ninanotman.bsky.social

The future of total synthesis From structure confirmation to methodology improvements, making complex natural products has driven innovation in organic synthesis for decades. Nina Notman looks at its current state, with threats from funding to academic pressures

Chemists have been trying to synthesise natural products in the lab for around two centuries. Nina Notman looks at what the future holds – and what the field is up against in terms of a variety of obstacles.

AI tools tackle paper mill fraud overwhelming peer review With more article submissions and fraudulent activity than ever before, journal peer review processes are creaking under the pressure. Nina Notman discovers how AI and automated tools are taking some…

AI is stepping in to help publishers tackle the surge in fraudulent scientific papers. From spotting fake authors to detecting AI-generated text, automated tools are reshaping how journals protect research integrity. But is tech enough to fix a broken system?

Rethinking workplaces for neurodivergent staff Neurodivergent people often excel in skills highly valued in chemistry. Nina Notman investigates how employers are breaking down barriers and harnessing these talents through workplace adjustments…

Neurodivergent minds bring a wealth of innovation to science – but many still face barriers in workplaces built for neurotypical people. We explore how organisations are rethinking recruitment, communication and culture to become truly neuroinclusive.

Chemistry merit badge gets a new formula Updated experiments for Scouting America can be done safely at home with easy-to-find materials

A combination of two of my favourite things #chemistry #scouts cen.acs.org/education/ou...

Deaf scientists hit by drastic NIH cuts — the research community must support them Severe blows to the ‘deaf-scientist pipeline’ must not mean abandoning its best practices. Here is how to support current and future students.

These huge [NIH funding cuts] are yet again a clear societal message of a belief that deaf people are not welcome, in science or anywhere. www.nature.com/articles/d41...

I'm feeling old today 🤣

Major US climate website likely to be shut down after almost all staff fired Exclusive: Climate.gov, which supports public education on climate science, will soon no longer publish new content

Major US climate website likely to be shut down after almost all staff fired www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

I was a Theranos whistleblower. Here’s what I think Elizabeth Holmes is up to Elizabeth Holmes had more resources, talent, and opportunity than most founders will ever see — and she blew it. Now, writes Theranos whistleblower Tyler Shultz, she seems to be trying again.

"I always knew Elizabeth Holmes would have a second act. But I’m shocked it’s starting while she’s still behind bars." www.statnews.com/2025/05/15/t... via @statnews.com

Bridging the gap after submitting a PhD thesis Finding ways to fund students as they search for jobs and complete lab work for publications

While undergoing any big life change is stressful, the final part of a PhD is particularly intense. Students must plan for their next steps – securing a job, moving house and publishing their PhD research – alongside the requirements of their programme. #AcademicSky #ChemSky

American Chemical Society diversity programme comes under attack Lawsuit argues that ACS' Scholars Program discriminates against white and Asian applicants

The advocacy group Do No Harm is suing the American Chemical Society (ACS), arguing that its Scholars Program discriminates against applicants who are of white and Asian heritage.

COFs head for the big time Two decades on from the first reported covalent organic frameworks, Nina Notman investigates what their future holds

Ten years after MOF's, Omar Yaghi’s group succeeded in creating so-called covalent organic frameworks (COFs). Progress marches on, as scientists look to maximise their potential.

Jobs at Royal Society of Chemistry Find out more about working for us and view all vacancies including. We continue to ensure an inclusive workplace where opportunities are open to all, and where everyone can belong and bring their tru...

Want to get into science journalism, or know some who does? Our two-month, paid internship is now open for applications - come and work with us #ChemSky 🧪
careers-rsc.icims.com/jobs/3588/sc...

A direct hit Late last week, the Trump administration set off a frenzy in the US scientific community when the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced that indirect cost reimbursement for federally funded re...

"This is a moment to unite." Good editorial from @holdenthorp.bsky.social
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Her Discovery Wasn’t Alien Life, but Science Has Never Been the Same The internet erupted in controversy over Felisa Wolfe-Simon and colleagues’ claim of a microbe thriving on arsenic. Nearly 15 years later, she’s pursuing new research on the boundaries of life.

This is unlikely to get a lot of attention today given all the other news, but @sarahscoles.bsky.social is out with an excellent and long story about the so-called #arseniclife paper that was in Science in 2010. 1/n www.nytimes.com/2025/02/11/s...

Why Japan is winning the race to discover the next element After a breakdown in US-Russia relations, Riken finds itself ahead of its rivals. And Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory chases element 120

"Japan hopes to produce element 119...using its powerful, custom-built facility at the Riken Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science" cen.acs.org/physical-che...

Los Angeles fires hit area chemists Hundreds associated with nearby universities and government labs have lost homes

In my latest for @cenmag.bsky.social, I share the experiences of chemists impacted by the LA fires: cen.acs.org/people/Los-A...

Thankfully, the fires are finally being contained. But I have no doubt that they'll continue to impact the local scientific community for some time.

#ChemSky #SciSky 🧪

Drilling deep to discover the secrets of the mantle Nina Notman hears from the scientists trying to pierce the Earth's crust below the seafloor to learn more about our home planet

The quest to collect a sample of the Earth's mantle - to learn more about our home planet - has been going on for decades. I wrote about this in 2022: www.chemistryworld.com/features/dri...

China’s ‘dreamy’ new ship aims for Earth’s mantle—and assumes ocean-drilling leadership As U.S.-led program falters, Meng Xiang prepares for bold mission to drill 7 kilometers below the sea floor

"Meng Xiang’s most notable feature is its capability to drill to a depth of 11,000 meters below the sea surface...This means Meng Xiang could make history by boring into the mantle" www.science.org/content/arti...

How tyres are turning green As the shift to using renewable and recycled materials in car tyres accelerates, Nina Notman talks to the manufacturers driving the change

Many manufacturers have pledged that their car tyres will contain 100% renewable or recycled materials by 2050. Thank you to Bridgestone, Continental, Michelin, and others for sharing their science with me for @chemistryworld.bsky.social www.chemistryworld.com/features/how...

‘It felt very icky’: This scientist’s name was used to write fake peer reviews Elsevier retracts dozens of journal articles that were published based on “fictitious” reviews

Earlier this year, I received news that fake peer reviews were allegedly being submitted impersonating me and approximately six others

I shared my story with Science to, hopefully, reduce the chance of this kind of breach happening again

www.science.org/content/arti...

Chemistry World are celebrating 20 years this year and it was very nice to be one of the 20 chemists featured. And even nicer that one of my first undergraduate students - and now a highly successful scientist - is also among the group.

University of Hull to close its chemistry department The university is also merging some of its schools following a drop in student numbers.

It's been known in the sector for some time, but finally the BBC has caught up with the impending closure of Chemistry at Hull - a well-regarded department with very high local value to the East Yorkshire economy and chemicals industry.
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Podcast: How schools monitor and control air quality C&EN assistant editor Fionna Samuels discusses the steps taken by schools in Boston and Colorado to monitor and control air quality in the classroom

🎧Dive into the latest from C&EN Uncovered as @fmorningstar.bsky.social explores how schools are monitoring and improving indoor air quality. @craigofwaffles.bsky.social gets the inside scoop on the research happening in Colorado and Boston: cen.acs.org/environment/... #chemsky #bluesci #science 🧪

Register for the annual #ChemNobel prediction webinar C&EN and ACS will host the hour-long webinar on Sept. 26

Going to move my #ChemNobel prediction chat here this year. So please don't fail me #Chemsky, who are your tips?
Oh and yes, the annual prediction webinar will be this Thursday.
cen.acs.org/people/nobel...

The undergraduate lab practical transformation Nina Notman speaks to the educators leading the charge to revamp how university students learn in the laboratory

Meet the team of educators working to change how university students learn in the laboratory (me for Chemistry World) www.chemistryworld.com/features/the...

The unexpected poetry of PhD acknowledgements After reading hundreds and hundreds of PhD theses, we accidentally discovered how to write the perfect PhD acknowledgement: it's a kind of poetry.

'No matter how impenetrable the thesis title, the project’s success always seems to come down to the same simple thing: other people.'

Is DNA the future of digital data storage? DNA is being explored as a long-term solution to preserving digital information for future generations. Nina Notman reports

DNA is being explored as a long-term solution to preserving digital information for future generations - me for Chemistry World
www.chemistryworld.com/features/is-...

Top scientists turning down UK jobs over ‘tax on talent’, says Wellcome boss Next government urged to lower upfront visa costs that are 17 times higher than international average

"A researcher granted a five-year global talent visa and who has a partner and two children would be liable to pay £20,974 upfront, with no option to spread the payments. In total, upfront UK visa costs are 17 times higher than the international average"

Physical chemistry textbook now free to download as a ‘gift’ to ... Peter Atkins gives away Concepts in Physical Chemistry in collaboration with the Royal Society of Chemistry

Hey, chemists, remember the beast that is Atkins Physical Chemistry? Well..

www.chemistryworld.com/news/physica...

Legal threats, online trolls and low pay: the world of scientific ... Chemistry World catches up with one of the world's leading scientific integrity consultants

Despite legal threats, online trolls, and low pay, Elisabeth Bik doesn't regret becoming a scientific sleuth. I caught up with her for Chemistry World: www.chemistryworld.com/news/legal-t...