All articles by Philip Ball – Page 8
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OpinionPolymer amphiphiles could help reveal the origins of life
Spontaneous shapes and reactions to light may explain how protocells form
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FeatureShedding light on the dark proteome
Around half of all human proteins are a mystery. What do they look like, asks Phil Ball
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OpinionScience communication in the post-truth era
Do popular science articles make the public overconfident about their own expertise?
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ResearchExotic antimatter used to probe molecule's reactivity
Muonium spectroscopy can reveal photochemical reactivity and dynamics of specific carbons within an organic molecule
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ResearchDye detective work uncovers Perkin’s chemistry secrets
The pioneering Victorian chemist didn’t reveal all in his patent on the first synthetic purple dye
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OpinionShould we allow 'genetic vaccination' with Crispr?
Gene editing could wipe out diseases such as AIDS – but the risks can’t be ignored
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OpinionSolving the riddle of the glowing stones
The mysterious luminescence of the Bologna Stone was the wonder of the 17th century
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ResearchMicroscopy reveals secret of beryl’s iron heart
Discovery of metal stuffed channels in mineral family that includes emerald and aquamarine points way to tuning the material’s colour
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OpinionTime to revolt against impact factors
Perverse incentives hurt science – the top universities need to fight back
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OpinionHow Frankenstein left chemistry with a monstrous reputation
Shelley’s masterpiece was inspired by the cutting-edge science of her time
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ResearchBond activation probed using x-ray laser
Observations of the oxygen–ruthenium bond could help improve catalyst design
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OpinionGeneral dietary advice should be taken with a pinch of salt
We must move away from labeling foods as universally good or bad and start talking about dose
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ResearchQuantum computer simulates hydrogen molecule
Prototype shows potential for more complex electronic structure calculations
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OpinionWhat's the point of synthesising the human genome?
A plan to build our genome from scratch should be challenged on its scientific merit, not whether it is creating life, argues Philip Ball
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OpinionHow game theory could explain complex life
Philip Ball asks if the building blocks of life benefit from cooperation
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ResearchScientists claim to have seen ‘new state’ of water
Scepticism that water molecules with delocalised protons can be described as an unknown phase of water
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OpinionHoming pigeons should thank quantum chemistry
Philip Ball asks whether quantum biology holds the secret to how birds navigate
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OpinionWhy salty water foams
Philip Ball seeks the answer to a question more complex than it appears
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ResearchBonding accurately predicted in diatomics by new scheme
Hopes that simple theoretical framework can be extended to tackle polyatomic molecules