Comment: Insulating Europe
Around 210m m3 of insulating materials are currently used in the European construction industry every year. Over the past two years, there has been an overall decline in demand for insulation materials in Europe, including Russia and Turkey.
How nanoparticle patterns are being used to stop counterfeiters
A Danish research group has invented a legally binding fingerprint for individual consumer items that is based on random nanoparticle patterns.
Applied chemistry highlights: The 'blushing' t-shirt, turning CO2 into formate, and more
Nigel P. Freestone from the University of Northampton discusses selected research papers from recent journal issues for Issue 4 2026 of C&I magazine.
These octopus-inspired new materials can change colour and texture
A group in the US has created the first ever materials that can change colour and texture, inspired by nature. Octopus and cuttlefish are famed for their ability to change not just colour but texture to blend into their background.
US specialities return to growth
US speciality and fine chemical volumes grew slightly by 0.2% to reach 3.52m t in January 2026, compared with a 0.8% drop in December 2025 and a 0.4% increase in November 2025. This also compares with a better-than-expected 0.4% growth in overall US industrial production in both November and December 2025.
Researchers look to boost osmotic energy harvesting
Scientists have found a way to significantly boost ‘blue’ energy, which generates electricity from the mixing of saltwater and freshwater. They designed a prototype membrane made from nanopores coated with lipids, which allows selected ions to pass through efficiently.
A new nickel catalyst for coupling reactions
Practical new nickel catalysts have been created for cross-coupled reactions. These reactions, crucial to industry, involve transition metal catalysts bringing together molecular fragments to build more complex molecules. The new nickel catalysts have been praised as a platform-level advance.
Organic chemistry: Drug resistance, electrochemically mediated depolymerisation and more
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 4 2026 of C&I magazine.