News & Comment

Dave Laffan, a Director in Chemical Development at AstraZeneca, talks to Nature Chemistry about safety in industry labs and his role on the Safety, Health and Environment committee.

Two Q&As in this issue consider aspects of chemical safety in industry and academia. And when it comes to the latter, a Review Article concludes that much more research is required to better understand — and improve — safety in academic laboratories.

Marc Reid, a researcher at the University of Strathclyde and co-founder of Pre-Site Safety, talks to Nature Chemistry about safety, both as an academic scientist and as a director of a safety-focused company.

A curious chemical structure from the imagination of a child will forever be connected with a cancer diagnosis for one particular family. And now the challenge is on to make this molecule a reality.

Michelle Francl considers the long-lost art of the reprint card and the debate that once raged about its use and misuse.

As the International Year of the Periodic Table draws to an end, we reflect on how it has prompted chemists to explore the past, present and future of this chemical icon.

Jadambaa Khuyagbaatar from the Helmholtz Institute Mainz and the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research talks to Nature Chemistry about superheavy element studies and why creating and exploring these fleeting nuclei matters.

Very few consumers are aware that chemistry and synthetic chemicals are indispensable in making everyday goods because the products that people buy — such as cell phones, cars and processed foods — are typically far removed from the raw chemicals used in their production.

Understanding the effects of adding a simple salt to an aqueous solution of a protein is far from simple — and Bruce C. Gibb explains why.

Michelle Francl wonders if there is a risk to making yourself at home in the lab.

The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry — whose 100th anniversary fittingly falls during the International Year of the Periodic Table — is most recognized for its role in the naming of new elements. This is part of a wider effort to help create a common chemistry language for humans and machines alike.

M. Pilar Gil and Eli Zysman-Colman look back at the history of two periodic tables that date from the late nineteenth century.

Chemistry’s lack of visibility in relation to other disciplines, such as astronomy and life sciences, means it is in danger of becoming the forgotten science. How can chemists discuss their work with the public so that we retain our position as the central science for future generations?

Could it be boron or bohrium that is the most boring? You’ll need to read to the end to find out.

When lightning strikes, Bruce C. Gibb reminds us that not only do sparks fly, but there’s also some chemistry going on too.

Michelle Francl wonders if a molecule can be just a little bit chiral?

Bruce C. Gibb explains why plastic isn’t always fantastic.

The periodic table is immensely powerful for rationalizing many different properties of the chemical elements, but would turning it on its head make some important aspects easier to understand and give everyone a new perspective on chemistry?

Weighing up whether or not to drink heavy water, Michelle Francl plunges into its history.