» February Latest News

February 28, 2006

Huntsman Is Selling Its Butadiene Unit

Company focus is leaning more toward specialty chemicals.

Monsanto Settles Dispute With University Of California

Firm agrees to pay school $100 million to license milk hormone.

February 27, 2006

Self-assembling Nano Corrals

Study reveals spontaneous reactions that alter surface electronic properties.

P&G To Drop Pharma R&D

Strategy shift to in-licensing will cost scores of science-related jobs.

Analyzing Air Nanoparticulates

Mass spec technique characterizes airborne particles smaller than 10 nm.

Mustard Agent Burning Opposed

Groups argue Army's plan would release unsafe levels of mercury.

February 24, 2006

Security Contretemps

Prominent Indian chemist is first denied and then issued a visa.

EPA Testing Rule Is Challenged

Groups sue EPA for approving regulation allowing limited use of human data from pesticide studies.

Huntsman Readies Corporate Split

Chemicals maker will buy Ciba textile chemicals in prelude to breakup.

Science Indicators

NSB's biennial report shows science and engineering is increasingly global.

February 23, 2006

Ligation Creates Permanent Thiol Links

Selenosulfide reaction could be used to couple small molecules or oligosaccharides to proteins.

JSR And IBM Claim Photolithography Advance

Firms say they can extend current chip-making technique.

Novartis Joins Alnylam In Flu Fight

Firms will work together to develop RNAi-based flu treatments.

Yucca Science Data Are Deemed Valid

DOE report confirms the technical soundness of computer-modeling work by hydrologists.

February 22, 2006

Controversial President Will Quit Harvard

Facing a second no-confidence vote, Lawrence Summers offers his resignation..

Tracking Prions

Method to detect infectious proteins in soils could help monitor spread of the diseases they cause.

Jobs Restored At Government Lab

DOE transfers $5 million to renewable energy research facility before President visits laboratory.

February 21, 2006

Dow Will Appeal Rocky Flats Verdict

Contractors were found liable for contamination at former nuclear weapons complex in Colorado.

February 20, 2006

Boost For Battery Performance

Improved ordering in electrode material enhances charge-discharge kinetics.

High-Tech Push For Custom Firms

Custom chemical makers at Informex look to biotechnology to expand their offerings.

Ionic Liquids

Contrary to assumption, ionic liquids can be distilled without decomposition.

February 17, 2006

Solutia Has A Plan

Most but not all parties agree on a way to get the company back on track.

February 16, 2006

Pliva Sells Research Unit

Croatian firm puts emphasis on generics.

Artificial Hormone Detector

Test detects endocrine disrupters in plastics.

U.S. Plans Nuclear Fuel Recycling

Nuclear initiative aims to reduce proliferation risk, expand power production.

February 15, 2006

Cyclopentadienyl Superligand Debuts

Ligand core with pendant metal complexes opens door to new chemical explorations.

Flatworm Attack

Newly found flatworm species wields deadly chemical weapon against prey.

Dow Sells Superabsorbents

Deal with Degussa includes a Dow plant and an acrylic acid supply agreement.

February 14, 2006

Carbon Nanotubes Pass Safety Test

Functionalized carbon nanotubes are rapidly cleared from blood, excreted in urine.

EU Plans To Reimpose Sanctions

Action would follow latest WTO ruling against U.S. corporate tax law.

Energy Leasing Plan Disappoints Industry

Manufacturers say the proposal would keep most offshore natural gas deposits off-limits.

A Stitch In Time

Maintenance of key plants will knock $120 million off operating profits for BASF this year.

February 13, 2006

Structure Of A Key Part Of Telomerase

Work could aid search for selective anticancer agents that target telomerase.

Asbestos Fund

Senate debates asbestos bill, but measure faces strong opposition.

Vancomycin Redesigned

Antibiotic of last resort is modified to combat bacterial resistance.

February 10, 2006

National Academy of Engineering Elects New Members

U.S. membership rises to 2,216 people.

Breakup Planned For Akzo Nobel

Dutch firm to split off pharma unit, leaving chemicals and coatings.

Gains And Losses Mark 2007 Budget

Increases in some programs are offset by losses at NIH and other agencies.

Huntsman Rejects Takeover Offers

Company says the proposals do not reflect its true value.

February 9, 2006

Pfizer Ponders Consumer Products

Drug company considers selling business to unlock its value.

Zeolite-Like Frameworks Have Large Cavities

Anionic, porous materials may be useful for trapping large molecules and cations.

NIH Launches Pair Of Initiatives

New programs target genetic and environmental roots of common diseases.

Performance Improves For Japanese Firms

Sumitomo, Mitsubishi, and Shin-Etsu post higher sales, profits.

February 8, 2006

Niche Technique No More

Supercritical fluid chromatography separates polypeptides 40 amino acids long.

February 7, 2006

Science Panel Challenges EPA

Advisory committee is concerned that the agency ignored its advice on revising air quality standard.

Negotiators Finish Pact On Chemical Management

Deal provides voluntary guidelines listing policy options.

February 6, 2006

A Bigger Responsible Care

ICCA expands program to include safe use of chemicals by customers.

Talks On Managing Chemicals May Fail

Consensus eludes negotiators drafting voluntary guidelines.

A Bright Way To Track Reactions

Fluorescence method detects molecular events with high spatial resolution.

Glycerin Surplus

Plants are closing, and new uses for the chemical are being found.

Pure Hydrogen

Novel copolymer membranes may improve hydrogen purification efficiency.

Huntsman Confirms Buyout Talks

Firm says it has held discussions with potential suitors; other deals are rumored.

February 3, 2006

Write, Read, Erase, Again And Again

Lithography method forms nanosized metal structures reversibly and repeatedly.

Fraud Investigation

University of Tokyo biochemist is under suspicion concerning his RNA research.

February 2, 2006

Switching Drug For Livestock May Save Endangered Vultures

Replacement anti-inflammatory drug and captive-breeding program are part of international recovery effort.

Licorice Could Aid Battle Against Dental Cavities

Compounds extracted from herb show potent activity against bacterium that causes tooth decay.

Novartis Loses India Patent Case

Drug maker Cipla will file to market generic form of Gleevec.

NASA Criticized For Censoring Scientist

Boehlert says government scientists must be free to describe their conclusions.

BASF Moves Ahead On Engelhard

German giant determined to win two seats on Engelhard board.

February 1, 2006

Bush Targets Oil

President makes energy independence and science research prominent themes.

Cancer Drug Research Group Dismantled

Move is latest in a conflict between chemistry professor and Arizona State University.

Extreme Risk

U.K. study lays out grave dangers of exceeding thresholds of global warming.