News May 2012

Buckyballs grow by gobbling up carbon
29 May 2012
A quarter of a century on, the discoverer of fullerenes throws new light on their existence

New shape for cross-linked polymers
29 May 2012
A new way to impart malleability could make covalently cross-linked polymers more easily processable, versatile and recyclable

Graphite super lube works at micron scale
29 May 2012
Scientists show graphite surfaces can slide over each other with no interference from friction

Photo-finish for Olympicene
28 May 2012
UK chemists have synthesised and imaged a molecule that closely resembles the Olympic rings

HDL drug class struggling after latest flop
28 May 2012
The failure of another 'good' cholesterol-raising drug and a new genetic study casts shadow over HDL hypothesis

Tropical fruit to tackle obesity
25 May 2012
Chemicals in mango peel prevent fat accumulating in the body

Can magma crystals predict eruptions?
24 May 2012
Researchers home in on a chemical fingerprint for volcanic eruptions but can currently only examine it after the eruption

EPA's chemical assessment programme scrutinised
24 May 2012
US National Academy of Sciences to launch 'comprehensive examination' of agency's chemical health assessments

Solar cell performs solidly
23 May 2012
New all-solid state solar cell design proves to be efficient, robust and easy to produce

Drug watchdogs mark out global territory
23 May 2012
US and European regulatory agencies are leading worldwide collaborations to ensure drugs from outside their borders are safe

NRC chief quits with a bang
23 May 2012
Resignation of under pressure chairman of US nuclear agency meets with mixed reaction

Rewritable DNA for digital data storage
21 May 2012
Cells respond in easy to follow binary manner to chemical switches

Bromine anion caught in a supramolecular trap
21 May 2012
A rare host-guest arrangement could help scientists to design improved photocatalysts

Ultra-low sulfur jet fuel on the radar
18 May 2012
Desulfurising aeroplane fuel would improve public health but could have unanticipated effects on the climate

Plutonium in a spin
17 May 2012
Japanese and US researchers have solved the decades-old problem of plutonium-239's NMR spectrum

Enhancing fingerprints with electrochromism
17 May 2012
A method to detect latent fingerprints on metal surfaces with a high level of detail

The death of UK science?
16 May 2012
Campaign group launches with PR stunt to highlight perceived failings at physical sciences research council

Polymer gel squeezes and strains like an intestine
16 May 2012
The oscillating Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction powers a tubular gel that expands and contracts in waves

Chiral confusion
15 May 2012
There are a vast number of chiral crystals just waiting to be discovered, say scientists

Powering up retinal prosthetics
14 May 2012
A system of video goggles and an artificial retina powered by infrared lasers could restore sight to the blind

Campaigners win fight to reform English libel laws
14 May 2012
Bill will protect scientists and journalists from vexatious suits when critiquing scientific claims

Gas separation with graphene nanopores
11 May 2012
Functionalising tiny holes in graphene should theoretically allow simple separation of a wide range of gases

Sacked EPA chemist wins job back
11 May 2012
US Environmental Protection Agency scientist who was fired after warning about toxic dust at Ground Zero reinstated by court

Forensic electrochemistry to detect firearms use
10 May 2012
On site gunshot residue detection made possible using cyclic voltammetry
Borosulfate breaks through
10 May 2012
German chemists have created what they say is the first of a new kind of free borosulfate anion cluster

Cracks break the rules of nanofabrication
09 May 2012
Controlled cracks offer a cheaper and easier way to create nano-sized patterns, say researchers in South Korea

Disposable paper electronic touch pads on their way
09 May 2012
Cheap paper devices could be used in smart packaging, biomedical devices and many other applications

Keep stirring that Suzuki
08 May 2012
Reactor shape can influence the behaviour of organotrifluoroborate compounds in Suzuki cross-coupling reactions, say chemists in the UK

Pharma firms see mixed fortunes in Québec
08 May 2012
Canada's pharmaceutical and life sciences hub hit by cutbacks as effects of global slowdown continue to be felt

What to do with leftover prescription drugs?
04 May 2012
Study examines whether to bin, flush or return our unused medication

Ranbaxy launches new anti-malarial Synriam
03 May 2012
India is still waiting for its first fully home grown drug as firm commercialises molecule discovered by charitable venture

Russia to ease qualification vetting bureaucracy
03 May 2012
Simpler recognition process for foreign qualifications planned to attract more skilled workers

Rapid synthesis of graphene capsules
03 May 2012
Oil absorbing graphene capsules can be synthesised in one step

Reducing the cost of oxygen enrichment
02 May 2012
A synthesis developed by UK scientists could reduce the cost of studying porous materials by oxygen NMR


