October, 2011 News

October 28, 2011

Speedy Homemade-Explosive Detector

Forensic Chemistry: A new method could increase the number of explosives detected by airport screeners.

Solar Panel Makers Cry Foul

Trade: U.S. companies complain of market dumping by China.

Novartis To Cut 2,000 Jobs

Employment: Layoffs follow similar moves by Amgen, AstraZeneca.

Nations Break Impasse On Waste

Environment: Ban to halt export of hazardous waste to developing world.

Roche RNAi Assets Go to Arrowhead

Drug Discovery: Acquisition lifts a cloud from the field of RNAi therapeutics.

October 27, 2011

New Leader For Lawrence Livermore

Nuclear Weapons: Penrose (Parney) Albright will direct DOE national lab.

October 26, 2011

Hair Reveals Source Of People's Exposure To Mercury

Toxic Exposure: Mercury isotopes in human hair illuminate dietary and industrial sources.

Why The Long Fat?

Cancer Biochemistry: Mass spectrometry follows the metabolism of very long fatty acids in cancer cells.

October 25, 2011

Roche RNAi Assets Go To Arrowhead

Drug Discovery: Acquisition lifts a cloud from the field of RNAi therapeutics.

'Bath Salt' Chemicals Busted

Drugs: DEA bans sale, possession of three compounds.

Method Spots DNA Modifications On Single Strands

Epigenetics: Patterning approach may help researchers monitor DNA methylation in individual cells.

October 24, 2011

How Old Are Your Blues?

Cultural Conservation: At Spain's only remaining Islamic university, analytical techniques distinguish original pigments from those added in the subsequent six centuries.

Modifying Messenger RNA

Chemical Biology: Methylated bases in mRNA may have roles in gene regulation and obesity.

European Firms Invest In China

Specialty Chemicals: Companies pursue local research and production.

Prioritizing Science Funding

Budget: House committee members outline science funding they think the nation can do without.

Reconsidering Safe Lead Levels

Preliminary analysis links low blood lead levels with adverse health effects.

House Bills Would Undermine EPA

Pollution: Congressional Republicans seek to derail rules on boilers, coal ash.

Investors Bet On Cleantech

Green Chemistry: Close to $1 billion is slated for start-up firms.

October 19, 2011

Academic Lab Safety Under Exam

Chemical safety board report probes academic research practices, identifies role for ACS.

October 18, 2011

New Director For NIH Institute

Government: Cell biologist Chris A. Kaiser to lead National Institute of General Medical Sciences.

October 17, 2011

With A Twist, Chip Measures Viral Loads

Medical Diagnostics: New device measures a wide range of concentrations of viral RNA in blood.

New Editor For Analytical Chemistry

Publishing: Jonathan Sweedler to take the helm.

One Chip To Sample Extraterrestrial Chemicals

Lab On A Chip: Microfluidic device analyzes amino acids from start to finish.

Shedding Nanoparticles

Materials Science: Chemists observe metal objects sloughing off ions to form nanoparticles.

Rules For Design

Materials Science: Guidelines predict structures formed by nanoparticles and DNA linkers.

Congress Passes Trade Agreements

Exports: Pacts will help open markets and create manufacturing jobs, advocates say.

Identifying Modified Cells

Molecular Biology: Technique tags and enriches cells genetically altered by nucleases.

October 14, 2011

Municipal Wastewater Spreads Antibiotic Resistance

Water Treatment: Even with advanced filtration, a wastewater treatment plant releases antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Linker-Free Molecular Wires

Electronics: Metal-carbon bonds increase electrical conductance.

Asymmetry From A Guest

Stereochemistry: Enzymelike pocket that hosts chiral species controls catalyst's enantioselectivity.

Pushing Raman To The Nanoscale

Materials Analysis: Imaging method reveals nanometer-sized defects and contaminants on graphene.

Investment Deterrent

Venture capital firms say FDA regulations hamper their support of biopharma companies.

DOE Demands Solar Patents

Intellectual Property: Bankrupt solar firm developed its manufacturing technology with government grant.

Trade Group's About-Face On BPA

American Chemistry Council asks FDA to ban bisphenol A in baby bottles and sippy cups.

AstraZeneca Shifts Operations

Pharmaceuticals: Firm will add manufacturing in China while cutting jobs in the U.S.

October 13, 2011

Tracking A Lake's Single-Celled Life

Biological Monitoring: Researchers watch changes in populations of microorganisms in lakes.

October 11, 2011

New Brominated Chemicals Detected In Gull Eggs

Environmental Pollutants: The contaminants may be degradation products of flame retardants.

Spotting Deadly Spores

Pathogens: Technique based on mass spectrometry can find anthrax in milk and soil.

Raman Reveals Danger Inside Plastic Bottles

Forensic Chemistry: New method peers through plastic to find hidden explosives.

AstraZeneca Shifts Its Operations

Pharmaceuticals: Firm will add manufacturing in China while cutting jobs in the U.S.

October 10, 2011

Sniffing For Sea Mines

Explosives: A microfluidic device enables underwater TNT sensing.

Spying On Single Cells

Microfluidics: A test detects the activity of single enzymes associated with drug resistance in cancer cells.

Dow Invests In Education

Research: Firm will spend $250 million on chemistry programs at U.S. universities.

New Cancer Vaccine Strategy

Cancer Treatment: Two-headed molecule summons immune-system attack.

Cellulosic Ethanol Production Lags

Biofuels: National Research Council questions government's output goals.

Nobel Prize In Chemistry

Awards: Dan Shechtman wins for discovering convention-bucking quasicrystals.

Nobel Prize In Physics

Awards: Three share honor for discovering accelerating expansion of the universe.

Nobel Prize In Physiology Or Medicine

Awards: Three researchers share prize for their work on immunity.

October 7, 2011

Fertilizer May Help Bacteria Slip Into Groundwater

Water Safety: High phosphate levels allow deadly microbes to pass through soil.

A Dim View In Europe

Reputation: Public mistrust of chemical industry weighs on policymakers.

National Chemistry Week

"Chemistry—Our Health, Our Future!" is this year's theme.

Contract Research

Pharmaceutical Product Development to go private in $3.9 billion deal.

October 6, 2011

New Method Isolates Membrane Proteins

Protein Purification: Technique separates proteins on a lipid bilayer.

October 5, 2011

Stopgap Measure Buys Congress Time

Budget: Short-term resolution provides funds to keep federal government running through mid-November.

Nobel Prize In Chemistry

Awards: Dan Shechtman wins for discovering convention-bucking quasicrystals.

October 4, 2011

A Sad Twist

Awards: Nobel Prize Foundation says prize will stand after recipient dies days before the announcement.

Nobel Prize In Physics

Awards: Three share honor for discovering accelerating expansion of the universe.

October 3, 2011

Making Dinitrogen

Environment: Pathway involves microbial oxidation of ammonia via nitric oxide and hydrazine.

Evonik Slates Lysine In Russia

Agriculture: German firm makes another investment in amino acids for animal feed.

Bisphenol A Is Ubiquitous In Receipts

Endocrine Disrupters: Researchers detect BPA in every receipt that they collected from seven U.S. cities.

Mapping Drugs In Human Tissue

Clinical Chemistry: Mass spectrometry imaging provides view of an inhaled drug in human lung tissue.

Nobel Prize In Physiology Or Medicine

Awards: Three researchers share prize for their work on immunity.

DOE Plans Shift In R&D Direction

Review: Transportation-related R&D, electric vehicle development to grow.

Untangling Polymer Flow

Modeling: New algorithm closely describes dynamics of polymer melt.

Catalyst Calculus

Organic Chemistry: Math teases out ideal balance of catalyst qualities.

White House Honors Scientists

Awards: Winners of National Medals of Science and of Technology & Innovation include chemical scientists.

Tronox Will Merge With Ore Supplier

Inorganics: Company says Exxaro unit will enable it to expand to meet demand.

Tweezing Apart Amyloids

Therapeutics: Small molecule sticks to lysine to unglue protein aggregates.

Drug Discovery

Expanded initiative will bridge Lilly's internal, philanthropic R&D efforts.

Huntsman Shrinks Its Swiss Presence

Textile Dyes: Industry migration to Asia continue.

House Takes Aim At Clean Air Act

Pollution: Industry backs cost-benefit analyses of EPA rules, but critics fear assault on public health.

September, 2011 News

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September 30, 2011

Skeletons Come To Light

Fluorescence Imaging: Monitoring cells as they dissolve bone may lead to disease treatments.

September 29, 2011

New Prostate Cancer Vaccine Searches And Destroys

Cancer Treatment: Two-headed molecule labels tumor cells and summons immune-system attack.

September 28, 2011

Designing Lithium-Ion Batteries To Last

Cathode Materials: Encasing sulfur in nanofibers could help high-energy batteries survive repeated recharging.

Bacteria Bearing Messages

Chemical Communications: Method permits encoding, decoding text messages with the use of living organisms.

Sunlight Is An Effective Disinfectant

Public Health: Field work shows that a cheap water treatment method improves children's health.

September 26, 2011

Tronox Will Merge With Ore Supplier

Inorganics: Company says deal will create world largest integrated titanium dioxide maker.

Ireland Beckons Biotech Business

Pharmaceuticals: Investments and mergers have Irish eyes smiling.

Protests Flare At Chinese Solar Plant

Environment: Water contamination infuriates nearby residents.

EPA Stalls On CO₂ Rules

Greenhouse Gas: Agency puts off proposal to cut power plant emissions.

Moving From Lab To Market

Technology Transfer: President Obama unveils initiatives to encourage, support commercialization.

September 22, 2011

Tweezing Apart Amyloids

Therapeutics: A molecule that sticks to lysine breaks up harmful protein aggregates.

Virus Repellent

Natural Products: Cationic sterol found in sharks blocks infection by a wide variety of viruses.

Scientist Admits Trade Secret Theft

Industrial Espionage: Plea deal, if accepted by court, will avoid a trial for former Dow researcher.

September 21, 2011

Longest Synthetic Oligosialic Acids

Carbohydrate Chemistry: Achievement could aid design of antibacterial vaccines.

Pitcher Plant Inspires Super Slippery Surface

Materials Science: Omniphobic material mimics carnivorous plant’s slick surface structure.

Cleaning Up Commercial Shipping

Air Pollution: Researchers test the impact of new California fuel regulations intended to reduce air pollution from ocean-going vessels.

September 20, 2011

Chemist Nets 'Genius Grant'

Awards: New crop of MacArthur fellows includes palladium catalysis innovator.

Lowering The Brain's Drawbridge

Drug Delivery: New technique shepherds large molecules across the blood-brain barrier in mice.

Plant Analysis Made Simple

Mass Spectrometry: Researchers use a quick jolt of electricity to ionize samples directly from plant tissue.

Dow Funds 2012 Chemistry Olympiad

Philanthropy: Firm pledges $2.5 million to help ACS host next year's international competition.

September 19, 2011

Moving Discoveries From Lab to Market

Tech Transfer: President Obama announces several initiatives to encourage, support commercialization.

Academic Freedom Challenged

Lawsuit: Virginia court will allow climate-change researcher to argue for protection of documents.

Clothing Sheds Microplastics Into Sea

Water Pollution: Washing synthetic fabrics may be a major source of plastic particles in the oceans.

Seeing Inside Tears

Biomedical Assay: Using a microfluidic chip, a new method analyzes proteins in tears.

Diamond Illumines Carbon Cycling

Geological Sciences: Preserved mineral inclusions yield new insights on deep-mantle geologic processes.

Stopgap Government Funding

With no final fiscal 2012 budget in sight, Congress moves toward a short-term measure.

Nanotech Drug Firm Debuts

Alliance: Charitable mission underlies U.K., Russian business.

Unclick Chemistry

Mechanochemistry: Ultrasound tugs on triazole to trigger cycloreversion reaction.

Extreme Photoswitching

Microscopy: Fluorescent proteins that turn on and off many more times than usual improve superresolution methods.

September 16, 2011

Fast, Reliable Tool Characterizes Antibodies

Biotherapeutics: New method based on mass spectrometry could help drugmakers map antibody-antigen interactions.

Solyndra Hearing Cranks The Heat

Bankruptcy: House blasts federal support of failed solar manufacturer.

Sasol's Cajun Country Ventures

South African firm plans to add a multi-billion-dollar gas-to-liquids plant in Louisiana.

September 15, 2011

Congress Revamps Patent System

Innovation: Revised law gives patent office more control over its funding.

Oil Is Oil, Even In The Arctic

Oil Toxicity: Arctic marine species are no more sensitive to crude oil than temperate species are.

September 14, 2011

Powerful New Rocket Design Unveiled by NASA

Space Exploration: Planned launch system will allow agency to boost astronauts, cargo beyond Earth's orbit.

Reimagining Life's Chemical Engines

Biochemistry: Damaged DNA building block hints at the origins of life's redox catalysts.

Slower Than A Snail's Pace

Geochemistry: Scientists estimate that Mexico's giant gypsum crystals took up to 1 million years to reach today's size.

September 12, 2011

Chemicals Of Concern

Government: Senators ask White House to release EPA's proposal to create new list of substances.

Nanomedicines Stick To Cellulose

Nanoparticle Safety: Excreted nanoparticles containing drugs could pose a threat in the environment.

Cyclization Shortcut

Organic Synthesis: Combined route to complex cyclic products saves steps, improves yields.

High-Throughput Reaction Discovery

Organic Chemistry: Method lets chemists study thousands of transformations simultaneously.

Light Pulses Get Shorter

Dynamics: 'Light transients' will enable control of electrons on attosecond scale.

Sanofi Outlines New Objectives

Pharmaceuticals: Company plans further cost cutting as it nears a 2012 patent cliff.

September 9, 2011

Senate Approves Patent Reform Bill

Innovation: Supporters say overhaul will help spur job growth.

Reel Science: 'Contagion'

Biomedical thriller gets the science right, but at the expense of making a good movie

Obama Retreats On Environment

Air Pollution: Citing fragile economy, White House shelves tougher ozone restrictions.

ACS, Leadscope Square Off

Intellectual Property: Arguments before Ohio Supreme Court may finally put to rest ACS's fight with Leadscope.

Chemical Executives Bullish

With cash on their hands, many executives anticipate M&A increase, survey finds.

Asian Chemical Congress

Federation of Asian Chemical Societies meets in Bangkok.

September 8, 2011

Device Tests Toxic Waters

Pollution: Genetically engineered bacteria could allow cheap detection of water contaminants.

Consumer Electronics Outrank Refrigerators As Contributors To Climate Change

Carbon Emissions: Laptops, televisions, and other devices emit more than household appliances do.

Silk Artworks Reveal Their Age

Textile Conservation: A minimally invasive technique can date silk textiles.

September 7, 2011

Bacterial Acid Trips

Chemical Biology: New technique reveals how pathogens endure our acidic stomachs.

September 6, 2011

Bangkok Hosts Asian Chemical Congress

International: Meeting draws some 1,800 attendees in Bangkok.

September 5, 2011

Biobased, BPA-Free Epoxies

ACS Meeting News: Chemists build biobased resins from vegetable oil.

Mass Spec May Bring 'Bath Salts' Bust

ACS Meeting News: Isotope ratio analysis traces feedstock fingerprints in drug syntheses

Nitric Oxide-Emitting Nanomaterials Kill Microbes

ACS Meeting News: Silica nanorods hold promise for fighting antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

One Label, Five Microscopies

ACS Meeting News: Metal nanoparticles can be used as universal probe for many imaging methods.

Understanding Oil-Paint Brittleness

ACS Meeting News: Metal soaps may be key to why zinc white turns brittle faster than lead white.

Regulatory Roadblock

Republicans in Congress promise to block new environmental, labor, and health regulations.

From Dust To Snow

ACS Meeting News: Study of atmospheric dust may herald changes in weather and climate forecasting.

September 2, 2011

White House Abandons Ozone Rule

Air Quality: Obama cites need to reduce regulatory burdens as the economy recovers.

No Progress On Nitrosamine Levels In U.S. Cigarettes

ACS Meeting News: Amounts of two cancer-causing chemicals remain high in U.S. cigarettes, despite a longstanding ability to reduce them.

Pfizer Advances Its Pipeline

Drug Discovery: An approval and key late-stage data restore confidence in the firm's R&D engine.

Dioxin Report Delayed Again

EPA splits up the study, meant to guide regulation, and promises a rollout starting next year.

September 1, 2011

Estimating Climate Change's Effects On Gulf Wetlands

Climate Change: Sea level rise could wash away organic carbon and nitrogen stored in the soil of Louisiana's coastal wetlands.

Method Separates Hybrid Nanoparticles

ACS Meeting News: Chromatographic method purifies complex magnetic nanostructures.

Chemists Convene In Denver

ACS Meeting News: Chemistry of air, space, and water was meeting theme.

August, 2011 News

» ACS Meetings news...

August 31, 2011

Making Greener Flame Retardants

ACS Meeting News: Environmentally friendly films protect cotton and foam from flames and heat.

From Dust In Asia To Snow In California

ACS Meeting News: Field study may herald changes in weather and climate forecasting.

Toxins Inspire Drug Delivery Concept

ACS Meeting News: Copolymers carry RNA therapeutics into cells and release them from cell organelles.

Modifying Graphene Via A Classic Route

ACS Meeting News: Textbook reaction offers customized, covalent functionalization of carbon material's properties.

August 30, 2011

BioAmber Will Expand Succinic Acid Production

Scale-up: Firm selects Ontario site for intermediate chemical made by fermentation.

Indole Changeup Yields Elusive Alkaloid

ACS Meeting News: Cyclization and nitrene insertion star in synthesis.

August 29, 2011

Entrepreneurial Focus Key To Job Creation

ACS Task Force: Recommendations could lead to 100,000 new jobs in 20 years.

Cheap, Simple Test Spots Protein-Protein Interactions

Biological Assay: Using graphene oxide, a new method could help researchers find peptide-based drugs.

Intoxicating Chemistry

ACS Meeting News: In spirited research, chemists use brand-name liquors as solvents for organic syntheses.

Owl Eggs Reveal Complex Pollutant Patterns

Persistent Pollutants: Pollutant levels in owl eggs fluctuate with changes in climate and food sources.

Molecular Velcro Stems Bloodflow

ACS Meeting News: Hydrophobically modified chitosan latches onto blood cells and assembles them into a gel.

Asteroid Yields Its Secrets

Space Science: Rock particles show link with meteorites, solve weathering mysteries.

New Method Is Spot On

Microfluidics: Droplet-based method could help automate dried blood spot analysis.

Contract Research

Aptuit will sell clinical-trial supply unit to Catalent

Fixing Regulations

Government: Moves will save $10 billion in five years, Obama Administration says.

August 26, 2011

Prefab Synthesis Moves Ahead

Organic Chemistry: First stable α-boryl aldehydes ease preparation of complex small molecules.

New Device Monitors Oxygen Levels During Surgery

Medical Imaging: By measuring a proxy for blood flow, surgeons could make more-informed decisions.

A Clash Of Interests

Ethics: Health department's new conflict-of-interest policies raise concerns.

BASF To Invest Big In Brazil

Petrochemicals: Planned facility includes South America's first acrylic acid, superabsorbent polymers plants.

Genomatica To Go Public

Biobased Chemicals: Initial public offering plan follows partnership and new product announcements.

August 24, 2011

Gold Nanoparticles Help Scientists Detect Growth-Promoting Drugs

Food Safety: New assay could detect illegal β agonists in livestock.

Reporting Conflicts Of Interest

Ethics: Requirements outlined by the Department of Health and Human Services raise concerns.

August 23, 2011

Climate Researcher Exonerated

Investigation: NSF probe clears researcher Michael Mann of misconduct allegations.

August 22, 2011

A Most Important Meeting

Biochemistry: A sugar that coats the human ovum and is recognized by sperm may help explain the first steps of fertilization.

Building In Brazil

Petrochemicals: BASF facility includes first acrylic acid and superabsorbent polymers plants in South America.

Genomatica Wheels and Deals With Bio-Based Chemicals

Renewables: Firm inks butanediol partnership, makes bio-based butadiene.

Disease Protein's Mistaken Identity

Biochemistry: Biologists thought α-synuclein was an unfolded monomer, but new research reveals a tetramer. With Video

A Revamped Vancomycin

Medicinal Chemistry: Modified compound shows promise against hard-to-treat bacteria.

Kicking The Coffee-Ring Habit

Fluid Mechanics: Shift in particle shape suppresses vexing effect. With Video

Nucleobases From Space

Exotic purines present the strongest evidence yet that meteorites could have delivered DNA building blocks to Earth. With Video

Ocean Acidification’s Decalcifying Effects Explained In Detail

Study provides clearer data on the impact of atmospheric CO₂ on the calcium carbonates of coral and shellfish. With Video

Protests Force Chemical Plant Closure In China

Environment: Authorities to shut independent aromatics producer.

Renewable Energy

Two solar panel manufacturers shutter U.S. operations.

Pfizer Wards Off Viagra Challenge

Pharmaceuticals: Ruling protects exclusivity for blockbuster drug until 2019.

August 19, 2011

Corralling Llama Antibodies For Small Molecules

Antibody Production: New technique isolates unusually stable antibodies against a potential endocrine disrupter.

Race And Federal Grants

Research: Black applicants have lower NIH funding success rates.

Cargill Beefs Up Animal Nutrition

Feed Additives: Firm bests chemical maker DSM with deal for Provimi.

August 18, 2011

Fishing Out Dilute Disease Biomarkers

Medical Diagnostics: Gel microparticles detect sub-femtomolar concentrations of microRNAs.

August 17, 2011

Overcoming Antibiotic Resistance

Medicinal Chemistry: Modified vancomycin shows promise against hard-to-treat bacteria.

August 16, 2011

ACS Wins $1 Million NSF Grant

Public Outreach: Funds will be used to communicate chemistry's excitement and value to society.

British Chemists Are Fuming

U.K.'s main funding body angers researchers over budget-tightening policies.

August 15, 2011

Cargill To Buy Provimi For $2.1 Billion

Animal Nutrition: DSM and partner had hopes of acquiring Dutch firm.

Pfizer Bests Teva In Viagra Patent Challenge

Pharmaceuticals: Ruling protects exclusivity for erectile dysfunction treatment until 2019.

Scientific Integrity Plans Make Headway

Ethics: Federal agencies file draft policies as directed by the White House.

Little Radioactive Material From Fukushima Reached Europe

Nuclear Disaster: A volunteer monitoring network reports on levels of radioisotopes that traveled from Japan to Europe.

Some Gulf Spill Hydrocarbons Remain Underwater

Workplace Safety: Soluble hydrocarbons dissolved in ocean, but questions of worker safety, and the fate of less soluble compounds debated.

Nickel Unites Protons Rapidly

Catalysis: Synthetic complex can speed production of H₂ by a factor of 10.

Direct Routes To Off-Target Effects

Molecular Biology: Techniques pinpoint zinc finger nucleases' unintended genomic cuts.

Agrochemicals

EPA orders recall of herbicide suspected of damaging trees.

Pfizer Augments Academic Network

Collaboration: San Diego hosts the drugmaker’s latest partnership.

Layoffs Hit Argonne Lab

Federal Funding: Budget uncertainty forces staff cuts, fiscal review.

August 12, 2011

Mussels May Strong-Arm Nutrients In Great Lakes

Water Quality: Invasive mussels may disrupt phosphorus flow in Lake Huron.

Devices Reveal Hidden Messages

Materials Science: Sensors' response to surface tension can also differentiate liquids.

Animal's Amino Acids Go Unnatural

Non-canonical amino acids incorporated into multicellular organism.

Stroller Brigades

Families march for chemicals law reform.

Economy Woes Hit Chemical Makers

Finance: Observers fear the economic soft patch is looking more like another recession.

August 10, 2011

Singling Out Cells

Cellular Imaging: Microfluidic chip traps thousands of cells at once to help researchers catch a glimpse of rare cellular events.

August 9, 2011

No Progress In Nitrate Cleanup Of Mississippi River

Water Pollution: Nitrate leaving the river's basin has increased 9% since 1980, according to new study.

August 8, 2011

Argonne National Laboratory Cuts Jobs

Federal Funding: Uncertainty over future Department of Energy budget forces laboratory to reassess its fiscal health.

ICIG Will Acquire Roche Peptide Plant

Pharmaceutical Chemicals: Purchase continues acquisition spree for private equity firm.

Method Could Resolve Nanosilver's Cloudy Toxicity Picture

Nanomaterials: Cloud point extraction could help distinguish between silver nanoparticles and silver ions.

Business Slows In Europe

Chemicals: Second-quarter results are better than last year's, but firms see demand softening.

Heavy-Metal Ring Bags Metal Atom

Inorganic Chemistry: Heterocycle traps an uncharged palladium atom in an odd host-guest interaction.

August 5, 2011

How Cells Achieve Omnipotence

Developmental Biology: Researchers discover the potential mechanism by which a newly formed zygote turns into an embryonic stem cell.

Graphene From Garbage

Materials: Low-value, impure carbon sources yield high-quality graphene.

Science And The Debt Deal

Politics: Compromise includes cuts that will hit science agencies over the next decade.

Formosa Plastics Feels The Heat

Taiwan's government orders shutdown of group's fire-plagued Mailiao petrochemical facility.

More Merck Job Cuts

Pharmaceuticals: Drug maker heralds a second round of layoffs despite strong second quarter.

August 3, 2011

More Chemical Data, More Often

Regulation: Manufacturers must supply EPA faster with more information about their products.

Prenylation With A Twist

Biochemistry: Enzyme catalyzes attachment of hydrophobic modifier to peptides in a new way.

August 2, 2011

Looking Past Yucca Mountain

Nuclear Waste: Blue ribbon panel calls for interim storage of spent fuel.

Patenting Human Genes

Innovation: Appeals court overturns ban on gene patents; biotech industry scores victory.

Regulating Beyond Risk

Sustainability: EPA should prevent pollution, not just manage it, NRC report says.

August 1, 2011

More Merck Job Cuts

Pharmaceuticals: Drug maker heralds a second round of layoffs despite strong second quarter.

Proteins Reveal Their Secrets Under Pressure

NMR Spectroscopy: New device allows chemists to apply pressure to proteins during NMR experiments.

Single Atoms Mediate Reaction

Catalysis: Isolated platinum atoms remain stable and active in oxidations.

Acid-To-Base Transmutation

Inorganic chemistry: First stable metal-free borylene adduct could aid catalyst design.

Earnings Strength Continues

Second quarter: Demand, pricing power benefit chemical firms.

Building A "String Of Pearls"

Bristol-Myers Squibb will add Amira Pharmaceuticals to its list of acquisitions.

Stem Cells

NIH welcomes dismissal of lawsuit that would stop funding of research.