Highlights
Science: Nobel Prize honors researchers who showed how ‘handedness’ can emerge in chemistry
08 October 2026Henri Kagan and Kenso Soai win award for reactions leading to mirror-image molecules.
Nature: Chemists struggle to ditch hazardous solvents — even after decades of ‘green’ efforts
26 September 2026Laboratories are still using dangerous and carbon-intensive liquids much more often than environmentally friendly ones, according to a 40-year survey of patents.
C&EN: Precise deuteration eases ‘heavy drug’ synthesis
10 September 2026Nickel catalyst swaps hydrogen for deuterium to produce drugs that are metabolized more slowly.
Engineering: Can ‘Superwood’ Replace Concrete and Steel?
25 August 2026Engineered woods aim to curb construction’s climate emissions.
ACS Central Science: These Graphene Experts Are Trying to Close the Reproducibility Gap in Two-Dimensional Materials Research
14 May 2026Too much work on graphene and related materials cannot be repeated — a problem that wastes time and holds back commercialization. New rules could help solve it.
TESTIMONIALS
“As an editor and reporter, Mark Peplow is fast, accurate, and versatile. He covers science policy and pure research with equal passion, and his writing combines a scientist’s precision with a journalist’s verve.” Tim Appenzeller
Former Chief Magazine Editor at Nature, now News Editor at Science
"Mark guided me through some of the most challenging stories I've written. These are pieces I might not have attempted were it not for his steady editorial hand." Linda Nordling
Freelance Journalist, South Africa
“Working with Mark is never anything other than a pleasure. He is the kind of editor that writers hope for: able to identify what needs fixing and what doesn’t, bringing to bear a wealth of knowledge, always clear, prompt and easy to talk with. Much of that comes from being a splendid writer himself.”
Philip Ball
Freelance Science Writer
Category Archives: Highlights
C&EN: Chain-link molecules form squishy crystals
A metal-organic framework built from catenanes is surprisingly elastic.
Posted in Highlights
Comments Off on C&EN: Chain-link molecules form squishy crystals
Nature Biotechnology: Nanotechnology offers alternative ways to fight COVID-19 pandemic with antivirals
A new wave of funding focuses on antiviral nanomaterials as pandemic countermeasures.
Posted in Highlights
Comments Off on Nature Biotechnology: Nanotechnology offers alternative ways to fight COVID-19 pandemic with antivirals
C&EN: Uranium nitride triple bond is surprisingly covalent
NMR spectroscopy reveals an outlier of actinide bonding and provides a convenient method to assess bonding in other metal-nitrogen complexes.
Posted in Highlights
Comments Off on C&EN: Uranium nitride triple bond is surprisingly covalent
C&EN: Aptamer-nanopore sensor detects only infectious viruses
DNA-based device might offer rapid COVID-19 test that is not fooled by dead virus.
Posted in Highlights
Comments Off on C&EN: Aptamer-nanopore sensor detects only infectious viruses
C&EN: Phospha-bora-Wittig reaction makes its debut
A new variant of the classic Wittig reaction offers a route to phosphaalkenes.
Posted in Highlights
Comments Off on C&EN: Phospha-bora-Wittig reaction makes its debut
C&EN: Thorium-thorium bonding marks actinide milestone
Unusual crystalline complex shows unexpected σ-aromaticity.
Posted in Highlights
Comments Off on C&EN: Thorium-thorium bonding marks actinide milestone
New Scientist: Why the UK doesn’t need a new coal mine
Coke-based steel-making generates billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide every year and accounts for 7 to 9 per cent of all human-made CO2 emissions.
Posted in Highlights
Comments Off on New Scientist: Why the UK doesn’t need a new coal mine
C&EN Talented 12: Emilie Ringe
Plasmonics pioneer is harnessing the potential of magnesium nanoparticles.
Posted in Highlights
Comments Off on C&EN Talented 12: Emilie Ringe
C&EN Talented 12: Derya Baran
Solar power innovator is creating organic materials for cheaper, more efficient photovoltaics.
Posted in Highlights
Comments Off on C&EN Talented 12: Derya Baran
C&EN: Mirror-image polymerase makes mirror gene and more
L-DNA offers new twist on information storage.
Posted in Highlights
Comments Off on C&EN: Mirror-image polymerase makes mirror gene and more
