Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Prof. Zoë Waller @drzoewaller.bsky.social · 22h

DNA dress on today!

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Reposted by Prof. Zoë Waller

ianVisits @ianvisits.co.uk · 5d

In memoriam...

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Reposted by Prof. Zoë Waller

C&EN (Chemical & Engineering News) @cenmag.bsky.social · 6d

Primatologist Jane Goodall's recent passing left an incredible legacy that transformed our understanding of chimpanzee behavior and intelligence. New insights show that great apes use medicinal plants to treat wounds like humans. cen.acs.org/pharmaceutic... #chemsky 🧪

Chimpanzees use the same plants we do to treat similar illnesses

A new review of recent studies shows the great apes rely on medicinal plants to heal infections, but the plants’ chemistry remains mostly a mystery

cen.acs.org

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Reposted by Prof. Zoë Waller

C&EN (Chemical & Engineering News) @cenmag.bsky.social · 5d

A study found that at cellular concentrations of magnesium, the Cas9 enzyme often nicks only one strand—and this small cut is enough to defend against phages. cen.acs.org/biological-c... #chemsky 🧪

Low magnesium dulls Cas9 molecular scissors

But even when the CRISPR-Cas system is less efficient, it’s still enough to protect against phages

cen.acs.org

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Reposted by Prof. Zoë Waller

UCL News @uclnews.bsky.social · 6d

From finding a "universal language" in science, to comedy, conferences and following her passion, Prof Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu @ucllifesciences.bsky.social tells BBC World Service about her fascinating path to becoming a pioneer of pharmaceutical nanoscience and champion for race equality

Outlook - One suitcase, three kids: a broke scientist pursues a dream - BBC Sounds

Once a homeless single mum, Dame Ijeoma Uchegbu is now a nanomedicine pioneer

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Prof. Zoë Waller

Royal Society of Chemistry @rsc.org · 5d

Gain insights into regulatory affairs by learning from professionals who work in this field. Hear about their career journeys, their roles, & the skills needed to work in this sector – plus you’ll have the chance to ask questions. Attendance is free for RSC members: https://rsc.li/3IAEnWv #ChemSky

Promotional banner for Royal Society of Chemistry's ChemCareers webinar about careers in regulatory affairs, scheduled for Wednesday 15 October, from 12:30 to 1:30 PM UK time. Text highlights free entry for RSC members and a £30 fee for non-members, with an invitation to join the webinar.

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Reposted by Prof. Zoë Waller

Chris Serpell @cjserpell.bsky.social · 5d

Thanks to @jesspanch.bsky.social at Trends in Chemistry for handling this review article on DNA-peptide self-assembly which is just out. This outlook is going to frame some more papers you'll see coming out my lab over the next year or so.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Self-assembly of (poly)peptide-oligonucleotide conjugates: from orthogonality to emergence

Peptides and DNA both display characteristic self-assembly motifs which underpin the spectacularly varied and functional nanostructures of biology. Ea…

www.sciencedirect.com

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Prof. Zoë Waller @drzoewaller.bsky.social · 5d

Meeting Tutees from Drug Discovery and Development today!

Reposted by Prof. Zoë Waller

Michael Booth @drmikebooth.bsky.social · 7d

It's #ChemNobel season again!

Surely this year should go to the most important chemical breakthrough of our lifetimes: DNA synthesis/Marvin Caruthers 🧬

Phosphoramidite DNA synthesis is the bedrock of modern biology and enabled the development of therapies for untreatable diseases
#chemsky 🧪

Michael Booth @drmikebooth.bsky.social · Sep 18

It's Chem Nobel Prize season, so your reminder that DNA synthesis/Marvin Caruthers needs to win! chemsky 🧪

Without DNA synthesis there is NO *PCR*, *sequencing*, *cloning*, *CRISPR*, *siRNA*, *synthetic biology*, *mRNA vaccines*, *nucleic acid therapeutics*, *Nanotech*

What more am I missing?

Picard saying awesome job! give that man a medal

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Prof. Zoë Waller @drzoewaller.bsky.social · 7d

Twenty years today I started my PhD - tempus fugit

a clock that has the hands on the numbers 10 and 12

ALT: a clock that has the hands on the numbers 10 and 12

media.tenor.com

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Prof. Zoë Waller @drzoewaller.bsky.social · 8d

Congratulations to Dilek to getting a position as a Lecturer! It's not goodbye - just a pivot from Postdoc to collaborator ❤️

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Reposted by Prof. Zoë Waller

Philip Ball @philipcball.bsky.social · 8d

The fabulous Naked Scientists have just produced a podcast episode about colour in art, a topic about which I was of course delighted to speak to them.
www.thenakedscientists.com/podcasts/nak...

Painting: where art meets science

The chemistry behind the craft...

www.thenakedscientists.com

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Prof. Zoë Waller @drzoewaller.bsky.social · 12d

Ha ha that's a good one

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Prof. Zoë Waller @drzoewaller.bsky.social · 12d

Also a good choice!

Prof. Zoë Waller @drzoewaller.bsky.social · 12d

I didn't realise until recently how many people use this instead of typing!

Reposted by Prof. Zoë Waller

Laura Howes @laurahowes.bsky.social · 14d

It gets earlier every year... Next Wednesday, join me and an expert panel to discuss who might win the 2025 #ChemNobel. Free to attend.

Date: Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Time: 2–3 PM ET

Register here: lnkd.in/eD8cdWRS

A web page asking who will win the #chemnobel?

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Reposted by Prof. Zoë Waller

Royal Society of Chemistry @rsc.org · 14d

Early career researchers or PhD students, could £500 develop your career?

Our Researcher Development and Travel Grant can help you organise a scientific meeting and more.

Apply by 20 October: https://rsc.li/4gB2D7s

#ChemSky

Apply for up to £500 with our Researcher Development and Travel Grant

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Prof. Zoë Waller @drzoewaller.bsky.social · 12d

Reading comments on a post and someone spelled Acetone *Assitone* and now I only want to spell it this way #chemsky

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Prof. Zoë Waller @drzoewaller.bsky.social · 12d

Matching in a different way today #Docs #leopardprint

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Prof. Zoë Waller @drzoewaller.bsky.social · 12d

More matching the platform yesterday #Docs #snag

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Prof. Zoë Waller @drzoewaller.bsky.social · 12d

Admitting to being "grabby grab"...

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Prof. Zoë Waller @drzoewaller.bsky.social · 13d

Congratulations to all the recent promotions in the school of Pharmacy

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Prof. Zoë Waller @drzoewaller.bsky.social · 13d

Happy World Pharmacist Day folks

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Prof. Zoë Waller @drzoewaller.bsky.social · 14d

Excellent example of the great nucleic acids research at UCL.

75% slowing of clinical progression of Huntington's disease using gene-silencing technology.

Great science with massive impact on patients from Prof Sarah Tabrizi and team 👏

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Huntington's disease successfully treated for first time

One of the most devastating diseases finally has a treatment that can slow its progression and transform lives, tearful doctors tell BBC.

www.bbc.co.uk

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