Category: Spotlight on Chemists

Luminescent Materials The world can be full of magic, and Dr. Russ Algar studies one magical concept. Think about fireflies or lightning bugs. These tiny

Ions Dr. Laura Bickerton studied stimuli-responsive anion transporters. But first, we need to understand ions! Electrically charged particles, or ions, are atoms or molecules that

The Invention of Dynamic Materials Nature-inspired materials are materials that have some component that has been inspired or derived from living organisms in their function

The Woodward-Hoffmann Rules Chemical transformations of the atomic structure of matter have been proceeding on Earth for billions of years. These transformations, or chemical reactions,

Biofuels and the Global Energy Transition Recent years have seen an increase in the call for the “energy transition.” This implies the global energy sector’s

Biominerals and Biologically-Based Materials  Biominerals are natural composite materials based upon biomolecules (such as proteins) and minerals produced by living organisms via a process known

DNA – More Than Just Genetic Material As is widely known, DNA base pairing (Figure 1) provides the chemical foundation for the world of genetics.

Mechanistic Enzymology An enzyme is a substance that acts as a catalyst in living organisms, regulating the rate at which chemical reactions proceed without being

Ultrafast Lasers A laser is a device that stimulates atoms or molecules to emit light at particular wavelengths and amplifies that light, resulting in a

The Human Gut Microbiota The human gastrointestinal tract harbours a complex and dynamic population of microorganisms, the gut microbiota. Approximately 100 trillion microorganisms (most of

Primary and Metabolites A metabolite is any substance that is produced during metabolism* or that takes part in metabolism in the plant [1]. Metabolites are

What is MALDI-MSI and how does it work? Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/ Ionisation Mass Spectrometry Imaging or, more simply, MALDI-MSI has established itself as one of

The Post-Antibiotic Era and Bacteriophages The age of antibiotics began with the introduction of penicillin, hailed as a medical miracle that combated an ever-present risk

Foodborne Listeriosis and L. monocytogenes The threat of bacterial pathogens has come to light due to advancing global research on pathogens, in light of the

What is Toxicology? Toxicology involves the study of harmful effects that chemicals may have on organisms. Misunderstanding chemicals, such as fluorine gas, can lead to