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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Freelance Science Writer
Category Archives: Highlights
Chemistry World: The trouble with boycotts
Cutting academic ties with a censured state can do more harm than good.
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Nature: Social sciences suffer from severe publication bias
Survey finds that ‘null results’ rarely see the light of the day.
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Nature: The robo-chemist
The race is on to build a machine that can synthesize any organic compound. It could transform chemistry.
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Chemistry World: The creative stimulus
Innovative thinking may be difficult to turn on at will, but there are many ways to prepare for inspiration.
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Spectrum: Printed Diode Is Fast Enough to Speak With Smartphones
Simple component could help to connect everyday objects to the Internet of Things.
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Spectrum: Perovskite Is the New Black in the Solar World
All the cool solar-cell scientists are working on perovskite photovoltaics.
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Spectrum: Thin-film Solar Cells Freed From Toxic Processing
Cadmium chloride treatment replaced by benign magnesium chloride – a key ingredient in tofu.
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Technologist: To frack or not to frack
Can America’s shale-gas revolution be repeated in Europe?
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Technologist: Google’s shopping spree
The web giant is making a major push into artificial intelligence and robotics. What does this have to do with the search-engine business? And are robots on the battlefield the next step after driverless cars?
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Nature: EU science chief wants greater voice for experts
Anne Glover says that better access to evidence helps policy-makers to make informed choices.
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