News June 2008

Interview: Andrew Hamilton
30 June 2008
Oxford's next vice-chancellor is still a synthetic organic chemist at heart

Interview: The chemistry [r]evolution
30 June 2008
Mike Doyle talks to Emma Shiells about evolution in chemistry, from Doyle's catalyst to how water saved the day

Fluorescent green logic
30 June 2008
Japanese scientists are applying logic to the protein that causes jellyfish to fluoresce green

Electrodeposition from ionic liquids
27 June 2008
A new method of making semiconductor films could lead to cheaper solar cells

UK's chem-bio interface gets mixed report
27 June 2008
Research councils don't adequately support interdisciplinary research, scientists say

Instant insight: Fuel cells get cooler
27 June 2008
Solid oxide fuel cells can be used at lower temperatures thanks to advances in materials and engineering

Liquid crystals stand up for DNA detection
26 June 2008
Liquid crystals that detect DNA sequence could be developed into cheap, portable detectors as small as a wristwatch

Slick synthesis to sea sponge structure
25 June 2008
A new route to a complex sea sponge biomolecule with promising anti-tumour properties hits the target in just nine steps

EU pesticide threat
25 June 2008
European agriculture ministers agree to ease proposed pesticide restrictions - setting up a clash with the European Parliament

Protein removal on target
25 June 2008
If you're planning to cure a disease by removing a specific protein, how do you make the therapy selective?

Dunking doughnuts into cells
25 June 2008
Rubber-ring-shaped particles may soften the blow from cancer treatments

Anti-inflammatory compound from cannabis found in herbs
24 June 2008
A common natural product may help to treat bowel disease and arthritis without triggering psychoactive effects

Instant insight: Reducing the waste
24 June 2008
Tomislav Pintauer and Krzysztof Matyjaszewski reveal the magic ingredient that turns radical reactions 'green'

Lake sediments reveal 7000 years of history
23 June 2008
History of Chinese dynasties recorded in metal deposits

Molecular Lego turns green
23 June 2008
An environmentally-friendly method for connecting together the molecular building blocks

Petrochemical detection in miniature
23 June 2008
Cancer-causing compounds in the air can be detected using a hand-held spectrometer.

Miniaturised sewing machines
23 June 2008
Single threads of DNA can now be manipulated using miniaturised hooks and bobbins, thanks to Japanese scientists

Global industries call for carbon cuts
20 June 2008
Chemical companies included in policy document ahead of G8 summit in Japan

Matching nucleosides
20 June 2008
A fluorescent probe can spot the difference between the four DNA bases

New class of pheromones discovered
19 June 2008
Sulfated steroids may help mammals to sniff out a mate

Chemistry dominates list of China's most influential papers
19 June 2008
Nine out of 24 pioneering articles by chemists and materials scientists

Hybrid fuel cells show improved efficiency
19 June 2008
Combining two different fuel cell technologies can boost cell performance. UK scientists find out why.

Micro-magnets promise colour MRI scans
18 June 2008
Nickel shapes produce specific radio signals for detailed imaging

Deal on NHS drugs set to trim pharma profits
18 June 2008
Price of branded drugs cut by two per cent and off-patent drugs to face competition from generics

China assesses Sichuan earthquake's environmental costs
18 June 2008
Chemical industry reconstruction and new nuclear build could be put on hold

Instant Insight: Solar energy turns organic
18 June 2008
Hiroshi Imahori and Tomokazu Umeyama explain why carbon nanotubes are promising candidates for organic solar cells.

Reach chemicals regulation hit by computer problems
17 June 2008
Manufacturers and distributers face 'outrageous' registration delays

Double the metal
17 June 2008
An unusual dimagnesium-carbene complex could make a useful new catalyst, claim UK chemists

Microfluidic artistry hits the rails
16 June 2008
Rails guide plastic parts along microfluidic channels to build complex sculptures

Nano-embrace makes insulators conduct
16 June 2008
The interface between adjacent crystals of two organic insulators conducts electricity like a metal

Instant insight: Chemical developments
16 June 2008
Ilya Shestopalov and James Chen look at how chemistry can be used to probe the earliest processes of life

Asymmetric ketone catalysis gets pharma-scale makeover
13 June 2008
A reaction confined to the lab for 25 years could find favour with industry after chemists retune the catalyst

Daiichi Sankyo makes bid for Ranbaxy
13 June 2008
Japanese firm set to take a controlling stake in India's biggest pharma company

Olympic chemical restrictions worries industry
13 June 2008
Controls over making and transporting chemicals ahead of the games could push up prices

Drugs under pressure
13 June 2008
The properties of drugs can be improved by using high pressure to make different crystalline forms, claim UK scientists.

Sizing up proteins on-chip
13 June 2008
US scientists have formed gels on-chip for easier and cheaper protein separation

Light drives plastic motor
12 June 2008
A plastic that stretches in response to light can drive an engine

Houdini molecule escapes energy trap
11 June 2008
Molecule hunters trap the elusive hydroxymethylene - only to see it get away

GSK job cuts hit chemists
11 June 2008
GlaxoSmithKline is cutting the jobs of hundreds of scientists as it restructures its drug research and development operations

New hope for anticancer agent
11 June 2008
Scientists have revealed how leucascandrolide A targets tumours - and found a better way to make it

Weighing up cells
11 June 2008
How much does a cell weigh? US chemists are using a miniature cantilever to find out

A drug for longer lashes?
10 June 2008
A new 'cosmeceutical' to boost eyelash growth - from the maker of Botox - could take a bite out of the mascara market

Doubts raised over vaccine boost theory
10 June 2008
Wrong aluminium salts used in experiments to explain adjuvant effect, scientist claims

Interview: Environmental impact
10 June 2008
Jeff Tester talks to James Hodge about the importance of environmental science

Chocolate's sweet secrets
09 June 2008
Studying microstructural changes in chocolate could help confectioners stop that shiny surface from turning an unappetising dull grey

Artificial virus silences genes
09 June 2008
A rod-like peptide can carry RNA and drug molecules into cancer cells

An eye for drug delivery
09 June 2008
Patients with glaucoma and related eye diseases could soon be treated with a refillable drug delivery device - replacing the need for injections into the eyeball.

Absolute control of stereochemistry
09 June 2008
The one-step synthesis using an organocatalyst to control six chiral centres in a single molecule has been reported by Danish chemists.

Fingerprints recovered from wiped metal
06 June 2008
Electrostatic technique retrieves prints etched into brass by sweaty fingers

Genetic code does the twist
06 June 2008
A computational model reveals how DNA and RNA strands fold into hairpins

Cheaper catalysts designed by computer
05 June 2008
High-throughput calculations pluck out selective alloys to replace palladium

Chemists give cautious welcome for French science reforms
05 June 2008
Shake up promises to smash bureaucracy as CNRS divides

Man-made protocell hosts DNA synthesis
04 June 2008
US researchers have taken a key step towards making the first synthetic cell

Fireflies make light work of tumours
04 June 2008
A reaction that allows insects to glow in the dark may be used to monitor chemotherapy

Peptide printer goes into overdrive
04 June 2008
Modified laser printer can make large peptide arrays quickly and cheaply

Viruses incubate nanoparticles
04 June 2008
US scientists demonstrate how viruses can be used to make titania nanoparticles of fixed shapes and sizes.

'European Partnership for Researchers' gets a lukewarm response
03 June 2008
European Commission proposal to create single labour market for scientists unlikely to be implemented, say experts

How to keep beer fresher for longer
03 June 2008
Blocking the Maillard reaction could help to preserve the taste of lager

Synthetic chaperones lead to protein reform
03 June 2008
Chemists are going for gold to fold unravelled proteins

Electronic sensor for bad bacteria
02 June 2008
Toxins responsible for food poisoning can be detected using nanoscale transistors, claim US scientists.


