Epibatidine in the news

Epibatidine, one of the alkaloids that we study, has been in the international news over the last few days because it is suspected to have been used to poison Alexei Navalny. Becca was contacted by the BBC and by a journalist at Chemistry World about the topic.

BBC Newshour World Service (2/14/2026): https://www.bbc.com/audio/play/w172zsskzv3l95g (the first story)

Chemistry World (2/15/2026): https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/explainer-what-is-epibatidine/4022976.article

Epibatidine was discovered in a population of Epipedobates anthonyi in southern Ecuador.

Epipedobates anthonyi, the phantasmal poison frog. CC BY-NC © Rebecca Tarvin