News January 2011
Electrons charge down DNA molecular wire
30 January 2011
DNA can be used as a molecular wire to effectively conduct electricity over long distances without being damaged
Nanotubes protect brain tissue from stroke damage
30 January 2011
Functionalised carbon nanotubes can protect brain from damage caused by stroke according to researchers in Korea
US cost savings must spare science, Obama says
28 January 2011
President proposes to freeze US domestic spending for five years, next budget will invest in research to spur innovation
Chips make short work of RNA synthesis
28 January 2011
A simple lab on a chip synthesis of short strands of RNA has been developed
Eliminating arsenic from drinking water
28 January 2011
Arsenic could be removed from water using a low cost, natural mineral found on the Earth's surface
Firefighters need more protection from chemical fumes
28 January 2011
Firefighters are exposing themselves to almost ten times the acceptable level of 75 volatile organic compounds while putting out vehicle fires
Muons take kinetic isotope effects to extremes
27 January 2011
Scientists have used elementary particles to investigate the effect of isotope identity on one of the most fundamental reactions in chemistry
Germany heeds call to block lethal injection drug supply
27 January 2011
German pharma industry agrees to block exports of drug used in lethal injections to the US, major producer ceases manufacture
Diet affects cholesterol drug
27 January 2011
Metals in the body have been found to affect the performance of statin drugs
Carbon nanotubes for hydrogen storage
26 January 2011
Researchers design 3D carbon-based nanotube matrix that can store and release hydrogen extremely efficiently
Luminescence gives 2D pH images
26 January 2011
2D imaging of pH in vivo shows promise for wound monitoring in medicine
Channelling deeper to target breast cancer
26 January 2011
An on chip model of breast ducts is used to demonstrate how to get further into the ducts than before to collect samples or deliver drugs
Patching up tooth enamel
25 January 2011
Scientists have been able to rebuild eroded tooth enamel with a hydrogel
Dimer delivers pinpoint recognition
24 January 2011
Synthetic molecule pairs up to provide a novel way to mimic selective binding seen in biological systems
Novel nanoparticle filter
23 January 2011
Researchers create a recyclable membrane based on non-covalent bonds to filter nanoparticles
Black TiO2 absorbs light across the spectrum
21 January 2011
Hydrogenation used to introduce disorder into titanium dioxide nanocrystals, increasing the amount of solar light they absorb
Close encounter makes modifying proteins easy
21 January 2011
Using a molecular recognition approach to protein functionalisation allows amino acid side-chains to be modified selectively
Early lung cancer diagnosis
21 January 2011
Scientists have discovered the levels of a specific protein increase in the presence of lung cancer but no other cancer type
Jump starting prebiotic photochemistry
21 January 2011
US scientists look into how the first cell-like structures could have come about
Chemists separate water isomers
20 January 2011
A decade after initial controversial claims, a new group says it has separated water into its two spin isomers
SNPs on display
20 January 2011
New technique uses DNA origami to provide visual read out of the most common form of genetic variations
Programmable RNA promising for bio-compatible therapies
20 January 2011
RNA structures generated through computer-aided design could deliver novel therapeutics
Protective shells for cells
20 January 2011
Novel hydrogen-bonded coating protects living cells in bioengineering applications
Modified protein binders give shortcut to drugs
19 January 2011
Attaching polypeptides to small molecules can significantly increase the specificity and affinity of protein binders
Carbon dioxide clusters cracked by IR
19 January 2011
Carbon dioxide clusters have been spectroscopically identified for the first time
Nanoparticle divides to conquer
17 January 2011
Nanoparticle breaks up into smaller units once it reaches a tumour, allowing it to penetrate deeper and deliver treatment more effectively
BSE pathogens passed on by air
17 January 2011
The infectious misfolded protein molecules that cause mad cow disease can be transmitted in the air, say scientists
Antibodies could lead to MRSA vaccine
16 January 2011
Antibodies against a crucial MRSA protein stop the bacterium in its tracks
Size matters in piezoelectric materials
14 January 2011
Piezoelectric generation two-fold better in nanowires than bulk material
Nuclear forensics
14 January 2011
A handheld device for nuclear inspectors to measure uranium-235 levels
Palladium helps gold catalyst go green
13 January 2011
New gold-palladium nanoparticle catalyst converts toluene into widely used industrial intermediate without the need for environmentally unfriendly solvents
UK tilts towards appraisal of Avastin as eye drug
13 January 2011
UK authorities press forward in long running debate over two drugs from the Genentech
Unclogging the problems of flow chemistry
13 January 2011
An ultrasound bath can improve continuous flow systems that could be used to manufacture pharmaceuticals
Einstein in your engine
12 January 2011
Researchers find that up to 85 per cent of the voltage developed by the lead-acid car battery is due to relativistic effects
EPSRC plans represent 'huge change'
12 January 2011
Academics concerned changes and cuts at chemistry funding body could threaten careers
Artificial intestine for gut studies
12 January 2011
A 3D hydrogel scaffold that mimics gastrointestinal villi for cell culture studies
DuPont signs Danisco deal for $5.8 billion
11 January 2011
The deal takes the chemical giant strongly into the food ingredient and enzyme markets in Europe
Sensors in the blood
11 January 2011
A zinc based sensor to detect artery hardening compounds in real blood samples
Libel law reform to protect scientists
10 January 2011
Reform to UK libel laws could protect scientists from being 'bullied into silence' at the prospect of costly legal battles with big businesses
California under fire for approving controversial pesticide
10 January 2011
State being sued for allowing methyl iodide to be used as a fumigant pesticide, despite objections from scientists
Mild route to organohalides using visible light
09 January 2011
US researchers convert alcohols to their corresponding bromides and iodides without generating wasteful by-products using visible-light
Urchins bare their teeth in materials research
07 January 2011
The self-sharpening mechanism used by sea urchin teeth could inspire new self-sharpening tools
New molecule could propel rockets
07 January 2011
New nitrogen oxide molecule could be used in rocket fuel, but some researchers are unsure whether it will ever make it out of the lab
Sticky hydrogels make resilient wound dressings
07 January 2011
Hydrogels could be used to deliver drugs through wound dressings
Microfluidic pinball
07 January 2011
A device set up like a pinball machine guides oil droplets through polymers to build up polymer layers
Obama moves to protect research agency budgets
06 January 2011
President signs Competes bill authorising sustained funding increases for key physical science agencies, but academics still wary
Using HIV against itself
06 January 2011
'Trojan horse' molecule uses HIV to trigger the release of the very drug that could destroy the virus
Toxin sensor for drinking water
06 January 2011
A sensor to detect toxins produced by algae in drinking water
Macromolecules from miniature templates
05 January 2011
Powerful new technique for precisely synthesising large molecules using simple templates
Nanoparticles build up
05 January 2011
New studies show nanoparticles can concentrate from one species to another through feeding, prompting questions about the design of future particles
Silk woven into transistors
05 January 2011
Researchers demonstrate a bio-compatible transistor that could find applications in medicine or flexible electronics
