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January 31, 2008

DNA-Guided Crystallization

Selective biochemical interactions organize metal nanoparticles

New Motions For Molecular Machinery

Hydrogen-bonded crystalline assembly undergoes three distinct temperature-induced motions: translation, rotation, and tilting.

Dow Will Build Chlor-Alkali Plant

Company also extends vinyl chloride supply agreement with Shintech.

January 30, 2008

DOE Pulls Plug On FutureGen

Illinois lawmakers promise fight to save cutting-edge energy project.

January 29, 2008

Scientists Plumb Vegetables' Secrets

Researchers learn how bland old celery perks up broth flavor and how broccoli aids heart health.

Chemtura Will Sell Oleochemicals Business

Sale to PMC Group continues restructuring at specialty chemical firm.

January 28, 2008

Nanotech Stewardship

Voluntary EPA program criticized for not giving agency the data it needs to regulate nanoscale materials.

All Eyes On The Economy

A recession in the U.S. could hit chemical makers hard.

Peeking At Reactions

NMR method visualizes hydrogenation reactions inside microreactor.

Graphene Ribbons

Slim carbon strips show promise as semiconductors.

Dow Awards Methane Challenge Grants

Northwestern and Cardiff will split $6.4 million.

January 25, 2008

Bacterial Genome Made From Scratch

Study is milestone in assembling large DNA segments.

Policing Conflicts Of Interest

Report calls for NIH to do more monitoring of its grantees.

Cipla Tests Indian Patent Law

Major generics producer starts selling a Roche cancer drug.

Wolf Chemistry Prizes Announced

Award recognizes new field of single-molecule spectroscopy and imaging.

January 24, 2008

Collusion Alleged Among Pyrethroid Makers

World Bank inquiry finds price fixing by chemical companies.

French Companies Advance Fermentation Chemistry

Biotech program in France is boosted by succinic acid venture and propanediol patent.

Chemistry Wins Big

National Academy of Sciences bestows prestigious awards to work in the chemical sciences.

January 23, 2008

Perchlorate In Food Raises Alarm

Exposure study finds perchlorate in many foods, prompting calls for EPA to set drinking water limit.

Bispyrrole Antibiotics From The Deep

Structurally unique compounds isolated from bacteria could aid fight against drug-resistant infections.

January 21, 2008

Uranyl Ion Persuaded To React

Rigid framework makes normally inert (UO₂)²⁺ reactive.

Expanding On Hydroaminations

Rhodium catalyst broadens scope of intramolecular cyclizations.

California Chemicals

State should adopt incentives, regulations to stimulate green chemistry economy.

West Coast Fine Chemicals

Saltigo and SAFC buy, expand facilities in California and Washington state.

January 18, 2008

Mandatory Open Access

NIH switch from voluntary article posting follows legislation.

Report Indicates Decline In U.S. R&D

Falloff of industry and government support for basic research raises competitiveness concerns.

Norman Neureiter Honored

Chemist who melded science and diplomacy at the State Department will receive NAS Public Welfare Medal.

January 17, 2008

EC Launches Inquiry Into Pharma Industry

European Commission seeks to determine cause of market shortcomings.

Cyclopropane Boosts Prodrug Stability

Carboxylic acid ester increases drug lifetime, potentially improving efficacy.

January 16, 2008

Investigation Of Diacetyl Sought

Presence of chemical in hundreds of products prompts calls for more study.

Too Much Of A Good Thing May Cause Huntington's

Mutant huntingtin protein increases neuronal calcium and stimulates excess neurotransmission.

Fighting Food-borne Illness

Glycoconjugates that differentiate disease-causing toxins could be basis of simple assay.

January 15, 2008

West Antarctica Ice Decreases

Region considered stable appears to be losing ice faster than thought, thanks to climate change.

GM Backs Ethanol Start-Up Coskata

Company claims its technology can significantly lower the price of the fuel.

January 14, 2008

Surprise From S_N2 Snapshots

Ion velocity measurements unveil additional unforeseen mechanism.

Proton Power

Protons may be neurotransmitters.

Thermoelectric Materials

Silicon nanowires transform heat into electricity.

Pollution In China

Environment agency will survey emissions nationwide.

January 11, 2008

Fighting Creationism

Evolution, not creationism, should be taught in public schools, NAS booklet says.

Isis, Genzyme In Heart Drug Deal

Cholesterol treatment further validates antisense approach to targeting RNA.

China's WuXi Expands In U.S.

China's chemistry services leader moves into biology.

January 10, 2008

Receptor Shape Matters

Binding of virus’s protein to human cells depends on shape of carbohydrate receptors, not just on sugar linkage.

Conflicting Inorganic Aromaticity

Te₂As₂^2- cluster anion is first isolated compound shown to possess both aromatic and antiaromatic bonding.

January 9, 2008

Europe Plans Support For 'Lead Markets'

Markets to be backed by European Commission include biobased products and protective textiles.

Supreme Court Backs Monsanto In Seed Patent Case

Justices uphold lower appeals court ruling in dispute over reuse of patented biotech seeds.

January 8, 2008

Ethanol From Switch Grass Deemed Feasible

Large-scale study indicates production from farmed prairie grass can surpass energy, environmental, and economic hurdles.

Suit Claims IBM Dumped Chemicals

Residents outside firm's first plant site sue for damages to health, property values.

January 7, 2008

Florida Explosion Investigation Yields Preliminary Results

Chemical safety board says uncontrolled reactor vessel temperature, pressure led to four deaths.

Moving Gas Safely

Complexation with low-pressure medium reduces hazards of high-pressure storage, transport.

Schulman Rejects Investor Proposal

Plastics compounder urges shareholders to support its director slate.

Policy Changes In Budget Bill

Omnibus spending package contains many nonbudget provisions.

New World For Biofuels

Ethanol production standards will transform biofuels business, advocates predict.

At-Will Wettability

Materials: Electricity converts surface from repellent to wettable.

January 4, 2008

Novel Embrace Of Protein And Metal

Unique interaction may give copper an easy out.

Ecopetrol Buys Propilco

Colombian Oil Company Pushes Downstream Into Chemicals.

January 3, 2008

Gold Catalyst Mediates Transformation Of Biomass Feedstocks

Aerobic oxidation of furfurals leads to value-added methyl esters.

Newcomers Buy Drug Production Plants

Sales by Merck and Pfizer are part of manufacturing revamp efforts.

January 2, 2008

Four Die In Mitsubishi Fire

Incident knocks out a large chunk of Japan's ethylene capacity.

Supporting Environmental Research

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences awards nearly $7 million for new DISCOVER centers.