Bri Barbu

science is a TEAM SPORT

there is no ISOLEUCINE in THREONINE GLUTAMATE ALANINE METHIONINE

Can this metal-free method unseat the classic but explosive Sandmeyer reaction? Metal-free challenger to the classic deamination can be used in tandem with cross-coupling

Researchers have come up with a new strategy to help chemists get more figurative bang from aromatic amine building blocks with (possibly) less chance of literal explosions.

New from me for @cenmag.bsky.social:
cen.acs.org/synthesis/pr...

three skeletons are dancing in a cemetery in a purple background Alt: Four animated skeletons are dancing in a cemetery in a purple background

Looking for some mad science journalism this Halloween? Look no further than 🩻Spooky, scary skeletal editing🩻
(and more chilling chemistry news from @cenmag.bsky.social)
cen.acs.org/synthesis/Sk...

Hi, this is the author speaking! I see your point--it's not exactly proper English to use science as a verb. But people (especially younger folks) will colloquially do it (e.g., a pretty famous quote from the Martian). Regardless, I don't see it as talking down to anyone to use a "glib shortcut"

Atom swap unlocks a world of 4-membered rings Molecular-editing method trades oxygen for other atoms to diversify fragments on the fly

Another week, another atom swap! This one features adorable--and adorably versatile--oxetanes!
cen.acs.org/synthesis/At...

I was a guest on the microplastics episode of this podcast and it was genuinely one of the most fun things I've done this year! David and Gina are brilliant, and I'm glad to see them recognized by the Signal awards!

A few weeks ago, I went on a podcast and said I didn't know anyone who was doing skeletal editing with boron. Then I read this paper and learned that (a) these guys did it before it was cool and (b) now they're using boron to do even more interesting stuff to molecular cores!

Total synthesis of the heart

These shape-shifting rings create customizable cores 1,2-oxaborines can shift into 11 different ring shapes to make modifying molecular cores easy

Turns out, boron-based heterocycles are anything but boring! In fact, some of them are pretty magical...1,2-oxaborines, for example, can be used as precursors to 11(!) other ring systems!

Read more in my latest for @cenmag.bsky.social
cen.acs.org/synthesis/sh...

My coworker @maxhenrybarnhart.bsky.social got infected with dengue *on purpose* for science!

Read his brilliant blend of reporting and first-person narrative about what he learned from his experience as a clinical trial participant:

Objectively it is one of the funniest things to have ever happened in any C&EN staff zoom I've witnessed!

Today, we are all material girls

The 2025 chemistry Nobel goes to MOFs Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar M. Yaghi win the prize for developing metal–organic frameworks

It's the holey grail of chemistry awards! The moment many chemists (including a good chunk of @cenmag.bsky.social staff) have been waiting for!

MOFs finally got a Nobel Prize!

Read more in this story by my amazing colleague Prachi Patel:
cen.acs.org/people/nobel...

Have we written about MOFs before? Um, quite a bit:

cen.acs.org/topics/mater...

Nobel week is basically the super bowl for science journalists, and @sarahbraner.bsky.social (with @laurahowes.bsky.social & @maxhenrybarnhart.bsky.social) gave us a strong opening play with their coverage of the med+physio prize!
(did i get the sports metaphor right?)

Among the contributors' answers are prizes awarded for:
⚗️cross-coupling reactions
🥪sandwich complexes
⭕ozone chemistry
🪴raising awareness of climate change
which Nobel do you think is the greenest?

quick while the government is shut down let’s all switch to metric

Okay, but now I'm curious...#chemsky what's on your science-themed playlists?

I've never felt prouder of the group of former sad teens that I work with than this moment

I was part of the 2021 cohort! Although it as totally a remote experience at the time, I learned so much and made some really great friends in the program!

If you have any inkling that you'd like to try science writing, definitely apply to this!!!

Hey #chemsky peeps! Are you or someone you know a grad student that has been affected by changes to the #grfp application rules? @cenmag.bsky.social wants to hear from you! My DMs are open :)

And then I got excited about complex organic molecules

Thanks @craigofwaffles.bsky.social for having me on the pod to talk about molecule earrings, pyridine abuse, and the benefits of having people out there who are really, really obsessed with specific elements!

Thanks so much to @bribarbu.bsky.social and @cenmag.bsky.social for highlighting our recent work! 😊

@tkschramm.bsky.social @unibonn.bsky.social

This chemist aims to change the game for species conservation Tim Cernak is using modern drug development tools to make medicines for endangered plants and animals

Ever since I read Tim Cernak's "Medicinal Chemistry Gone Wild" Perspective, I knew I wanted to profile him for a @cenmag.bsky.social story! Many months later, here is that story:
cen.acs.org/synthesis/me...

And the Ig Nobel in Physics goes to this delicious work (which I wrote about back in February) unlocking the secret to making clump-free cacio e pepe!
cen.acs.org/food/food-sc...

Probably worth me directing people to Max's story from back in May, again.
🧪

cen.acs.org/biological-c...

The EU banned a common ingredient in gel nail polish. But don’t panic TPO, which helps gels harden, may harm reproduction, but exposure levels are minimal, and alternatives are available

I ended up writing a short explainer about TPO and why people shouldn't be freaking out about it:
cen.acs.org/safety/consu...

The EU banned a common ingredient in gel nail polish. But don’t panic TPO, which helps gels harden, may harm reproduction, but exposure levels are minimal, and alternatives are available

I ended up writing a short explainer about TPO and why people shouldn't be freaking out about it:
cen.acs.org/safety/consu...

Trailblazers: Chemists with disabilities rethink how we do science C&EN’s 2025 Trailblazers issue, curated by guest editor Mona Minkara, looks at how chemists can solve problems in new ways

It so was hard to imagine having successful career in science as a disabled PhD student that eventually I just left.

Who could have guessed that years later I would help create a magazine issue dedicated to highlighting Trailblazing disabled chemists!

cen.acs.org/people/profi...

#DisabledInSTEM