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September 29, 2006

U.S. Competitiveness Seen On The Decline

Energy prices disadvantage U.S. firms in global marketplace, manufacturing study says.

Prey's Perfume

Parasitic plant relies on volatiles to track down suitable hosts.

Nanoscale Copies

Parallel method makes 55,000 copies of minuscule pattern in minutes.

Huntsman Sale

Firm agrees to sell European petrochemicals business to SABIC for $700 million

September 28, 2006

Earth's Temperature At Highest Level In 12,000 Years

Climate may soon be as warm as it was 1 million years ago.

Millennium Agrees To Acquire AnorMED

Offer trumps earlier hostile takeover bid by Genzyme.

Particulate Standard Disappoints

Controversy besets new EPA standard for concentrations of small particles in air.

September 27, 2006

Enzyme Has Most Complex Protein Knot Yet Seen

Surveys of knotted proteins reveal that ubiquitin hydrolase's protein chain passes over itself five times.

Microporous Solid Traps Alkanes

Simple hydrocarbons are reversibly adsorbed in methyl-lined pores of supramolecular compound.

Giant Periodic Table Unveiled In Chicago

Enormous chart figures prominently in city's science-awareness event.

September 26, 2006

Protein Fusion Improves Synthesis

Fused enzymes synthesize plant compound resveratrol in mammalian cells.

Major Changes Needed In Drug Safety System

Institute of Medicine calls for serious overhaul to improve FDA's monitoring of approved drugs.

UCB To Acquire Schwarz Pharma

Multi-billion-dollar purchase continues European drug industry consolidation.

September 25, 2006

Anastas Wins Heinz Award

Green chemist lauded for pioneering accomplishments

Congress Tackles NIH Reform

House Energy & Commerce Committee approves legislation to reauthorize agency.

Germany's Merck To Acquire Serono

Surprise deal follows failed merger attempts by both firms earlier this year.

Photonics

Intel, UCSB develop hybrid laser.

September 22, 2006

Congressional Leaders Agree On Chemical Security Plan

Interim program would direct chemical plants to design and implement security plans subject to government approval.

Pretty Science

Nikon's annual Small World Competition rolls out photomicrography winners.

September 21, 2006

Antimalarial Agent Hits Novel Enzyme

Identification of a fresh target in malaria parasite could lead to new class of drugs.

Perkin Medal Goes To James Stevens

Chemist honored for work developing polymerization catalysts, new polymers.

September 20, 2006

Three Share Lasker Prize

Blackburn, Greider, and Szostak are honored for telomerase research.

Women In Science Face Widespread Bias

Barriers still thwart women seeking faculty and leadership positions, study finds.

September 19, 2006

Individual Insects Make Signature Venoms

Walking stick study hints at chemical biodiversity in these insects.

WHO Endorses Indoor Spraying With DDT

Controversial pesticide is safe and effective against malaria, world health body says.

Pfizer Licenses TransTech Compounds

Deal involves small and large molecules for treatment of Alzheimer's.

September 18, 2006

Fruitful Phosphirenes

Polythiophenes with organophosphorus spacers could boost optoelectronic materials.

Investors Buy Emission Credits

Purchase gets brokers involved in global warming gas cuts in a big way.

Climate Change

Support Voiced For Geo-Engineering Research To Combat Global Warming.

Microbes Live Near Undersea CO₂ Lake

Discovery of unusual microbial ecosystem has astrobiological implications.

September 15, 2006

Engineering Academy Selects Presidential Candidate

Charles M. Vest named sole nominee to be next NAE head.

September 15, 2006

New Trigger For Regulation

EPA proposal would relax rules for emission control from modified facilities.

GE Silicones Sold

Firm will sell its Advanced Materials unit to Apollo Management for $3.8 billion.

Spotlight On Service

Chemists at society's national meeting focus on making the world a better place.

BMS Ousts Dolan

Bristol-Myers' Plavix debacle seals CEO's fate; firm is considered ripe for takeover.

September 14, 2006

DuPont, Partner Seek New Titanium Process

Government backs consortium that will improve costs, ensure supply of titanium metal.

September 13, 2006

Improved Glow For Luminescent Lanthanides

Thiophene-derivatized complexes serve as potential building blocks for optoelectronic thin films.

Triggering The Kiss Of Death

Small molecule spurs protein executioner into action.

September 12, 2006

Acylfulvene Attack

Researchers learn how potent anticancer agent binds, then breaks, DNA.

Damage Control

Combination of carbon nanofibers and stem cells can regenerate lost neurons in rats.

Dow Forms Water Treatment Business

Division focused on an end market is fourth for the company.

DSM Invests In Engineering Plastics

Dutch firm will spend $125 million on two new plants.

September 11, 2006

San Francisco Spotlight On Service

Chemists attending society's national meeting focus on making the world a better place.

Plumbing The Mystery Of Cigar Breath

Identification of strongest-smelling compounds could lead to breath fresheners.

Creating Chirality

Selective reaction turns achiral symmetric diols into chiral products.

Tagging Based On Molecular Logic

Fluorescent-dye tags identify members of large populations of small objects.

Still Dyeing After 2,000 Years

Ancient formula, now re-created, darkens locks with lead sulfide nanoparticles.

September 8, 2006

Lunar Probe Goes Out With A Bang

European Space Agency completes moon mission as craft crashes into lunar surface.

Biotech

U.K. industry group publishes guidelines to help members comply with new financial regulations.

September 7, 2006

Iron Complexes Take On Problematic Pesticides

Versatile catalysts aid degradation of hormone-disrupting chemicals.

GAO Warns About Hanford Cleanup

Congressional watchdog agency urges better management by DOE and contractors.

Sasol Writes Down Surfactants Business

Firm says business is not worth as much in era of higher oil prices.

September 6, 2006

Molecular Frontiers Foundation Tackles Chemistry's Image Problem

New organization aims to stimulate young people's interest in molecular science.

Chemistry Building Battle Update

Chemist wins some, loses some in dispute with Florida State University over focus of new chemistry building.

Court Halts Sales of Generic Plavix

BMS and Sanofi claim a minor victory in fight over patent for blood thinner.

September 5, 2006

Scientists Voice Support For Curbing CO₂

In a brief submitted to Supreme Court, researchers call for federal regulation of CO₂ from motor vehicles.

September 4, 2006

A Mild Route To P₂

Reactive intermediate, extruded from niobium complex, opens synthetic vistas.

Getting Bacteria To Do The Work

Microscale motor relies on yoked microbes to spin a rotor.

DuPont Changes Retirement Options

Firm will move to a savings-and-investment plan from traditional pension.

ACS Offers Open-Access Option To Authors

ACS journals will offer authors the option of paying to have their papers immediately open to the public.

September 1, 2006

Emissions Trading Deal Set For China

World Bank-brokered deal provides $1.02 billion for emissions reductions.

Bayer CropScience Cuts Jobs, Gets Sued

Bayer unit will shed 1,500 jobs to boost profits.

Fluorous Phase In A Cage

Self-assembling nanoshell sequesters perfluoroalkanes with exquisite control.