Jamie Durrani

Plastic treaty negotiations go down to the wire Capping production and limiting use of harmful chemicals are key topics for negotiators to consider

Next week, negotiators will try to finalise the details of a global treaty to tackle plastic pollution. But disagreements about reducing plastic production and limiting the use of particular chemicals in plastics manufacture could have a major influence on the treaty's success.

Explainer: Why is the UK banning disposable vapes? Prior to the ban, almost seventy million single-use e-cigarettes were being discarded each year in the UK - containing enough lithium for a thousand electric vehicle batteries

From 1 June 2025, it will be illegal for businesses to sell or supply single-use vapes. In our latest explainer @adamcvean.bsky.social tells you everything you need to know about exactly what this means and why it is happening: www.chemistryworld.com/news/explain... @chemistryworld.com

Designer protein switches conformations like a natural one Researchers design, produce and test a synthetic protein with a dynamic structure

While machine learning algorithms have wowed with how they help figure out protein folding problems, most proteins function by switching between conformations and engineering ‘de novo’ proteins that do this has proved a lot more tricky...
www.chemistryworld.com/news/designe...

I'm very pleased to see this collection live – links to individual stories to follow below...

What is a molecular machine?

A new @iupac.org project aims to define the key terms used in molecular machines.

📖 Please read the following two @chemistryworld.com articles published by @rsc.org and take part in two polls 👍

📧iupac.molecular.machine.committee@gmail.com

🌐 iupac.org/what-is-a-mo...

Epigenetic editors enter clinical trials New wave of precision medicines amplify or silence genes, without altering genetic code

Epi editors change the activity of individual genes without altering genetic code, and could help treat many diseases. To learn more, I spoke with scientists from four companies at the cutting edge of this entirely new type of medicine 🧪 #chemsky
www.chemistryworld.com/news/epigene...

AlphaFold is running out of data — so drug firms are building their own version Thousands of 3D protein structures locked up in big-pharma vaults will be used to create a new AI tool that won’t be open to academics.

Alphafold is running out of data. So a consortium of leading pharmaceutical companies announced plans today to make their own AlphaFold-3-inspired AI model using thousands of protein structures currently secreted away in company vaults.
by Ewen Callaway | @nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/d41...

Weight loss drug supply races With official shortages ended, but the first generics gearing up for launch, companies are looking for the next generation of drugs

Official US shortages of semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound) have now ended, but the first generics are gearing up for launch in 2026 in some markets. So companies are looking for the next generation of drugs. www.chemistryworld.com/opinion/weig...

Want to start a career in science journalism? Take a look at our internship opportunity - we're a friendly and supportive team, and many of our former interns are now freelancers who I still work with regularly!

I did this internship back in (thinks for a bit...) 2016 and it's such a wonderful experience. Apply if you're eligible! cc @absw.bsky.social

My summer writing for Chemistry World Rupo Mapanga on being a science writer intern at the Royal Society of Chemistry

For more of an idea about what the internship involves, check out Rupo's first-hand account of her experience last summer: www.chemistryworld.com/opinion/my-s...

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...

Absolute unit

Protests and alarm as European research sector braces for cuts Swiss science organisations are the latest to speak up after a wave of cuts is proposed across Europe

Several European governments have proposed cuts to their research budgets recently, leaving observers worried that short-term funding decisions will cause long-term damage to the sector www.chemistryworld.com/news/protest...

‘Hidden grammar’ explains proteins’ distribution into sub-cellular condensates Proteins' amino-acid sequences appear to guide their access to blob-like aggregates involved in many cell processes

As well as a "folding code", do proteins come with a second sequence code that is basically an address for a biomolecular condensate? A fascinating idea from Rick Young at the Whitehead Institute and colleagues.
www.chemistryworld.com/news/hidden-...

Scientific institutions have a long history of anticipatory obedience Societies should learn from this and speak up to support inclusion

I have run out of patience with the apparent silence of most US science institutions (and not just US) in the face of Trump & Musk's rampage. There are of so many facets of that, but in this column for @chemistryworld.com I talk about the assaults on inclusion.
www.chemistryworld.com/opinion/scie...

With UKRI's announcement that it's increasing PhD stipends by 8%, I've updated my chart of stipends v minimum/living wage since 1999.

From next October, PhD students will take home around £100 a year more than someone working 37.5 hours a week on the living wage.

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...

Come work with us! Great job as a science media producer @chemistryworld.bsky.social. Good pay and benefits and you can work from Cambridge or remotely and work with a very talented group of science communicators. #scicomm #scijobs #chemsky careers-rsc.icims.com/jobs/3607/sc...

Editing polymer backbones Changing the chemical makeup of a polymer backbone could revolutionise how we make, use and even recycle plastics. James Mitchell Crow reports

Today is my last working day of 2024! So here's a thread with highlights of the articles I've published this year – which also marked @chemistryworld.bsky.social's 20th anniversary!

Let's start in January, with this feature on editing the backbones of polymers
www.chemistryworld.com/features/edi...

2024 in review | Chemistry World Our pick of the top chemistry stories from 2024

You can find loads of other amazing stories from my awesome colleagues @chemistryworld.bsky.social and our superb freelancers here 👇
www.chemistryworld.com/collections/...

After years of negotiations, a global agreement to tackle plastic pollution is within sight The UN's plastics treaty negotiations have faced many hurdles, but delegates are getting closer to a final agreement

Earlier this month, negotiations for a global treaty to tackle plastic pollution missed their first deadline. I spoke with scientists following the negotiations to learn why the process has been so difficult. #PlasticTreaty
www.chemistryworld.com/news/after-y...

How AI protein structure prediction and design won the Nobel prize David Baker, Demis Hassabis and John Jumper won this year's Nobel prize in chemistry. Jamie Durrani investigates the origins of a biochemistry revolution

October was #ChemNobel season – I was lucky enough to interview two of this year’s winners, as well as their colleagues and others in the field, to understand how they made the discoveries that won the chemistry Nobel prize.
www.chemistryworld.com/features/how...

Electrification of process heat stands to slash industry’s emissions Technologies available now can decarbonise most heat demand, but cost and infrastructure barriers still exist

Providing heat to industrial processes without burning fossil fuels is hugely important in the fight against climate change. In August, I looked into the electric-powered technologies that already exist that could help industry tackle this massive challenge.
www.chemistryworld.com/news/electri...

The proteins that drive drug addiction Jamie Durrani speaks to researchers exploring how epigenetic changes in the brain affect drug-seeking behaviours

In June, I spoke with researchers who are trying to understand how addictive drugs bring about epigenetic changes in the brain, and how these changes influence drug-seeking behaviours.
www.chemistryworld.com/features/the...

Davy notebook project paints complicated picture of influential chemist Humphry Davy was a prolific scientist, but could also be petty, selfish and prejudiced

Last day in the office, so it's time to look back at 2024's highlights.
Back in April, I reported on how the fascinating Davy Notebooks Project was offering new – and not all nice – insights into one of chemistry’s most well-known historic figures. #ChemSky 🧪
www.chemistryworld.com/news/davy-no...

Plastic treaty negotiators fail to reach agreement Disputes over treaty's scope remain as original deadline passes

Delegates from over 170 countries failed to reach a binding agreement after a week of discussions in Busan, South Korea.
www.chemistryworld.com/news/plastic...

After years of negotiations, a global agreement to tackle plastic pollution is within sight The UN's plastics treaty negotiations have faced many hurdles, but delegates are getting closer to a final agreement

Negotiations for a global plastics treaty enter a crucial phase on Monday. I wrote about the issues that have dogged the process so far, and what's at stake next week:
www.chemistryworld.com/news/after-y...

It is with deep sadness and regret that I have started yet another social media account.