News November 2009
Colour change test for arsenic
30 November 2009
New colorimetric gold nanoparticle-based test quickly measures arsenic levels in contaminated groundwater to very low concentrations
A simple way to join an olefin to an arene
27 November 2009
Pd-catalysed olefination of an arene can be directed by simple modification to the substrate and amine ligands to steer the catalyst
New nano rule for EU cosmetics
27 November 2009
New EU regulation will require cosmetics to list nanoparticles on ingredients list; Germany raises concerns
One pot synthesis for nylon precursor
26 November 2009
Chinese chemists optimise process to make useful cyclohexanone from phenol in a single step
Natural remedy shows anticancer activity
26 November 2009
Copper complexes of the traditional Chinese remedy plumbagin show enhanced anticancer activity, say Chinese scientists.
Water pollution higher than calculated
26 November 2009
Flawed data on the amount of organic pollutants in raw sewage is being used by environmental policy makers, claim US scientists
Medical isotope shortage concerns in US
25 November 2009
DOE panel calls for US to build two major isotope production facilities, House passes bill to promote domestic production of key medical isotope
Virus shells trap multiple proteins
25 November 2009
Researchers boost the number of proteins that can be held inside the empty shell of a virus, bringing nanoreactors a step closer
The future of solar cells changes shape
25 November 2009
Unique coral-shaped nanomaterials could improve the efficiency of solar cells, say Chinese scientists
Non-protein antifreeze helps Arctic beetle chill out
23 November 2009
Alaskan beetles lead scientists to discover new class of biological antifreeze molecules - the first that do not contain proteins
Pharma group aims to banish contaminated ingredients
23 November 2009
Consortium aims to tighten pharmaceutical supply chain security and avoid drug contamination scandals
Nano-labels allow stem cell imaging
23 November 2009
Iron-laden nanoparticles used as non-toxic labels for magnetic resonance imaging
Bonding under pressure
22 November 2009
Unusual compound of xenon and hydrogen made under high pressure by researchers in the US
Nuclear waste research resurfaces
20 November 2009
New enthusiasm for nuclear power by UK government has focused attention on the stockpiles of 50 years' worth of accumulated radioactive waste
Pretty peptide patterns
20 November 2009
The smallest building blocks to date have been used to make fractal patterns
Breathe easy for cancer diagnosis
20 November 2009
A painless breath test can identify trace gases emitted by malignant cells
How HIV gives antibodies the slip
19 November 2009
New structural studies may help vaccine designers hit HIV where it hurts
Bayer to reduce cost of chlorine production
19 November 2009
New chlorine production process uses 30 per cent less energy than current methods, says Bayer
Portable power supply takes a step forward
19 November 2009
Chinese scientists have developed membranes that could improve direct methanol fuel cells
Ironing graphene sheets flat
18 November 2009
Researchers use mica to form ultra-flat graphene sheets and show the material does not naturally ripple
A pharmaceutical named desire
18 November 2009
A failed antidepressant has been shown to increase women's sex drive
Nasa data point to icy moon
18 November 2009
Mission scientists say spectroscopic data show tell-tale signs of water in shadowy impact crater
Making microfluidic membranes
18 November 2009
US scientists have made biocompatible membranes in microfluidic chips
Nobel laureates appeal for open access
17 November 2009
More than 40 Nobel laureates urge US Congress to require federally funded research to be freely available, amid American Chemical Society objections
Modelling viruses to kill cancer
17 November 2009
Computational studies of virus behaviour in tumours could lead to more effective cancer treatments
Instant insight: Sensing the biological world
17 November 2009
Jonathan Cooper and Manilo Tassieri explain how mechanical phenomena in biological systems can be studied at very small scales
Chinese NASDAQ brings little to chemicals industry
16 November 2009
Chinese chemical industry misses out on bonanza brought by long-awaited Growth Enterprise Market, the Chinese version of the NASDAQ
Interview: Beyond the inorganic boundaries
16 November 2009
Ian Manners talks about polymerisations, interfaces, and living in Wales
Bacteria turn carbon dioxide into fuel
15 November 2009
US researchers engineer bacteria to photosynthetically convert carbon dioxide to useful biofuel
New methanol fuel standards for China
13 November 2009
New methanol fuel standards introduced in China expected to boost methanol use in vehicles, but unlikely to replace gasoline use to any large degree
Seeing inside droplets
13 November 2009
Single molecules trapped in tiny droplets can be detected and counted
Green tea prevents kidney stones
13 November 2009
Drinking green tea can help prevent the formation of large kidney stones claim Chinese scientists
Carbonic acid captured
12 November 2009
Researchers have caught a rare glimpse of carbonic acid - and it turns out to be much more acidic than the textbooks say
New drug design looks top Notch against cancer
12 November 2009
Cancer targets thought to be unblockable are blocked by 'stapled peptide' drugs
Palmtop PCR
12 November 2009
Scientists in Korea are using convection to power a palmtop device for genetic point of care diagnostics
Magnetic yeast cells
12 November 2009
A single step method makes magnetic yeast cells that are easy to position inside chips
Structural snapshots of complex molecules
11 November 2009
New spectroscopy technique uncovers the sequence of atomic movements occurring during complex chemical transformations
Three more scientists quit drugs council
11 November 2009
Chemist Simon Campbell one of latest to resign from UK drugs council as science minister stresses need to move forward
Nanotubes to soak up oil spills
11 November 2009
Low density 'nanotube aerogel' sponge can selectively absorb 180 times its own weight in oil from water surface
Interview: Human on a chip
11 November 2009
Nicole Pamme talks about magnetism, microfluidics and the research rollercoaster
Biodegradable electronics dissolve after use
10 November 2009
Researchers make biodegradable and biocompatible transistor that could be used in medical implants that dissolve over time
Polymers produce bright white light
10 November 2009
White light for colour displays can be produced from organic polymers
Microscopic springs made from nanotube composite
09 November 2009
Researchers make millimetre-sized springs from carbon nanotube-enriched polymers, using UV light to set the shapes in place
Instant insight: Reactions in droplets
09 November 2009
Microfluidic droplets could become the reaction vessels of choice for much of biological research say Yolanda Schaerli and Florian Hollfelder
Loss of senior chemist throws further doubt on future of UK drugs council
06 November 2009
Former ACMD senior chemist Les King would join new independent drugs committee set up by dismissed scientist David Nutt
Monitoring asthma with mobile phones
06 November 2009
A mobile phone-based sensor can be used in measure nitric oxide in breath, a indicator for airway inflammation
Boron-based compounds inhibit key HIV enzyme
06 November 2009
Structures based on caged polyhedral clusters may lead to new way to treat drug resistant HIV
Enzyme binds both sides of the mirror
06 November 2009
Bacterial enzyme found to bind both enantiomers of a chiral molecule simultaneously
Silver coating gets gold star
06 November 2009
Scientists from the UK are waging war on hospital 'superbugs' with a highly effective antimicrobial organo-silver coating
Playing with 'Russian-doll' fullerenes
05 November 2009
Chinese chemists make 'Russian-doll'-style fullerenes, containing three distinct molecules trapped within one another
Interview: Sweet Science
05 November 2009
David Jakeman talks about carbohydrates, drugs and meeting Darwin. Interview by Nicola Wise
Bolivia plans to lead the electric revolution
04 November 2009
Bolivia is to go it alone and start mining its lithium reserves - a move that will aid electric car production
New treatment hope for lupus patients
04 November 2009
Positive results from two late stage trials offer hope for sufferers of the autoimmune disease lupus
Single-base DNA resolution
04 November 2009
A fluorescent probe sensitive to differences at the single-base-level of DNA has been created by researchers in Japan
Cash lures top achievers away from US science
03 November 2009
Science is losing more of the cream of the academic crop to high-paying careers in other sectors
First tests for pesticide endocrine effects in US
03 November 2009
EPA orders chemical manufacturers to screen seven compounds to determine if they are endocrine disruptors
Omega comes first for brain imaging
02 November 2009
Remote-controlled miniature valves designed by US scientists can deliver tracers into the brain.
New way to find drugs' unintended targets
02 November 2009
New computational and statistical strategy identifies potential side effects and new targets for pharmaceutical drugs
Efficient Eucalyptus chemistry
02 November 2009
Eucalyptus leaves can be used as a greener way to produce a valuable chemical used in fragrances and pharmaceuticals
Acid solution for nanotube fibres
01 November 2009
Carbon nanotubes can be dissolved in chlorosulfonic acid for easy processing
