October 2006
Vol 3, No 10
News and analysis
World firework record
A British chemist is waiting to hear if he has entered the record books with a bang, after his attempt on 16 August to beat the world record for the most fireworks launched simulta...
Small businesses face heavy burden
Europe's small to medium-sized businesses will be hit hard by costs planned for the European Chemicals Agency, industry representatives have warned.
Copper mines and chemistry
Extracting pure copper metal from low-grade metal ores will benefit from the latest coordination chemistry research, thanks to a molecule that can hold negative and positive ions i...
SusChem partnership presents action plan
Ambitious proposals for the future of European chemistry research have been unveiled by SusChem, the European technology platform for sustainable chemistry.
Robots run riot in the lab
Natural product synthesis is seeing unprecedented levels of automation, drastically speeding up the time it takes to prepare complicated organic molecules.
Contamination from food packaging 'ignored'
A leading analytical chemist has claimed that widespread contamination of food by packaging materials is being ignored by governments, scientists, and the food industry.
RSC to launch open access
Authors of RSC journal papers can now choose to have their research freely available the moment it is published - for a fee.
Bacterial conversation stopper
Molecules that interrupt the chemical conversations of bacterial communities are showing early promise in beating the bugs.
Solar cells reach into the infrared
A dye molecule that efficiently harvests the energy of near infrared light could boost the output from the next generation of solar cells.
News in brief
Short items
New on the market
New products - October 2006
Business roundup
Industry news
Funding briefs
Short items
In the papers...
Short items
Chemical science
Laser light cast on quantum evolution
23 August 2006
Scientists reveal how genetic algorithms help lasers selectively cleave chemical bonds
Biotronics branches out
24 August 2006
Nanowire devices can communicate with individual nerve cells and their extensions.
System for generating smallest ever biopolymer microcapsules
01 September 2006
Microfluidic approach creates smallest known biopolymer capsules.
Steroid cheats face testing times
14 August 2006
Researchers in Germany and Canada have developed a test that could help to crack down on drug cheats in sport.
Protozoan transformers
23 August 2006
Infrared light transforms protozoa into a streamlined, fast-swimming shape in low-nutrient environments.
Bacteria put new spin on micromotors
29 August 2006
The first micromechanical device to integrate inorganic materials with living bacteria.
Antibodies in the greenhouse
04 September 2006
Producing immunoglobulins in plants could yield gram quantities of these precious proteins.
Probing oxygen levels in the body
12 September 2006
An oxygen-sensing probe for the emerging medical technology in vivo EPR has been made by scientists in the US and India.
Switch to a brighter future!
07 September 2006
A fluorescent switch that can be made to turn on and off merely by changing the voltage across it has been prepared by a collaboration between French and South Korean scientists.
Life in a CO2 lake
29 August 2006
Liquid CO2 lake discovered in deep-sea sediments, microbes got there first.
Lasers shed light on magnetic resonance
30 August 2006
New technique probes distribution of nuclear spin
Molecular logic gates open up
30 August 2006
Inorganic-organic hybrid nanoparticles make smart switches.
Countering the effects of drug overdose
15 August 2006
Porous nanoparticles that soak up drug molecules like a sponge could help to reduce fatalities from overdoses.
Waterproof paper on the horizon
25 August 2006
Swedish scientists have unveiled a new technique for making waterproof, self-cleaning paper.
Bio-barcodes indicate cancer protein
08 September 2006
A microchip that can detect tiny amounts of a cancer antigen could provide an early-warning system for the disease.
Freeing fish farms from infection
04 September 2006
Scientists report on a cheap, effective and safe sanitation method for disinfecting water.
Flicking the switch on the nanoscale
04 September 2006
Nano-sized electrical switches can be turned on and off using light.
Resistance is futile
18 August 2006
Renewed hope for a malaria drug rendered useless across most of Africa
Switchable surfactants give on-demand emulsions
17 August 2006
Carbon dioxide and air control molecule's surface action
Quick reaction times for chemical weapon sensor
08 September 2006
A sensor that can rapidly detect the chemical nerve agent Sarin has been developed by US scientists.
Sunscreen's weakness brought to light
14 September 2006
When you apply sunscreen you might not be as well protected from the sun as you think, say researchers in Italy.
Features
Higher than the sun
Sir Chris Llewellyn Smith, head of the UK fusion programme, would like to see viable fusion power a reality in his lifetime. To this end, he is strongly backing Iter, an internatio...
East meets west
Oxygen Healthcare, a family-run contract drug discovery company, promises cost reduction through its Indian research base. Sarah Houlton reports
Going underground
Many countries consider that the best way to dispose of nuclear waste in the long term is to bury it deep underground. Simon Morgan looks at how this could be done
Nicotine rehab
Nicotine has amazing powers as an anti-inflammatory. Now researchers are hunting for a nicotine surrogate that bypasses its nasty side effects, as Lisa Melton finds out
A force for change
Atomic force microscopy has long revealed surface wonders to scientists from many disciplines. Now new probes are bringing improved resolution. Yfke Hager investigates
Regulars
Editorial: In praise of collaboration
Conferences are the lifeblood of any collaborative science, and the past month has seen two excellent meetings that highlighted the best in chemistry from both sides of the Atlanti...
Comment: Discrimination in the workplace
New UK age discrimination legislation came into force on 1 October. Employers should see it as a perfect opportunity to balance their workforce, says Craig Fleming
Your views...
Physics has the origins of the universe; biology has the origins of life. But what are the 'big' scientific challenges for chemistry?
Crossword and Su Doku
Prize crossword and Su Doku, October 2006
The last retort: Game for a laugh
Despite its venerable history, the board game Monopoly is as popular as ever and continues to inspire new variations on the classic theme.
Flashback
October - 40 years ago; 20 years ago
Chemistry World Letters, October 2006
Chemistry World Reviews, October 2006
Postgraduate careers special
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