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Tim Wogan

After initially planning to study English at university, I decided that, just in case I turned out not to be the next Hillary Mantel, it might be better to devote my life to my other great love – science, where I believed I was sure to make great discoveries. Three years studying physics at Cambridge University disabused me thoroughly of that notion, and, having learned that I was never going to make a notable discovery of my own in a world full of infinitely better scientists than I was, I decided to return to plan A and make my living writing about theirs instead. I studied science communication at Imperial College London and, after a brief internship as a reporter on the European news desk of Science, I’ve been writing freelance. Since 2019, I’ve been living in the US.

Research
Ladder-like polymer that could halt electrical overheating divides opinion
2023-05-17T08:35:00
Questions raised over reported structure and whether the polymer can even perform as researchers hope
Feature
The Sun rises on perovskites
2023-05-15T09:30:00
With the first solar cells scheduled for commercial sale this year, Tim Wogan looks at the long, hard road to producing stable perovskite photovoltaics
Research
Less is more for copper catalyst when it comes to synthesising acetate from CO
2023-05-11T13:30:00
Electrochemical process that targets specific intermediate produces valuable chemical feedstock more efficiently
Research
Pulsed pyrolysis offers better way to breakdown plastics into their building blocks
2023-04-26T13:52:00
US team hopes that catalyst-free system could be greener and more efficient than than other depolymerisation attempts
News
Composite achieves the virtually impossible – it’s electrically conducting, while thermally insulating
2023-04-06T13:30:00
Material shows exceptional heat resistance while still conducting electricity and could find uses in aerospace
Research
Used masks and plastic packaging turned into high-octane fuel at low temperatures
2023-03-06T14:30:00
Endothermic reaction coupled with an exothermic one to keep the processes energy costs down
Research
Unique molecular state at ultracold temperatures points way to controlling chemical reactions
2023-02-15T14:30:00
Deeper understanding of interactions close to absolute zero could also aid creation of exotic quantum matter
Research
Zircon study prompts redox state rethink surrounding hydrothermal pools thought to harbour life’s first molecules
2023-02-13T09:57:00
Research combining experiments with modelling suggests hydrothermal fluid was 30% as saline as sea water today and more oxidised than the surrounding mantle
Research
Super-resolution microscopy ditches fluorescent tags for gentler imaging of live cells
2023-02-07T09:30:00
Infrared laser technique could deliver benefits for study of cells’ biochemistry
Research
3D-printed single-atom catalysts brings industry use closer
2023-01-18T09:48:00
Printing technique could allow more widespread application of exceptional catalytic particles
Research
Ionic cooling offers way to end greenhouse gas use in refrigeration
2023-01-12T09:30:00
A refrigeration cycle based on dissolving a salt could be a more environmentally-friendly method of cooling
Research
Algorithm produces one of the best solutions to molecules’ Schrödinger equations yet
2023-01-05T09:30:00
But aggressive ‘pre-training’ actually damages its predictive powers
Research
Warming gold nanofilm can stop glasses fogging-up
2023-01-03T14:30:00
Coating that absorbs sun’s infrared light could end steamed up lenses
Research
Machine learning massively speeds up scouring of periodic table for stable structures
2022-12-12T14:30:00
Algorithm investigated 31 million crystal structures with calculations taking seconds instead of hours
Research
Powerful rare-earth free magnet ‘evolved’ and refined by machine learning algorithm
2022-11-25T09:30:00
Combination of iron, cobalt and boron points to alternatives to metals beset by geopolitical battles
Research
AI beats human experts when it comes to peptide design
2022-11-17T09:30:00
Algorithm throws up some counter-intuitive structures in contest
Research
Homogeneous catalysis boosted by electrochemical recovery of precious metal complexes
2022-11-11T09:30:00
Process can recover metals from industrially important catalysts
Research
Bond switching stops hard ceramic from cracking under stress
2022-10-31T14:30:00
Deformable silicon nitride absorbs compression stress through gradual phase change
Research
Machine learning navigates vast materials space to discover new high-performance alloys
2022-10-24T13:30:00
Neural net suggested unusual element combination to create better Invar alloys
News
Explainer: How do sunscreens safely protect our skin?
2022-08-31T13:48:00
And which is best – inorganic or organic sunscreens?

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