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- 1Nobel Prizes 2026: What to Know●Nobel Prizes 2026: What to Know https://www.nytimes.com/article/nobel-prizes-2026.html # Science # Awards # News
Attention is turning to the 2026 Nobel Prizes, with a New York Times guide outlining what to know about this year's awards. The prizes, awarded annually in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, peace and economics, remain among the world's most prestigious honors, and readers are looking ahead to announcements, nominees and potential laureates.
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Chemistry World reports that relativity, not just atomic structure, explains why mercury is liquid at room temperature while other metals are solid. The strong positive charge of mercury's nucleus makes its inner electrons move at relativistic speeds, altering the outer electron behaviour and weakening metallic bonding so the element melts at minus 39 degrees Celsius. The item is drawing attention as an accessible explainer of an often-overlooked link between physics and chemistry.
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Researchers are drawing on the structure of sunflowers to develop better solar cell technology, according to Chemistry World. The idea is that mimicking the flower's natural arrangement could help panels capture sunlight more efficiently. It is the latest example of bio-inspired design being applied to renewable energy research.
- 4CaSE urges UK government to keep R&D investment relevant▼CaSE calls for government and science sector to ensure R&D remains relevant in UK
The Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE) has called on the UK government and the wider science sector to work together to ensure research and development remains relevant and well supported in the United Kingdom. The advocacy group's message, reported by Chemistry World, stresses that sustained political and sector commitment is needed to keep R&D aligned with national priorities and delivering public benefit.
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NOAA's Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory is continuing its ship missions to study and monitor the world's oceans. The ongoing missions support the laboratory's work collecting oceanographic data, including measurements related to climate, ocean chemistry and marine ecosystems. The laboratory has confirmed its research cruises are proceeding as part of its regular scientific operations.
- 6Ancient ocean chemistry may guide search for alien life▼Ocean chemistry on ancient Earth could help scientists search for life on alien worlds
Scientists are examining the chemistry of Earth's ancient oceans to better understand the conditions under which life first emerged. The findings could sharpen the search for biosignatures on distant planets and moons, helping researchers identify which alien water worlds are most likely to host life and what chemical signals future telescopes should look for.
- 7Call to train scientists to work without AI too●Scientists must be trained to work without AI, as well as working with it
Chemistry World argues that scientists should be trained to work without artificial intelligence as well as with it. The piece reflects growing concern that over-reliance on AI tools could erode core research skills, and that training programmes must preserve fundamental abilities in reasoning, experimentation and critical analysis alongside new AI-driven methods.
- 8Nobel Prize week opens in Stockholm with medicine award●The Nobel Prize week is kicking off in Stockholm with the medicine award | World News | 2news.com
Nobel Prize week has begun in Stockholm, with the Physiology or Medicine award announced first in the traditional lineup. The announcement opens several days of prizes covering physics, chemistry, literature, peace and economics, awarded by committees in Sweden and Norway. Winners receive international recognition and a cash prize, with ceremonies culminating in December.
- 9US lags China on EV charging speeds●US being left behind in EV charging speeds as China goes sub-5 min to 70%
Chinese automakers and charging networks now deliver EV battery charges from roughly 30% to 70% in under five minutes, while American charging infrastructure and vehicles continue to lag in peak power and real-world speeds. Commentators argue the gap reflects China's heavier investment in megawatt-class charging and newer battery chemistry, leaving the US at risk of falling behind on a key convenience factor for electric car adoption.
- 10Susumu Kitagawa's advice to students: luck, stubbornness, perseverance▼Susumu Kitagawa: ‘I tell my students three words: luck, stubbornness and perseverance’
Chemist Susumu Kitagawa, known for his work on porous metal-organic framework materials, has shared the advice he gives his students: luck, stubbornness and perseverance. The remark appeared in an interview with Chemistry World, offering a personal reflection on what sustained his decades-long research career in chemistry.
- 11100 Years of Schrödinger's Equation▼100 Years Ago, Schrödinger’s Equation Shed Light on Quantum Physics
One hundred years ago, Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger formulated the wave equation that became a cornerstone of quantum mechanics, describing how quantum systems evolve over time. The centennial is prompting reflection on how the 1926 equation reshaped physics, underpinning modern chemistry, electronics and our understanding of the atomic world.
- 12World's oceans turn saltier and more acidic amid heatwaves▼Salty seas get saltier and world ocean more acidic as heatwaves bring ‘profound change’
New findings show the world's oceans are becoming saltier and more acidic as marine heatwaves drive what researchers describe as a 'profound change' in ocean chemistry. Rising temperatures are intensifying evaporation in salty regions while increased carbon absorption is acidifying waters, threatening marine ecosystems, fisheries and coastal communities that depend on them.