I love a good complex natural product. This one has two α-tropolones, 10 asymmetric stereocenters, and a a labile hemiketal. After a longstanding effort, chemists in Seth Herzon's lab have made (–)-gukulenin A. My latest for @cenmag.bsky.social cen.acs.org/synthesis/me...

There’s a lot of historically and culturally significant stuff captured on audio (and video) tape. But tapes are mass-market items that weren’t made with long-term archiving in mind. My latest for @cenmag.bsky.social explores the chemistry involved in preserving them: cen.acs.org/analytical-c...

Four years ago, we were @aaasmassmedia.bsky.social fellows, starry-eyed at our first full-time #sciencejournalism gigs. Now, we're working dream/beyond-dream jobs at the New York Times, @cenmag.bsky.social and @statnews.com. 2021 us could not have imagined 2025 us. #scicomm #stem #altchemjobs

I'll be there! if you're a DC-area science journalist or communicator, you should come through!

In this episode of Inflection Point, hosts David Anderson and @ginacvitale.bsky.social travel back in time to relive three historical moments that led to blockbuster drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Listen now: cen.acs.org/pharmaceutic... #chemsky 🧪

Let there be light-activated arynes! Check out my write-up for @cenmag.bsky.social of @cortnieroberts.bsky.social and her team's illuminating new work in Nature: cen.acs.org/synthesis/re...

science is a TEAM SPORT there is no ISOLEUCINE in THREONINE GLUTAMATE ALANINE METHIONINE

Researchers have come up with a new strategy to help chemists get more figurative bang from aromatic amine building blocks with (possibly) less chance of literal explosions. New from me for @cenmag.bsky.social: cen.acs.org/synthesis/pr...

Looking for some mad science journalism this Halloween? Look no further than 🩻Spooky, scary skeletal editing🩻 (and more chilling chemistry news from @cenmag.bsky.social) cen.acs.org/synthesis/Sk...

Another week, another atom swap! This one features adorable--and adorably versatile--oxetanes! cen.acs.org/synthesis/At...

I was a guest on the microplastics episode of this podcast and it was genuinely one of the most fun things I've done this year! David and Gina are brilliant, and I'm glad to see them recognized by the Signal awards!

A few weeks ago, I went on a podcast and said I didn't know anyone who was doing skeletal editing with boron. Then I read this paper and learned that (a) these guys did it before it was cool and (b) now they're using boron to do even more interesting stuff to molecular cores!

Total synthesis of the heart

Turns out, boron-based heterocycles are anything but boring! In fact, some of them are pretty magical...1,2-oxaborines, for example, can be used as precursors to 11(!) other ring systems! Read more in my latest for @cenmag.bsky.social cen.acs.org/synthesis/sh...

My coworker @maxhenrybarnhart.bsky.social got infected with dengue *on purpose* for science! Read his brilliant blend of reporting and first-person narrative about what he learned from his experience as a clinical trial participant:

It's the holey grail of chemistry awards! The moment many chemists (including a good chunk of @cenmag.bsky.social staff) have been waiting for! MOFs finally got a Nobel Prize! Read more in this story by my amazing colleague Prachi Patel: cen.acs.org/people/nobel...

Have we written about MOFs before? Um, quite a bit: cen.acs.org/topics/mater...

Nobel week is basically the super bowl for science journalists, and @sarahbraner.bsky.social (with @laurahowes.bsky.social & @maxhenrybarnhart.bsky.social) gave us a strong opening play with their coverage of the med+physio prize! (did i get the sports metaphor right?)

Among the contributors' answers are prizes awarded for: ⚗️cross-coupling reactions 🥪sandwich complexes ⭕ozone chemistry 🪴raising awareness of climate change which Nobel do you think is the greenest?

quick while the government is shut down let’s all switch to metric

Okay, but now I'm curious...#chemsky what's on your science-themed playlists?

I was part of the 2021 cohort! Although it as totally a remote experience at the time, I learned so much and made some really great friends in the program! If you have any inkling that you'd like to try science writing, definitely apply to this!!!

Hey #chemsky peeps! Are you or someone you know a grad student that has been affected by changes to the #grfp application rules? @cenmag.bsky.social wants to hear from you! My DMs are open :)

And then I got excited about complex organic molecules

Thanks @craigofwaffles.bsky.social for having me on the pod to talk about molecule earrings, pyridine abuse, and the benefits of having people out there who are really, really obsessed with specific elements!

Thanks so much to @bribarbu.bsky.social and @cenmag.bsky.social for highlighting our recent work! 😊 @tkschramm.bsky.social @unibonn.bsky.social

Ever since I read Tim Cernak's "Medicinal Chemistry Gone Wild" Perspective, I knew I wanted to profile him for a @cenmag.bsky.social story! Many months later, here is that story: cen.acs.org/synthesis/me...

And the Ig Nobel in Physics goes to this delicious work (which I wrote about back in February) unlocking the secret to making clump-free cacio e pepe! cen.acs.org/food/food-sc...

Probably worth me directing people to Max's story from back in May, again. 🧪 cen.acs.org/biological-c...

I ended up writing a short explainer about TPO and why people shouldn't be freaking out about it: cen.acs.org/safety/consu...

It so was hard to imagine having successful career in science as a disabled PhD student that eventually I just left. Who could have guessed that years later I would help create a magazine issue dedicated to highlighting Trailblazing disabled chemists! cen.acs.org/people/profi... #DisabledInSTEM

The EU recently banned TPO, often used in gel nail polish as a photoinitiator to kick off the curing process, because of reproductive toxicity. Read more about the chemistry of gel polish and its main safety concerns (hint: not TPO) in my story from 2 years ago: cen.acs.org/business/con...

"Even without outright misconduct, structural incentives in academia often reward behavior that undermines students. Faculty careers advance on the basis of publications, grant funding, and prestige...even well-intentioned advisers can fall into this trap" ~Emily Mane

Behind every bond is a brilliant mind. Organic chemists make the molecules, but they also make the difference. Share your journey, research, its importance to society and your thoughts on how we can expand the reach of organic chemistry. Help us #AmplifyOrganic

So great to catch up with my dear @cenmag.bsky.social friends, and meeting some for the first time 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 @bribarbu.bsky.social @laurahowes.bsky.social @ginacvitale.bsky.social @cdellamore.bsky.social #ACSFall2025

If you like this carbon allotrope, you’d better put a ring on it (or three)💍 cen.acs.org/physical-che...

if you're in DC, come hang out with me this evening! I (well, DCSWA) will pay for your ice cream!

Looking for some #Fridayfun? Check out @bribarbu.bsky.social's latest #Newscripts column on adventures in #alchemy. cen.acs.org/education/sc...

My latest @cenmag.bsky.social newscripts column is inspired by my friends: Veronica and Allison, whose love for a touchscreen game at a museum inspired this whole column, and Jaclyn, the reason I can't mention the LHC without also mentioning the 2016 weasel incident cen.acs.org/education/sc...

"How shall we test out our new waterproof glue?" "Oh, I don't know, how about we glue a rubber ducky to a rock right next to the ocean?" "Great idea! And we can take really dramatic photos of the duck getting hit by waves! The press will eat that sh*t up!" cen.acs.org/materials/bi...

From now on you may address me as "lady wizard" please and thank you

Turning old plastic into new plastic is really, really hard. Products made with dyes, flame retardants and other toxic chemicals create a health hazard when heated for recycling, severely limiting the products you can make from recycled plastic. (Published Aug. 2024)

Why Dungeons and Dragons Is Good for Your Brain www.scientificamerican.com/video/why-du...

na na na na na na na na na, bat labs cen.acs.org/biological-c...

@cenmag.bsky.social's website got a makeover! 💅💄✂️ Check out the fresh new look of cen.acs.org, now with 200% more hexagons!

I’ll be there! (because I planned it!) please come hang out!

Tax records from eighth-century city of Nara indicate that various foodstuffs such as mandarin oranges, seaweed, and sauce made from a Pacific fish called bonito were used as tax payments. cen.acs.org/analytical-c... #chemsky 🧪

Although molecular machines garnered a Nobel Prize in 2016, ones that operate autonomously on chemical fuels are still rare. Researchers at the University of Bristol unveiled a new one this week--read about it here and watch an animation in my latest @cenmag.bsky.social: cen.acs.org/materials/mo...

"OK, but what about absolute stereochemistry? I just realized that’s a thing." "Everyone knows ochemists are Sith lords, so that tracks"

By putting a carbon atom in place of a core oxygen, chemists constructed an opioid that blocks pain with less respiratory depression in mice. cen.acs.org/synthesis/me... #chemsky 🧪