» January Latest News

January 27, 2003

IRREPRODUCIBLE RESULTS

Molecular devices did not and could not function as ex-Bell Labs scientist claimed.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Thirteen firms create greenhouse gas trading program; President backs voluntary reduction commitments.

CHEMISTRY IN THE U.K.

Survey finds paucity of women in upper ranks of academic chemists.

JOURNAL RENEWALS ON HOLD

Middleman between libraries and publishers hasn't remitted subscription orders or money.

SCORPION'S FIRST DEFENSE

Arachnid uses potassium ions to deter predators.

PRICE-FIXING SUIT REVIVED

Court rules foreign buyers of U.S.-made drugs can sue in U.S. to recover damages.

U.S. LOSES WTO APPEAL

Trade body says law allowing firms to get portion of antidumping duties must go.

SPEEDY LOOK AT BIOSTRUCTURES

Computational technique increases speed and precision of multidimensional NMR.

DEGUSSA IN CHINA

Ambitious goal is to invest more than $100 million, double sales.

January 20, 2003

SWAPPING BUSINESSES

Both BASF and Honeywell reap benefits from exchange of nylon units.

U.S. R&D SPENDING

Amount expended grew by just 2.4% in real terms between 2001 and 2002.

CHANGING PROPERTIES

Monolayer switches from hydrophobic to hydrophilic on command.

ALTERING NATURE'S ORDER

Bacteria both produce a nonnatural amino acid and incorporate it into proteins.

UNEMPLOYMENT SOARS

Number of jobless college grads, professionals has doubled over past two years.

SCIENCE & NATIONAL SECURITY

Pressure builds for self-censorship of sensitive topics by research publishers.

SECURITY SCIENCE CZAR

President Bush names engineer and former General Dynamics executive Charles McQueary to new post.

ROLE OF O₂ VACANCIES

Study reveals detailed motions in surface diffusion.

GETTING DOW BACK ON TRACK

CEO William Stavropoulos lays out cost-cutting actions the company will take.

January 13, 2003

CURBING EMISSIONS

Two senators push for caps on and trading rights for emissions of greenhouse gases.

LOS ALAMOS IN FLUX

Two top officials resign amid charges of fraud and mismanagement.

BRISTOL-MYERS SETTLES SUITS

Firm agrees to pay plaintiffs $670 million in two generics antitrust drug cases.

MADE FROM SCRATCH

Total synthesis of the natural product (+)-13-deoxytedanolide is achieved at Penn.

IMPROVING SOY PROTEIN

DuPont and Bunge form $800 million venture to tap into health food market.

BIOTECH FOOD REVIEW FAULTED

FDA does not have the authority necessary to ensure safety, advocacy group says.

DNA FROM TNA TEMPLATE

Scientists take first successful step in search for polymerase that replicates threonucleic acid.

DEADLY TOXIN DETECTED

British authorities find ricin, equipment to make it in London apartment.

January 6, 2003

SIMPLE DNA DETECTION

Self-amplifying signal occurs only in presence of specific sequence.

ENERGY PRICES SPIKE

U.S. chemical producers worry about feedstock costs.

POLYMERIZATION

Three-catalyst system turns ethylene into a variety of branched polyethylenes.

GENERICS PLAN OPPOSED

FDA rule designed to get generic drugs on the market faster pleases few.

THERAPEUTIC INVESTMENTS

Pfizer is the latest big drugmaker to put money into a small oligonucleotide development.

REVISING THE RULES

Chemical trade groups seek a number of changes in federal regulations.

BIOMIMETIC SHELLS

Emulsification process leads to intricate particles like those made by marine protozoa.

CHANGING COLOR

Polymer device glows red or green depending on direction of the current flow.

CREDIT LOOSENS

Chemical companies find it easier to obtain new financing.