News & Comment

A chemoinformatics approach, which defines drug targets by the molecules they interact with, allows the creation of a map that predicts many useful unanticipated interactions.

Diisopropyl fluorophosphatase has been re-engineered to speed up the detoxification of organophosphorus nerve agents.

The photoinduced racemization of a helical polymer with preferred handedness occurs without rearrangement of its chemical bonds

The total synthesis of the diterpene vinigrol has finally been achieved 20 years on from its isolation.

A 'Russian doll' endohedral fullerene has been made, comprising a carbon dimer within a scandium tetrahedron, all encased by a C₈₀ cage.

The spin coupling in Keplerate polyoxomolybdates has been altered by a partial reduction reaction monitored by Raman spectroscopy.

A rotaxane in which a large part of the 'axle' component adopts a well-defined helical structure offers a new twist in the study of molecular machines.

A rare σ-methane complex of rhodium has been characterized by NMR.

Eric Scerri recounts the story of element 87, which after a number of false starts was finally tracked down in France — and named in its honour.

Perceived lapses in the peer-review process often receive a lot of attention, but the majority of researchers declare themselves satisfied with the system. But if it is broken, how do we fix it?

Each year since 1951, young researchers and Nobel Laureates have gathered on the shores of Lake Constance for a unique scientific conference. In 2009 the meeting was dedicated to chemistry, and Laureates and students all came away enriched by their experiences.

How long a road is it from physical chemistry to philosophy? Michelle Francl tries to find her way using charts of the intellectual world, old and new.

The Nobel Laureate Meetings held on the German island of Lindau bring together some of the world's brightest young minds with those individuals who have reached a pinnacle of scientific achievement. The impact of this unique event on all the delegates — especially the young researchers — is far-reaching.

Silica microstructures can be grown from a sodium silicate solution using polymer beads loaded with transition-metal salts.

Calculations and model reactions show that a simple iterative Diels–Alder strategy is a viable method for the synthesis of most single-chirality carbon nanotubes.

A diarylethylene photoswitch can control paralysis in a nematode worm.

The nucleation and growth of methane hydrates have been investigated by molecular dynamic simulations.