Patrick Walter

The quest to understand where atoms end Atomic size measurements like van der Waals and covalent radii are central to chemistry, but are they grounded in reality?

Where is the edge of an atom? My article for @chemistryworld.com on efforts to figure out the size of atoms, and why it matters.
www.chemistryworld.com/news/the-que...

AlphaGenome & the RNA world hypothesis In this episode, we discuss Google DeepMind's latest deep learning model AlphaGenome, dissect the origins of life from chemicals to complex lifeforms, and hear the latest headlines.

Neil Withers and Mason Wakley join podcast host Mariana Kneppers this week – first up is a discussion about the new deep learning model AlphaGenome, followed by the question to end them all: how did life on Earth begin? Plus the latest headlines.

Crispr therapies will change medicine but there will be challenges along the way The first treatments making use of Crispr gene editing may suffer some early hiccups

It hasn't been plain sailing for the world's first Crispr therapy for sickle cell disease and thalassaemia that's being rolled out in the UK. But we mustn't throw the baby out with the bathwater when it comes to Crispr therapies, writes @patdwalter.bsky.social

We were able to claim £100 back from the water company...

‘Can I get a sausage roll?’ and other Americanisms you should never hear in Greggs: the Stephen Collins cartoon There’s a hidden world beneath Greggs

It is our time to rise.
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

2026: the year of the American basketcase In the coming 12 months, one thing is for certain – the American war on science will only get worse

Oh dear, this look ahead for the year in science sounds rather bleaker than I hoped it might. Sorry about that. And it's not all gloom.
www.thenewworld.co.uk/philip-ball-...

[Scene is a kitchen - a middle aged woman called JANET is boiling peas at the stove. A younger more colourfully dressed woman named LIZ approached her.] JANET: Ugh... LIZ: What's up? JANET: I am so bored of cooking peas! LIZ: Have you tried... AI peas? JANET: AI peas? LIZ: They're peas with AI! [Liz holds up to us a packet of peas labelled: Pea-i AI - Peas with AI]. LIZ: Al-powered peas harness the potential of your peas JANET: What LIZ [Now a voiceover as we cut to a whizzy technology diagram of peas all connected by meaningless dotted lines] Why not take your peas to the next level with Al Peas' new Al tools to power your peas? [Show a techno diagram of a pea with a label reading 'AI' pointing to a random zone in it] LIZ: Each pea has Al in a way we haven't quite worked out yet but it's fine [Show Janet and Liz now in a Matrix-style world of peas] LIZ: With Al peas you can supercharge productivity and make AI work for your peas! JANET: What LIZ: Shut up LIZ: Our game-changing Pea-Al gives you the freedom to unlock the potential of the power of the future of your peas workflow From opening the bag of peas to boiling the peas to eating the peas To spending millions on adding Al to the peas and then having to work out what that even means. JANET: Is it really necessary to- LIZ [Grabbing Janet by the collar]: THE PEAS HAVE GOT AI, JANET [Cut to an advert ending screen, with the bag of peas and the slogan: AI PEAS: Just 'Peas' for god's sake buy the AI peas. [Ends]

Every ad now

😂

Infographic on the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M. Yaghi for the development of metal-organic frameworks. The infographic explains that metal-organic frameworks are molecular sponges built up from metal ions and organic compounds that act as linkers. Small molecules such as gases can move into and out of cavities in these frameworks. The graphic highlights some of the MOFs the laureates have developed and concludes by looking at possible future uses of MOFs, including gas storage and extracting water from air.

The 2025 #NobelPrize in Chemistry was awarded today for the development of metal-organic frameworks, molecular sponges with applications in gas storage, water purification and more: www.compoundchem.com/2025/10/08/2...

#ChemSky 🧪

The 2025 Nobel prize in chemistry as it happens – live Join us as we provide analysis and commentary in the run up to the announcement of the biggest prize in chemistry

Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar Yaghi win 2025 chemistry Nobel prize for work on metal–organic frameworks. Huge congrats to them, I feel this prize has been coming for some time! www.chemistryworld.com/news/the-202...

The 2025 Nobel prize in chemistry as it happens – live Join us as we provide analysis and commentary in the run up to the announcement of the biggest prize in chemistry

Morning all. An exciting day in the chemistry calendar. The #NobelPrize in chemistry will be announced in a little over an hour. We're keeping track of all the developments as they happen at Chemistry World #chemnobel www.chemistryworld.com/news/the-202...

it's actually not two Nobels for Josephson junctions, just one that tunnelled over a gap of 52 years

Interesting. Where was Reiher speaking?

Chemistry ‘deserts’ threaten to push poorer undergraduates out Course and departmental closures in the UK are creating 'cold spots', leaving students high and dry

'The UK is facing a drought,' writes @patdwalter.bsky.social. Not only in terms of rainfall, but also in 'the way in which undergraduate chemistry provision across the country is starting to dry up.'
#ChemSky

Thousands of climbing catfish filmed scaling waterfalls New footage provides rare insight into the daring migration of an enigmatic fish

Catfish wriggling up a waterfall. Outstanding! www.science.org/content/arti...

Fund scholars who tackle urgent issues — from misinformation to error spotting Scientists who are not tied down by fixed research agendas can pivot nimbly to work where they are most needed. It’s time to build career paths with these researchers in mind.

Meta scientists talk about ‘pivot penalty’ which hampers career progression. This World View argues that scientists who are not tied down by fixed research agendas can pivot nimbly to work where they are most needed. They need to be supported

#AcademicSky

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

I'm oklpl

UK chemistry industry professionals

Please fill in this short survey to help CAMS help us all by modernizing what graduates are taught with respect to data handling. Which can be as simple as organizing yourself and naming files sensibly! #chemsky

forms.office.com/Pages/Respon...

URichmond is hiring two tenure-track faculty. One in biochemistry/chemical biology and the other in experimental physical chemistry. This is a terrific place to work - our focus is on our talented undergraduates and we have robust research resources. chemistryjobs.acs.org/job/assistan...

If the UK wants growth fuelled by R&D, universities need relief now The spending review has left universities struggling with deficits with few options but to hope for good news

'Straitened times call for difficult choices,' writes @patdwalter.bsky.social. 'You can be sure that university leaders and groups are already lobbying the government hard on behalf of higher education. The government now needs to listen. #ChemSky #EduSky #ScienceSky

A guide to navigating AI chemistry hype If you plan to use machine learning for research, consider ChatGPT’s shortcomings and inquire about AI tools’ training data and benchmarking performance

Having written many stories about exciting new chemistry AI technologies, I wondered how easy it would be for people to try for themselves.

This story is the outcome of that curiosity – read on for two interesting takeaways and a piece of snark.

cen.acs.org/physical-che...

Very interesting. I'm glad it's not just me that consistently misspells chemistry. It's a long-running joke at Chemistry World.

Can scientific curiosity and pressure to work long hours be balanced with well-being? Younger researchers must beware the trap that sees their scientific fervour take over their lives

Can there still be room for this kind of all-consuming search for new knowledge, while protecting the physical and mental health of researchers? Asks @patdwalter.bsky.social.

A year on from the announcement of the dichloromethane ban, US research labs brace for change Trump administration appears to be backing the Biden rule so universities are moving to comply

A ban on most uses of DCM was finalised by the US EPA in May 2024, with consumer use of DCM to be phased out within one year and most industrial and commercial uses within two. With the Trump administration appearing poised to continue with the plan, research labs are bracing for change. #ChemSky

I'm very pleased to see this collection live – links to individual stories to follow below...

What have you done to poor Tomislav's name New Scientist? Your website's symbol selection just can't cope!

The Woman Who Saw Birds as Individuals Len Howard opened her cottage—and our eyes—to the birds

Wonderful story of a woman who lived with birds and chronicled their lives and personalities. Gwen Howard is a name I'd never come across before and her books from the first half of the 20th century have disappeared into obscurity but could perhaps do with being resurrected nautil.us/the-woman-wh...

Research centres weather unprecedented blackout in Spain and Portugal Backup batteries and diesel generators guaranteed the stability and security of scientific systems

On Monday, an unprecedented blackout caused chaos across Spain and Portugal. Nevertheless, research centres stayed strong and showcased survival skills and resilience. Yours truly, reporting for @chemistryworld.com: www.chemistryworld.com/news/researc...

Still a bigger draw than the statue outside the station.

are you a molecular machinist? have you been wondering, like us, what exactly a molecular machine is? please help us figure it out! read this article and answer the polls to help our IUPAC team: Carson, @aprahamian.bsky.social, @deanast.bsky.social, @sgoldup.bsky.social, and Pierangelo! 🔗