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November 30, 2006

Symrise Readies Initial Public Offer

Launch on German stock market follows sale of rival Quest.

Fujifilm Boosts LCD Film Operations

Growing demand for flat-panel TVs spurs firm's $205 million project.

November 29, 2006

Massachusetts Plant Explosion

Federal investigators initially blocked from site are allowed in.

Aniline Catalyzes Imine Formation

Findings could prove useful for organic synthesis, combinatorial applications.

Supramolecular Extension Cord

Self-assembling photoinduced electron-transfer system mimics macroscopic device.

November 28, 2006

High Court Hears Global Warming Case

Supreme Court is to weigh arguments on regulating greenhouse gas emissions from new cars and trucks.

EPA Will Allow Some Pesticide Use In Water Without Permit

Industry says exemption provides regulatory certainty; environmental activists see a weakening of federal protection.

November 27, 2006

First Molecular Anion Identified In Space

Discovery of C₆H^- overturns conventional wisdom in the field.

Dow Exits Racing

Angus unit says nitromethane handling practices are lacking.

Optical Eye-Opener

Optical rotation by an achiral organic compound is measured.

Tax Break

Chemical manufacturers are pushing Congress to restore tax break.

November 22, 2006

PFOA Drinking Water Standard Lowered

EPA, DuPont agree to reduce PFOA exposure to residents near West Virginia plant.

Silicon Turns Into Superconductor

Extreme boron doping transforms archetypal semiconductor at ambient pressure.

FDA Lifts Ban On Silicone Gel Breast Implants

Agency overturns 14-year moratorium.

November 21, 2006

Hercules Consolidates Research Efforts

Firm puts innovation effort closer to senior management in Wilmington, Del.

Beyond The Periodic Table

Metal clusters mimic chemical properties of atoms.

November 20, 2006

Driving A Spike Into Viruses

Polymers poke holes in lipid bilayers to kill viruses and pathogenic bacteria.

Clariant Revamps Again

Latest plan promises to deliver improvements.

Breath Test

No-prep method analyzes nonvolatile components in breath.

H₂ Activation, Reversibly

Metal-free compound readily breaks and makes hydrogen.

Shell, Codexis Sign Biofuels Pact

Big oil company and small biotech firm are latest to pursue hot market.

Renewable Energy

RAND Corp. says big gains can be achieved at little cost.

November 17, 2006

Organelle Anatomy

Atomic-level scrutiny of neurotransmitter vesicles is a first.

Alternative-Fuel Cars Engineered For Show And To Go

Chem-E-Car competition challenges chemical engineering student teams to design chemically powered model cars.

Responsible Nanotechnology

Scientists set five grand challenges to guide nascent field.

Japan Shines

Profits at top chemical makers keep on rising.

Chlorine Makers Commit To Upgrading Rail Cars

Manufacturers plan to replace their North American tank car fleets with safer, more secure cars by 2017.

November 16, 2006

Ancient Steel's Surprise Ingredient

Damascus saber is found to contain carbon nanotubes.

Organic Nanotubes With A Twist

Constituent amino acids dictate the direction polymers take in helix.

Chemicals Face Global Restrictions

Persistent compounds could be restricted or banned within three years.

November 15, 2006

Chemistry in Times Square

ACS commercials are airing in the heart of New York City

Big Biomarker Prize

Financial incentive offered through R&D website aims to advance disease treatment.

November 14, 2006

Processing Milk Under Pressure

Low-temperature treatment keeps unsavory volatiles in check.

Ferro To Close Niagara Falls Plant

Lower demand for industrial ceramic products means loss of 150 jobs.

November 13, 2006

Purifying Nanotubes

Plasma process selectively destroys metallic tubes.

Bayer Consolidates

Firm will close two major research labs in the U.S., eliminating 600 R&D positions.

'Frustrated' Solid Sucks Up Gases

Discovery opens new realm of sorptive materials.

November 10, 2006

Ancient Teeth

Gentler laser mass spec method opens door to study of small and fragile fossils.

Cleaning Water With 'Nanorust'

Magnetite nanoparticles effectively remove arsenic from water.

Democrats Will Alter Legislative Priorities

New committee chairs will shift debates in energy, environment.

Novartis Invests in China

Firm will spend $100 million on Shanghai R&D center.

November 9, 2006

New Anthrax Vaccine Is In Trouble

Stability issues force FDA to halt safety testing.

BASF Cuts Jobs In Integrations

Some 2,000 jobs worldwide will be eliminated by 2010.

Lonza Will Buy Genentech Site

Transaction is part of a contract manufacturing agreement between the two firms.

November 8, 2006

Skeletal Diversity In Small-Molecule Synthesis

Oligomers built from olefins and alkynes serve as building blocks for host of cyclic compounds.

Largest Synthetic Hetero-Oligosaccharide

Milestone could lead to better understanding of major bacterial diseases.

Reactions Need Just A Pinch of Organocatalyst

Highly enantioselective transformations proceed with unusually small amounts of catalyst.

November 7, 2006

VeraSun To Diversify Into Biodiesel

Major ethanol producer plans to make two biofuels from the same feedstock.

Abbott Is To Acquire Kos Pharmaceuticals

$3.7 billion acquisition is targeted at the lipid management market.

November 6, 2006

ACS Elections

Runoff Needed To Decide 2007 President-Elect

Step-By-Step Surface Assembly

Atomic force microscope attaches reactive polymer chain to a surface, one reaction at a time.

Bioethanol R&D

Research pacts seek to bring cellulose-based ethanol to market.

Protein Gel Minds Nuclear Gates

Nuclear pores rely on polymeric meshes to regulate macromolecular traffic.

November 3, 2006

Climate Change Threatens Global Economy

Near-term action is needed to avert dangerous impacts.

Chemical Board Blasts BP

Change in oil industry practices urged.

Most Complex Zeolite Structure Solved

Unconventional combination of electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction helps decipher aluminosilicate framework.

November 1, 2006

Merck Is To Acquire Sirna

Move signals big pharma's confidence in RNAi therapeutics.

Science In The Press

Panel debates whether science gets a fair shake.