August 2005
Vol 2, no.8
News and analysis
22 June 2005: Prime Minister addresses RSC meeting
The central position of science and technology at this year's G8 summit was driven home when Prime Minister Tony Blair made an unprecedented appearance at an RSC meeting.
1 July 2005: Drop in ocean pH confirmed
The average pH of the oceans will fall by up to 0.5 units by 2100 if global emissions of carbon dioxide continue to rise at present rates.
4 July 2005: Controlling conductivity in doped lithium nitrides
It is now possible to control substitution of transition metals in lithium nitride and the level of lithium ion vacancies within the doped structure, report UK chemists.
28 June 2005: UK updates regulations on hazardous substances
Amended UK regulations covering ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate and petroleum products will come into effect at the end of June, the Health and Safety Executive has announced.
29 June 2005: Novel ion-exchange technique for zeolites
UK chemists have demonstrated a novel electrochemical method for exchanging ions in zeolites.
22 June 2005: World's fastest ice cream freezes in seconds
It's official; the world's fastest ice cream maker is polymer physicist Peter Barham from the University of Bristol, UK.
29 June 2005: Wet work most important risk factor for skin disease
The harmful effects of 'wet work' on large parts of the population have been neglected for far too long
Learn chemistry, fight malaria
Chemists at British universities are getting children interested in chemistry by asking them to help develop a treatment for malaria.
24 June 2005: Cancer research benefits from Scottish Executive awards
Cancer research at three institutions is to benefit from the latest Proof of Concept awards announced by Scottish Enterprise.
30 June 2005: The colour of strawberry allergy
The mystery of why some people are allergic to strawberries is about to be revealed.
30 June 2005: SMEs need more support to develop sustainable products
Small- to medium-sized businesses in the UK are not getting the support needed to address key challenges in green product design, say leading strategists.
28 June 2005: Block co-polymers dictate pattern of 2D cell growth
The unusual properties of a block co-polymer make living cells grow in a precisely defined two-dimensional pattern.
Chemical Science
6 July 2005: Mass spec ensures crime doesn't pay
Heroin-contaminated banknotes can be identified quickly and cleanly using tandem mass spectrometry, report chemists at the University of Bristol, UK.
17 June 2005: Depleted mantle has been around since the start
Current models for the formation of the Earth's mantle are probably incorrect, report US geochemists.
5 July 2005: Peptides redesigned for drug development
The exchange of just a few amino acids, chosen using a novel algorithm, can create unusually stable proteins suitable for pharmaceutical applications, report UK researchers.
24 June 2005: Evacuation not always the best option in chemical incidents
Evacuating people from their homes might not be the best course of action in the wake of a chemical incident, experts announced today.
Switching off neurodegenerative disease
Proof that peptide secondary structures can be switched by metal ions has been provided by a model based on a well known protein motif
Molecular Borromean rings unlocked
Chemists in the US have provided verification of the structure of their acclaimed nanoscale Borromean rings, and suggest that they can now find practical applications for the rings...
27 June 2005: Protein synthesis under the spotlight
US chemists have developed a technique for investigating protein synthesis using light-responsive 'caged compounds'.
4 July 2005: Chemists send organic particles to print
US chemists have developed a lithography process for generating organic particles of any size and shape, and produced some of the smallest ever drug delivery particles.
Arsenic levels in fish need re-evaluating
Freshwater mussels from the Hungarian Danube river have provided clues that arsenic pollution is more widespread than previously thought.
Controllable amino acid polymerisation
A microfluidic system for polymerising amino acids, which could prompt a big step forward in biopolymer synthesis, has been developed by scientists in Japan
1 July 2005: Minding the nanogaps aboard a molecular circuit
Fully-functioning molecular circuits could be a step closer thanks to a new nanofabrication technique.
5 July 2005: Catalyst gets the best of both worlds
A catalyst that is soluble at high temperatures and solid at room temperature has been developed, incorporating both efficiency and recyclability.
23 June 2005: Waltzing lipids slow under heavy polymers
Membrane-bound lipids slow down - like heavily-laden porters - when large molecules land on top of them, report US chemists.
6 July 2005: Bioremediation mechanism discovered
Researchers further the understanding of bacterial clean-up of nuclear waste
Cooking up a supercool atmosphere
With the barbecue season in full swing, chemists in the US are cooling things down with a claim that grilled meat might give off supercooled droplets, speeding up reactions with at...
Amide foldamer bites back
A polyamide that folds back on itself, biting its tail, to make a compact three dimensional structure has been stumbled across by researchers in the UK
11 July 2005: Water pollution the natural way
Environmentalists have confirmed high levels of toxic hexavalent chromium in the source of Santa Cruz County's drinking water, echoing the plot of a Hollywood blockbuster.
Removing heavy metals from water
UK scientists have discovered a new and simple way to remove toxic heavy metals from water
Keeping wrinkles under control
Wrinkles in platinum layers are affected by changes to the polymer substrate before deposition, according to researchers in Japan
Dye lights up chain reaction
An improved fluorescence quencher that can analyse the products of polymerase chain reactions (PCR) has been developed by researchers in the UK
Crystalline hosts sandwich water sheets
A fluorine-containing copper complex (a clathrate hydrate) that sandwiches water sheets between its layers during crystallisation has been made
Molecular bowl
A bowl-shaped supramolecular structure has been designed and made by scientists in China and Japan
Arranging molecules in baskets to make rings
Basket-shaped molecules holding pre-organised molecules in place have helped German scientists to make huge ring compounds
Sunshine slows immune response to allergens
Spending only short lengths of time in the sun suppresses the immune system in humans, according to European researchers
Bringing back drug sensitivity
A series of compounds that might restore tumour cells' sensitivity to anti-cancer drugs has been developed by chemists in the UK and US
Steps forward in nano-synthesis
Conventional chemistry techniques have been employed to make an important range of bismuth-based materials for nanotechnology applications
Theoretical breakthrough
A single source has been pinpointed as the culprit for errors given by an important theoretical method
Features
A Chinese education
China's universities have been through several periods of reform. With government investment, they are now producing internationally recognised research. Vikki Allen looks at key u...
Deciphering cell division
Microtubules play an important role in cell replication and information about the structure of these polymers might shed light on new cancer treatments. Andrew West investigates
Health concerns drive change
Eating too much trans fat is bad for your health and manufacturers are working to lower the levels in foods. Fiona Case explores some of the techniques that chemists, biologists an...
Helping the garden grow
Developing new chemical crop protection agents is an expensive and lengthy process. Globally, only six companies invest in exploratory research and each year only five to 10 new ag...
Regulars
Editorial: Research revolution
Collaboration is important for those wanting to keep up with Chinese science
The chemist's guide to.
Mosquito bites
Your views...
Which chemical discovery would we be better off without?
The last retort: Mad on chemistry
Wot no thermodynamics?
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