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Andy Brunning

@andy.compoundchem.com

2.7K followers 540 following 800 posts

🧪 Chemistry & Geology Subject Advisor ⚗️ #SciComm & infographics wizard at @compoundchem.com 👨‍👦‍👦 Dad to two boys, owner of two cats 💬 Part of the #ChatChemistry team 🎨 Occasional artist

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Andy Brunning @andy.compoundchem.com · Nov 25

As I’ve hit 2K followers here, here’s a reintro 🧵

I’m Andy, a former chemistry teacher turned exam board chemistry advisor, but probably best known for my work communicating chemistry through infographics at @compoundchem.com

Four photos of Andy:
1. Selfie in a forest
2. Presenting a Cambridge Science Festival
3. Gesturing at a giant periodic table of element infographics.
4. Wearing a dark blue lab coat and pouring a liquid from a beaker into a conical flask

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Andy Brunning @andy.compoundchem.com · 1d

Thanks, Alan!

Andy Brunning @andy.compoundchem.com · 1d

My self-imposed #scicomm challenge of putting together an infographic in a few hours on the Nobel Prize in Chemistry is concluded for another year!

Compound Interest | Chemistry infographics @compoundchem.com · 1d

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 🧪

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.

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Andy Brunning @andy.compoundchem.com · 8d

It’s been a few years since I topped up the sloe gin reserves so I’m making up for lost time with a quadruple batch

Photo of four jars of future sloe gin sitting on a kitchen counter

Reposted by Andy Brunning

Compound Interest | Chemistry infographics @compoundchem.com · 16d

What makes us sleepy, and what medicines can help when we can’t doze off? 😴

The latest edition of Periodic Graphics in C&EN examines drugs that combat insomnia and how they work: cen.acs.org/biological-c...

This graphic describes the hormone that helps us get sleepy and some medications that can treat insomnia. The graphic outlines different classes of drugs that can help people sleep, including antihistamines, benzodiazepines, melatonin analogs, and Z-drugs.

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Reposted by Andy Brunning

Nereide @drnereide.bsky.social · 25d

🧵
What is all this pink about?

It is an explosion of extremely rare pink auroras over the skies of Norway!

How come?🤔

Well, pink auroras are a sign of nitrogen.

➡️ www.spaceweather.com/archive.php?...

©Markus Varik/Greenlander

🔭 🧪 #science

The image shows a rare pink aurora over the skies of Norway.

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Andy Brunning @andy.compoundchem.com · 27d

I took the familiar walk down Bathwick Hill and along the canal to the train station for the first time in a number of years this morning. Bath really is a ridiculously beautiful place!

Photo of the canal in Bath looking towards the church in Widcombe with canal boats and Bath stone buildings visible

Andy Brunning @andy.compoundchem.com · 27d

It was great to be back in Bath yesterday for a fantastic day of talks at #BathChem25. Thanks to @bathchem.bsky.social for the invite and for putting together such an enjoyable and engaging day!

Photo of me presenting in a lecture theatre in front of a slide titled “making sense of molecules” showing two depictions of the molecule caffeine.

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Andy Brunning @andy.compoundchem.com · 28d

Back at Bath for #BathChem2025 today and look what I found in the chemistry building!

Photo of me standing in front of my IYPT2019 periodic table posters in the Bath Chemistry building

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Reposted by Andy Brunning

Tony D. James 👨‍🔬 (He, Him, His) @chemosensors.bsky.social · 28d

🎉 Today we welcome 170+ Bath Chemistry alumni + staff back to campus for #BathChem25! 🧪Talks, networking & evening fun with The Beakers and Quiz. We are Celebrating Bath Chem past, present & future 💛 🎶 Details can be found chem25.co.uk #BathChem25

Chem25@Bath | 25 Years of Discovery, Innovation & Community in 1 South

Chem25: Marking 25 Years of Innovation in the 1 South Chemistry Building, University of Bath

chem25.co.uk

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Andy Brunning @andy.compoundchem.com · 29d

I looked up the reviews out of curiosity and let me tell you, The Guardian was not impressed!

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Andy Brunning @andy.compoundchem.com · 29d

Haha, I confess “spotted” was doing some legwork there – I saw it was there on the map and saw the building, but had to relay on good old Google to see and read the placard 😁 that felt too long to initially explain!

Andy Brunning @andy.compoundchem.com · 29d

I travel through London much more rarely but I did have an interesting route that took me past this National Chemistry Landmark this morning #ChemSky

National chemistry landmark sign which reads:

National Chemical Landmark
Chemistry Department
University College London
During the period 1930-1970
Professor Sir Christopher Ingold
pioneered our understanding of the electronic basis of structure, mechanism and reactivity in organic chemistry, which is fundamental to modern-day chemistry.
28 November 2008

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Andy Brunning @andy.compoundchem.com · 29d

Picked up a new breakfast time insult while navigating around London’s tube strikes this morning

Photo of a cafe in London named “eggslut”

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Andy Brunning @andy.compoundchem.com · Sep 9

Here’s the resultant inkcap ink. Pro tip: don’t sniff it. I made this mistake and now the stench of mushroom death may never leave my nostrils 🤢

Photo of a glass jar with a dark brown liquid in it on a kitchen counter

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Andy Brunning @andy.compoundchem.com · Sep 6

We found some hare’s foot inkcaps while out and about today so we’re giving making mushroom ink a go.

Like other inkcaps, these should quickly self-digest to leave a black goo, a process called deliquescence. I wrote more about it last year here: www.compoundchem.com/2024/09/19/i...

#FungiFriends

Photo of a small number of mushrooms in a jam jar

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Andy Brunning @andy.compoundchem.com · Sep 4

Looking forward to this next week!

Petra Cameron @pjcgroupbath.bsky.social · Sep 4

Calling all former Bath Chemistry staff and students: last few days to register for our Celebration of @bathchem.bsky.social next week! Details at www.chem25.co.uk

150 people coming so far, but it's not too late to join us for a fantastic programme of alumni talks and evening entertainment.

Chem25@Bath | 25 Years of Discovery, Innovation & Community in 1 South

Chem25: Marking 25 Years of Innovation in the 1 South Chemistry Building, University of Bath

www.chem25.co.uk

Andy Brunning @andy.compoundchem.com · Sep 1

Good luck to all teachers heading back this week!

If you're teaching @ocrexams.bsky.social A Level, GCSE or Entry Level qualifications this year, make sure you join our free online Subject Briefing next week to get all the key information you need for the year ahead: bit.ly/41yUlXr

Promo image showing two teachers looking at a screen with the subtitle "Join us for our subject briefings"

Andy Brunning @andy.compoundchem.com · Aug 29

Fantastic double rainbow over Ely earlier today! 🌈

Photo of a double rainbow in a grey clouded sky. Several houses, illuminated by sunlight, are visible in the foreground.

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Andy Brunning @andy.compoundchem.com · Aug 29

Agreed on this. In the UK, at least, we define precision as the reproducibility of repeated measurements, so in that context what the diagrams here are showing is instrument resolution, not precision.

Andy Brunning @andy.compoundchem.com · Aug 21

Yesterday’s August 20th fireworks in Budapest 🎆

Photo of a gold, red and green firework exploding in the sky above Budapest’s castle at night

Andy Brunning @andy.compoundchem.com · Aug 8

It absolutely is, and definitely a balance I’m constantly struggling with as well! In case the above sounds overly critical, I did enjoy the book, so thank you for writing it 🙂

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Andy Brunning @andy.compoundchem.com · May 21

A 17 year wait for this counter to reset! #COYS

Screenshot of the “how long since Tottenham last won a trophy” website, showing it’s been a whopping 16 minutes and 56 seconds

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Reposted by Andy Brunning

Alom Shaha @alomshaha.bsky.social · May 16

A few years ago, I met the incredibly talented Dr Rebecca Struthers - the UK's only watchmaker with a PhD in horology. We immediately hit it off and became friends... and then wrote this book together. Out in August, available to preorder now! geni.us/AboutTimeDK

Cover of a book called "About Time": On the left, a drawing of a man in a purple shirt and blue trousers looking through a telescope. On the right, a drawing of a woman in a peach coloured shirt and grey trousers looking at a pocket watch, she is wearing a jewellers loupe over one eye. They are both standing on the face of a clock in the middle of which are the words "About Time". The "o" of about is the centre of the clock, where the hands are attached, telling the time 12:38

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Andy Brunning @andy.compoundchem.com · May 11

May's Flower Moon (well, 99% of it) rising over the rooftops earlier this evening

Photo of a practically full moon with an orange hue rising in a dark blue sky behind shadowy rooftops

Andy Brunning @andy.compoundchem.com · May 11

Just double-checked and it’s actually over 400,000 photos!