What’s the World Cup made of? – in C&EN
The Men s football World Cup final is taking place this weekend. While it sadly won t be coming home, one team will take
Compound Interest
Explorations of everyday chemical compounds
Latest posts
The materials science of tennis
If you ve been enjoying the tennis at Wimbledon over the past two weeks, chemistry probably didn t cross your mind as you watched
The chemistry of the 2026 World Cup ball
The 2026 World Cup is up and running, but not without its share of controversy. It s setting a number of unwelcome firsts:
The chemistry of smoking foods – in C&EN
Humans have been smoking foods for almost 2 million years, but what chemical compounds give smoky flavours and what are the reactions
Magnolia molecules: fragrance, pigments and medicines
The delicate pink-hued magnolia blooms herald the start of spring, and also harbour a range of fragrant and medicinal chemical compounds. Some
What are metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) used for? – in C&EN
Researchers working on Metal-Organic Frameworks, or MOFs, won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. In the latest edition of Periodic Graphics in
International Women’s Day: Twelve women from chemistry history – pt. 8
Today is International Women s Day, so here is another edition of the Women in Chemistry history series. This edition features women whose
What are the 2026 Winter Olympic medals made of?
As the Winter Olympics draw to a close, what are the medals that the top athletes will be taking home made of?
How do antiviral nasal sprays work? – in C&EN
Manufacturers claim that antiviral nasal sprays can reduce the duration of cold and flu symptoms, but how effective are they? The latest
Today in Chemistry History: Dmitri Mendeleev and the Periodic Table
Today (8 Feb) marks the birthday of Dmitri Mendeleev, one of the best-known chemists. His name is synonymous with the periodic table;