Human chaperone DNAJB6b has emerged as a key component involved in the endogeneous defense system against tau protein aggregation in the context of Alzheimer’s disease. Here, the authors study the impact of DNAJB6b on tau fibril formation, showing that it delays tau aggregation by co-assembling with small tau aggregates and by binding to mature fibrils, reducing their ability to catalyze further fibril growth.

The immobilization of rhodium species on silica-based materials is an effective strategy for the development of heterogeneous catalysts for formaldehyde hydroformylation, but its reliance on triphenylphosphine makes product separation and catalyst recycling difficult. Here, the authors report a strategy to produce a functionalized, SiO2-supported, immobilized rhodium catalyst in which the introduction of bis[2-(diphenylphosphino)ethy]amine as an electronic donor through grafting technology removes the need for implementing triphenylphosphine to enhance catalytic performance.

Echinocandin B’s clinical potential is limited by its instability and poor solubility, despite its antifungal efficacy. Here, the authors employed combinatorial biosynthesis to construct a structurally diverse echinocandin library, yielding 15 novel derivatives to elucidate the effects of key structural modifications and identifying compound 9 as a promising candidate that exhibits remarkably improved stability and water solubility.

High-throughput chemistry faces challenges in scaling solid sampling at sub-milligram and milligram levels due to manual and slow methods. Here, the authors introduce STORMS, an automated stochastic robotic microsampling system that enhances speed, precision, and reproducibility, offering a scalable solution for solid analysis with minimal operator intervention.

Obtaining precise values of ¹O₂ lifetimes in complex environments has remained a challenge due to a low emission quantum yield and competitive decay and diffusion kinetics. Here, the authors report a ¹O₂ phosphorescence lifetime imaging microscope (¹O₂-PLIM) that facilitates the acquisition of lifetime and intensity profiles of ¹O₂ phosphorescence emission with improved resolution, demonstrating its application to the study of micrometer-sized polymer beads bound to photosensitizers and HaCaT keratynocytes previously incubated with a photosensitizer.

Although polyethylene glycol (PEG) is commonly utilized to stabilize iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles and enhance enzyme performance, its degradation into valuable chemicals remains underexplored. Here, the authors present a proof-of-concept platform for the degradation and valorization of PEG that combines a Fe₃O₄ / H₂O₂ system for generating hydroxyl radicals that initiate depolymerization with a catalytic system based on recombinant carboxylesterase/lipase, demonstrating its application to bioethanol production.

Communications Chemistry is delighted to present a Collection of research articles highlighting recent developments in the field of ultrafast chemistry. Here, Editorial Board Member Professor Haiwang Yong introduces the topic and outlines the themes covered by the Collection.

Chemistry programmes worldwide are experiencing declining student enrolment, reflecting shifting career perceptions and competition from emerging fields. This Comment outlines how the discipline is evolving into an integrative field that combines molecular science with data science, automation, and systems thinking, thereby necessitating an evolution of both research practices and educational structures.

Professor Nicola Gaston is the Director of the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, a New Zealand Centre of Research Excellence, and a Professor in Physics at the University of Auckland, where her research group conducts quantum-mechanical simulations of the electronic and thermodynamic behaviour of nanoscale materials.

Mechanoradicals are known to be sources of damage during polymer processing, and it remains challenging to stabilize, repair or utilize them. Recently, mechanoradicals formed during chain scission were intercepted directly by bis(butyl trithiocarbonate) in the solid state, redirecting the degradation pathways to repolymerization (repair) and complete depolymerization (recovery).

We are pleased to present our Editors’ Highlights Collection, featuring some of our favourite content published in Communications Chemistry in 2025. Here, we highlight why each paper was selected by our Editors and Editorial Board Members.

Mental health should be a priority for all and especially for underrepresented groups, including the women in chemistry. Here, the authors discuss and propose supportive mechanisms within academia for the mental health of undergraduate women in chemistry.