RSC - Advancing the Chemical Sciences


Chemistry World

 

September 2011

Vol 8, No 9

September 2011

News and analysis

UK chemistry threatened by funding squeeze

18 July 2011

The international competitiveness of UK chemistry may be damaged by funding cuts, department heads warn

US debt deal is a mixed bag for researchers

09 August 2011

The US debt ceiling agreement offers good news for science in the short-term, but could spell trouble longer-term

UK government sets aside 1000 places for top researchers

27 July 2011

The Royal Society will help to choose which top non-EU scientists can work in the UK

European research funding rises 9 per cent

29 July 2011

New materials, health and energy are some of the biggest beneficiaries in the latest European funding round

Research council to pick favourites to receive UK chemistry funding

27 July 2011

A policy shakeup will see the EPSRC decide which areas of chemistry to fund

REF looks to help academics who take a career break

20 July 2011

New measures will encourage universities to submit researchers with diverse careers to the REF

UK research needs an independent integrity body

29 July 2011

A government report has said that the oversight of UK research integrity is 'unsatisfactory'

Protein synthesis hijacked to turn out cyclic peptides

02 August 2011

A new technique that can make libraries of cyclic peptides will enable researchers to probe their therapeutic benefits

EPA in political tug of war over environment

05 August 2011

House Republicans face criticism for attaching rider to US EPA's funding bill that appear to dismantle environmental protections

Merck continues restructuring and cuts 13,000 jobs

03 August 2011

The US drug giant plans to make savings of $4.6 billion by the end of 2015

Dow and Aramco launch $20bn chemical project

26 July 2011

The companies have approved a massive integrated chemical complex to be built in Jubail, Saudi Arabia

DuPont halts sale of wayward herbicide

09 August 2011

Complaints of damage to trees have led the US chemical major to suspend sales of Imprelis, approved in the US in August last year

Business roundup

Industry news, September 2011

Market Place

New products, September 2011

In the papers...

Short items

News in Brief

Short items, September 2011

Note book

Short items, September 2011


Research

Archetypal Lewis acid borane turned into a base

29 July 2011

Carbenes stabilise an electron-rich borane centre to create a potential new class of ligands for transition metal catalysts

Cyclodextrin dimer becomes synthetic polymerase

15 July 2011

Chemists have created a synthetic polymerase that can produce long chains of polyesters

DNA toxic gas detector

25 July 2011

Four sensing molecules that replace base pairs on a DNA backbone can be used to differentiate between a mixture of toxic gases

Glucose meter adapted to detect a range of targets

25 July 2011

DNA's ability to recognise multiple targets has been exploited to turn personal glucose meters into a universal sensor

Cracking diamonds reveals continental origins

22 July 2011

Impurities in diamonds have given researchers a clue to when tectonic activity began on ancient Earth

Chemists create a molecular ship in a bottle

22 July 2011

A polyhedral molecular cage held together by dozens of hydrogen bonds may lead to new framework materials

Tequila for your fuel tank

28 July 2011

A plant normally used to make tequila could also be used as a replacement for petrol

Possible origin of chirality in the RNA world

07 August 2011

Chemistry and physics join forces to make single-handed RNA precursors from nearly racemic starting materials

Ligand could trap actinides from spent nuclear fuel

09 August 2011

A new ligand may solve the biggest problem of high-level nuclear waste - separating lanthanides from actinides

Nanorobots powered from beneath the skin

14 July 2011

A wireless electrical power source for biological nanodevices for use in the human body

Hacking into chemical cell phone calls

02 August 2011

Researchers have listened to a cell's chemical whispers using a nano-engineered device

Magnetic sponge can squeeze itself out

19 July 2011

A nanomagnet sponge that contracts in a magnetic field could release drugs to order

Calcium ion is the key to plant's water splitting secret

05 August 2011

A model of the heart of the photosynthetic complex plants use to split water has provided new insights

Spinning webs to catch indoor pollutants

28 July 2011

A 3D polyamide net structure as a highly sensitive sensor for detecting formaldehyde

Transparent lithium ion batteries make electricity generating windows possible

26 July 2011

Materials scientists have made transparent batteries by making electrodes so fine they are invisible to the naked eye

Spotlight on polymerisation to repair damaged faces

28 July 2011

A chemical mix that can be injected under the skin and polymerised using light could help repair facial injuries

Appetite for salt linked to drug addiction

18 July 2011

Genes activated by salt appetite are the same as those regulated by cocaine and heroin

A solar torch to fit in your back pocket

08 August 2011

Scientists have developed a solar powered torch that looks like a credit card

Liquid crystals rearrange to glow in three colours

03 August 2011

Scientists describe the first liquid crystal system that can luminesce in three colours from a single light-emitting centre

Self-assembling DNA structures carve out a niche

22 July 2011

DNA has been used to pattern silicon dioxide in an advance that could help manufacture computer chips

How the sun can affect your immunity

11 July 2011

Mary Norval discusses with Anna Simpson how ultraviolet (UV) radiation can suppress immune responses and the consequences of this for our health


Features

Diamonds are for everything

No longer valued simply for its glamour and durability, diamond is turning its hand to applications in solar power, laser design and bionic eyes. James Mitchell Crow reports

Where the ocean meets the sky

Ocean fertilisation is controversial, but politicians are starting to take it seriously. So will it ever be worth the hassle, asks Hayley Birch

Stemming the tide

Are drug-immune cancer stem cells the root of recurring tumours? And if they are, can we treat them? Sarah Houlton joins in the hunt

Orphans come in from the cold

Rare diseases are less rare than you might think, reports Bea Perks, and finding drugs for them can mean big business

Graphene by the kilo

Durham Graphene Science founder Karl Coleman is forging ahead in production of single-layer carbon. Sarah Houlton talks to the 2011 Chemistry World entrepreneur of the year


Opinion

Editorial: Points of view

A lot has happened this summer

The research excellence framework 2014

Following the recent release of guidelines detailing how universities will be assessed in the upcoming REF, Richard Catlow talks about this important exercise

The new SI

Ahead of the 24th General conference on weights and measures in October, Peter Atkins explains the benefits of the new SI

Future funding concern

A confused picture has emerged following the EPSRCs funding announcement, says David Phillips

Column: In the pipeline

Derek Lowe considers an increasingly popular business strategy in the drug industry, the much discussed 'pay for delay' deal

Column: The crucible

In the art world, chemistry continues to be a rich stimulus to the imagination, says Philip Ball


Chemistry World Jobs

The insider: Living history

Jobs in science centres and museums are hard to come by and competition is fierce. The work requires bright, enthusiastic and imaginative people, reports Emma Davies

Who's who: Studying fragrances

Sarah Houlton tries to entice us into a career in the flavourings and fragrances industry

Careers clinic: Be your own boss

Setting up a business is daunting but can be very rewarding, says Charlotte Ashley-Roberts

Profile: Sense of success

'I enjoy a challenge', Nathan Lawrence, senior research scientist at Schlumberger Research, tells Emma Davies


Regulars

Reviews

Chemistry World Reviews, September 2011



Letters

Chemistry World Letters, September 2011



Puzzles

Puzzles, September 2011

Chemistry through the lens

Scanning electron micrograph of Callophrys rubi butterfly wing scale

Classic kit: McLeod's vacuum gauge

The simmering tensions between science and religion

The last retort: Boiling point, boiling over

Water boils at 100°C, right? Wrong

Flashback

35 years ago in Chemistry in Britain