Features
Features November 2009
Biology's Nobel molecule factory
Three scientists who revealed the structure and workings of the ribosome have shared the 2009 Nobel prize in chemistry. Phillip Broadwith unravels the story
A redesign for life
Work in the fashionable new field of synthetic biology is gathering pace. Hayley Birch looks into some of the latest developments in a rapidly evolving area
Molecules made to measure
HIV protease inhibitors have been one of the big successes of rational drug design. Clare Sansom looks at the impact of structural biology on drug discovery
Design for life
A new drug for treating prostate cancer, developed by rational design and currently making its way through clinical trials, could improve the prognosis, says John Mann
40 years of crystal growth
The development of the British Association of Crystal Growth maps changes in the industry over the past 40 years. Hayley Birch caught up with members at this year's conference
Features October 2009
The spice of life
Many of the world's favourite ingredients have more to offer than just flavour, says Ned Stafford. Many also show health benefits
In a fix
Billions of people owe their lives to our ability to grab nitrogen out of the air to fertilise our crops. But there can be too much of a good thing, reports Kira Weissman
Boxing clever
Food scientists are developing increasingly sophisticated packaging materials to extend shelf life of many foods. Nina Notman looks at the delicacies on offer
On the rise
The ancient tradition of bread baking depends on a cascade of chemical reactions. Scientists have found myriad ways to modify the process, say Bryan Reuben and Tom Coultate
The food detectives
Every day, scientists at RSSL's food analysis labs in Reading, UK, investigate cases of food adulteration. Hayley Birch was let in on a few secrets of the trade
Features September 2009
Living the Nobel life
Matthew Chalmers and Nina Notman get the lowdown on life as a Nobel laureate at the the 59th meeting of Nobel laureates
Drugs for a developing world
Diseases affecting the developing world have long been neglected, but new partnerships between governments, charities and pharmaceutical firms could change that, says Sarah Houlton...
Wealth from Greenland, honour from London
19th century Danish chemist Julius Thomsen dedicated his professional life to a systematic search for a unifying theory of chemical reactivity. Mike Sutton finds out more
Quotient multiplied
Less than three years after forming, Quotient Bioscience is one of the fastest growing pharmaceutical outsourcing companies in the UK. Matt Wilkinson went to meet them
Features August 2009
A vital blow for chemistry
Chemistry may have become an increasingly high tech discipline, but it still relies on glassware - and the age-old skill of glassblowing - says Simon Hadlington
A radical old age
As we expand our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of ageing, could we soon see a jump in 'healthspan'? Emma Davies talks to the scientists tackling age-related disease
One giant leap
NASA's Apollo missions answered many questions about the Moon - and as NASA unveils plans to return, lunar chemistry will again play a prominent role, says Richard Corfield
Pill-popping pets
Over the past decade there has been a dramatic increase in the number of drugs prescribed to pets. What are the factors behind this trend, asks Elisabeth Jeffries
July 2009
Hoisting the solar sail
Flying through space by catching sunlight on ultra-thin sails could revolutionise space travel - and the idea could soon take off, says Ned Stafford
Temozolomide - birth of a blockbuster
The history of anticancer drug temozolomide can be traced back over 30 years - and it all started with some novel nitrogen chemistry, says Clare Sansom
Spin-outs: business built on chemistry
Graham Richards, former head of chemistry at the University of Oxford, shares some of the lessons learned from spinning out companies based on good novel chemistry
Spin-outs: protecting your assets
Patents are crucial for any spin-out to thrive, say patent attornies Bob Pidgeon and Jennifer Delaney
Armageddon in slow motion
Nobel peace prize winner and doctor Eric Chivian believes environmental change poses a serious threat to human health. Maria Burke talks to him
June 2009
Bubble-wrapped frogs
Tropical frogs create remarkable foams to protect their spawn. Exploration of the underlying chemistry has only just begun, as Michael Gross discovers
At the crossroads
Fifteen years after Nelson Mandela won South Africa's first democratic election, the 'rainbow nation' continues to face challenges as diverse as its people. Linda Nordling reports
Monsters from the deep preserved
Finding and then raising historic ships wrecked centuries ago is challenging business - but it's just the first part of the rescue process, says Elisabeth Jeffries
Nanopores for thought
Sarah Houlton talks to Hagan Bayley, the 2008 Chemistry World Entrepreneur of the year
May 2009
The artificial leaf
Using sunlight to split water molecules and form hydrogen fuel is one of the most promising tactics for kicking our carbon habit. Hayley Birch examines the options
The spin doctors
Researchers around the world are looking to develop advanced computers based on electron spin. Matthew Chalmers examines how close these devices are to becoming reality
Long life foods
Could the foods we eat be engineered to stave off disease, keeping us fit and healthy far into old age? Ned Stafford looks into the growing trend for functional food
Northern lights
Scotland is an established home for the chemicals industry - but is now increasingly attracting biotech and life sciences companies. Yfke Hager reports
April 2009
Pittcon 60 years on
The Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy celebrates its 60th birthday this year. Matt Wilkinson finds out how the show has evolved
The biofuel future
The chemistry to convert waste into fuels is now being tested at pilot plants around the world. We may have the science, but are governments and industry ready, asks Emma Davies
Is DNA nanotechnology coming of age?
DNA nanotechnology has moved a long way since its first public appearance in 1991 - and its first applications are already on the horizon, says Michael Gross
Reinvesting in the future
Northern Ireland-based Almac is ploughing the profits from its pharmaceutical support divisions into a range of new research ventures. James Mitchell Crow visits the company
March 2009
Fruits of the forest
Last summer a team of UK scientists dragged the contents of their lab out into the jungle, to analyse the local atmosphere. Emma Davies finds out what they discovered
Periodic change
The periodic table, cherished by generations of chemists, has steadily evolved over time. Eric Scerri is among those now calling for drastic change
Molecular healing
Biomaterials engineers are hijacking the chemistry behind the healing process to create a new generation of smarter wound treatments. Victoria Gill investigates
Fight for rights
A few male chemists were fervent supporters of the women who sought to joining their ranks at the turn of the 20th century, as Marelene and Geoff Rayner-Canham find out
February 2009
The sweet scent of success
Emma Davies pokes her nose into some of the world's most celebrated perfume molecules
Magic MOFs
Metal organic frameworks are molecular mops that have the potential to solve some of the world's most pressing environmental problems. Hayley Birch finds out more
Catalytic dreams
Being able to break selected C-H bonds empowers the synthetic chemist and could revolutionise the petrochemical industry, as Emma Davies discovers
Pushing the boundaries
One drug can be useful for many different conditions - some of which it isn't licensed for. Peter Mitchell finds out how far is too far when it comes to off-label promotion
January 2009
Cells with potential
Beyond the medical breakthroughs, the hype and the controversy, how are the big drug companies developing their use of stem cells? Sarah Houlton reports
Into Africa
China's national petroleum companies have built some of the biggest refinery projects in Africa, in a resource rush not without controversy
Chemical lift-off in the sub-Sahara?
Sean Milmo reports on new opportunities for the chemicals industry as foreign funds flow into sub-Saharan Africa
Feynman's fancy
Richard Feynman's famous talk on atom-by-atom assembly is often credited with kick-starting nanotechnology. Fifty years on, Philip Ball investigates how influential it really was
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