Recently I gave the plenary lecture at the ACS Division of Colloid and Interface Science, at the University of Delaware on the occasion of the 100th COLL Symposium. My topic was Katharine Blodgett and the ten other women COLL presenters up to 1950. Whew!

This structure was imagined by myself several years ago. Since I'm not planning to make it, I might as well share it online.

Remembering Sir Fraser - early group photos shortly after his arrival at Northwestern University in 2008

Naturally, I thought of Sir Fraser Stoddart when I spotted this sculptural instantiation of a (possibly pseudo-) double rotaxane along the lakefront in Evanston, IL. The piece is "Salude" by John Adduci.

Trump was not "snubbed" for the Nobel Peace Prize. The deadline for nominations for the 2025 prize was January 31. The Norwegian Nobel Committee received a total of 338 candidates for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, of which 94 were organizations. [nobelprize.org]

This book for youngsters by the one and only Anissa Ramirez looks pretty cool.

Ainissa Ramirez, PhD@ainissaramirez.bsky.social · 11mo ago

Hey #BookSky! It's the one-month countdown to the release of #picturebook SPARK! 🎉 Now available for pre-order: bit.ly/SPARKbk SPARK educates the next generation about former Bell Labs scientist, Jim West. Give the gift of science! 🎤 #STEM #BlackInSTEM #HiddenFigures #Scientists #Inventors

An idea for Chicago: Would it be possible for everyone (who is able) to wear a face-concealing mask and gloves to conceal skin color and ethnic features so that ICE and other round-up-minded government agents could not apply their biased thinking to apprehend people they think should be detained.

This fall the Lost Women of Science podcast will feature four episodes on the life and work of Katharine Burr Blodgett plus a bonus episode on Agnes Pockels. Hoping the producers will include some of my audio on KBB that took a month to prepare.

"Youth interested in fitting into an expanding universe and looking to science, because of its natural appeal, is not encouraged by gloomy suggestions of a moratorium in science, or suspension in truth-gaining....We are not injured by knowledge, but by its ignorant misuse." (1933, "Irving Langmuir")

First page of Irving Langmuir's laboratory notebook from his time at Göttingen, where he obtained his PhD with Nernst. Dated 6 August 1904. Image was taken at the U.S. Library of Congress (yes it's still open).

Print originals or copies of Sir Fraser Stoddart's ~1300 publications are now located in the Northwestern University archives, along with MANY other files.

On what would have been Fraser Stoddart's 83rd birthday, many of us remember the incredible legacy he has given us.

@AmericanExperiencePBS presents a tale of hubris, technology, brilliance—and a billion photographs a year. MR. POLAROID premieres Monday,May 19 at 9/8c on @PBS, YouTube, and the PBS App. Check local listings. → to.pbs.org/3S26MWq #MrPolaroidPBS

Mr. Polaroid | American Experience | PBS

Before the iPhone, the Polaroid camera let people instantly chronicle their lives. Along with instant photo mania, its company culture became the model for Silicon Valley. Mr. Polaroid is the story of...

to.pbs.org

I think "height of an elephant" should read "hide of an elephant"

Zhichang Liu@zhichangliu.bsky.social · last yr.

Place your pre-order for this book for kids by science evangelist and all-around cool person Ainissa Ramirez.

Ainissa Ramirez, PhD@ainissaramirez.bsky.social · last yr.

Consider getting a copy of a book by an African American author about an African American inventor. You’ll find the underlying curiosity at play is pretty universal. www.possiblefuturesbooks.com/item/fDcyhWd...

Synthesis of a crystalline two-dimensional [c2]daisy chain honeycomb network www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Synthesis of a crystalline two-dimensional [c2]daisy chain honeycomb network - Nature Synthesis

A purely organic crystalline two-dimensional mechanically interlocked polymer comprising [c2]daisy chain units forms via preorganized crystallization and thiol–ene click chemistry. This polymer networ...

nature.com

Zhichang Liu@zhichangliu.bsky.social · last yr.

🔗Medieval Chainmail meets Modern Materials! Our 2D [c2]daisy chain polymer (think: molecular-scale armor!) self-assembles into chainmail-like networks, achieving shape-shifting superpowers under stimuli. ⚡️ Breakthrough for soft robotics & smart textiles! #MaterialsScience 👉https://rdcu.be/ehOa6

Fraser Stoddart was among the first scientists I interviewed as a writer at @cenmag.bsky.social, and I always enjoyed writing about work from his group. He was also one of the most media-savvy scientists I know. I will miss his correspondence and seeing him at meetings. cen.acs.org/people/obitu...

Colleagues, Students, Postdocs, Collaborators and Friends of Sir Fraser Stoddart: I am writing with the sad news that Fraser passed away suddenly on 31 Dec (Australia time) while on holiday with family. No details yet on any services. He is irreplaceable.