News & Comment

Nature Chemistry signed up for a Twitter account in March 2009. More than 5,000 tweets later, what have we learned and how do we use it?

A collection of articles in this issue focuses on the ability to selectively perform a reaction at just one specific site in a complex molecule that contains many other similarly reactive sites.

Structure by structure, more information is steadily being gathered on how small molecules bind to DNA. A better understanding of the interactions involved in such processes will be crucial for the successful design of compounds for specific diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

Disagreements are common in science and can lead to better understanding, but must be handled carefully.

Can you imagine scientific meetings without poster sessions?

To join in with the International Year of Chemistry celebrations, we launched a competition earlier this year inviting aspiring science communicators to write an essay about one of seven elements.

What makes the ideal referee report?

With more and more scientific articles and journals being published, how can you effectively keep abreast of new research relevant to your own projects?

Including pictorial summaries of each article on the table-of-contents pages of a journal makes it just that little bit easier to browse — rather than search — the scientific literature.

When it comes to research misconduct, burying one's head in the sand and pretending it doesn't exist is the worst possible plan.

Who is the greatest chemist of all time?

The United Nations has proclaimed 2011 to be the International Year of Chemistry. Under this banner, chemists should seize the opportunity to highlight the rich history and successes of our subject to a much broader audience — and explain how it can help to solve the global challenges we face today and in the future.

Revising a manuscript in response to the comments of referees should not be about doing the bare minimum to get a paper published. Addressing criticisms that are genuine and constructive can lead to much more compelling research articles.

Experimental data is the foundation on which science is built. Providing easier ways to find and search it is one way in which new online technologies can help to advance research.

Press embargoes of research articles can serve journals, researchers and journalists — as long as everyone plays by, and understands, the rules.

The importance of an up to date and easy to find website should not be underestimated by scientists looking to establish links to others in their community — and represents good value for relatively little effort.

Chemistry lacks the easily articulated grand challenges associated with physics or biology, and it generally gets a rough ride in the mainstream media. All the more reason that it needs effective advocates and champions.

Twitter is more than just the place to go to find out what celebrities have had for breakfast — if you look hard enough, it can be a useful source of chemistry news, highlights and debate.

As the beautiful game once again takes to the world stage this summer, it is worth remembering that 2010 also marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the professional debut of a very tiny football.