Highlights
C&EN: Silicon insertion methods join skeletal-editing toolbox
06 May 2026Two teams take different approaches to squeeze silicon atoms into molecular scaffolds.
ACS Central Science: Pharm to Table Podcast Duo Bridges the Academia–Industry Divide
29 April 2026The Merck colleagues and cohosts advocate closer collaboration between academic and industry chemists.
New Scientist: We need more radioactive drugs. Can we make them from nuclear waste?
22 April 2026The rise of a new generation of radiotherapies means we will soon need much greater quantities of radioactive atoms. That’s why companies are scrambling to refine them from all manner of radioactive waste.
Science: Whistleblower alleges Finnish startup’s vaunted solid-state battery isn’t what it claims
22 April 2026Donut Lab’s assertions of lightning-fast charging and high energy storage have led to a criminal complaint.
Nature: Fresh claim of making elusive ‘hexagonal’ diamond is the strongest yet
04 March 2026After decades of debate, researchers say that they have found the clearest evidence yet for this rare form of carbon.
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
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Category Archives: Highlights
C&EN: DMSO poses decomposition danger
Acids produced by heating dimethyl sulfoxide can trigger a runaway reaction.
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C&EN: COVID-19 antigen assay set to triple US testing capacity
Abbott aims to produce 50 million of the 15-minute, $5 tests per month.
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Nature: Can the history of pollution shape a better future?
The poisonous legacy of industry holds lessons, two books show.
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C&EN: Saliva tests show promise for COVID-19 surveillance at universities and workplaces
Protocols developed at University of Illinois and Yale School of Public Health join growing list of spit-and-test diagnostics.
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C&EN: Cryo-Electron Microscopy Reaches Resolution Milestone
Detailed protein structures are fuelingdrug-discovery efforts.
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C&EN: Artificial intelligence finds alternative routes to COVID-19 drug candidates
If drug-repurposing studies hit pay dirt, backup recipes could help antiviral manufacturers avoid supply chain problems.
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C&EN: Rapid COVID-19 testing breaks free from the lab
Fast, portable systems could help to deliver routine infection screening as countries ease lockdowns.
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C&EN: Enzyme screen unlocks easier route to 2-ketoacids
Computational analysis identifies aminotransferases that convert cheap amino acids into high-value molecules.
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Nature Biotechnology: Bioconcrete presages new wave in environmentally friendly construction
Living cells used in construction to create concrete, bricks or tiles could also soak up CO2.
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C&EN: Ester dance moves substituents around arene rings
Palladium catalyst offers unusual route to high-value compounds.
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