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November 30, 2004

Exeter Chemistry Faces Ax

Plan to cut chemistry in yet another British university elicits dismay.

ALMA Celebrates Silver Anniversary

Meeting of lab managers association focuses on management, networking.

November 29, 2004

2005 Budget

Congress passed a $388 billion omnibus spending bill with at best modest increases for science and technology agencies.

Nanomaterials

Carbosilane-type dendrimers assemble themselves around a template to form mesoporous nanocomposites.

Peapod Polymer

Inside a single-walled carbon nanotube, fullerene epoxide polymerizes to form a linear chain.

Disputed History

Elias J. Corey's claim to have originated the idea behind the Woodward-Hoffmann rules is unfair, Roald Hoffmann says.

Biologics Pact

AstraZeneca and Cambridge Antibody Technology join forces to pursue monoclonal antibody research.

November 24, 2004

New CEO For Grace

Fred Festa will take Paul Norris' place in May.

November 23, 2004

FDA Moves To Improve System

Embattled agency takes steps to better track safety of marketed drugs, but critics urge radical change.

November 22, 2004

Female Hearts

Researchers find links among COX-2, estrogen, and cardiovascular protection in mice.

Discussing Stem Cells

Panel seeks to raise public awareness of U.S. stem cell research policy.

Kinase Analysis

Direct assay by mass spectrometry avoids complications.

Science Advice

Report on selecting federal advisers rejects political questioning.

Polystyrene Venture

Nova Chemicals and BP are combining their businesses in Europe.

November 19, 2004

Nanotube Growth

Small amounts of water help grow thickets of pure single-walled carbon nanotubes.

Gulf War Ills

New funding for studies of Gulf War syndrome will support research on neurotoxins.

Grace's Strategy

Firm files plan to emerge from bankruptcy triggered by asbestos liabilities.

November 18, 2004

Seeing How Molecules Flow

Spreading polymer film is visualized with molecular resolution.

Runaway Reactive Accident

Inadequate process controls, emergency plan cited by Safety Board.

Serono Adds Two Protein Projects

Swiss firm signs deals with Nautilus, Inpharmatica.

Degussa Expands Specialty Chemicals

Firm to build isophorone plant, buys admixture business.

November 17, 2004

Aloha To Space Chemistry

University of Hawaii provides tropical home for studying reactions of cold interstellar space.

November 16, 2004

Ann Nalley Is 2005 ACS President-Elect

Two races for director decided, one runoff election required.

Making Sense Of Peroxide

Sensor for Hydrogen peroxide will aid study of its 'good cop, bad cop' roles in biology.

Akzo Nobel And BASF See Better Times Ahead

BASF divestiture programs nears completion.

Putting Value First in the Heart of BASF

Walter Gramlich, head of firm's intermediates division, is passing up sales volume in favor of value.

November 15, 2004

Antiobiotic Resurrection

Small molecule causes drug-resistant bacteria to eliminate their resistance-carrying plasmids.

Gene Silencer

Cholesterol-lowering drug based on RNA interference is stable and easily taken up by cells.

Surface Patterning

UV irradiation secures self-assembled layers of molecules to solid surfaces via strong chemical bonds.

Vioxx Inquiry

Justice Department and Securities & Exchange Commission launch investigations of Merck.

Initial Public Offerings

With financial prospects improving, Nalco goes public, Celanese will follow.

November 12, 2004

Health Agency To Allow Research On Smallpox Virus

Types of experiments World Health Organization will permit are tightly circumscribed.

Anti-HIV Entry

Medicinal chemistry techniques optimize a protein that keeps HIV out of cells.

Chemical Exposure

EPA asks independent experts to reexamine design of study on children's exposure to pesticides.

Japan's Chemical Firms

Profitability improved sharply in the first half of the fiscal year.

Hazardous Transport

City council rejects legislation to restrict rail shipments through downtown Washington, D.C.

November 11, 2004

Poor Oversight Of Homeland Security Spending

Report cites lack of risk and cost-benefit analysis.

Singapore To Get Sweet New Plant Tate & Lyle to build second facility for noncaloric sweetener.

Yamanouchi, Fujisawa Disclose Business Plans

Soon-to-be-merged Japanese drug company expects big cost savings.

November 10, 2004

Givaudan Smells Opportunity in China

Leading Swiss flavor and fragrance firm strives to boost its presence in booming market.

November 9, 2004

Reviewing Drug Safety

FDA will audit its monitoring of drugs on the market.

Skirting the Transition State

Computational, imaging studies of formaldehyde decomposition reveal theory's limitations.

November 8, 2004

Metabolix, ADM In Renewables Pact

Firms plan a commercial-sized plant for microbe-derived plastic.

Beetle Juice

Some species of frogs and birds get their powerful poison from a beetle they like to eat.

Arctic Warming

Temperatures have been rising more rapidly in the Arctic than anywhere else on Earth, according to a new study.

European Earnings

Firms report strong growth this quarter in wake of cost-cutting measures.

Sinopec

Chinese chemical maker will buy more than $2 billion in assets from its parent company.

November 5, 2004

New Anthrax Vaccine

California firm will make recombinant drug for strategic national stockpile

Ancient Beauty

Chemical analysis of Roman-era cosmetic cream reveals a sophisticated formulation.

Voters' Choices

Republicans solidified their power base in Congress as states passed research and environmental initiatives.

November 4, 2004

Grace Under Pressure

Company faces investigation involving asbestos by-product.

Nature’s Bounty

Engineered bacteria turn benzene into tough-to-make picolinic acid.

Biocatalysis Network Launched

Online resource will draw from University of Manchester abstracts.

Merck Takes New Vioxx Hit

Firm denies reports that it hid safety concerns.

November 3, 2004

Balancing NIH's Funding Portfolio

Road map initiatives provide new opportunities, but not at expense of R01 grants.

November 2, 2004

On Titan, Everything's Organic

Cassini flyby reveals moon's geologically complex surface

Speed Bumps In China

Longer term prospects remain excellent despite some alarming problems in the short term.

Liveris Takes Helm At Dow

New CEO will lead a company that is showing strong sales and earnings growth.

November 1, 2004

Plant Security Measures Criticized

Union worker survey questions companies' antiterrorism efforts.

Distancing Proteins

By recruiting a protein, small molecules can prevent fibril formation.

Hip Saver

New biocompatible polymer helps reduce wear at the site of joint replacements.

Arch Sale

With sale of electronics unit to Fuji Photo Film, Arch Chemicals exits field.

Trade Sanctions

European Union plans to lift retaliatory duties in light of new U.S. corporate tax law.