Table of Contents - March 15, 2004

NEWS OF THE WEEK
			ORGANIC ELECTRONICS Organic transistors and a green polymer are two key advances for a hot field.
			LOWERING CHOLESTEROL A Bristol-Myers Squibb study shows that a Pfizer drug works best.
			UNION STRENGTH Two established unions for the chemical industry have decided to join forces.
			LEAD IN WATER Lead in Washington, D.C., drinking water is prompting EPA to look at broader issues.
			HUBBLE IMAGES Stunning deep space images provide backdrop for telescope's possible funding cut.
			IONIC LIQUIDS Sweetener anions and organocations are used to prepare "green" solvents.
			SCIENTIFIC PUBLISHING Open access and other issues have caught the attention of policymakers.
			DUAL-USE OVERSIGHT Public- and private-sector efforts emerge to secure life sciences research.
			BIOMINERALIZATION Microbes produce energy by metabolizing iron and creating mineral-encrusted polymer strands.

COVER STORY

PETROCHEMICALS
North American producers adjust to a changed industry, European producers consolidate, and Japanese producers receive a respite.

COVER: Shell Chemicals photo

BUSINESS

BUSINESS CONCENTRATES

PHARMA EARNINGS
For U.S. and European drug firms, 2003 ended with strong sales but sluggish earnings.

BIOTECH EARNINGS
Many firms post big gains in fourth quarter and for the year.

EUROPEAN OUTLOOK
Without urgent action from industry and governmental authorities, the chemical industry faces a bleak future.

TONY BASTOCK
Recent Chemical Industries Association president says it will be tough to establish a protocol for testing chemicals.

GOVERNMENT & POLICY

GOVERNMENT CONCENTRATES

MISSING MERCURY
Regulation for reducing mercury emissions shines spotlight on chlor-alkali plants.

PIONEER AWARD
NIH establishes new grant program for high-risk, potentially high-impact medical research.

INSIGHTS
The lingering question: Why did leaders ignore experts' advice about Iraq's weapons?

SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY

SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY CONCENTRATES

CHIRAL CATALYSIS
New insights into asymmetric surface chemistry may lead to large-scale applications.

OLEFIN TAILS
Anti-Markovnikov reactions are being developed to add terminal functional groups to alkenes.

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