Dr Mark Lorch is a senior lecturer in biological chemistry at the University of Hull. He trained as a protein chemist, studying protein folding and function. His research now focuses on the chemistry of a broad range of biological systems including lipids, proteins and even plant spores.
Mark is also a dedicated science communicator, he blogs at www.chemistry-blog.com and occasionally for the Guardian. He gives regular talks to schools, the public and conferences (sometimes all at once, at science festivals or TEDx) and he occasionally pops up on the radio and TV explaining science and technology to a public audience.
Testing life-hacks with 'citizen science': does stainless steel really get rid of garlic smells?
Nov 22, 2016 23:17 pm UTC| Science
How often does someone suggest to you some new hint, tip or hack that will supposedly make your life a whole lot easier? And which ones can you trust? We want to find out by subjecting life-hacks to rigorous scientific...
Code-a-cola: how to hide secret messages using fizzy drinks
May 04, 2016 04:34 am UTC| Science
Next time you see someone spilling a drink in a bar, you could actually be witnessing a spy secretly decoding an encrypted message. This might sound like something from a Bond movie. But a team from Israel has used some...
Four nifty chemistry life hacks
Mar 30, 2016 12:37 pm UTC| Life
We all love a life hack that makes our day a little cheaper and easier. And the neat tricks that iron out the niggles of life can come from some interesting places. Theres some cool chemistry loitering in your cupboards...
New plastic-munching bacteria could fuel a recycling revolution
Mar 10, 2016 23:08 pm UTC| Science
We manufacture over 300m tonnes of plastics each year for use in everything from packaging to clothing. Their resilience is great when you want a product to last. But once discarded, plastics linger in the environment,...
Putin’s Russia: first arrests under new anti-LGBT laws mark new era of repression
Canada needs a national strategy for homeless refugee claimants