A team from Nijmegen and Amsterdam has published a model-driven strategy in Nature Chemistry for adding the right substances to reaction chains at the right time. This time-dependent dosing strategy not only makes complex reactions more efficient, but can also make them more cost-effective.
Egg cells contain a large number of proteins that aid in embryonic development. They store this supply in specific storage complexes, but the exact structure of these complexes remained unclear for a long time. In Nature, researchers from the Hubrecht Institute now present a close-up view of these ‘protein cabinets’.
Europe wants to start mining more critical raw materials itself. The best-known of these is lithium. In Germany, it is extracted from deep underground along with hot water. ‘Logically, we do this in the areas with the highest lithium concentrations.’
Researchers at the University of Twente have designed self-propelled rods to study how bacteria move collectively. Their size and shape anisotropy were found to be decisive factors in their collective behavior. The study made the cover of Science.
Chemists in Amsterdam recently launched RoboChem Flex in Nature Synthesis: an autonomous laboratory system that performs syntheses using flow chemistry and analyzes the results to determine the optimal conditions. And it’s up to the user to decide what ‘optimal’ means.
A recent study published in Science identified 2.3 million new cis-regulatory elements in plant genomes. This provides numerous avenues for researchers and plant breeders. ‘You shouldn’t underestimate the impact of this.’
The pilot phase of the KNCV mentoring program, which kicked off in November 2025 with a short introductory session and a speed-matching event, is now well underway.
Every now and then, it’s good to be reminded of the magic of chemistry, says our Meme & Molecule-columnist Sjoerd Rijpkema.
Chemistry Coloring Book – Nobel Prizes in Chemistry 1901 – 2025 is a reference book covering all the Nobel Prizes in Chemistry, but with a creative twist. Grab your crayons and start colouring.
The ultimate battery is sustainable, affordable, recyclable, and contains as few critical materials as possible. And, ideally, it should be manufactured in Europe. Researchers have their work cut out. ‘In principle, there are countless elements in the periodic table that can be used to make a battery.’
Danqing Liu employs her broad expertise to develop materials that allow a more varied sensory experience. ’Using our sense of touch is becoming more and more important in our digital world.’