urge European Commission president to fund science and appoint a research champion
Search for UKRI chief executive starts afresh
‘Stealth corrections’ uncovered in scientific journals, raising transparency concerns
Scientific integrity sleuths discovered 131 cases of publishers making unacknowledged changes
Drug companies reluctantly accept state price negotiations
As legal challenges fall flat, will industry’s claims of stifled innovation be borne out?
RSC calls on government to address lab space shortage
Decades-long shortfall in suitable facilities has held back growth and innovation
EU’s new research commissioner named
Commission president nominates Bulgarian politician Ekaterina Zaharieva
UK’s Grangemouth refinery will close in 2025
Commission launches call for AI ‘factories’ to aid research and industry
US–China science and technology accord expires, maybe for the last time
Science community holds its breath again as consequential US presidential election looms
US industry braced for change as election looms
Nicotine analogues emerging in e-cigarettes to evade regulations
Venezuela’s contested presidential election brings both chaos and hope
Catalyst uses electricity to convert carbon dioxide into methane
Acting at the gas-liquid-solid interface to permit carbon dioxide and water to react, the catalyst achieves 80% efficiency
BASF’s electric cracker demonstrator goes online
Collaboration with Sabic and Linde will test two different furnace designs
Warning that solar geoengineering could cause unexpected regional heating
Aerosol modelling study injects note of caution on strategy to control warming
Women stay in science far longer than thought, study of OECD countries suggests
Analysis of publications reveals that, on average, women ‘survive’ as long as men across 16 scientific disciplines
Indian scheme to provide 300 research grants for women
The announcement made by India’s science and technology minister aims to foster more cross-disciplinary research
Next president of the Royal Society of Chemistry will be Robert Mokaya
University of Nottingham chemist will begin his tenure in 2026
Gender equality report highlights progress and challenges for women in research
41% of the world’s researchers are female, but women are underrepresented as authors of papers and patents
Humphry Davy’s whole story – warts and all – deserves to be told
Universities in the UK beat national average on gender pay gap but large discrepancies remain
UKRI investigation clears diversity panel following science minister’s accusations of extremism
US researcher vows to appeal after losing her disability discrimination suit
Disability landscape report highlights barriers still facing disabled chemists