AlphaGenome & the RNA world hypothesis | The chemical breakdown podcast
Chemistry in its element
Welcome to our latest podcast series, The chemical breakdown. Each week, we dive deeper into two stories we've covered here at Chemistry World, providing insight into the facts, why you should care, and what it means for the chemistry community. We also give you that week’s headlines to keep you up to date with what’s happening in the chemistry community. And finally, we’ll end each episode with a brief section on what was happening this week in chemistry history. This week, we discuss the new deep learning model AlphaGenome and visit the very beginning of life on Earth with Mason...
info_outline
Batteries: The bedrock of the sustainable future
Chemistry in its element
In this special podcast produced in partnership with Waters Corporation, find out how understanding the chemistry and materials that go into batteries marks the first step towards making them safer and increasing energy density, and unlocks new opportunities for reuse and recycling
info_outline
Cinnamaldehyde: Chemistry in its element
Chemistry in its element
How did a tree bark from Sri Lanka become one of the essential flavours of the festive season? We explore the history of cinnamon and the compound that gives it its distinctive taste and aroma
info_outline
Azidoazide azide: Chemistry in its element
Chemistry in its element
A compound so explosively unstable that nobody has been able to measure how sensitive it is without it, well, exploding.
info_outline
Ochre: Chemistry in its element
Chemistry in its element
How one of mankind's oldest pigments helped shepherds secure their sheep and inspired one of the most popular songs of the twentieth century
info_outline
Maltodextrin: Chemistry in its element
Chemistry in its element
A sweet compound that provides ample energy for extreme endurance events – find out how maltodextrin helped Anna Ploszajski swim the English channel
info_outline
Ionic liquids: Chemistry in its element
Chemistry in its element
Liquid salts, ionic melts, fused salts, or ionic glasses – call them what you like, these much-hyped solvents show great promise. Katrina Krämer speaks to chemical engineer Jason Bara about ionic liquids.
info_outline
Chlorhexidine: Chemistry in its element
Chemistry in its element
An antimicrobial compound that kills bacteria and viruses quickly – found in some of the most colourful antiseptic solutions
info_outline
Asparagusic acid: Chemistry in its element
Chemistry in its element
Does asparagus give you foul-smelling urine? Helen Arney investigates asparagusic acid, and the lavatorial genetic lottery that controls whether or not you can smell its distinctive aroma
info_outline
Glycyrrhizic acid: Chemistry in its element
Chemistry in its element
A sweet treat with a deadly trick for Halloween – glycyrrhizic acid, or glycyrrhizin, is found in black liquorice and sweeter than sucrose, but can cause heart problems and even prove fatal if consumed in excess
info_outlineAn immune-modulating compound used to reduce the symptoms of multiple sclerosis and now showing potential against coronaviruses, interferon beta is the last of the WHO's Covid-19 Solidarity trial candidates to get the Chemistry in its element treatment.