A complicated outlook for energy and industry
The short-term consequences of the conflict in the Middle East continue to play out for the global economy. Higher oil prices, concerns about jet fuel stocks and the impact on prices of essential fertiliser commodities like ammonia and sulphur are all feeding into an already fragile global system.
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.
Forever beautiful: Reformulating cosmetics
The cosmetics industry hasn’t escaped the heat on using ‘forever chemicals’ with a big effort already under way to phase them out and find alternatives, reports Katrina Megget
Plant-based cheese: The innovations ahead
Plant-based products potentially offer a healthier and greener choice. But plant-based cheeses seem to be lagging behind milk and yoghurts when it comes to market share. Anthony King looks at research into some of the newer options.
AI used to identify potential weight loss peptides
A peptide identified using artificial intelligence (AI) could rival existing weight-loss drugs, but with fewer side-effects, claim researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine, US. The naturally occurring molecule appears to act directly on the brain’s appetite-control centre.
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.
Why Germany’s circular economy needs a 'transformation booster'
A broad, cross-sector alliance of the chemical, plastics and recycling industries has strongly advocated a decisive ‘transformation booster’ for the circular economy in an open letter to the German government.
Boosting biscuit nutrition with green banana flour
Green banana flour is emerging as a promising ingredient for innovative foods, providing new options for consumers as well as cutting waste. Now researchers in Brazil have investigated the physicochemical, technological and sensory properties of savoury biscuits formulated with green banana pulp and pulp-and-peel mixed flours.
Creating sensor for extreme environments: From deep ocean to nuclear reactors
Gathering useful data – whether from the heart of a nuclear reactor or the bottom of the sea – requires remote sensors and a lot of processing power. Lou Reade reports