July 2004
Vol. 1, No. 7
News and analysis
Blood sucking biosensors
Researchers take inspiration from an insect pest.
Scanning the genome for risk of heart attack
Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) have teamed up with Celera Diagnostics to arrive at two novel genetic markers.

We're no dummies, say condom manufacturers
Companies involved in condom production and testing have vociferously rejected claims of a potential carcinogenic risk associated with use of their products.
A frizzled inhairitance
Looking a bit frizzled today? Having another bad hair day?
Spotlight on latest EU recruits
Baltic State researchers take to the European stage.
Nano's eco credentials
Nanotechnologists are determined not to head down the path well trodden by ill-fated GM proponents.
Chips in space
Lab-on-a-chip technology could soon be going boldly into space in search of extra-terrestrial life, according to NASA scientists.
Belgian firm to buy Celltech
Celltech has accepted a cash offer from UCB, a Belgian pharmaceutical and chemical company, which values the UK biotechnology firm at about £1.53bn.
Genetic hit for motor neurone disease
Oxford BioMedica develops new gene therapy product.
Bioinformaticians reach for the stars
An online database of 'biological processes in humans' has been launched.
Start off low with hi-tech
Nanotechnology start-ups with big, bold dreams based on cutting-edge research must think a bit more about their customers and a bit less about their technology.
New UK biocentre almost ready to open its doors
After much planning, a new Centre of Excellence in Biocatalysis, Biotransformations and Biocatalytic Manufacture.
Ilika sets sail from Southampton
Southampton University, UK, is spinning out a new combinatorial chemistry company called Ilika.
The chemistry of crime
Delegates attending a meeting on the role of science in criminal investigation were presented with the uncomfortable news.
Lab-on-a-chip greets new arrival
High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technology has been downsized to chip proportions.
Arnold Beckman (1900-2004)
Arnold Beckman was truly one of the grandfathers of modern-day science.
In Brief
7th EU Framework Programme; Bell Laboratories; Microscience; Dystar; EASAC
Chemical science
Herbicide tolerance heats up
Gene shuffling technique could deal a blow to agbio establishment.
Marine minerals map Cretaceous climate
Sulfur isotopes on the seabed provide a prehistoric weather report.
Pharma's spicy roll-call racks up
Chemists have discovered that coriander produces a powerful antibiotic.
Dose-dependent prion propagation
Progress made on the long road to untangling protein aggregation.

Blood, sweat, tears and microfluidics
Analysing human physiological fluids may require researchers to rethink basics.
Chromatography under pressure
Notoriously difficult use of small-particle stationary phases in HPLC gets easier.
Neurones that fire in the night
Neurobiologists have used cataplexy to help track neurological networks.
Grow your own carbon nanotubes
Nanotechnology takes off in US air force.
Protein joins the flab fight
An Imperial College London research team has signed a licensing deal with CytRx.
Aerosol story gets new angle
US researchers discover role of aromatic acids in particle formation.
Light control becomes crystal clear
Japanese research paves the way to the control of photons in specialised crystals.
AD diagnosis improves its image
Altering the ?-amyloid protein could help diagnose Alzheimer's disease.

Bringing supercritical fluids to the masses
New technology removes the need for dangerous gas-handling equipment.
Setting the telomere clock
Telomere length is similar in cloned and naturally conceived animals.
Cutting back on chippy chemical
The global fight against possible carcinogen in foods intensifies.
Easing anxiety with anandamide
Novel compound could be used to help treat neurological disorders.
Yeast's foray into the unknown
Biosensors using brewer's yeast modified with jellyfish genes could find use on space flights.
Power-free pumping
Japanese scientists have developed a new power-free pumping method for poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microfluidic chips.
Failing kidneys identified by chips
Helping doctors to monitor kidney function is the latest aim of a team of US analytical chemists.
Feeling inhibited?
Researchers in Cambridge, UK, have turned their hand towards the tricky problem of understanding the mechanism of action of thiamin diphosphate dependent enzymes.
Improving zeolite catalysts
The first bidirectional zeolite that contains ultralarge and large intersecting pores has been made and shows higher catalytic activity than unidirectional ultralarge pore zeolites...
Peeking into fuel cells
Researchers will now be able to examine the degradation of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC's) membranes in a matter of minutes.

Nanotubes going soft
Water-filled soft nanotubes have been developed for biological applications by a team of Swiss researchers.
Recent Features

Leading light
Helen Fielding talks to Cath O'Driscoll about what it takes, scientifically and financially, to be in control of simple chemical systems.
Getting the numbers right - the lonely struggle of Rydberg
Johannes Rydberg was one of the grandfathers of modern-day physics and chemistry, but persuading his peers to recognise his theories of atomic structure was not always easy. Mike S...

Remedies from Nature
In the quest for better therapeutic drugs, scientists continue to look at natural products for inspiration. The imino sugars show particular promise, as Robert Nash explains.
A future in fragments
Astex's research on drug fragments is taking it deep into the oncology field, as Emma Davies finds out.
Regulars
Flashback
July - 25 years ago; 70 years ago; 85 years ago; 150 years ago;

The Last Retort: Sinigrin in the rain
It is part of Hollywood folklore that somebody was once raving to Ginger Rogers about what an amazing dancer her screen partner Fred Astaire was.
Chemistry World Letters, July 2004
Chemistry World Reviews, July 2004



