New sulfur-sulfur bond reaction could have many applications
After years of experimenting, researchers from Australia and the UK have confirmed the discovery of a new chemical reaction involving sulfur-sulfur bond exchange, which they say is fast, selective and reversible. It could have applications in areas such as drug development, protein science and sustainable plastics.
AI-designed proteins turned into molecular switches
An international team has used AI to create smart proteins that switch on when they detect a chosen target and can operate inside living bacterial cells. The research opens the way to a new generation of low-cost biosensors for medicine, environmental monitoring and biotechnology.
Science innovation: Which countries are fulfilling their potential?
Only 10% of countries worldwide are fulfilling their technological potential, according to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). In a recent report, Innovation Capabilities Outlook (ICO), WIPO has analysed 2.5bn data points to show how countries can better leverage their science, technology, entrepreneurship and production capacity to generate significant increases in the kinds of innovations that benefit the world.
China’s industrial growth adds to Europe's chemical industry woes
Globally, the chemical industry has been hit by weak demand and a slower recovery in manufacturing than predicted. High energy costs weigh heavily on the sector in Europe in particular, but so too has the ramp up of production capacity in China.