ScienceLink artikelen in C2W International 2025
View all stories from this issue.
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InternationalNew method for controlled crystal growth
Using a short, fast laser pulse, researchers from the United States were able to precisely control the growth of perovskite crystals on gold nanoparticles. The setup (pictured) looks quite intriguing.
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InternationalCommitting to committees: strategic move or waste of time?
Isabelle Kohler explores the diverse types of academic committees, the skills and impact they can bring, and how to strategically decide which opportunities are worth accepting.
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InternationalProteomics for Forensics
DNA analysis of bodily fluids found at a crime scene can be invaluable in solving cases. But what if the results are inconclusive? According to research from the Netherlands Forensic Institute, proteomics could help when you need extra information.
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InternationalMOFs get long-awaited Nobel status
‘Well deserved’ and ‘Bound to happen’ summarize the feeling among the MOF community to the news that the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2025 is awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar Yaghi for their pioneering work on metal-organic frameworks.
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InternationalFrom sports soles to sponges: the recycling of polyurethane foam is becoming a reality
Polyurethane foam is found in mattresses, furniture and many other products, and it produces a waste stream that is difficult to recycle. However, a team from the University of Twente has now presented a sustainable method in Green Chemistry for converting this widely used material into reusable building blocks.
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InternationalPhilosophy
Sjoerd Rijpkema doesn’t quite understand the exceedingly detailed questions that PhD candidates get during their defense ceremony. However, he recently came across a PhD defense with a markedly different approach.
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InternationalShining light on post-polymerisation functionalisation
A team from Utrecht University functionalises the C-H-bonds in polyolefins using just UV light without the need for solvents or catalysts, they report in JACS.
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InternationalFiltering fungi
Oyster mushrooms cleaning ditches and trenches. This is the solution with which MycoFarming aims to establish itself. Their biological filtration method cleans the water as the fungi grow, providing an innovative, sustainable solution to the nitrogen crisis that does not place a heavy burden on agricultural production or the environment.
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InternationalCat pushes carbon rings in the right direction
These essential building blocks are found in medicines and commonly used insecticides, but they are also difficult to synthesise: alkylidenecyclopropanes. In Nature, an international team presents a new method that makes producing these ring-shaped carbon structures much more efficient.
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InternationalShould I do a postdoc?
Isabelle Kohler shares her perspectives on the pros and cons of a postdoc fellowship and breaks down the decision that can shape a career trajectory.
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InternationalProgrammable precision for peptide positions
Using triazine-thiol exchange, a group from Nijmegen was able to program cysteine modifications in peptides by varying the pH, they report in ChemistryEurope.
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InternationalPaywall
Everything about publishing science is now digital, except for the price tag. Sjoerd Rijpkema wonders how long this can be sustained.
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International3D bioprinter is ‘smart baby’
The 3D bioprinting of functional tissues is a complex, step-by-step process that depends on the designer. Now, however, biomedical engineers at Utrecht University have developed new technology published in Nature that integrates advanced imaging and artificial intelligence, enabling the 3D bioprinter to observe and analyse.
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InternationalSustainable dairy proteins, produced without cows
Vivici is entering the food market by producing high-quality, sustainable protein through precision fermentation. Founded in 2023, Vivici has already made significant progress. The next step is to convince as many customers as possible. ‘The food business is a business based on trust.’
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InternationalGreen synthesis of aromatic nitriles
Leuven researchers have found a way to transform toluene into nitriles using electrochemistry, ammonia and… water! They report on this simple and potentially environmentally friendly procedure in ChemElectroChem.
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InternationalBreaking free from the validation trap
Isabelle Kohler explores how early-career researchers can develop internal validation skills to find genuine fulfillment and authentic career direction while breaking free from the pressure to constantly perform for others.
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InternationalBig Money for Big Chemistry
The National Growth Fund project, ‘Big Chemistry’, has provided eight consortia with €2.8 million. The projects focus on accelerating the search for chemicals with the desired properties.
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InternationalGroundbreaking creativity with flow reactors
Creaflow is developing a flow plate reactor that is ideal for photochemical and electrochemical processes. It is easy to vary and highly scalable. ‘As a start-up, we were quickly embraced by the market.’
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InternationalNear-infrared light drives molecular motors
In JACS, a team from Groningen and Amsterdam report that they were able to drive molecular motors with near-infrared light using upconverting nanoparticles for the first time.
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InternationalERC Starting Grants awarded
With a success rate of 12.2%, obtaining an ERC Starting Grant was no easy feat. Two KNCV- and two NVBMB-members managed to pass the selection and secure a grant.