News March 2010
EPA turns spotlight on BPA
31 March 2010
US Environmental Protection Agency adds bisphenol A to 'chemical concern' list and will look more closely at its environmental impacts
Uncertainties for UN clean energy programme in China
31 March 2010
Project by which developed countries fund clean energy projects in developing countries faces uncertain future in China
Sir James Black, OM (1924-2010)
30 March 2010
Sir James Black discovered the world's first blockbuster drug, was awarded a Nobel prize, and rewrote the rules of drug discovery
An attractive method for bacteria detection
30 March 2010
Magnetic particles have been used to directly detect the pathogenic Streptococcus suis bacterium for the first time
Dual responsive microgel particles
30 March 2010
Microgel particles that are responsive to both temperature and a magnetic field could lead to improved targeting in drug delivery systems
Zinc rivals platinum in the fight against cancer
30 March 2010
New zinc complexes that show promising anticancer activity could be used as an alternative to platinum based drugs, claim Italian scientists
Drug adviser quits over science advice rules
29 March 2010
Sixth resignation from government drugs council could trigger more departures and calls into further question the council's ability to offer scientific advice
REF refined
29 March 2010
Extensive consultation leads to changes to the proposed Research Excellence Framework, but questions over impact assessment remain
Stem cells find their polystyrene niche
29 March 2010
Norwegian scientists have developed a microfluidic device that can cultivate stem cells for a period of three weeks
Gene variations change metabolism of arsenic
26 March 2010
Scientists from Taiwan have identified a genetic variation that could make certain populations more susceptible to arsenic poisoning
New catalyst for diesel exhaust
25 March 2010
Catalytic converter based on perovskite minerals could perform as well as platinum while much cheaper
Science advice rules published
25 March 2010
Long-awaited principles for scientific advice in government meet with a frosty response and calls for researchers to boycott the guidelines
Big pharma scores in US healthcare reform
25 March 2010
Under Obama's new healthcare reform, drug companies will pay more than $80 billion for rules that fit the bill
Budget boon for science and industry
25 March 2010
Science and industry are offered a glimmer of hope in the latest UK budget
All-in-one mercury removal
25 March 2010
Finding, absorbing and removing mercury from environmental waters could soon be done in one step with magnetic microspheres
Biosensors in briefs
25 March 2010
Durable biosensors printed directly onto clothing could allow continuous biomedical monitoring in soldiers and athletes
The key to colloid assembly
24 March 2010
Lock-and-key assembly system could open up a 'galaxy' of possibilities for colloid researchers
A crowded neighbourhood
24 March 2010
US team creates compound with the highest coordination number yet seen
A colourful light-controlled switch
24 March 2010
A light-driven molecular switch capable of fast and reversible colour tuning could improve liquid crystal displays
Nuclear power without radioactivity
24 March 2010
Radiation-free nuclear fusion could be possible in the future claim a team of international scientists
Microbes implicated in Alzheimer's
23 March 2010
For many years, beta amyloid has been blamed for causing Alzheimer's - but could it also be protecting us from infection?
Comment: Can we halt the flow of new designer drugs?
23 March 2010
Could the dangers of 'legal high' mephedrone have been predicted? Of course they could, says John Mann
MPs warn science cuts will harm economy
23 March 2010
Government Science and Technology committee criticises 'arbitrary' funding cuts
Interview: From father to sun
22 March 2010
Robin Perutz talks to Marie Cote about solar energy, ecological awareness and how science runs in the family
Nanoparticles successfully deliver RNA interference in cancer patients
21 March 2010
Nanoparticles injected into the blood of cancer patients successfully reached their target and silence genes
Drinking water from sunlight and seawater
21 March 2010
Technique that can 'push' the salt out of seawater could lead to portable water desalination devices
Reach deadline at risk
19 March 2010
Chemicals at risk of being removed from market as large number of firms look set to miss EU chemical regulation deadline
Lipid-based drug carriers target tumours
19 March 2010
A unique way to control the size of lipid-based anticancer drug carriers could lead to more efficient anticancer therapy
New self-replication system governed by mechanical force
18 March 2010
Shaken or stirred? Chemists discover a new self-replication system whose outcome is dictated by how mechanical force is applied to it
Universities face cuts as Hefce deals with first funding drop in years
18 March 2010
£7.4 billion distributed for teaching and research at universities in England, but uncertainties and anxiety remain
Dual sensing spray-on wash-off paints
18 March 2010
A water-based fluorescent paint simultaneously images pressure and temperature distribution on aeroplanes and cars
Infrared spectroscopy aids cancer diagnosis
18 March 2010
A genetic algorithm developed by UK scientists could aid the use of infrared spectroscopy in cancer diagnosis
Ditch the paperwork, say researchers
17 March 2010
Thousands of frustrated researchers call for EU funding processes to be simplified and cut out unnecessary paperwork
CF wins turf war for Terra
17 March 2010
CF Industries looks to have won the turf wars after its $4.7 billion bid beats Yara out of the bidding for Terra
Chemoselectivity goes with the flow
17 March 2010
Japanese researchers have devised a flow microreactor to control the chemoselectivity of synthetic organic reactions
Interview: Reaching for the summit
17 March 2010
Luis Oro talks about his passions for chemistry, the environment and climbing mountains
Making 'armoured' T-shirts
16 March 2010
Cotton shirts reinforced with boron carbide have potential for tough-but-flexible new body armour
Double action cancer therapy
16 March 2010
Multifunctional nanoparticles simultaneously attack tumours with chemotherapy and photothermal therapy
An agile future
15 March 2010
Nick Roelofs, president of Agilent's life sciences group, discusses how the company is planning to ride the waves of the economic recovery
All aboard the DNA nanotube
15 March 2010
Cargo-carrying DNA nanotubes that can rapidly release their load on demand have been made for the first time by Canadian researchers
Solvents switch in and out of water
15 March 2010
Solvents that change their hydrophilicity on addition and removal of carbon dioxide could help make chemistry better for the environment
Microfibres pure enough for the liver
15 March 2010
A research group in Korea have developed a method to engineer artificial liver tissue using microfluidics
Striking algal oil
12 March 2010
Algae may be touted as the next big thing in environmentally friendly fuel, but techniques to work out which algal strains will be best have been lacking - until now
Enzymes power molecular logic
12 March 2010
A self-powered biomolecular security system has been developed by US scientists
Microengineering muscles
12 March 2010
In vitro human tissue model could aid search for muscular disease treatment
Cause of thalidomide deformities uncovered
11 March 2010
Scientists believe they have revealed one of the key molecular targets that binds to the drug thalidomide to cause birth defects
Shape-shifting polymers
10 March 2010
Polymer can reversibly take on a range of different shapes in response to changes in temperature
China slows R&D funding growth
10 March 2010
After a hefty 30 per cent increase in science funding last year, China's proposed budget scales back research funding growth for 2010
Nanotube 'fuse' generates power
10 March 2010
Coating nanotubes with fuel allows them to convert an exothermic reaction into electricity, thereby opening up new avenues in energy research
Soapy solution for scratched surfaces
10 March 2010
Chinese scientists have developed a superhydrophobic coating that can be repaired by treating the surface with a potassium stearate solution
Mixed reviews for Canada's science budget
09 March 2010
Canadian budget proposal would give research councils an extra C$32 million annually, but some say it's not enough
Fund science or risk economic downfall
09 March 2010
Researchers and former science ministers warn UK government of 'decades of slow economic decline' unless science receives heavy investment
Ultrasensitive DNA detection
09 March 2010
A lipase-based sensor detects tiny quantities of DNA and could be used to test for bacteria that spoils beer.
Green by design carpet tiles
09 March 2010
Switchable adhesives made from renewable resources make carpet tiles more environmentally friendly, say UK scientists
Coming clean on emissions outsourcing
08 March 2010
Study details proportion of developed countries carbon dioxide emissions that are 'outsourced' to emerging economies
Molecular midwives helped birth of DNA
08 March 2010
'Molecular midwives' may have helped the first DNA strands form in the primordial soup
Novel foams reduce fire risk
08 March 2010
Treating soft furnishings with toxic flame-retardants could be avoided in the future thanks to a new non-flammable polymer developed by US scientists
Solvated electron mystery solved
07 March 2010
Researchers directly measure binding energy of electrons in aqueous solution, finding that those in bulk solution behave differently to those on the surface
EC approves first GM crop in a decade
05 March 2010
European Commission authorises cultivation of genetically modified potato Amflora, the first new GM crop approved in 12 years
Polarised light sends fibres in a new direction
05 March 2010
Japanese scientists have developed a photochromic molecular fibre that can be bent in different directions using polarised light
Twin-action nanosensor
05 March 2010
A polymer nanosensor developed by Chinese scientists responds to both metal ions and temperature
Accumulation of acid in atmosphere explained
04 March 2010
Better particle detectors have helped explain why sulfuric acid is so prevalent in the Earth's atmosphere
Silver sputtered nano chips mimic brain synapse
04 March 2010
New approach to embedding silver in silicon-based memristors set to help researchers imitate animal brains
Interview: Monitoring the environment
04 March 2010
Omowunmi Sadik talks to Keith Farrington about chemical sensors and nanotechnology in the environment
Hydrocarbon turns superconductor
03 March 2010
Picene doped with an alkali-metal exhibits superconducting behaviour at 18 Kelvin
UK must avoid 'neglected decline' in research
03 March 2010
Report from top science council calls for science spending to be prioritised for UK research base to remain globally competitive
Nanofactories monitor bacteria communication
03 March 2010
A novel microdevice investigates how bacteria communicate and become resistant to drugs
New high tech nuclear lab for EU
02 March 2010
Europe gets new lab to significantly boost region's ability to identify and characterise minute traces of nuclear material
Clever cages for anti-cancer enzymes
02 March 2010
Semi-porous hollow nanospheres could revolutionise the delivery of anti-leukaemia drugs in the body claim scientists in China
Microwells for detecting smells
02 March 2010
A microfluidic-based platform that screens odorant responses in thousands of cells at once has been developed by US Scientists
US launches new regulatory science programme
01 March 2010
Agencies partner to create new programme to ensure better integration between cutting edge science and regulatory processes
