Julia Robinson

London

Science Correspondent at Chemistry World

Science Correspondent @ChemistryWorld (formerly @PJOnline_News) / DM or [email protected] / Best Writer (News) BSME Talent Awards 2023

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Articles

Food chemist takes top prize of annual Dance your PhD contest

1 week ago | chemistryworld.com | Julia Robinson

A food chemist from the University of Helsinki has won the 17th Dance your PhD contest with choreography that explores the unique sensations experienced when eating certain foods, such as fiery capsaicin found in chillis and the tingly cool of menthol in mint.
Springer Nature donates tool to detect AI-generated text to publishing community

1 week ago | chemistryworld.com | Julia Robinson

The academic publisher, Springer Nature, is donating its artificial intelligence (AI) tool that can detect AI-generated text in research manuscripts to the International Association of Scientific, Technical & Medical Publisher (STM).
Why does asparagus make my urine smell?

1 week ago | chemistryworld.com | Julia Robinson

Source: © LanaSweet/Shutterstock It’s officially asparagus season. For those of us who love these vibrant green shoots this will be welcome news, but it may also serve as a significantly less welcome reminder of the rather pungent side effect of eating it – smelly wee. But what exactly causes this seasonal sulfurous aroma and do we all produce it or are some of us lucky enough to leave the toilet bowl stink-free? What exactly does asparagus wee smell like?
Science unions call on immigration authorities to grant visas to scientists

2 weeks ago | chemistryworld.com | Julia Robinson

The presidents of 21 international science unions have written an appeal to immigration authorities across the world urging them to consider awarding scientists entrance visas to enable them to benefit from international collaboration.
The hole in the UK chemical industry

3 weeks ago | chemistryworld.com | Julia Robinson

Norman Keane thinks ICI’s breakup has left a gap in scale-up knowhow and skills, as well as a lack of facilites Source: Courtesy of Norman Keane Nearly 30 years on from the gradual breakup and eventual sale of Imperial Chemical Industries there is still an ICI-shaped hole in the UK chemical industry, says Norman Keane, a consultant in bioplastics and renewable chemistry and technical director of the Bio-Based and Biodegradable Industries Association (BBIA).
Simple blood test could enable detection of Parkinson’s disease before symptoms emerge

3 weeks ago | chemistryworld.com | Julia Robinson

A non-invasive PCR test that measures the ratio between two biomarkers could help detect Parkinson’s disease long before symptoms appear. ‘In many respects, neurodegenerative diseases today are where cancer was 50 years ago, namely when you are able to diagnose it, it’s too late to treat – so that’s why we need early diagnosis,’ says Hermona Soreq, a molecular neuroscientist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel and one of the test’s developers.
Out of the suburbs: the rise of urban labs

3 weeks ago | chemistryworld.com | Julia Robinson

Could empty office blocks and shopping centres provide much-needed space for growing companiesThe lack of laboratory infrastructure in the UK is an issue that has persisted for decades. Innovations from deep tech chemistry startups have the potential to transform our lives for the better, but without access to suitable laboratory facilities to enable research and scale-up, progress is being stifled.
The problem of scale-up in the UK

3 weeks ago | chemistryworld.com | Julia Robinson

What’s the point of knowledge generation if we’re not creating high value jobs, asks Chris Kay Source: Courtesy of Chris Kay From spending his PhD at Warwick University looking for a simple way to make polymers, to spinning out and scaling up his own company, Interface Polymers, Chris Kay has come a long way. But the journey has been anything but straightforward.
Concerns raised about PFAS leaking from three UK military bases

3 weeks ago | chemistryworld.com | Julia Robinson

An investigation of three UK military bases is to be carried out after concerns were raised that they may be leaking per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) into drinking water sources. Source: © Neil Watkin/Alamy Stock Photo RAF Marham in Norfolk, RM Chivenor in Devon and AAC Middle Wallop in Hampshire were identified using a new PFAS risk screening tool developed by the Environment Agency (EA), which has been designed to locate and prioritise pollution threats.
Australian who ordered radioactive materials over the internet walks away from court

1 month ago | chemistryworld.com | Julia Robinson

A 24-year-old Australian man who ordered uranium and plutonium to his parents’ apartment has been allowed to walk away from court on a two-year good behaviour bond. After ordering various radioactive samples over the internet in an effort to collect the entire periodic table, Emmanuel Lidden pleaded guilty to two charges: moving nuclear material into Australia and possessing nuclear material without a permit.