Alan Dronsfield
FeatureDrug Discovery: metformin and the control of diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a serious disease, and it's on the increase. The search for a treatment is a story that traverses the world and touches on the treatment of other diseases
FeatureDiscovering iodine
From a chance discovery by a French saltpetre manufacturer, iodine celebrates 200 years of use in industry and medical science in 2011
FeatureForensic science and the case of Dr Mario Jascalevich
Forensic science is depicted in several television programmes as a near-perfect means of solving major crimes. In real life, forensics may sometimes point to guilt, but in the end be insufficient to prove it. This is the account of one such case
FeatureRadium - a key element in early cancer treatment
An early example of how blue skies research by Pierre and Marie Curie led to the treatment of previously incurable cancers
FeatureA sinister side to a synthetic sex hormone
The story of the discovery, synthesis and prescription of a synthetic hormone, and the effects on those who took it and their descendants
FeatureThe medicinal history of phosphorus
In the early Middle Ages 'physicians' treated most illnesses ineffectually, with herbs and plant extracts
FeatureLook who discovered caesium...
Although Robert Bunsen and Gustav Kirchhoff are often credited with the discovery of caesium, this honour belongs to Carl Setterberg
FeatureMass spectrometry - the early days
1912, physicist Joseph John (J. J.) Thomson discovers mass spectrometry
FeatureIs propofol a killer?
Few people will not have been touched by the tragic death of musician and pop icon Michael Jackson last summer. The cause of his untimely death has been linked to the drug propofol. What is propofol and is it lethal?
FeatureThe battle for magenta
Three years after the discovery of mauveine in 1856 by William Henry Perkin, the second commercially synthetic dye, magenta, was in production
FeatureSolving an infectious problem
Joseph Lister's use of phenol as an antiseptic revolutionised surgical practice in the 19th century. But was he the first to use this antiseptic technique?
FeatureEpilepsy - beyond bromide
An historical journey into the treatment of epilepsy, starting with potassium bromide 150 years ago
FeatureLibrium and Valium - anxious times
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Leo Sternbach, discoverer of the anti-anxiety drugs Librium and Valium
FeatureFighting cancer - the early years
Research and development of nitrogen mustards 60 years ago sets the scene for new era in the treatment of cancer
FeatureGeorge III, indigo and the blue ring test
Can a urine test offer insight into George III's insanity?
FeatureEarly pain-free days
Towards the latter part of 19th century cocaine provided the lead for chemists to develop effective local anaesthetics for dental surgery
FeatureCocaine - a short trip in time
In the latter half of the 19th century chemists started to investigate the properties of cocaine. Elucidation of its molecular structure followed some 30 years later
NewsBiographies of nobel chemists
Alan Dronsfield reviews this contribution to the history of chemistry