Science Media Centre

A suspected gas attack in Syria early yesterday morning killed at least 70 people and injured close to 500. It is unclear which chemical was used in the attack or whether it is the same chemical, Sarin, that was used in the last major gas attack in Syria in 2013. The Australian Science Media Centre […]

Associate Professor Allan Blackman, from the University of Otago Chemistry Department, writes about the history of chemical warfare in his regular Otago Daily Times column, ‘Chemistry Matters‘. An excerpt (read in full here): Long history of chemical use in warfare It’s an opportune time to revisit the subject of chemical weapons, something avid readers will […]

United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, has ordered the 20-strong inspection team investigating alleged use of chemical weapons in Damascus to leave early as anticipation of a US-led military strike on Syria grows. The UN team will withdraw on Saturday, a day a head of schedule, and may issue their findings in an interim report released by […]

Following allegations that the Syrian army used chemical weapons in Damascus, the government has allowed UN inspectors to investigate the suspected location. The concession to the UN comes after unconfirmed video showing victims of the suspected chemical attack emerged on the internet. Our colleagues at the Australian SMC collected the following expert commentary. Feel free […]