Tim Wogan
After initially planning to study English at university, I decided that, just in case I turned out not to be the next Hillary Mantel, it might be better to devote my life to my other great love – science, where I believed I was sure to make great discoveries. Three years studying physics at Cambridge University disabused me thoroughly of that notion, and, having learned that I was never going to make a notable discovery of my own in a world full of infinitely better scientists than I was, I decided to return to plan A and make my living writing about theirs instead. I studied science communication at Imperial College London and, after a brief internship as a reporter on the European news desk of Science, I’ve been writing freelance. Since 2019, I’ve been living in the US.
ResearchMetal–organic framework captures carbon dioxide at industrially relevant temperatures
Material could improve energy efficiency of capturing carbon from industy’s exhaust gases
ResearchFirst detected 40 years ago, a byproduct in chloraminated drinking water has finally been identified
Researchers call for urgent investigation into the chloronitramide anion’s toxicity
ResearchNew spectroscopy method maps out water’s hydrogen-bonded network
Technique can be used to study other liquids and amorphous materials
ResearchGraphene oxide sponge soaks up gold from electronic waste
Composite many times more effective at capturing gold than existing materials
ResearchCinchona plant alkaloid catalyst subtracts hydrogen to invert alcohols’ chirality
Blue light desymmetrisation of diols holds promise for drug synthesis
ResearchSuper-fast setting sticky polymers can suture tricky internal wounds
Chemical wizardry allowed unstable polymer produced from bio-based precursor to be stabilised
ResearchIsotope analysis reveals origins of asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs
The end-Cretaceous mass extinction was caused by a ruthenium-rich carbonaceous chondrite asteroid
ResearchLayered material displays strength of ceramic with toughness of metal
Lattice-matching prevents brittleness usually associated with ceramics
ResearchNanopore proteins designed from scratch and turned into biosensors
Artificial ion channels used to detect disease indicators and pharmaceuticals
ResearchPFAS from rechargeable batteries pose environmental threat
Electrolyte material used in lithium-ion batteries is highly mobile and potentially toxic
ResearchImpossible aerogel that reflects more visible light than it receives prompts scepticism
Material made from salmon sperm and gelatin touted as greener way to cool buildings
ResearchIsotope tracking suggests that plants cycle carbon faster than previously thought
New analysis suggests that vegetation is less able to offset climate change than had previously been calculated
ResearchIntermediate considered ‘too reactive to isolate’ finally tamed
Nitrene species stabilised for three days with careful choice of substituent
ResearchHow many molecules of water does it take to dissociate HCl? It’s complicated
New work sheds lights on when hydrogen chloride turns into hydrochloric acid
Research1D perovskites break free from 2D sheets and could enable production of cheap lasers
Nanowire perovskites offer path to low-cost sensors
NewsExplainer: how chemistry powers heat pumps
Seen as an answer to low-carbon heating we look at how they work and what their future holds
ResearchLabs across the globe networked by AI discover state-of-the-art emitters for lasers
Demonstration shows how algorithms could organise timing and match specialist equipment to experiments
ResearchPrecious metal-free catalyst conjured using sugar can turn CO2 into chemical feedstock
Simulations and analysis uncover more active metastable phase of molybdenum carbide
ResearchLiquid metal synthesis of diamonds achieved at atmospheric pressure
Combining nickel, iron and silicon with gallium enabled diamond film synthesis from methane
ResearchStructural disorder key to high-capacitance carbon electrodes
Finding could lead to supercapacitors that store more charge