Chemistry World Blog

It could have all but eradicated malaria, but instead it became infamously synonymous with environmental damage. Silent Spring’s pesticide protagonist, DDT, is the subject of this week’s Chemistry in its element podcast.

They may not be a household name but their ubiquity in household products means every home must have one. Josh Howgego considers the captivating chemistry of cyclodextrins in this week’s Chemistry in its element podcast.

In the May podcast, we’ve got a nose for explosives, a taste for green bacon, an eye for LCDs and a lust for artificial life. Plus we get under the skin of smart tattoos. All you need to do is lend us your ears.

Do you like going to the dentist? Well, you’d like it a lot less without the compound developed by Lofgren, Lundqvist and Fischer – three Swedish chemists with an ‘unconventional’ approach to clinical trials. Lars Öhrström looks at lidocaine in this week’s Chemistry in its element podcast.

Marilyn Monroe’s mystique might have suffered if she’d admitted that 2-methylundecanal was all she wore to bed. Chanel No. 5 has a much classier ring to it. Simon Cotton discusses the chemistry behind an iconic fragrance in this week’s Chemistry in its element podcast.

The molecular junction is surprisingly insensitive to structural changes

The field of molecular electronics is one sown with expectation. Subtle changes in the structure of molecules could, the proponents argue, have drastic effects on their ability to transport charge. The promise of tailoring the electronic properties of circuitry using the near limitless electronic architecture of molecules is therefore extremely attractive and has enticed scientists the world over.

But amid all this excitement comes a somewhat sobering paper from perennial pie-poker George Whitesides. In a recent publication, Whitesides et al take a systematic, empirical approach to investigating these effects and come up with some results that might be described as a surprising disappointment. (more…)

The late Sherwood Rowland got his Nobel prize for his work on this week’s molecule. But it’s best kept at a safe distance. David Lindsay takes a look at ozone in this week’s Chemistry in its element podcast to find out why.

In the April podcast, we’re tackling the big questions: How do you make a diamond out of an onion? What’s a ‘salt burst’? Where did Lewis and Clark go to the toilet? What does Patrick sound like? The answers are all here in the podcast. Plus, we’ve got Michael Hamblin on the lighter way to treat disease with photodynamic therapy, and Volker Hessel discusses the future of flow. Your auditory edification awaits…

It was made to save fuel by stopping tyre wear but now saves lives by stopping bullets. And it’s useful for much more besides. David Lindsay looks at the wonder material, Kevlar, in this week’s Chemistry in its element podcast.

It has been brought to our attention here at the Chemistry World cabana that one of our staff has been the victim of a vile plot to impersonate a science journalist. In a staggering revelation, we have learned that a professional actor has been hired to masquerade as our beloved Philip Robinson.

The real Philip Robinson

An imposter

The architects of this nefarious scheme remain unknown and their motives are as yet unclear but the implications would appear to be sinister in the extreme. We can only assume that our brave and handsome reporter was getting too close to the truth and those in danger of being exposed have sought to damage and discredit his good actual name. Rest assured, the RSC has been quick to respond and has issued a statement to the press, exposing the fraudster. But fear not, dear readers, such cowardly tactics will not intimidate us. The truth will out – Chemistry World will not be silenced.

The writer wishes to remain anonymous