News February 2012
Can arsenic bind to bacterial DNA?
29 February 2012
Contrary to accepted wisdom, scientists claim that arsenic could replace phosphorus in the DNA backbone and remain stable in water
Graphene stymies body's efforts to expel it
28 February 2012
Researchers discover that once graphene enters the lungs the immune system has trouble getting rid of it
Observing charge distribution in molecules
28 February 2012
Microscopists have mapped the distribution of charge across a single organic molecule for the first time
Bending carbonyl reactivity rules
27 February 2012
A method for reducing a ketone or ester in the presence of an aldehyde bypasses the standard carbonyl reactivity hierarchy
In the sky with (nano)diamonds
24 February 2012
Meteoric nanodiamonds were formed from 'carbon onion' collisions
Botox 'bodyguard' gives protein protection
24 February 2012
How does botulinum toxin - one of the most potent toxins known to man - survive the gut to wreak neurological havoc elsewhere?
How to measure solar cell efficiency correctly
24 February 2012
A UK researcher aims to level the playing field for solar cell efficiency claims with a set of simple guidelines
Computers look at life-giving reactions in space
24 February 2012
A theoretical study on radical reactions may uncover the origins of life
EPA sets safe dioxin level
23 February 2012
Exposure threshold draws praise from scientists and environmentalist but industry remains nonplussed
Japan merges science centres to cut costs
23 February 2012
Austerity measures spark concern about research quality among academics
Simple sensitive TNT detection
23 February 2012
Self assembled gel senses TNT at the attogram level, suggesting a cheap and easy method of TNT detection
Powering up fuel cells
23 February 2012
Attaching enzyme electrocatalysts to carbon nanotubes increases the power output of hydrogen fuel cells
Cyclotron remedy for imaging isotope shortages
22 February 2012
Medical isotope shortages could be a thing of the past as a breakthrough will allow hospitals to make their own
Mapping the reactivity of single nanocatalysts
22 February 2012
The catalytic behaviour of gold nanorods varies across their surface in unexpected ways
Nanocellulose has paper potential
21 February 2012
Material would cut the carbon footprint of paper substantially - by 15% or more, the researchers say
Nanopore sequencing bags its first genome
21 February 2012
Oxford Nanopore sequences a viral genome and aims to launch its sequencing platforms within the year
Treat science as a hobby
21 February 2012
Jie Liu talks to Heather Montgomery about his scientific inspirations and the next big breakthrough in carbon nanotube research
Unusual kinetics of catalyst revealed
20 February 2012
Understanding the unexpected role of ligands in metal catalysed C-H activation shows that synthetic chemist may need to think quite differently
EPA data decision sparks security row
20 February 2012
Will public access online to information about US chemical plants increase or decrease the security risk?
Risk of water pollution by fracking overstated
20 February 2012
US researchers determine that groundwater contamination at fracking sites is the result of poor waste management and not the fracking process
EU innovation position slipping
17 February 2012
The growth of innovation in the EU is slowing, making it more difficult for the EU to compete internationally
DNA nanorobots seek and destroy disease
17 February 2012
DNA-based robots can perform simple computation to detect cell type, then offload cargo, say US researchers
Making crisps healthier
16 February 2012
Less salt may not necessarily mean less flavour, according to new crisp research. It's all in the way the salt is released into the mouth
'Proton grease' speeds up molecular rotor
16 February 2012
Lubricating protons put a new spin on molecular machine research
Consistent Avogadro number a step nearer
15 February 2012
Chemical metrologists in Canada have made the most accurate measurement of silicon's atomic weight to date
Branched organic nanowire heterojunctions
15 February 2012
Chinese researchers have combined two organic materials to create a tree-like structure that emits various wavelengths
FDA proposes biosimilars approval pathway
14 February 2012
US biotechnology industry cautiously welcomes FDA's draft guidance to facilitate biosimilars' development and approval
Protocells called thermal springs home
13 February 2012
Cells' ionic composition suggests life may have originated in thermal springs rather than deep sea vents
Building a nation of scientists
13 February 2012
Goverdhan Mehta talks to Sheena Elliott and Elinor Richards about the progress of science in India and the challenges scientists face
Thermal imaging on the wing
12 February 2012
Butterfly wings have been turned into infrared detectors by covering them in carbon nanotubes
Nanoparticles slow iron absorption in the gut
12 February 2012
Study shows even 'safe' nanoparticles can have physiological consequences, say US researchers
Instant ecstasy detector
10 February 2012
A probe to reveal the active ingredient in ecstasy tablets for quick detection
Molecule mimics molybdenum catalyst
09 February 2012
Analogue of hydrogen-evolving catalyst will help to study how it works and how to improve its efficiency
Polyrotaxanes zip themselves up
09 February 2012
The power of pi stacking overcomes entropy and links up polyrotaxanes with high yields
A new generation of tuberculosis drugs
09 February 2012
Antibacterial drugs that can discriminate between human and bacterial enzymes to target TB
Pressurising red blood cells for information
09 February 2012
A microfluidic device that can distinguish between stages of malarial infection
Tiny pump senses chemical changes and acts
09 February 2012
A polymer pump that works better the more it breaks could deliver drugs or detect disease
Obama urged to cut FDA ties with Monsanto
08 February 2012
Petition pressing President Obama to oust FDA's deputy commissioner for foods goes viral, garnering over 380,000 signatures
DNA walker strides towards the light
08 February 2012
Nucleic acid machines powered by light could one day transport cargo or help synthesise novel nanomaterials
Treating hospital wastewater
07 February 2012
Bioreactors could be part of the solution to the problem of drugs entering the water supply
Nano-welding with a light touch
07 February 2012
Researchers weld nanowires using just white light as a route to simplify electronics manufacturing
10 out of 10 for boron's coordinated effort
06 February 2012
Chemists create a boron compound with the most coordination linkages ever seen in a planar species
NERC asks institutes to weed out poor grants
03 February 2012
Research council plans to improve grant success rates by getting universities to screen out 'uncompetitive' proposals
Whistleblowers accuse FDA of spying, persecution
03 February 2012
US FDA employees sue agency, saying they were subjected to secret surveillance for expressing safety concerns about medical devices
Toxic mushroom behind Chinese deaths unmasked
03 February 2012
The killer chemicals that have claimed hundreds of lives in China have been identified in a new species of fungi
AstraZeneca to cut 7300 more jobs
02 February 2012
The cost cutting trend is set to continue as big pharma reels from patent expiries
Ultrafast NMR shows the way
02 February 2012
Scientists working in Israel and Spain have used two-dimensional NMR to monitor a reaction in real time
UK chemistry student numbers hold steady
02 February 2012
Chemistry degrees predicted to buck the trend of a 9% drop in applications to UK universities
Magical microwaves
02 February 2012
When a reaction speeds up in a microwave, is it down to the heat or the microwaves?
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The world's strongest fibres
01 February 2012
A polymer fibre that combines carbon nanotubes and reduced graphene oxide is stronger than spider silk and Kevlar
