Nano-spear defense leaves bacteria unexpectedly vulnerable to antibiotics
Bacteria that can defend themselves against a molecular attack from other bacteria are also unexpectedly more vulnerable to antibiotics, researchers in Switzerland report.
Chemistry in 2026: The global outlook
The importance of the chemical industry cannot be underestimated. A few numbers illustrate the scale involved: in the US there are around 547,000 workers across the industry generating $637bn in value, while Europe’s chemical industry has a turnover of €635bn and employs 1.2m people. In the UK alone, the industry directly accounts for 155,000 highly-skilled jobs and £21.8bn gross value added to the economy.
Soil may be key to childhood allergies
The unique blend of fungi and bacteria in a region’s soil may be the strongest factor explaining its rates of childhood allergic disease, with certain assemblages of soil organisms appearing linked with better health outcomes, according to new research presented at AGU’s 2025 Annual Meeting in New Orleans, US. Although a causative connection has yet to be established, the researchers say the pattern appears with remarkable consistency across the globe.
The future of agri-food skills
SCI’s Agri-food Early Careers Committee takes a look at the future of agri-food and agri-tech skills, from the perspective of higher education.
Osteoarthritis: Fighting pain with pain neurons
A biotech firm in the US has revealed a potential cell therapy for knee osteoarthritis. This involves injecting pain-sensing neurons into the knee to treat chronic osteoarthritis.
Water molecules ‘walk’ on 2D material
Individual water molecules interact with 2D materials in unexpected ways, according to new research, and this could have implications for innovative coatings that could control wetting or resist icing.
How halogens have been overlooked in atmospheric models and why it matters
Short-lived halogens must be added into atmospheric models, say an international consortium of researchers. This includes organic and inorganic chlorine, bromine and iodine compounds with a lifetime in the atmosphere of less than six months.
How global science research is evolving
Global research collaboration is evolving in response to geopolitical tensions, pandemic disruptions, and strategic national investments, according to a new report, Research collaboration in a changing world, from the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) of business intelligence provider, Clarivate.
Chemistry finds signs of ancient life in rocks billions of years old
Combining state-of-the-art chemical techniques with artificial intelligence (AI), an international team of researchers has uncovered the faint chemical echoes left by living organisms inside ancient rocks that formed over 3.3bn years ago. The same methods could be applied to samples from Mars or other planetary bodies to determine whether they once supported life.
Chemistry in 2026: Navigating the year of uncertainty
With tepid economic growth and continuing geopolitical upheaval, 2026 will be a year of uncertainty and uneven performance across the global chemicals industry.