Careers
The additional costs of visas
On top of the financial expense, applications and renewals are slowing scientific progress and damaging researcher mental health
News
How the extraordinary science of everyday items is bringing chemistry to the public
Three analytical chemists explain how turning powerful techniques towards ordinary objects inspires public engagement with science
Careers
Even in difficult times, leaders should inspire hope
Finding positives is a vital part of leadership
Opinion
Learning about chemistry in prenatal class
Opportunities for infographics to contribute to health literacy
Careers
How I became the crossword compiler for Chemistry World
Paul Board has been setting Chemistry World’s crosswords for over 15 years. To celebrate the centenary of the (fully) cryptic crossword, he explains his crossword setting process and dissects some of his favourite science-based clues
Opinion
Nora de Leeuw: ‘Some of my best PhD students weren’t that great at passing exams’
The computational chemist on perspectives from outside academia and the importance of inquisitiveness
Webinar
Nature’s amazing chemistry: reflections on its complexity and diversity
Join us on 16 September as we take a walk on the wild side to discover the wacky and wonderful chemical mysteries of the natural world
Highlights
The young female astronomer who worked out what the sun is made of
100 years ago, Cecilia Payne deduced that the sun is mainly made of hydrogen – but was encouraged to downplay her findings by her PhD supervisor. Mike Sutton takes up the story
Fixing medicine’s gender gap
For centuries, the default subject in medicine research and training has been the male. Julia Robinson talks to the scientists and clinicians trying to improve things for the other 51% of humanity
Managing the menopause
The end of ovulation will affect almost all women, but current treatments could be improved. Rachel Brazil reports on the efforts to find a better solution
Melanie Sanford’s route from college gymnast to groundbreaking researcher
One-time gymnast Melanie Sanford has made a name for herself in catalysis and organometallic chemistry. Rebecca Trager charts her path to success, from her mentors to her mentoring
20 years. 20 chemists. 20 stories. Part 2
How has chemistry changed in the last two decades?
Chemistry for the visually impaired that can be felt, heard and smelt
The Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, recently brought chemistry alive for students with sight loss
Research
First-generation graduate chemists face challenges throughout their entire academic lifetime
Study highlights need for mentorship and more inclusive networks
Opinion
Nurturing socioeconomic inclusion for a brighter tomorrow
Understanding why individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are underrepresented in the chemical sciences
Feature
Fixing medicine’s gender gap
For centuries, the default subject in medicine research and training has been the male. Julia Robinson talks to the scientists and clinicians trying to improve things for the other 51% of humanity
Opinion
The women-led health projects doing things differently
Innovative approaches to awareness and participation
Feature
Managing the menopause
The end of ovulation will affect almost all women, but current treatments could be improved. Rachel Brazil reports on the efforts to find a better solution
Careers
The All-Ireland Network for Gender Equality in Chemistry is going for gold
Sharing best practices across chemistry departments to create better working environments and get Athena Swan accreditation
Mary Sherman Morgan: The best kept secret in the space race
Anna Demming reveals the scientist who invented the fuel that powered the first US satellite into orbit, yet died with barely a trace on record of her achievements
Martin Gouterman: the gay man behind the four-orbital model
Abhik Ghosh tells the story of a porphyrin chemist who was a leading figure in Seattle’s gay rights movement of the 1960s
William Knox, the only Black supervisor in the Manhattan Project
The story of the Knox family is one of education overcoming adversity, finds Kit Chapman
Nora de Leeuw: ‘Some of my best PhD students weren’t that great at passing exams’
The computational chemist on perspectives from outside academia and the importance of inquisitiveness
Ponnadurai Ramasami: ‘You will learn more by going the more difficult way’
The trailblazing computational chemist on the joys of teaching, inaugurating a virtual conference, and the importance of doing things the hard way
Robyn Norton: ‘We needed to make sure that women were included’
The pioneering global health researcher on the importance of including women in medical research, face-to-face networking and kindness
In search of the alchemists of Prague
A city where chemistry lurks almost anywhere you look
The art of failing forward
Negative results still mean positive progress
Making myself at home in the lab
How experiments in a garden shed grew from a hobby to a profession
Cryptic chemistry crossword #097
Stretch some winning sides (7) and see if you can complete this week’s cryptic chemistry crossword
Chemistry wordoku #105
The author of the first text on chemistry is written through this sudoku-style puzzle
Quick chemistry crossword #097
This quick chemistry crossword condenses clouds of ions, a dash of Queen Anne’s lace, and a liqueur-laced current into one electrifying challenge.
How I became the crossword compiler for Chemistry World
Paul Board has been setting Chemistry World’s crosswords for over 15 years. To celebrate the centenary of the (fully) cryptic crossword, he explains his crossword setting process and dissects some of his favourite science-based clues
Opinion
What the smell of benzene tells us about the world
A philosophical discussion about how much we can trust our senses
Opinion
How feminist bioethics can improve women’s health
From correcting research imbalances to placing value on lived experiences
Opinion
In search of truth and rules
To codify and predict ever more complex phenomena is one of science’s great drivers
Opinion
Classifications, racial discrimination and Covid-19
Lessons with philosophical significance for how we group people and objects
Opinion
The moral theories behind climate deadlock
Why is it so controversial to do the right thing for the environment?
Opinion
Did AI just win the Nobel prizes in physics and chemistry?
The importance of the expert eye in scientific progress
Opinion
How much science should there be in philosophy?
A debate about metaphysics that’s crucial to how we understand the world
Research
Portable device detects poisonous pigment in books
St Andrews librarians and physicists partner to create sensor that can detect the spectrum of toxic green colourant
Research
Ancient ‘Egyptian Blue’ pigment recipes recreated
Work could aid conservation of Egyptian artefacts
News
Campaign launched to get Lego periodic table playset out there
Spanish scientist wants people to vote for his spiral table to get Lego to bring it to life
Research
Unique Iron Age kohl from Iran differs from that of ancient Egypt
Eye makeup found to contain graphite and manganese but not organic ingredients
Opinion
The fungal source of Titian’s rich reds
Laccaic acid, thought to be produced by lac insects, is produced by a symbiont similar to the zombie ant fungus
Feature
Fixing medicine’s gender gap
For centuries, the default subject in medicine research and training has been the male. Julia Robinson talks to the scientists and clinicians trying to improve things for the other 51% of humanity
Opinion
The women-led health projects doing things differently
Innovative approaches to awareness and participation
Careers
Even in difficult times, leaders should inspire hope
Finding positives is a vital part of leadership
News
Researcher severely injured in 2016 Hawaii lab explosion receives £5 million settlement
Thea Ekins-Coward lost an arm in an experiment with unsafe apparatus
Opinion
Getting good at human tasks
’What do you mean you had to lock the NMR with an oscilloscope and shim the magnet by hand?’
Opinion
Ponnadurai Ramasami: ‘You will learn more by going the more difficult way’
The trailblazing computational chemist on the joys of teaching, inaugurating a virtual conference, and the importance of doing things the hard way
News
How do you rebuild your lab after it is hit by an Iranian missile?
Milko van der Boom talks to Chemistry World about dealing with destruction at the Weizmann Institute, saving samples and people coming together
News
How the extraordinary science of everyday items is bringing chemistry to the public
Three analytical chemists explain how turning powerful techniques towards ordinary objects inspires public engagement with science
Opinion
Learning about chemistry in prenatal class
Opportunities for infographics to contribute to health literacy
News
Chemistry for the visually impaired that can be felt, heard and smelt
The Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, recently brought chemistry alive for students with sight loss
Opinion
Ponnadurai Ramasami: ‘You will learn more by going the more difficult way’
The trailblazing computational chemist on the joys of teaching, inaugurating a virtual conference, and the importance of doing things the hard way
Opinion
Helping remote schools be in their element
The element sets now found in over half of Australian high schools
Opinion
Why I returned the Faraday prize to the Royal Society
Andrea Sella explains how inaction over Elon Musk’s membership motivated him to act