Solar messengers
The author of this book, Helen Gordon, is a writer and natural historian focused principally on events occurring in the natural world and a variety of other scientific topics. The occurrence of flaming objects descending to Earth from the sky over the ages has evoked a miscellany of reactions, including awe and even veneration, and Gordon chronicles several of these responses here.
Facts on friction
Jennifer Vail is a tribologist on a mission to tell the world about the wonders of friction. Her TED talk The Science of Friction has been viewed millions of times, and on the back of that success, Harvard University Press commissioned her to write a book about her favourite subject.
Pharma and fertilisers outlook affected by Middle East crisis
The effects of the Middle East crisis on the global economy continue to unfold, with delivery of fertilisers and plastics and even pharmaceuticals trials increasing challenged.
Organic chemistry
Expert scientists summarise some of their selected research papers from recent journal issues. Read the organic chemistry highlights from G. Richard Stephenson, University of East Anglia, UK in Issue 5 2026 of C&I magazine.
Critical raw materials: EU criticised over progress in industrially important materials
The European Court of Auditors has criticised progress by the EU in securing the supply of critical raw materials. The list, updated by the EU in 2023, includes industrially important materials such as antimony, germanium, lithium, manganese, copper, nickel and tungsten.
Pharma R&D: What's in the pipeline?
The total number of drugs in the global R&D pipeline stands at 22,940, according to a recent analysis by Citeline, slightly lower than in 2025. This represents a 3.92% fall from 2025’s figure and nearly reverses the 4.60% increase seen from 2024 to 2025. Citeline says this is the first time there has been a fall since the mid-1990s.
Applied chemistry highlights: Upcycling rubber waste, photocatalysis revolution, and more
Nigel P. Freestone from the University of Northampton discusses selected research papers from recent journal issues for Issue 5 2026 of C&I magazine.
Microscopic links on catalysts power reactions
The surface of a metal catalyst has been revealed to crosstalk when driving two parts of a thermochemical redox reaction. This was demonstrated in a platinum-catalysed aerobic oxidation of formic acid, where an oxygen reduction reaction is coupled to a formic acid oxidation reaction.
SCI: 145 years of supporting innovation and industry
This year SCI is celebrating 145 years since it was created in 1881, when it was formed with the aim of promoting the application of science to industry.