Table of Contents - March 8, 2004

NEWS OF THE WEEK
			MARS WATER Rover Opportunity provides compelling evidence that the Red Planet was once wet.
			CASES DECIDED Workplace exposure suits are resolved; most are favorable toward industry.
			TRADE TARIFFS Foreign sales tax exemption is target of EU trade tariffs; chemicals are excluded.
			PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE White House-led strategy aims to combat illegal Internet sales of controlled substances.
			PLATINUM CONTROL Burrowing particles could provide a useful technique to control catalyst structure.
			MODEL CLOTS Blood clot model is prototype for studies of other complex reaction networks.
			IRAQI ARMS SEARCH Most weapons of mass destruction probably had been destroyed by 1991, UN says.
			QUEST UNIT SOLD ICI, like Rhodia, is selling its food ingredients business.
			BIOTECH UPTICK Initial public offerings for three biotech firms add to flurry of recent activity.

COVER STORY

NITRIC OXIDE'S NEW PLAYER
Researchers explore the chemistry of NO's biological alter ego, HNO.

COVER: The active site of nitric oxide synthase (with arginine substrate) features heme and tetrahydrobiopterin groups. Courtesy of Patrick McCarren, UCLA

BUSINESS

BUSINESS CONCENTRATES

MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS
Overall activity slowed in 2003 in the worldwide chemical industry.

DEAL-MAKING
For both pharma and biotech, mergers and acquisitions rose in total value over 2002.

SCI MEDALIST
Thomas Reilly Jr., retired CEO of Reilly Industries, discusses his political involvement.

NOVOZYMES
Danish firm puts enzymes in the catbird seat as a replacement for industrial chemicals.

BIOTECH BOTTOM LINE
Biotech products need to be both effective and cost-effective to compete.

GOVERNMENT & POLICY

GOVERNMENT CONCENTRATES

SCIENCE POLICY
Hot topics of the past year are addressed at AAAS annual meeting.

HINDSIGHTS
Implications of women becoming better educated than men could prove profound.

SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY

SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY CONCENTRATES

TISSUE ENGINEERING
To grow large tissues, such as vital organs, the problem of vascularization must be solved.

EDUCATION
Fewer undergraduates seek degrees in chemical engineering.

WOMEN IN ACADEMIA
NSF's Advance program works to bring more women into leadership roles.