iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Derek Lowe @dereklowe.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

The craziest compound-impurity story I’ve ever heard:

science.org

Now That's An Impurity Story

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Nikolay Tumanov @ntumanovxray.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Moving to rather something positive, because except food supplements "professionals", I am dealing people who care about their work and doing exiting things. Thank to EU office of @rigakuoxfordxrd.bsky.social, on (very long) Monday I had opportunity to try their electron diffractometer, Synergy ED.

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Emma Monk @monkemma.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

🧵 As front-page headlines go, this has to be one of the most misleading I've seen in a long time It's an out-and-out lie But notice the trick they use to get away with it...👀 *They're* not lying - they're just quoting someone else who is👍🏻 In this case, the leader of the opposition🙄 1/33

Daily Express headline:

"More Freedoms Handed to New Arrivals than British Citizens"

Above an image of Kemi Badenoch

All with a Monk Debunked stamp on top

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Sarah McAnulty, Ph.D. @sarahmackattack.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Just emailed 26,000 people about snail facts advent calendars. This better result in 500 snail sales. Snales. Wait that just sounds like snails. Is that a good omen?? Get a calendar here: SquidFacts.net

An 11x14 inch poster featuring snails, slugs, nudibranchs, and other snails! There are 24 yellow-green snail shells that you can scratch off. There's a leaf sheep and sea bunny and sea angel and fire snail and banana slug and mystery snail and ramshorn snail and candy cane snail

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Compound Interest | Chemistry infographics @compoundchem.com · 21/09/2026

Did you know the wasabi in most sushi restaurants isn't wasabi? Or that a chemical synergy between dried seaweed and raw fish enhances sushi's savoury flavours? Learn more about sushi science with this infographic, as requested by my sushi-mad seven-year-old 🍣 wp.me/s4aPLT-sushi #ChemSky 🧪

This infographic titled "Sushi chemistry: nori, wasabi and sticky rice" explores the science behind sushi. It features three main panels with illustrations, chemical structures, and explanations. The left section explains how amylopectin in rice creates stickiness and how acetic acid from vinegar aids gelatinisation. The middle panel covers umami flavours from glutamate, inosinate, and guanylate found in nori and raw fish, displaying their molecular structures. The right panel discusses allyl isothiocyanate in wasabi and horseradish, along with gingerol and shogaol compounds in pickled ginger (gari). Photos of six different sushi rolls line the bottom.

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Martin Stoermer @martinstoermer.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Molecule doesn't know what's going on. #chemsky #chemchat

A representation of a large protein in wireframe format. It's in the shape of a question mark

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Kirsty Grainger @kirstygrainger.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Chris McDonald at UUK conference just announced UKRI will - increase grant decisions by internal UKRI expert teams (less to peer review) - fewer, larger awards - increase distributed peer review - more face to face decision making for high priority risky grants (to reduce AI peer review)

Chris McDonald talking to a lecture theatre

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Scott Bagley @bagphos.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

I see you are attempting to join #ChemSky Please mark all images containing a sandwich

Images in a 3x3 square showing different types of sandwiches ( or not). Top row a stack of pancakes; dppf catalyst, a sandwich, second row: a plate of tacos; a hot dog; a Ford F140 and row 3 a lead sandwich plate battery, a pizza and finally the famous Ham Sandwich road sign in Kent UK

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RSC MASC @rsc-masc.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

✨Spotlight✨ The MASC Group Supramolecular Chemistry Award 2026 🏆 Most senior award, for exceptional research contributions to MASC field in the broadest sense, and exceptional service to MASC community. Deadline 📆 18-Sep More on mascgroup.co.uk/2026-masc-pr... (1/4)

mascgroup.co.uk

2026 MASC Prize Calls

MASC: The Macrocyclic and Supramolecular Chemistry Interest Group 2026 MASC Prize Calls 2026 MASC Group Supramolecular Chemistry Award The MASC Group Supramolecular Chemistry Award is the award giv…

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Damon Young @damonyoung.com.au · 04/09/2026

This Finnish guy has been teaching himself Sumerian, and sent a cuneiform tablet to the British Museum to check his progress. They just emailed him that they've sent him something in the post. I'm now thrilled and excited for a total stranger! Clay tablet mail! www.reddit.com/r/Cuneiform/...

a photo of a hand holding a cuneiform tablet

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Dr Dean Burnett @drdeanburnett.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Oh sure, when teens and young adults prefer to take in important information via clips and reels, they've all got 'brain rot' and society is doomed. But someone renders major historical events via the medium of a big scarf, and people can't get enough of it? PICK A LANE, GUYS! #BayeuxTapestry

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Roger Giner-Sorolla @rogerthegs.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

In the United Kingdom, mincemeat is not meat, unlike mince, which is meat

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Andrew D Thaler @drandrewthaler.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

The Hoff Crab is neither a crab nor is it David Hasselhoff. It is a Yeti Crab, which is neither a Yeti nor a Crab but a sub-group of Squat Lobsters, which are not lobsters, they're Anomurans, like Mole Crabs, which are neither moles, nor crabs.

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Gavin Craig @g-craig.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

We've used more 3D electron diffraction here while studying Zn-based MOPs, just published in @chemcomm.rsc.org. Big thanks again to @leverhulme.ac.uk for funding our work, and congratulations to the team on a really nice collaborative effort. pubs.rsc.org/cc/article/d...

pubs.rsc.org

Submit This Form

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Scott Bagley @bagphos.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

ChemSky: Here’s my paper ChemChat: Sandwiches

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RSC MASC @rsc-masc.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

🚨The 2026 MASC Group Awards are all open for nominations 📣 with the following deadlines: 🏆 MASC Group Supramolecular Chemistry Award 📆 18-Sep 🏆 Bob Hay Award Lectureship 📆 18-Sep 🏆 MASC Group PhD Thesis Award 📆 6-Nov 🏆 MASC/WISC EDIA Award 📆 18-Sep More on mascgroup.co.uk/2026-masc-prize-calls

eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com

2026 MASC Prize Calls

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Tim Easun @timeasun.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

An important and rare long-term view on Research Council grant processes, by @kirstygrainger.bsky.social (the irony of needing a long-term view on this particular topic is not lost on me)

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Scott Bagley @bagphos.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Inorganic = Organic (Backs away slowly) #ChemSky

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Joshua Bowman @thalesdisciple.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Working on an A.I. policy for my calculus classes. Decided to be upfront about the current situation with LLMs and to give a heartfelt explanation for why the course still matters.

Al policy

Context

Artificial Intelligence, or "A.l.," Is a broad term used to refer to several different kinds of technologies. The kind most relevant to this class are Large Language Models (LLMs), which use mathematics to analyze large amounts of human-produced text and then generate new text that simulates what a human might write in response to prompts or questions. Some examples of LLMs are OpenAl's ChatGPT, Anthropic's Claude, and Google's Gemini.

Current LLMs can provide a solution to any calculus problem I give you. So why should we work on them, you might ask? Here's the thing: for the most part, the problems were already solved anyway. Calculus as a subject is nearly 400 years old. It has reached into virtually every modern scientific and economic field. And while I would like to believe that I have crafted a few new problems with some small amount of originality tailored to this class, for the most part I have curated a collection of exercises drawn from my years of teaching calculus. Those exercises come from textbooks, workshops, friends, and other fields of study, as well as my own invention.
And they nearly all have known solutions, often with fairly standard approaches.
Before A.I. became widely available, you could find those solutions in another textbook, or from a friend's notes, or through a repository on the internet.

The point of this class is not necessarily to solve problems that have never been solved before. It is for you to develop habits of thinking that are used by mathematicians, scientists, and policymakers-to develop a sort of mental toolbox that can be applied to new problems. If along the way you happen to find a new way of solving one of the class exercises, that's great! I am constantly learning new things from my students. But you will be bereft of discovery if you rely on a LLM for solutions to the calculus problems before you. Here I mean the discovery of having your own realizations, crystallizing your own internal understanding, claiming the knowledge in a way that cannot be taken away from you.
That ownership is what I want for you, and that is what the course is built around.

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Rosie Young @rosieyoung.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Finding the patterns on my journey to #IUCr2026 starting off leaving the Austron and it's beautiful pattern tiles in the user lounge 🤩💎 #BraggYourPattern

Square blue tiles with different white patterns on each- zigzags, triangles and more

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FX Coudert @nanoporous.net · 06/08/2026

In case you missed it: @chemicalscience.rsc.org now charges an APC of £2,850 per paper. It was previously free (diamond OA), and in my view it contributed greatly to the appeal and success of Chem Sci. Sad to see the RSC go that way…

For submissions from 1 July 2026 an APC will apply to all articles accepted in Chemical Science. Use our journal finder to check if your APC is covered by an institutional agreement with us. Note, if your institution has an agreement with us that covers APCs, you will be notified of this at article acceptance. Details of the APC and discounted rates are found here.

Get your manuscript submission ready with our submission checker tool. You can instantly check against Chemical Science's guidelines and requirements, and receive helpful hints to get you ready to submit.

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Alexander Knebel @knebelalexander.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

I have a position to fill as soon as possible for a DFG funded PhD project on optical modulation of MOF-glasses. If you are interested please send me your (non-AI generated) documents and describe your experience. An official job opening is coming later this months.

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Sophie Benjamin @benjaminchem.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Just seen that the Elemental Analysis service at London Met is closing! This is devastating for us UK inorganic synthesists. They have been such a great, reliable service. @londonmetuni.bsky.social #chemsky

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Mad About Shoe @randysweetwater.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

me: where’s your proof for that?? JJ: [points at pudding]

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Prof Sam Illingworth @samillingworth.com · 25/07/2026

🚩 My 2010 PhD thesis is ‘70% AI’ I ran my 2010 PhD thesis through an AI detector. It flagged 70% as AI, then tried to sell me a ‘humanise’ fix. Either I am a time traveller, or these tools do not work. Link to my thesis in the comments to try yourself. #AIDetection #HigherEd 🧪 #AI

Screen grab of an AI detection test showing 70%.

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Anna Slater @annagslater.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

We are hiring! tinyurl.com/4nstwsr3 2 year PDRA on flow synthesis & crystallisation of organic materials. Alongside the specific project focus, we are excited to work with you on your ideas to use flow in supramolecular chemistry. Closing date 21st August.

tinyurl.com

Job Specification

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Matt Hartings @matthartings.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

I *really appreciate how Derek says the main part up front and so emphatically. We would benefit from all communication and media facing folks being so clear-headed and straightforward.

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Dr Kat Day (she/her) 🌖 @chronicleflask.katday.com · 23/07/2026

One for the chemists… 😄

Photo of a screen that shows:

New Password:
H₃PO₄
Weak

New Password:
H₂SO₄
Strong

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History Scientist @historyscientist.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

You don't hear much about meanders in the main stream media.

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ArtButMakeItSports @artbutmakeitsports.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Mephisto, by Joaquín Espalter y Rull, 1872, 📸 by Dan Mullan

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Prof Ben Britton @bmatb.expmicromech.com · 17/07/2026

Are you experienced with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and looking for a new role? Or do you know someone who might be looking? We are recruiting for a Staff Scientist position at UBC. Find out more 👇 Please repost. 🧪🔬 ubc.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/ubcfac...

ubc.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com

Research Scientist: X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Staff - Non Union Job Category M&P - AAPS Job Title Research Scientist: X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy Department Research | B. Britton| Department of Materials Engineering | Faculty of Applied ...

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Scott Bagley @bagphos.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Reading a patent prep recently and noticed a series of SnAr reactions that should have gone well were all reported at ~20% yield Digging deeper… They all used “catalytic base” at… You guessed it… 20 mol % #ChemChat

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Dr Dean Burnett @drdeanburnett.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

In a weird way, this Clacton by-election is the most relatable Nigel Farage has ever been, because every person in the UK has, at some point, experienced confusion and panic about taking out the bins

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Andre the Chemist @andrechemist.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

I did confirm it is not chiral! Pictured below is the same creation arranged to show it is its own mirror image. It is flipped and rotated but otherwise untouched. I'm also pretty sure it has a four-fold improper rotation axis so I'm 90% confident its point group is S4

Eight popsicle sticks interleaved with a + and an X inside a square.

Eight popsicle sticks interleaved with a + and an X inside a square. The shape is the mirror image of the shape in the previous picture.

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Emma Monk @monkemma.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

It was inevitable, wasn't it🙄 Of course the Telegraph would run with something like this👇 So let's remove some of the rose-tinted spectacles and also look at some of that data comparing 1976 with modern heat waves Because the 1976 nostalgia porn is wearing a bit thin at this stage 🧵1/23

Telegraph headiline:

"Heatwave hysterics wouldn't have lasted a day in 1976", overlaid with a bold “MONK DEBUNKED” stamp.

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Dr Kat Day (she/her) 🌖 @chronicleflask.katday.com · 25/06/2026

Husband: the temperature outside is 27°C and inside is 26°C. You should shut the door Me: I don’t want to Husband: it’s only going to warm up the inside Me: yes, yes, I understand the thermodynamics. I don’t WANT to 😆

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Anna McConnell @annajmcconnell.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Applications are still open for 2 PhD positions in our group (Deadline: June 30). See links below for details and how to apply jobs.uni-siegen.de/job/Research... jobs.uni-siegen.de/job/Research...

jobs.uni-siegen.de

Researcher - Organic Chemistry I

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Chemjobber @chemjobber.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

I kind of sincerely hope this is all made up

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Tim Easun @timeasun.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

This is interesting. Ignoring the "rank your papers!" framing, it's something to think about.

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Tom Cox @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Yes it could be argued that keeping up with world events is important but alternatively can I interest you in hugging an ancient mossy boulder that looks like a face and quietly listening while it tells you stories from centuries cloaked in mist.

A lovely mossy boulder with a face. I walked past this venerable stone gentleman on Dartmoor when I was beginning to write my first novel, Villager, and it whispered all 104,000 words of the book to me. So now I have to pay it all of my royalties. Unfortunately my ex-publisher stopped paying me royalties last year. Understandable, the boulder was not happy. But now I have a new publisher and the book has been republished. So remember if you purchase a copy you will be helping a boulder to eat, pay the rent on his riverside moss garden, and feed his boulder family.

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Royal Society of Chemistry @rsc.org · 17/06/2026

We're excited to announce the winners of our 2026 RSC Prizes! More than 60 talented individuals and teams from around the globe are being celebrated today for their work on everything from solar energy and drug discovery to materials chemistry and AI. 👉 rsc.li/3SgSapw #RSCPrizes #ChemSky

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Fiona McMillan @moraigmonkey.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Delighted to highlight our Volunteer Recognition Award winners today - some truly inspirational people who have done so much for our community. www.rsc.org/standards-an...

rsc.org

Prize winners

We are recognising individuals, collaborations and teams for their exceptional achievements in advancing the chemical sciences.

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Debbie Gale Mitchell @heydebigale.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

One frustration I have about my work as a prof is there very little reward for good pedagogy (beyond knowing it is the right thing to do and students getting a valuable experience). For example, I teach first-year chemistry and I incorporate an information literacy project in the Spring quarter.

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Jim Thomas @homomoleculus.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

I don't usually post about my day job, but the University of Sheffield is planing a restructure and compulsory staff redundancies within Chemistry. 20% of staff are under threat. You can sign an open letter opposing this decision here #SaveSheffieldChemistry savesheffieldchemistry.netlify.app

savesheffieldchemistry.netlify.app

An Open Letter

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Frank Hoffmann @crystalmooc.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Beyond the Google map and Google spreadsheet the #MOF Universe now has an interactive 3D companion. MOF Universe 3.0 renders all 444 research locations on a rotating globe with colour-coded pins, and a built-in search. → Launch MOF Universe 3.0 here: crystalsymmetry.github.io/mof-universe/

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Chemical Science @chemicalscience.rsc.org · 21/05/2026

🔥 New and HOT in Chemical Science! 🔥 “Design of a site selective heterochromic bimetallic lanthanide coiled coil with nanometre-scale control” by @peacockgroup.bsky.social et al. from @uobchemistry.bsky.social Read it for free here: pubs.rsc.org/en/content/a...

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