RSC - Advancing the Chemical Sciences


Chemistry World

 

April 2005

Vol 2, no. 4

April 2005

News and analysis

Attendees at the meeting in Westminster

Department closures and the election

Scientists and politicians on the place of science in the general election


Ambitious women scientists held back

Despite being more ambitious than their male colleagues, women still occupy only a minority of key senior positions in UK academic science.


Safety first

Shanghai Lianheng Isocyanate Company (SLIC) is celebrating its recently achieved safety record of five million man hours worked with no serious accidents.


Chinese chemical industry: friend or foe?

The European chemical industry could be threatened by the success of the ever growing Chinese chemical industry


Prototype pocket-sized microfluidics device

This won't hurt a bit

Spitting removes the need for needles


Researchers call for nanotech funding

The UK government's response to a Royal Society report on nanotechnology calls for close regulation of nano-products


Shirley Ann Jackson

Focus on security could harm innovation

American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting


Ecological restoration in political quagmire

Iraq's marshland, with its unique ecological and cultural history, is showing surprising signs of recovery despite extensive damage


Examine the evidence

Leading US forensics scientists are campaigning to take the showbiz shine off their profession.


Rising temperatures beneath the surface

The world's oceans have warmed up over the past 40 years


Muons form as cosmic rays decay

Muon probe

Hiding nuclear materials by encasing them in lead will actually make them easier to spot if the latest prototype detector becomes reality.


One pollutant removes another

Ochre from disused mines to treat sewage


CIA launches policy priorities

The Chemical Industries Association (CIA) has released its policy priorities for the UK chemical industry


In Brief

United Nations; Serono; Rebif; Long-range research innovative science award; Centre for Process Innovation; JEM


Chemical science

Nature's part in marine pollution

Nature produces a bioaccumulating compound similar to a flame retardant


Non-covalent dendrimers

Self-assembly using only hydrogen bonding


Transmutation of fullerenes

Temperature is critical to decomposition and isomerisation


Isolating DNA from GM food

Monolithic anion-exchange chromatography provides effective DNA separation


Lighting the biological clock

Melanopsin could be the mystery light sensor


U2 wins battle of the bonds

Discovery of quintuple bond completes understanding


Finding resistance in electrolyte solutions

Scientists solve long-standing problem in molecular computing


Lipid flip-flops

Fluorescent probes prove lipid flipping is not stereochemically controlled


Self-propelling nano-transporter

Nature's cellular machinery inspiration for a miniature fuel-laden vehicle


A disposable microchip will help make cancer detection faster

Cervical cancer gets microchip treatment

Cancer markers are detected using polymer microchips


Airport explosives detection made easy

Mass spectrometry technique developed for quick on-the-spot analysis


Koalas turn their noses up at eucalyptus

Eucalyptus trees have evolved a complex set of chemical defences


Put another nickel in

A new and potentially useful base pair for DNA has been created


A group of the giant hydrothermal vent tubeworms,Riftia pachyptila

Deep-sea digestion

Findings challenge conventional view of tubeworm nutrient transport


Mobile phone microwaves

Radiofrequency transmissions affect electric eel enzyme


The mysterious nature of water

Questions about ultraviscous water remain after new information emerges


Potential for anti-tumour drugs

Transition metal complex shows exceptional cytotoxic activity


Seeing the whole picture

A new approach to investigating petroleum-contaminated sites has been explored by US researchers.


Screening for SARS in blood serum

Chinese research is pointing to an effective SARS diagnostic test.


Three-in-one spectroscopy

A way to monitor chemical reactions as they happen during catalysis has been developed.


Aloe plants change from green to red with prolonged exposure to sunlight

Aloe plants turn red in the desert

Aloe plants turn red in the desert


The origins of super greenhouse gas SF5CF3 are still unclear

Mysterious origin of super greenhouse gas

Mysterious origin of super greenhouse gas


Polymers with large holes are made with the help of iron complexes

Templates for holes in polymers

An easy, cheap way to make polymers with large in-built holes has been developed after a fortuitous discovery by UK chemists.


Pest's pheromones made easy

The dream of a straightforward method for making complicated natural products is moving closer to reality thanks to a team of Dutch chemists.


Channels standing out

Channels standing out


Molecular analog of a wheelbarrow, with

Single molecule machines

Molecular machines could soon be a reality.


Getting inside silica channels

Getting inside silica channels


Recent Features

The beauty of chemistry

Can a chemistry experiment be beautiful? Philip Ball gives his opinion and invites us to see beauty in everything


Just a spoonful of sugar

Chemists have developed new vaccine delivery systems that could do away with the need for refrigeration. Henry Nicholls looks at the implications


Richard Friend

Science on display

Katharine Sanderson meets Richard Friend: inventor, businessman, academic, scientist


Chemistry on the fringes of the former USSR

Following admission to the European Union, are the Baltic states on course for economic reform? Bea Perks reports


Innovative places for innovation

To succeed start-up companies need a supportive network. Hermann Hauthal looks at the experiences of some German companies' that have found that network by locating on an industria...


Regulars

Crossroads

Editorial: Working at the interface

Interaction between chemists and chemical engineers remains a problem


Bill Price

Chemistry education's plight

Chemistry education in Australia is in decline. Bill Price discusses the problems and proposes some solutions


Your views...

Q: Is it important to know the history of chemistry?



Last Retort April 2005

The Last Retort: Double, double, toil and trouble

It is almost 50 years since C P Snow first identified the rift between the 'two cultures' of the arts and the sciences


Flashback

April - 75 years ago, 90 years ago, 95 years ago, 100 years ago, 105 years ago


Letters

Chemistry World Letters, April 2005

Reviews

Chemistry World Reviews, April 2005

Special Reports

Developments in Microwave Chemistry

Chemistry World has commissioned this technology study from Evalueserve