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September 30, 2005

Gibberellin Receptor

Japanese researchers discover a long-sought receptor for important plant hormones.

PubChem Resolution

ACS moves to resolve dispute with NIH over agency’s small-molecule database.

Climate Change

UN report endorses storage of carbon dioxide but acknowledges prohibitive costs.

September 29, 2005

ArQule To Exit Chemistry Services

Firm will focus on oncology drug discovery and development.

GAO Examines Impact Of Byrd Amendment

Investigative office finds few companies benefiting from trade payments.

September 28, 2005

At The Crossroads Of Biology, Electronics

Start-up Cambrios seeks to harness biology for electronics manufacturing.

September 27, 2005

FDA Commissioner Resigns

Sudden resignation gratifies some, surprises others.

Taking Toll Of Rita

Hurricane Rita exacerbates energy, raw material woes started by Katrina.

Molecules Take A Walk

Unidirectional motion gives researchers control important for molecular machines, self-assembly.

September 26, 2005

Quintuple Bond

Chemists synthesize stable molecule with fivefold bonding between chromium atoms.

Image Upgrade

American Chemistry Council launches its "essential₂" public relations campaign.

Unprecedented Pores

Most porous substance ever could lead to new types of multifunctional nanomaterials.

Natural Chemistry

Plants and insects harness chemistry for survival strategies.

Destroying VX

Using a modified process, the Army resumes destroying nerve agent at its Newport, Ind., facility.

September 23, 2005

OSHA Fines BP A Record $21 Million

Settlement resolves alleged safety violations linked to deadly blast at Texas City refinery.

Bracing For Rita

Gulf Coast firms take precautions even as they still reel from Katrina's impact.

Industry: Relax Federal Laws

Trade group says exemptions will speed recovery; environmentalists are leery.

September 22, 2005

Microfluidic Biomaterial Delivers, Extracts Species

Hydrogel could find use as physiologically accurate scaffold for tissue engineering.

Investment Group Touts Nuclear Power

Joint venture formed to take advantage of substantial incentives in new energy law.

September 21, 2005

Hybrid Sugar-Peptide Copolymers

Novel class of biomaterials is prepared from natural sugars and peptides.

Federal Policy On Perchlorate Evolves

EPA, FDA, and military continue work on assessing and cleaning up contaminant.

September 20, 2005

2005 MacArthur Fellows

Three chemical scientists are among this year's winners of coveted unrestricted grants.

KemFine Buys Avecia Contract Production Arm

Avecia continues to shrink with the sale of its nonpharmaceutical manufacturing business.

September 19, 2005

Petroleum, Bacteria Are Primary Pollutants

EPA analyzes sediments, air in New Orleans.

Forecasting Folds

With some limits, researchers can generate protein structures from an amino acid sequence.

Hurricane Pollution

EPA is on the scene in New Orleans to assess pollution risks.

Virus Patrol

Structural biology study reveals how SARS coronavirus adapted to a human host receptor site.

Biogen Restructures

Reshaping of Biogen Idec includes 650 job cuts and sale of some company facilities.

Cleaner Nylon

Route to nylon-6 precursor eliminates unwanted ammonium sulfate by-product.

Genome Mining

Search for DNA sequences that encode enzymes allows researchers to predict, discover a natural product.

SOCMA Stewardship

Association launches its own environment, health, and safety program.

September 16, 2005

Hurricane Economics

Higher energy costs in the wake of Katrina are predicted to pinch earnings for chemical industry.

September 15, 2005

Frozen CO₂ Templates Porous Materials

Aligned porous structures could be useful scaffolds for tissue engineering.

SAFC Firms Up Business Structure

Sigma-Aldrich unit adds fourth leg with JRH Biosciences acquisition.

Bids Sought On Argonne

Illinois lab has always been operated by University of Chicago.

Solvay and Grace Open China Centers

Both firms target technical needs of Chinese customers.

September 14, 2005

Grant Agencies Move To Assist Researchers

Programs are being set up to help scientists displaced by natural disaster.

Database Deadlock

Officials from ACS and NIH continue to work to resolve differences over PubChem.

Utah Nuclear Waste Site Advances

NRC approves private temporary storage site, but big challenges remain.

September 13, 2005

Perkin Medal Goes To Robert Gore

The developer of Gore-Tex is honored for his pioneering work with fluoropolymers.

Reichhold Returns To Independence

Citing poor performance in recent years, Dainippon will sell subsidiary to its management.

September 12, 2005

Anticancer Vaccine

Three-component, synthetic carbohydrate cancer vaccine elicits a strong type of antibody response.

Energy After Katrina

Lawmakers say petroleum refining and distribution may be too concentrated on the Gulf Coast.

Deep Insight

The Deep Impact spacecraft sends back revealing data from its impactor that plowed into comet Tempel 1.

Vaccine Buys

GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis both try to make billion-dollar-plus vaccine acquisitions.

Katrina And Business

Gulf Coast infrastructure took a heavy hit, but firms begin recovery efforts.

Katrina And Academe

Institutions in and around New Orleans are shuttered, and colleagues elsewhere extend helping hands.

September 9, 2005

Degussa Selling Ingredients Business To Cargill

Deal is latest chemical company exit from the food ingredients market.

Carbon Budget Woes

As atmospheric levels of CO₂ rise, forests and soils are absorbing less of it.

September 8, 2005

Danisco Shuffles Production, R&D

Moves follow acquisition of enzymes producer Genencor.

Salt Levels Up In Northeast

More roads, use of deicers increase chloride levels in streams.

Nevada Sues NRC Over Yucca License

State claims federal agency has prejudged licensing process for nuclear waste facility.

Ranbaxy Selling Noncore Units

Divestments are part of push into R&D-based pharma.

September 7, 2005

Chernobyl's Aftermath

Study finds that fewer deaths than predicted will result from 1986 nuclear plant accident.

September 6, 2005

Helsinn Builds Up Advanced Synthesis

Swiss firm hews to 'exclusive' manufacturing for customers, as advanced synthesis becomes more important.

September 5, 2005

Detecting Prions

New technique promises faster detection of prions in the blood of live subjects.

Ozone Improvements

Study of satellite and other data shows Earth's ozone layer is recovering in midlatitudes.

Healthy Oil

Agent isolated from olive oil acts like ibuprofen, perhaps benefiting human health.

Buying Chiron

Novartis plans to buy the shares of Chiron it doesn't already own for $4.5 billion.

September 2, 2005

Natural Disaster Impacts Chemical Enterprise

Industry remains hard hit and many academic institutions remain out of contact, with unknown losses of people and facilities.

September 1, 2005

Katrina Devastates Gulf Coast

Refineries and petrochemical plants shut down as storm also interrupts regional shipments.

BASF To Expand Antwerp Cracker

Project to create Europe's largest single ethylene plant.

Former Ferro Executive Indicted

Government charges former controller with securities fraud.

Slow Growth For Renewables

Renewable energy use registers only marginal growth in 2004.