Artificial Intelligence can revolutionise science by making it faster, more efficient and more accurate, according to a survey of European Research Council (ERC) grant winners. And while the report looks at the impact of AI on all scientific fields, the field of chemistry, in particular, can be expected to benefit greatly from the revolution, say […]

Legislation caused consternation for the pharmaceutical industry in both the EU and the US in 2023. First, the EU’s delayed draft pharmaceutical legislation was finally published in late April. Notable proposals include a reduction in the number of scientific committees at the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The EMA would have to be notified more quickly […]

The chemical sector racked up losses this year as it came up against a cluster of challenges including high operating costs, low demand and an overabundance of production capacity. The year was particularly brutal in Europe where inflation and energy prices crimped demand for chemicals. In response to evaporating earnings, companies settled firmly into cost-cutting […]

More than 18% of Ukrainian scientists have fled and the nation has lost about 20% of its research capacity since Russia’s invasion in February last year, according to new analysis by researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) Lausanne, Switzerland. The study, led by science policy expert Gaétan de Rassenfosse and based on […]

A fast flow chemistry method makes the production of sulfuryl fluoride quicker and safer. This gaseous reagent is useful in the synthesis of click-ready reagents, then easily functionalised into a myriad of chemical compounds, including peptides and proteins. Most reactions take place in less than two minutes, in a site-selective manner – a great opportunity […]

Negotiators are convening this week in Nairobi for the latest round of talks aimed at creating a new scientific panel to advise the world’s governments on how to tackle chemical waste. But as the talks get underway, concerns have been voiced about potential conflicts of interest that could undermine the panel. The warning comes as […]

Clear evidence of nuclei produced by fission has been discovered in the emission spectra of stars in the Milky Way. These fission fragments, which have been predicted by theoretical models but never previously observed, suggest that events like neutron star mergers and possibly some supernovae produce elements that are heavier than any of those previously […]

As I explained at the very beginning of this series the Greek concept ta physika was very different from what we envision when we hear the word physics today. In fact, this series is an attempt to sketch the path from the ta physika of Greek antiquity to the emergence of our modern physics in the Early Modern Period. […]

The UK intellectual property office has passed a judgement declaring an artificial neural network (ANN) patentable for the first time. This decision could set a powerful precedent enabling greater protection of AI technologies, which could provide both new commercial opportunities for chemistry AIs and attract investment into this growing UK sector. The Patents Act 1977 […]

Zebra mussels are among the worst invasive species in freshwater ecosystems. Using extremely sticky byssal threads they attach themselves to boats and travel the world, establishing themselves in new locations where they choke out native species. Now, new research shows the structure of Dreissena byssal threads is unique among mussels and may account for their […]