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November 30, 2005

Push On Hill For Fuel Independence

Lawmakers seek to cut U.S. demand for oil, boost biofuels and alternative-technology vehicles.

Better Electrochromics

Changeable foils on flexible plastics might be headed for the marketplace.

November 29, 2005

Tooth Whiteners Weaken Enamel

Study suggests surface-bleaching agents may be detrimental to teeth's nanomechanical properties

November 28, 2005

Ice Core Record Extended

Analyses of trapped air show current CO₂ at highest level in 650,000 years

Artificial Cells Allow Ion Entry

Porous inorganic capsules serve as models for biological ion-transport processes.

Pfizer Taps Incyte For Compounds

Drug giant advances a strategy of supplementing its internal pipeline.

CO₂-To-CO Route

Copper boryl complex catalyzes CO₂ reduction in well-characterized system.

Electron Transfer

Clusters of water molecules can facilitate transfer of electrons between proteins.

November 24, 2005

DuPont In China

Under agreement with Chinese officials, Dupont will build a $1 billion titanium dioxide plant in coastal Shandong province.

White House Honors Scientists

Bush names national medalists; exceptional mentors are also recognized.

November 23, 2005

Chinese City Suspends Water Supply

Contamination is blamed on chemical plant accident upstream.

Honors For Green Chemistry

Green Chemistry Institute and its director recognized by Scientific American.

November 22, 2005

Profiting From Innovation

Research And Development leaders say they still have plenty of tricks up their sleeves to develop new products.

November 21, 2005

Japanese Firms Keep Improving

Most companies achieve strong operational performance during first half.

Chemical Makers Seek Relief

Industry wants Congress to end drilling restrictions to increase natural gas supplies.

Complex Shapes Up

Method reveals shape and stoichiometry of a protein complex in single experiment.

Mercury Option

State and local regulators offer plan as alternative to Bush Administration rule.

Natural Product's Target Identified

Bistramide A disrupts a protein involved in cell division and motion.

FDA Slammed On Contraceptive Case

Investigation hints that FDA decided to reject Plan B before advisors weighed in.

November 18, 2005

DuPont Accused of Inaction On Fluorochemical

Former employee says firm failed to address exposure to compound that breaks down into PFOA.

Nobelist Henry Taube Dead At 89

Stanford inorganic chemist was a pioneer in the study of electron transfer.

BASF Research And Development

German chemical giant will spend $1.35 billion in 2006.

Chemical Regulation

Europe's REACH policy survives a crucial vote in European Parliament.

November 17, 2005

Aspirin Polymorph Found

Second crystal form was first predicted to exist in the 1960s.

Natural Gas Use Is Falling

High prices, disruptions are expected to cut U.S. gas consumption this year.

Discovery Partners CEO Resigns

Acting CEO seeks to shift focus to risk-sharing agreements with drug firms.

Fewer Animal Tests In Sight

European Commission, businesses seek new approaches to safety assessment.

November 16, 2005

Where Chemistry And Art Meet

Students investigate the intersection of art and science through study of color and pigments.

Ytterbium Catalyst for Asymmetric Biginelli Reaction

With chiral catalyst, multicomponent reaction yields highly enantiopure dihydropyrimidines.

November 15, 2005

Catherine Hunt Is 2006 ACS President-Elect

Rohm and Haas executive to emphasize education, collaboration, innovation.

Utah Fights Nuclear Waste Storage In Court

State files lawsuit to keep the federal government from approving a private waste facility.

November 14, 2005

Rhodopsin Shifts Are Caught In Act

Ultrafast Raman technique provides new insight into isomerization of retinal.

Reddy's Buys Roche Plant In Mexico

Move lengthens list of foreign assets bought by Indian custom manufacturers.

Illuminating Water Oxidation

Elusive state in photosynthetic oxygen production is observed spectroscopically.

Some Nations Fail To Draft Key Treaty Measures

Nations party to the Chemical Weapons Convention had until Nov. 11 to enact domestic implementing laws.

Serono Eyes Strategic Shake-Up

Family-owned Swiss biotech firm might be up for sale or on the prowl for acquisitions.

November 11, 2005

House Rejects Drilling Measures

Industry slams decision to drop energy supply provisions but vows fight for offshore drilling.

November 10, 2005

Science For Peace In The Middle East

Malta conference aims to strengthen scientific ties in troubled region

Degussa To Build Biotech Research and Development Center

German firm will also invest in silicon for solar panels

Large Complex Eyed In Brazil

Ethylene cracker would involve state oil company and local firms

Lowering The Viscosities Of Ionic Liquids

Substitution with silyl groups proves effective

Energy Spending Set For 2006

Lawmakers cut funding for Yucca Mountain and begin spent nuclear fuel recycling program

November 9, 2005

Undoing Learning Disability

Cholesterol drug lovastatin may have neurological benefits.

Antagomirs Join Biochemists' Toolkit

New class of RNA compounds may open window on microRNA's role in disease processes.

November 8, 2005

DuPont Launches Streamlining Plan

Effort is wide-ranging but won't involve wholesale job cuts.

Chemist Indicted In Drug Scandal

Charges include distributing three anabolic steroids designed to evade sports drug screens.

Bill Would Reinstate Part Of Superfund Tax

Tax on corporate profits would be dedicated to refilling insolvent federal trust fund.

November 7, 2005

Lonza Might Be Buyout Target

DSM and BASF are named as possible buyers.

Sila-Adamantane

Silicon analog of adamantane is smallest repeat unit in bulk silicon crystal lattice.

Fine Chemicals Expo

At CPhI in Madrid, executives say custom synthesis business is on an uptick.

NIH Web Leak

Accidental security breach allowed some NIH grant application materials to be searched online.

Third-Quarter Earnings

Chemical earnings continue to rise, but Gulf Coast hurricanes slowed the pace.

November 4, 2005

Fertilizer Makers Almost Celebrating

But companies and consultants are concerned that products may be nearing the top of the cycle.

November 3, 2005

Merck wins Vioxx case

Drugmaker has now won one case and lost another.

Investigation Ends At Ferro

Accounting firms find problems with financial reporting.

DSM Invests In China, India

Projects are part of new corporate strategy.

Chemosensor Turns On For Mercury

Molecule's fluorescence jumps when the heavy metal binds to the sensor.

Spent Nuclear Fuel Recycling Studied

Argonne project to develop cycle for reusing spent nuclear fuel and minimizing by-products.

November 2, 2005

Democrats Force Secret Senate Session

Republicans agree to finish probe into whether White House misused intelligence on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.

Pandemic Flu Plans Unveiled

President Bush announces $7.1 billion strategy to develop vaccines, improve preparedness.

Stanford Pregnancy Policy

New chemistry department program offers benefits to graduate students.

November 1, 2005

Chiron Accepts Higher Novartis Bid

Purchase will put number five vaccine maker in new hands.

Safety Board Details BP Failures

Installing a key piece of equipment could have prevented deadly blast, investigators claim.