Rebecca Trager
Senior US correspondent, Chemistry World
I became the US Correspondent for Chemistry World in September 2014, based out of Washington, DC, after writing for the magazine on a freelance basis since 2007. With a background in policy, and a passion for journalism, I have found my niche covering the world of science policy since 1997. The interest was sparked after spending summers during college as a press intern for the National Institutes of Health. Before joining Chemistry World, I was the US Editor for Research Europe, covering the White House, as well as government departments and US agencies, and am also the former managing editor of The Blue Sheet, an Elsevier biomedical research and health policy publication. I studied philosophy and political theory at Haverford College in Pennsylvania.
ResearchAir-frying prevails in tests on indoor pollutant production
Environmental scientists find that pan-frying leads to peak VOC concentrations of 260ppb, versus 20ppb for air-frying
BusinessMaintenance error led to deadly hydrogen sulfide leak
Workers opened live pipework 1.5m away from intended work site
OpinionThriving as a Deaf chemistry PhD student
Asma Sheikh talks about growing up, discovering her passion for chemistry and being a teaching assistant
FeatureThe new signs bringing greater understanding to organic chemistry
Rebecca Trager speaks to a US team developing a sign language lexicon for chemistry concepts that combines form with meaning to make the field more accessible for everyone
NewsAlphaFold developer says AI is just getting started in science
Chemistry Nobel laureate John Jumper says latest version of AlphaFold is making good progress on interactions between molecules and protein
NewsOPCW confirms Russia likely used riot control agent CS gas in Ukraine
Chemical weapons watchdog’s lab analysis backs up claims of tear gas use
OpinionTrump’s re-election could empower peddlers of some of the worst anti-science ideas
Vaccine opponent Robert F Kennedy is reportedly poised to oversee health in Trump administration
News‘It could be a catastrophe’: Déjà vu and panic for scientists as Trump wins second term
The research community fears another Trump presidency will be worse than the first, but the chemical and biotech sectors are more optimistic
NewsWater regulator applies stricter PFAS limits to drinking water in England and Wales
New guidance, expected to go into effect in January, would cumulatively restrict 48 different PFAS
BusinessUS government moves to block J&J talc bankruptcy resolution
Firm’s third attempt to shift claims to a subsidiary had gained significant support
NewsNobel prize-winning scientists mobilise for Kamala Harris
82 Nobel laureates warn of the threat Donald Trump poses to science, climate and living standards
NewsArgentina’s researchers face continued catastrophe under Javier Milei
The president of Argentina, who has been in office less than a year, has continued cuts to higher education and science budgets
NewsThe 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
BusinessFatal hydrogen sulfide leak at US Pemex refinery under investigation
Mexican oil company faces multiple lawsuits after gas leak killed two and injured dozens more
NewsCern to end cooperation agreements with Russian-based researchers
From November, 500 scientists affiliated with Russian institutions will be cut off from Cern research facilities due to ongoing war in Ukraine
NewsThe scale of the problem of replacing ‘forever chemicals’ PFAS
From clothes and cookware to cosmetics and healthcare we look at eight major classes of consumer goods PFAS are in
BusinessFire at US pool chemical plant releases huge chlorine plume
Thousands of residents evacuated and kept indoors as as smoke and gas cloud persists for days
NewsScientific freedom lacking in Africa, Unesco finds
Africa represents 12.5% of world’s population but less than 1% of its research output
NewsDanish university pauses chemistry demonstrations following accident
‘Genie in a bottle’ demonstration failure hospitalised two, leading to a review of all experiments in the school’s chemistry shows
NewsThe refugee organic chemist
After a harrowing journey from his native Afghanistan one refugee chemist has found safety in a postdoc position in the UK