All articles by Kit Chapman
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Research
How F1 plans to transition to ‘100% sustainable fuel’
Rule changes intend to make Formula One more environmentally friendly from 2026. But what are the changes, and can a sport known for gas-guzzling engines really go green?
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News
Element 120 may now be in reach and the hunt for it could begin next year
Particle accelerator tests have shown that titanium-50 can be used to make elements 114 and 116
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Research
First single crystal structure of actinium shows unexpected coordination behaviour
Work will aid novel anti-cancer therapy development and even add to debate of where the element sits on the periodic table
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Feature
The wonder of whisky
Kit Chapman takes a closer look at the chemistry of the water of life, from the slow reactions of its ageing to testing for fakes
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News
Chemistry’s authority on nomenclature Iupac seeks new home
After 27 years in the US the organisation is looking for new headquarters
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Research
Promethium bond length completes picture of the size of lanthanides’ atoms
Study fills one of the last gaps in our knowledge of the periodic table
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Feature
Superconductivity: the search and the scandal
Recent high profile controversies haven’t deterred scientists from searching for one of research’s ultimate prizes: room temperature superconductors. Kit Chapman reports on the claims
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News
The story of how the most successful US–Russia scientific collaboration collapsed
Five jointly discovered superheavy elements completed the eighth row of the periodic but then Russian revanchism reared its head
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Research
Third room temperature superconductivity paper retracted as group’s claims lie in tatters
Accusations of data manipulation and misconduct now dog the US team that made what appeared to be astounding discoveries
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Research
Secrets of the purple smoke of first high explosive created by alchemists revealed
Microscopy study uncovers why fulminating gold releases colourful fumes
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News
Berkeley Lab to lead US hunt for element 120 after breakdown of collaboration with Russia
Fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sees US go it alone on efforts to synthesise new elements
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Feature
The lithium rush
Move over, gold; lithium is now the metal in global demand. Kit Chapman untangles the global politics around the sought-after resource
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Research
Solar hydrogen production scaled up in real world test
Pilot plant could be stepping stone to industrial production of green hydrogen by splitting water
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Feature
The wonderful wizards of wood
Clever chemistry can turn humble timber into a sustainable material with many uses, Kit Chapman finds
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Business
Judge dismisses ranitidine lawsuits over lack of evidence
Drug degrades to produce nitrosamines, but the judge ruled the link between this and plaintiffs’ cancers could not be proven
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Research
‘Flip-flopping’ MOFs used to separate water isotopes
Porous materials with temperature controlled gateways can split heavy water from water by relying on differential diffusion effect
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News
Under pressure? Room temperature superconductivity paper retracted over data analysis
Questions over treatment of data led Nature to remove the paper over the authors’ objections
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Research
Technique can characterise actinides with just a microgram of a heavy element
Use of polyoxometalates offers chance to conduct in-depth research on heavy actinides chemistry
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Careers
The chemists leaving their country over personal ethics
Family matters and political views are leading researchers to pursue careers abroad
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Research
New technique reveals interactions inside indium nucleus
Study will help researchers understand how seemingly simple single-particle phenomena emerge from complex interactions among protons and neutrons