RSC - Advancing the Chemical Sciences


Chemistry World

 

November 2011

Vol 8, No 11

November 2011

News and analysis

US job concerns hamper environmental rules

16 September 2011

Obama retreats on ozone and greenhouse gas regulations amid economic concerns, earning the ire of traditional sympathisers

Growing protest against Chinese chemical plants

23 September 2011

As environmental awareness in China grows, so too is the number of protests against chemical plants

European doctoral students struggle to find funding

07 October 2011

New survey finds that in some European countries only half of doctoral students secure enough research funding

Half of young Australian academics ready to quit

06 October 2011

Dissatisfaction with poor job security and low pay is rife in Australian universities

Senate looks to trim $162 million from NSF

19 September 2011

US Senate's proposal to cut National Science Foundation's budget by 2.4 per cent prompts concern at universities

Bio-based chemicals under environmental scrutiny

23 September 2011

Technological improvements are needed to make some bio-based chemicals environmentally competitive

One year on from Hungary's red mud disaster

05 October 2011

On the first anniversary of the country's worst environmental accident the area has recovered surprisingly quickly

Higher education funding rises around the world

19 September 2011

Between 2000 and 2008 funding for universities rose, while private funding of institutions increased substantially

US firm to 'mine' lithium from geothermal plant brines

03 October 2011

Simbol Materials opens pilot facility to separate lithium from geothermal power plant wastewater

Business roundup

Industry news, November 2011

Market Place

New products, November 2011

In the papers...

Short items

News in Brief

Short items, November 2011

Note book

Short items, November 2011


Research

Chameleon clothes to detect falling oxygen levels

07 October 2011

Dye particles woven into cloth to monitor oxygen levels

Conjuring up gram quantities of a stabilising anion

28 September 2011

German chemists have made gram quantities of an extremely useful anion via a rather scary route

Electricity - any time, any place

15 September 2011

A device that harvests solar and movement energy could be incorporated in clothes, bags or flags

World's longest carbon-carbon bond created

14 September 2011

Balancing attractive and repulsive forces allowed chemists to make longer C-C bonds than ever seen before

Pitcher plant inspires ultimate non-stick surface

22 September 2011

Scientists have created a surface so slippery that oil, jam and even insects just slide straight off it

Sound approach to unclicking click chemistry

15 September 2011

Click chemistry reaction thrown into reverse using ultrasound could lead to new protection strategies

Breathing life into medical devices

29 September 2011

Tiny piezoelectric polymer belts produce electricity from respiration

Messenger shines light on Mercury's formation

30 September 2011

Nasa probe may rewrite the books on the birth of the solar system's smallest planet

Faster acting drugs

22 September 2011

Ionic liquid versions of current drugs could reach their targets in the body more quickly

Fluoride shuttle batteries lift off

13 October 2011

Rechargeable batteries based on fluoride ions could have a better storage capacity than current batteries

Growing gallium nitride LEDs on glass

09 October 2011

A technique that grows gallium nitride crystals on glass could cut the cost of making LEDs

Using eggshells to remove toxic water pollutants

06 October 2011

Eggshell membranes can remove toxic hexavalent chromium from contaminated water

Corn microchips

15 September 2011

A corn by-product has been used to make microfluidic sensing devices

Bacteria: the ultimate secret agent

27 September 2011

Chemists have hidden secret messages in fluorescent bacteria using colour couplets to encode letters and punctuation

Hot chemistry

12 October 2011

Temperature played a crucial role in David MacMillan's decision to study chemistry. Joanne Thomson finds out more


Features

Quasicrystals scoop prize

This year's Nobel laureate in chemistry fought hard to win acceptance of his discovery: quasicrystals. Laura Howes tells how perseverance led to the ultimate recognition

Reaching out

The explosion is the doyenne of chemical demonstrations, but is the web taking over as a tool for researchers to enthuse the public about chemistry? Phillip Broadwith investigates

Waving goodbye to the paper lab book

With electronic lab notebooks finally making waves in academia, Anthony King asks whether the time has come to part company with the much loved paper lab book

Curiosity to take off

When Nasa's latest Mars rover is launched into space later this year, it'll carry the most advanced analytical instruments ever sent to the planet. David Pittman reports


Opinion

Editorial: Nobels and Nobility

The winners of the Ig Nobel awards were announced on 29 September

The science we want, the science we need

The UK government has lost the ability to ensure that the research that it really needs gets done, says Jack Stilgoe

Good chemistry

We must improve the chemistry between industry and society, says Graeme Armstrong

Column: In the pipeline

Derek Lowe discusses the compounds you can buy but won't see anywhere in the literature

Column: The crucible

Political party conferences are not noted for taking much interest in science, says Philip Ball


Chemistry World Jobs

Profile: From inert to reactive

A postdoc post took Jon-Paul Griffiths to commercial success as co-founder of Oxford Advanced Surfaces. Five years on, he still fizzes with enthusiasm

The Educated Chemist: PhD positive

Statistics show that a doctorate will improve your chances of employment and boost your salary. Emma Davies examines the evidence

The insider: Chemistry with study in Mongolia

An overseas placement with student exchange organisation IAESTE will open your eyes and broaden your horizons, as Yfke Hager reports

Careers fair: ChemCareers 2011

Don't miss the careers fair with a difference. ChemCareers 2011 is coming to get you

Careers clinic: Get networking

Building up a good list of contacts and then staying in touch with them is a great way to help you climb the career ladder, says Charlotte Ashley-Roberts


Regulars

Reviews

Chemistry World Reviews, October 2011



Letters

Chemistry World Letters, November 2011



Puzzles

Puzzles, November 2011

Chemistry through the lens

Scanning electron micrograph

Classic kit: Weissenberg's Camera

In so many societies, bread is the stuff of life the cornerstone of existence

The last retort: Einstein and chemistry

Raffiniert ist der Herrgott, aber boshaft ist er nicht

Flashback

35 years ago, Chemistry in Britain