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Subcategory: Chemistry
Tiny Tech Sparks Cell Signal Find
Nov 6 2009 - BBC News
Tiny metal particles have been shown to cause changes to DNA across a cellular barrier—without having to cross it.
A Wish List of 10,000 Genomes
Nov 5 2009 - ScienceInsider
Heartened by a continuing rapid decline in the cost of genome sequencing, a group of genome and museum experts has launched an ambitious plan to decipher 10,000 vertebrate genomes.
7 Ghoulish Archaeological Discoveries
Oct 30 2009 - MSNBC
From brains to preserved bodies, scientists have dug up some scary stuff.
'Fingerprints' Identify Cheetahs
Sep 23 2009 - BBC News
Conservationists have developed a new technique to identify cheetahs in the wild from just their paw prints.
Nanotech Safety: Smaller Particles May Be Riskier
Sep 14 2009 - Reuters
In determining the safety of improbably small materials known as nanoparticles, special properties associated with some of the very smallest particles may be the key, say scientists.
50 Million Chemicals Now Identified
Sep 9 2009 - U.S. News & World Report
On Tuesday, the Chemical Abstracts Service—an American Chemical Society subsidiary—identified the 50 millionth compound known. Arylmethylidene heterocycle, the molecule that qualified for the momentous spot during the long holiday weekend, is a future candidate for reducing neuropathic pain.
Single Molecule's Stunning Image
Aug 28 2009 - BBC News
The detailed chemical structure of a single molecule has been imaged for the first time, say researchers. The physical shape of single carbon nanotubes has been outlined before, using similar techniques—but the new method even shows up chemical bonds.
Powerful Ideas: Mutant Bacteria + Polyester = More Biofuel
Aug 27 2009 - LiveScience.com
Brewing a certain type of biofuel with a mutant bacteria and polyester could double the fuel's production, researchers have found. Butanol is a type of alcohol that is mainly used as a solvent, or in industrial processes that make other chemicals. But researchers think it has potential as a biofuel that could one day replace gasoline. Butanol would produce more energy than another type of alcohol alternative fuel, ethanol.
DNA Evidence Can Be Fabricated, Scientists Show
Aug 18 2009 - The New York Times (requires free registration)
Scientists in Israel have demonstrated that it is possible to fabricate DNA evidence, undermining the credibility of what has been considered the gold standard of proof in criminal cases.
IBM Uses DNA to Make Next-Gen Microchips
Aug 17 2009 - Reuters
International Business Machines Corp is looking to the building blocks of our bodies—DNA—to be the structure of next-generation microchips.
A Human Genome in Record Time
Aug 11 2009 - ScienceInsider
A new type of technology has sequenced a human genome in a month and for less than $50,000 worth of reagents, according to a report in Nature Biotechnology. But this step toward fast, cheap genomes doesn't spell the end for large sequencing centers.
Creating Fat That Burns Calories
Jul 30 2009 - U.S. News & World Report
Researchers have whipped up a batch of calorie-burning brown fat cells, a feat that may ultimately lead to new ways to treat obesity and metabolic disorders such as diabetes, a paper published online July 29 in Nature reports.
Common, Safe Blue Food Dye May Treat Broken Spines
Jul 28 2009 - Reuters
A common and safe blue food dye might provide the best treatment available so far for spinal cord injuries, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.
New Element Named "Copernicium"
Jul 17 2009 - BBC News
Discovered 13 years ago, and officially added to the periodic table just weeks ago, element 112 finally has a name. It will be called "copernicium", with the symbol Cp, in honor of the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus.
Spontaneous Assembly
Jul 9 2009 - ScienceDaily
Scientists take a new look at how proteins assemble and organize themselves into complex patterns.
Researchers Say Increased Biofuel Production Could Harm Water Resources
Jun 24 2009 - Voice of America News
A new study by researchers at Rice University in Houston, Texas warns that expanded production of crops to produce biofuels could damage water resources.
Periodic Table to Get New, Heavy Element
Jun 11 2009 - Discovery News
Scientists around the world are celebrating the latest entry to the periodic table. Element 112 muscles in at 227 times the atomic weight of hydrogen, making it the heaviest addition to the periodic table.
Chemist Shows How RNA Can Be the Starting Point for Life
May 14 2009 - The New York Times (requires free registration)
An English chemist has found the chemical milieu from which the first forms of life are thought to have emerged on earth some 3.8 billion years ago.
"Biohackers" Discover Their Inner Frankenstein
May 12 2009 - The Wall Street Journal
Using mail-order DNA and iguana heaters, hobbyists brew new life forms. Known as "biohackers," some of them buy DNA online, then fiddle with it in hopes of curing diseases or finding new biofuels. But are they a threat to national security?
Fertilizers Reducing Diversity
May 1 2009 - BBC News
Scientists have identified why excessive fertilization of soils is resulting in a loss of plant diversity. Extra nutrients allow fast growing plants to dominate a habitat, blocking smaller species' access to vital sunlight, researchers have found.
Scientists Make Super-Strong Metallic Spider Silk
Apr 24 2009 - Reuters
Spider silk is already tougher and lighter than steel, and now scientists have made it three times stronger by adding small amounts of metal. The technique may be useful for manufacturing super-tough textiles and high-tech medical materials, including artificial bones and tendons.
Super-Strong Paint Kills Superbugs
Apr 17 2009 - Web MD
A team of South Dakota scientists has invented a new super-paint strong enough to kill superbugs that infect hospital patients and kill thousands of people annually, says a new report.
Salmonella Vaccine Could Result from Space Studies
Apr 14 2009 - Discovery Channel
A series of experiments conducted aboard the International Space Station may soon lead to a vaccine against food poisoning from salmonella bacteria. Researchers have discovered that microgravity changes salmonella itself, providing insight into a new way to possibly control the bacteria on Earth.
New Gas Storage Material: One Ounce Has Surface Area of 30 Football Fields
Apr 8 2009 - ScienceDaily
In a finding that may help speed the production of ultra-clean fuel cell vehicles powered by hydrogen, scientists in Michigan are reporting development of a sponge-like nanomaterial with a record-high surface area for holding gases.
Viruses Used to Grow "Greener" Batteries
Apr 6 2009 - National Geographic News
With the help of a common virus, scientists have built a battery that rivals the state-of-the-art rechargeable models now powering personal electronics and hybrid vehicles. The hope is to replace the costly, toxic electrodes currently used in lithium-ion batteries.
Scientists Grow Diabetes Drug in Tobacco Plants
Mar 19 2009 - Reuters
Scientists have found a healthy use for tobacco after breeding genetically modified plants containing a medicine that could stop type 1 diabetes. The move marks the latest advance in the emerging field of molecular farming, which may offer a cheaper way of making biotech drugs and vaccines than traditional factory systems.
Self-Healing Coating Could Make Scratch-Proof Cars
Mar 13 2009 - Discover Magazine
Fixing a scratch on your car could soon be as easy as parking it in a sunny driveway for an hour. Researchers have invented a self-healing coating that mends scratches when exposed to ultraviolet light, and say the material could keep everything from cars to iPods looking shiny and new.
Engineers Find Way to Build a Better Battery
Mar 12 2009 - Reuters
U.S. engineers have found a way to make lithium batteries that are smaller, lighter, longer lasting, and capable of recharging in seconds. They believe the quick-charging batteries could open up new applications, including better batteries for electric cars.
Salt Might Be "Nature's Antidepressant"
Mar 11 2009 - ScienceDaily
Most people consume far too much salt, and a University of Iowa researcher has discovered one potential reason we crave it—it might put us in a better mood.
Could an Ingredient in Ice Cream Prevent HIV Transmission?
Mar 5 2009 - Discover
A compound often used in cosmetics and foods like ice cream may soon find a loftier use. Researchers say a topical gel containing the compound has shown great promise in preventing HIV infection.
Real-World CSI's Need Upgrade, Report Says
Feb 23 2009 - CBS News
Crime labs nationwide must be overhauled to prevent the types of mistakes that put innocent people in prison and leave criminals out on the street, researchers have concluded.
Study: Multivitamins Boost Huge Disappointment
Feb 10 2009 - Time Magazine
The largest study ever of multivitamin use in older women found the pills did nothing to prevent common cancers or heart disease. The eight-year study in 161,808 postmenopausal women echoes recent disappointing vitamin studies in men.
Like a Guest That Won't Leave, BPA Lingers in the Human Body
Jan 29 2009 - Scientific American
A new study indicates that bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used in plastic bottles and can linings that has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, and liver failure, may linger in the body far longer than previously believed.
South Korean Experts Find Way to Remove Lead from Blood
Jan 16 2009 - Reuters
South Korean scientists may have found a way to remove dangerous heavy metals such as lead from blood by using specially designed magnetic receptors.
A Greener Alternative to Plastics: Liquid Wood
Dec 22 2008 - MSNBC
Just in time for Christmas, German researchers are ramping up a manufacturing technique for making intricate Nativity figurines, toys, and even hi-fi speaker boxes from a renewable and surprisingly versatile source: liquid wood.
Next Generation Microscopy: No Stain, Big Gain
Dec 19 2008 - National Science Foundation
A newly developed label-free imaging technique called stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) will likely revolutionize biomedical imaging in research and diagnostic laboratories. The key to this new chemical imaging technique is the use of two lasers with different frequencies.
Secret Ingredient for the Health of Tropical Rainforests Discovered
Dec 10 2008 - ScienceDaily
Scientists have found for the first time that tropical rainforests rely on the rare trace element molybdenum to capture the nitrogen fertilizer needed to support their wildly productive growth. Most of the nitrogen that supports the rapid, lush growth of rainforests comes from tiny bacteria that can turn nitrogen in the air into fertilizer in the soil.
Possible Mechanism for Creating "Handedness" in Biological Molecules
Dec 2 2008 - ScienceDaily
The basic molecules that make up all living things have a predetermined chirality or "handedness," similar to the way people are right- or left-handed. The inception of chirality from the elementary building blocks of matter is one of the great mysteries of the origin of life. Now, scientists have discovered a way to induce this handedness in pre-biological molecules.
Safety Fears over Nanocosmetics
Nov 5 2008 - BBC News
Cosmetics containing tiny "nano" particles are being used widely despite unresolved issues surrounding their safety, a consumer watchdog warns. It says that, at the moment, consumers cannot tell which products use nanomaterials as many fail to mention it.
Ultrafast Lasers Show Snapshot of Electrons in Action
Oct 31 2008 - ScienceDaily
In the quest to slow down and ultimately understand chemistry at the level of atoms and electrons, scientists have found a new way to peer into a molecule that allows them to see how its electrons rearrange as the molecule changes shape.
From Old Vials, New Hints on Origin of Life
Oct 17 2008 - The New York Times (requires free registration)
Researchers who have taken a second look at a classic 1953 experiment say it points to volcanoes as perhaps a more likely environment for where life originated.
"Chemical Equator" Divides Earth's Hemispheres
Oct 6 2008 - National Geographic News
A worldwide weather "barrier" that can block air pollution from traveling southward, has been discovered, a new study says. Called a "chemical equator," the 50-kilometer-wide boundary separates the Northern Hemisphere's dirty air from that of the less polluted Southern Hemisphere.
Plastic-Munching Bugs Turn Waste Bottles into Cash
Sep 22 2008 - ABC News
Newly discovered bacterial alchemists could help save billions of plastic bottles from landfills. The Pseudomonas strains can convert the low-grade PET plastic used in drinks bottles into a more valuable and biodegradable plastic called PHA.
Stressed Plants Release Aspirin-Like Chemical
Sep 19 2008 - Reuters
Plants stressed by drought or unseasonable temperatures squirt out an aspirin-like chemical, researchers reported in a finding that may some day help farmers watch for trouble. The chemical, methyl salicylate, may help plants resist the damage and may help them signal danger to one another.
Super-Green, Algae-Derived Jet Fuel Passes Tests with Flying Colors
Sep 11 2008 - Discover Magazine
A green technology company has created a jet fuel from algae and announced yesterday that the new product meets vigorous aviation standards. The company said it’s near to creating cost-competitive fuels.
Arsenic-Munching Bacteria Found
Aug 15 2008 - BBC News
In the warm, bubbling pools of Mono Lake in California, scientists have isolated a bacterium that fuels itself on arsenic.
They Smell Like Twins
Aug 8 2008 - ScienceNow Daily News
How much you smell depends on how often you bathe, but precisely how you smell depends on your genes, a new study suggests. The body odors of identical twins are significantly more similar than the scents of unrelated people, researchers in Switzerland have found. The results could pave the way for new tools to diagnose disease or identify people based on scent.
Tropical Biofuels Getting Less and Less Green
Jul 15 2008 - ScienceNow Daily News
A new analysis suggests that biofuels grown in the tropics are not a much greener source of energy than drilling for oil--at least in the short term. The research paints an even gloomier picture of biofuels than previous studies, which have begun to cast doubts on the greenhouse gas benefits that these alternatives to petroleum might provide.
Scientists to Unlock Sweet Secrets of Chocolate
Jun 26 2008 - MSNBC
Researchers will analyze the more than 400 million parts of the cocoa genome, a process that could help battle crippling crop diseases and even lead to better-tasting chocolate.
Loyal to Its Roots
Jun 10 2008 - The New York Times (requires free registration)
Confounding scientists, some plant species show an ability to recognize (and prefer) their own relatives.
Climbing Ivy Reveals Secret "Superglue"
May 19 2008 - NewScientist
Darwin once puzzled over how ivy sticks to walls so effortlessly. Now researchers have begun to unravel the mystery. A new study reveals that the plant's stem exudes nano-sized globules that let it cling tightly to sheer surfaces.
Drug Promises to Restore Sensation After Dental Visit
May 12 2008 - The New York Times (requires free registration)
For those who don't like to drool, slur their speech, or unknowingly bite their tongue after a visit to the dentist, help might be at hand. A small drug company said it won approval from the Food and Drug Administration to market the first drug meant to undo the effects of local dental anesthesia.
Fungus Could Be a Fix for Uranium Pollution
May 7 2008 - ScienceNow Daily News
Uranium pollution from high-tech armor and munitions is one of the dangerous legacies of the wars in the Balkans and Iraq. But a naturally occurring fungus might help combat the spread of that pollution into local ecosystems. The fungus transforms the uranium into a stable form that shouldn't work its way into the food chain, a new study shows.
Chemists Point and Click on Specific Molecules
May 5 2008 - ScienceNOW Daily News
Biologists have long sought chemical reactions that can home in on and alter particular molecules while leaving everything around them untouched. Now, chemists have developed a reaction that targets specific sugars that decorate proteins and other molecules. It could one day offer doctors better ways to deliver radioactive imaging agents to tumors or diseased blood vessels and catch cancer and heart disease in their earliest stages.
Canada Likely to Label Plastic Ingredient "Toxic"
Apr 17 2008 - New York Times (requires free registration)
The Canadian government is said to be ready to declare as toxic the compound bisphenol-a, a chemical widely used in plastics for baby bottles and beverage and food containers.
Are Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs Dangerous?
Apr 14 2008 - Scientific American
Compact fluorescents, like their tubular fluorescent precursors, contain a small amount of mercury--typically around 5 milligrams. Mercury is essential to a fluorescent bulb's ability to emit light; no other element has proved as efficient.
Researchers Find Bacteria That Devour Antibiotics
Apr 8 2008 - New York Times (requires free registration)
Antibiotic resistance is a simple idea: Bacteria that might be expected to be wiped out by a drug are instead unaffected by it. But bacteria studied by a research group at Harvard take the idea to a new level. The researchers say these microbes could be considered superresistant, since they can tolerate antibiotic concentrations that are 50 times the levels used to define bacteria as resistant.
Black Carbon Pollution Emerges as Major Player in Global Warming
Mar 24 2008 - Science Daily
Black carbon, a form of particulate air pollution most often produced from biomass burning, cooking with solid fuels and diesel exhaust, has a warming effect in the atmosphere three to four times greater than prevailing estimates, according to scientists.
Mighty Electric Fields Found Inside Cells
Mar 14 2008 - Discover
The smallest voltmeter in the world has produced a shocking revelation: Lurking deep inside an ordinary cell are electric fields strong enough to cause a bolt of lightning.
A Whiff of Scent is no Cure for What Ails You
Mar 4 2008 - MSNBC
Here's some unsettling news for anyone who ever sniffed a scented candle hoping for a physical boost. It doesn't work. At least that's the verdict on two of the heavy hitters in the world of aromatherapy: lemon and lavender. Researchers at Ohio State University conducted what they say is the most scientifically rigorous test of physical changes caused by smelling the popular scents and came up with nothing.
Do Microbes Make Snow?
Feb 29 2008 - Scientific American
Microbes may be responsible for snow, and rain for that matter. They are certainly involved in much of the human-made snow that ski resorts use. Microorganisms, particularly bacteria, produce proteins in their cell walls that bind water, even if they are dead. In fact, they bind water in such an orderly fashion that water droplets freezing around a microbe almost mirror the natural lattice formation of ice. As a result, bacteria can help snow form at warmer temperatures than would otherwise be the case. And now scientists have discovered such biological precipitation catalysts in natural snows, in such far-flung locations as Montana and Antarctica.
Self-Healing Rubber Bounces Back
Feb 21 2008 - BBC News
A material that is able to self-repair even when it is sliced in two has been invented by French researchers. The as-yet-unnamed material, a form of artificial rubber, is made from vegetable oil and a component of urine. The substance produces surfaces when cut that retain a strong chemical attraction to each other. Pieces of the material join together again as if never parted without the need for glue or a special treatment.
Lasers Make Other Metals Look Like Gold
Feb 1 2008 - The New York Times (requires free registration)
In a feat of optical alchemy, researchers have used ultrashort laser bursts to pockmark the surface of a metal in a way that is not perceptible to the touch--it still feels smooth to the finger--but that alters how the metal absorbs and reflects light. The result is that pure aluminum looks like gold, and the appearance is literally skin deep.
Solving Another Mystery of an Amazing Water Walker
Jan 2 2008 - Science Daily
Korean scientists are reporting a long-sought explanation for the water strider’s ability to leap onto a liquid surface without sinking. The scientists solved the mystery by dropping a highly water-repellent sphere onto the surface of water at different speeds, while carefully tracking its motion with high-speed cameras. They discovered the ball must be traveling within a narrow velocity range in order to bounce off the water’s surface. Researchers noted the sphere may sink if it goes too fast and won’t bounce back if it’s too slow. More information about the work can be found in the American Chemical Society’s publication Langmuir.
Gel Changes Color on Demand
Nov 13 2007 - NSTA News
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers have created a new structured gel that can rapidly change color in response to a variety of stimuli, including temperature, pressure, salt concentration, and humidity. The new gel could be used as a fast and inexpensive chemical sensor among other applications.
The Chemistry of Space Grows More Complex
Aug 2 2007 - Christian Science Monitor
After several decades of doubt, astronomers know that chemical processes around and between stars produce complex molecules including precursors of organic life. But recent discoveries with a new observing technique show they have barely glimpsed what is going on. The new observations are revealing what University of Arizona astronomer Lucy Ziurys calls “interesting things that were not suppose to be there.”
Chemists Create Liquid That Could Help with Monitors
Jul 17 2007 - NewScientist.com
Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, claim a liquid that changes color when exposed to a magnetic field could cheaply replace the color components in conventional LCD monitors. Yadong Yin and his colleagues created the liquid by coating particles of iron oxide, each about 100 nanometers in diameter, with a polymer and suspending the mixture in water. The researchers note the liquid could also be used to create flexible, rewritable, electronic paper.
Packaging Peril: Chemicals in Food Wrapping Turn Toxic
Jun 6 2007 - Science News
Chemicals that prevent grease from seeping through food packaging transform in rats into a suspected carcinogenic compound. This conversion could help explain why that compound, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), shows up so widely in people’s blood, according to researchers.
Chemistry of Neutron Stars Modeled for the First Time
May 22 2007 - NewScientist.com
Neutron stars are like layered candies, with different chemicals concentrated at different depths, reveal the first detailed computer simulations of the stars' chemistry. If correct, this could affect the strength of any gravitational waves the stars emit, and may help explain the origin of the spectacular nuclear explosions seen tearing across their surfaces.
Scientists Equip Bacteria With Custom Chemo-Navigational System
May 14 2007 - Terra Daily
Using an innovative method to control the movement of Escherichia coli in a chemical environment, Emory University scientists have opened the door to powerful new opportunities in drug delivery, environmental cleaning, and synthetic biology. The scientists have reprogrammed E. coli’s chemo-navigational system to detect, follow, and precisely localize to specific chemical signals. In doing so, the scientists exploited E. coli’s natural chemotaxis, a microbe’s ability to move toward specific chemicals in its environment.
Study Sheds Light on Memory by Erasing It
May 9 2007 - Science Daily
A new study shows how memory can be created and then biochemically erased in slices of rat hippocampus by manipulating a so-called “memory molecule.” “The core problem in memory research has been understanding what the storage molecule actually is, said Brandeis University professor John Lisman, lead author of the study. “Identifying this molecule is essential to understanding memory itself, as well as any disease of memory. With this study, we have confirmed (protein kinase) CaMKII as a memory molecule.”
Scientists Help Restore Aging Artworks
Apr 24 2007 - CBS News
When white masquerades as yellow, and green might actually be blue, a call goes out to Henry DePhillips. DePhillips, a Trinity College chemistry professor is among a cadre of specialists using cutting-edge science to solve the color mysteries of paintings and other cultural treasures often several centuries old.
Bees' Buzzes Warn of Chemical Threats, Disease
Mar 14 2007 - National Geographic News
You’ve heard of the canary in the coal mine: In the presence of poisonous gas, the bird will sway or drop dead, alerting miners to get out. Now researchers have learned that the collective buzzing of honeybees can provide a similar biological alert. But unlike canaries, bees can differentiate between chemicals and will produce different sounds based on what toxin they detect, scientists say.
Atomic Microscopy Offers Chemical ID
Mar 1 2007 - Science Daily
Japanese scientists have discovered that it is possible to use atomic force microscopy to identify the chemical makeup of individual surface atoms. The scientists hope their work will boost research in areas such as, materials science and semiconductor technology.
Green Chemistry Can Help Nanotechnology
Feb 20 2007 - Science Daily
Researchers should be using “green” chemistry to reduce future risks of nanotechnology, according to a U.S. scientist.
Fake Fruits Could Help Restore Rainforest
Feb 8 2007 - Nature News
Researchers have discovered that bats can be lured into large areas of destroyed rainforest with fake fruits. The researchers note that this could be the key to restoring patchy parts of the landscape.
Scientists Develop 'DNA Nanotags'
Jan 29 2007 - Science Daily
Carnegie Mellon University researchers say they have combined fluorescent dye molecules with DNA nanostructure templates to make nanosized fluorescent labels called nanotags. The researchers note that such nanoscale labels hold considerable promise for studying fundamental chemical and biochemical reactions in single molecules or cells, improving the sensitivity for fluorescence-based imaging and medical diagnostics.
Chemically Manipulated Violins
Dec 29 2006 - NSTA News
Great Italian luthiers Antonio Stradivari and Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesu may have chemically manipulated the wood used to make their exquisite violins, according to a new study conducted by researchers at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Texas A&M University, and Brigham Young University. Researchers note the findings could inspire a more chemically-based process when making modern violins.
Why Do Stradivari's Violins Sound Sublime?
Nov 29 2006 - NewScientist.com
A wood preservation technique was probably responsible for the exquisite sound produced by violins of the 17th century Italian instrument makers Antonio Stradivari and Giuseppe Guameri. Chemical analysis of wood shavings scavenged from two instruments while under repair has given fresh clues as to their exquisite acoustics.
Professor Devises New Form of Solar Cell
Nov 28 2006 - CBS News
A University of Idaho professor is devising a new form of solar cell she says could lead to a breakthrough that would make solar energy commercially feasible. Chemist Pam Shapiro, her graduate students, and Shapiro’s colleagues at the university are working on creating better materials and combining them in new ways that could more than double the efficiency of present solar cells. If successful, Shapiro says the new technology could help the U.S. break its oil dependency.
Scientists Study Spiders' Polymer Art
Nov 9 2006 - Science Daily
Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have identified two key physical processes that contribute to spider silk’s unrivaled strength and durability. The researchers say their discovery brings closer to reality the long-sought goal of spinning artificial spider silk. Such a product could be used for artificial tendons and ligaments, sutures, parachutes, and bulletproof vests.
Brand New Substance Created From Water
Oct 27 2006 - NewScientist.com
Scientists claim they have created a totally new alloy of hydrogen and oxygen molecules by splitting water. The new alloy is “a highly energetic material,” says Wendy Mao at Los Alamos National Laboratory, who led the research. “It may help us find a way of storing energy.”
Chemist's Nobel Prize for Gene Reading Breakthrough
Oct 4 2006 - NewScientist.com
A chemist who has spent the past 20 years unraveling the process by which genes are read has won this year’s Nobel Prize in chemistry. Through his detailed studies of the underlying chemistry, Roger Kornberg of Stanford University in California, deepened understanding of the first, vital step of gene reading known as transcription. Kornberg’s father, Arthur, won the Nobel Prize in medicine in 1959 for showing how DNA is copied when cells multiply.
Telescope Sees 8 Complex Molecules
Aug 9 2006 - CBS News
A research team from across the globe has identified eight new complex molecules in two interstellar clouds. The molecules detected include acetamide, cyclopropenone, propenal, propanal, and ketenimine in Sagittarius BS (N), while methyl–cyano–diacetylene, methyl–triacetylene, and cyanoallene were found in the Taurus Molecular Cloud. Two years of work led to the molecules’ discovery, a “feat unprecedented in the 35–year history of searching for complex molecules in space,” said Jan M. Hollis of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, the research team’s leader.
Baked Scorpions Solve Fossil Puzzle
Jul 26 2006 - Nature News
Scientists have solved a mystery over the chemical make-up of fossilized insects. Neal Gupta of Yale University and his colleagues froze live emperor scorpions, shrimps, and cockroaches to figure out the enigma. The researchers then baked the anthropods’ skeletons at 350 degrees and found new aliphatic compounds that had not existed in the past. Gupta’s team report the waxy lipid layer on the outside of the skeletons and in some of the anthropods' internal tissues is responsible for the chemical make-up of fossilized insects. The researchers hope to apply their technique to fossilized plants in the future.
Ozone and Cholesterol Combine to Cause Heart Disease
May 31 2006 - Scientific American
New research scheduled to appear in Biochemistry shows how the ozone’s byproducts in the body can harden arteries and cause heart disease. Chemist Paul Wentworth, Jr., of the Scripps Research Institute and his colleagues tested such byproducts known as atheronals—in vitro. The team’s previous research had shown that the white blood cells responsible for inflaming arterial walls also produce ozone and ultimately the atheronals: atheronal-a and atheronal-b. The new research shows that when the atheronals interact with various blood cells, they produce some of the effects that can lead to heart disease.
Caterpillars Scent Signs of Trouble
May 22 2006 - NewScientist.com
Japanese scientists have discovered that harsh chemicals released by plants can serve as a warning sign to insect predators. Kaori Shiojiri and his colleagues at Kyoto University have shown that corn plants release a chemical when they are consumed during daytime hours. The scents attract predatory wasps that can attack caterpillars that feed on the plants. The caterpillars, however, use the signals to predict the presence of the wasps. The researchers had previously thought that levels of light or darkness might have served as the caterpillars’ primary environmental cue.
Llamas Help to Spot Fake Decaf
May 12 2006 - Nature News
People who are addicted to the taste of coffee, but want to reduce their caffeine intake will be interested in knowing about a new test being developed by a team of chemists. Researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, have found a molecule extracted from llamas that can easily detect caffeine in hot or cold beverages. The molecule could be utilized in a way where a caffeine reaction triggers a simple color change on a dipstick. Consumers could use the dipstick to find out how much caffeine a drink contains. “The goal is to make it user-friendly,” team member Dan Crimmins said of the proposed device.
Chemistry: The Video Game
Mar 31 2006 - Nature News
A Purdue University chemistry professor is creating a computer game about chemistry. Gabriela Weaver hopes her prototype will be as appealing to students as the blockbuster games coming out of companies like Electronic Arts.
Quest for "Green Chemistry" Inspires New Generation of Scientists
Mar 7 2006 - CBS News
Petroleum for nonfuel use made up just over 5% of total oil consumption in the U.S. last year, according to the Department of Energy. Five percent may not seem like a lot, but it's still one million barrels a day, more or less. That's enough to demand the attention of a new generation of industry and academic scientists who are working to find natural, nontoxic alternatives to petroleum for consumer products. These scientists have dubbed their field "green chemistry."
U.S., French Chemists Win Nobel
Oct 5 2005 - CBS News
Three scientists will share $1.3 million after winning this year’s Nobel Prize in chemistry. Americans Robert H. Grubbs and Richard R. Schrock and Yves Chauvin of France won the award for discoveries that let industry create drugs and advanced plastics in a more efficient and environmentally-friendly way. “I feel pretty shaken—that means, I can’t talk very well,” Schrock said after hearing the news that he won. Chauvin said he felt “embarrassment, not joy,” and told reporters that “I had a quiet life, now I see that is no longer the case.”
New Catalyst Produces Hydrogen from Water
Aug 31 2005 - Scientific American
The promise of a hydrogen economy may soon become a reality. The promise hinges on the ability to produce and store large amounts of hydrogen. “We have discovered a catalyst that can produce ready quantities of hydrogen without the need for extreme cold temperatures or high pressures, which are often required in other production and storage methods,” explains Mahdi Abu-Omar of Purdue University. Abu-Omar and his colleagues warn, however, that more tests and evaluations will be needed before the new approach can be scaled up for wide use.
Periodic Table's Design Gets an Elemental Challenge
Jul 26 2005 - USA Today
For more than 100 years, the periodic table has been a symbol of the intrinsic organization of matter and a mainstay of science classrooms. Many people have attempted to enhance the arrangement of the 111 fundamental elements, but no one has been able to supplant the original, created in 1869 by Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev with 63 known elements. But now ecologist Philip Stewart of the University of Oxford in England has designed a table that is fueling intense interest. Science educators hope the new design will inspire young scientists, but debate its usefulness.
Saturn's Moon Titan a Frozen World
Feb 22 2005 - ABC News
Data from the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft shows Saturn’s moon Titan was a world frozen in its youth. “Titan is the Peter Pan of our solar system. It’s a little world that never grew up,” observed University of Hawaii’s Tobias Owen, a member of an international team monitoring the findings from the spacecraft. Ice appears to form the bedrock of Titan and there is a possibility of cryovolcanoes—volcanic-like vents that spew forth ice instead of lava—on the moon. Dennis Matson of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory notes the “ice volcano concept is still a theory, but it offers the best explanation for some features seen on the surface of Titan.”
Israelis, American Win Nobel for Chemistry
Oct 6 2004 - The Washington Post
The discovery of a key way cells destroy unwanted proteins—starting with a chemical “kiss of death”—has resulted in three scientists winning this year’s Nobel Prize in chemistry. The work of Israelis Aaron Ciechanover and Avram Hershko and American Irwin Rose provides the basis for developing new therapies for diseases such as cervical cancer and cystic fibrosis. Experts note at least five Nobel prizes have been awarded for research into how cells control the creation of proteins. But the question of how cells destroy proteins has received less attention.
U.S., Russian Teams Make New Elements in Labs
Feb 2 2004 - The Washington Post
American and Russian scientists have created two new “superheavy elements” that will become a part of the periodic table of elements. Scientists say the new discoveries “add detail to a broader and very competitive scientific inquiry to establish a single, unified theory that would explain the physical forces that govern the behavior of all matter.” The new elements will not be fully accepted or added to textbooks until other labs create the elements. Researchers note that process could take months or years.
Oldest Evidence of Photosynthesis
Dec 17 2003 - BBC News
Danish scientists have discovered the oldest evidence of photosynthesis in rocks. Researchers say the 3.7 billion year-old rocks from Greenland show life-forms were using the process of photosynthesis about one billion years earlier than previously thought. Further information about this research can be found in the publication Earth and Planetary Science Letters.
2 Americans Win Nobel in Chemistry
Oct 8 2003 - MSNBC
Two American scientists have captured the 2003 Nobel Prize in chemistry. Peter Agre and Roderick MacKinnon were cited for their work on how key materials enter or leave cells in the human body. The research by the two scientists is important in understanding several diseases, including those that affect the kidneys, heart, and muscles, according to the Royal Swedish Academy, who awards the prize. The duo will share a cash prize of $1.3 million and will be awarded their prizes Dec. 10.
Calif. Chemists Develop 'Smart' Particles
Aug 26 2003 - WTOP News-Associated Press
A team of California chemists who want to build miniature robots have developed grains the size of dust that can sense their environment, according to a report published in this week’s online issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. “This is a key development in what we hope will one day make possible the development of robots the size of a grain of sand,” noted Michael Sailor, leader of the research team.
Rover Heads to Red Planet
Jun 11 2003 - BBC News
After several weather delays and technical problems, NASA has finally launched the first of two identical rovers to Mars. The robot-bearing spacecraft will search for signs of water and possibly life on the Red Planet. NASA plans to launch the second rover on June 25, 2003.
Scientists Find Key to Spice Sensitivity
May 23 2003 - Scientific American
Do you ever wonder why some people can tolerate spicy foods and others can’t? A new study published in the journal Science explains why. Researchers Elizabeth Prescott and David Julius of the University of California, San Francisco, report that a lipid molecule called PIP2 plays a role in the severity of a burning sensation, thus the amount of heat a person can tolerate influences food choice.
Green Snow Washes Clean Away
Dec 23 2002 - Nature
Film producers in search of decorating their sets in a more environmentally friendly manner need to look no further. German scientists have made a new type of fake snow from potato starch instead of using plastic. “The German film industry is getting more ecological,” observed scientist Frithjof Baumann of the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology.
A Carbon-Atom Combo: Diamonds Found in Crude Oil
Dec 3 2002 - The New York Times (Requires free registration)
Scientists at ChevronTexaco in California have found diamond fragments in different shapes and sizes within crude oil in the Gulf of Mexico. “A good analogy for these are Legos,” said Dr. Jeremy E. Dahl, a ChevronTexaco organic geochemist. Though the diamond fragments are too small to twist into a ring or necklace, it could be want scientists want—potential building blocks for the construction of molecular-scale machinery. Scientists might also use the diamond fragments in electronics or novel drugs.
Molecular Memory Bank Draws Closer
Dec 3 2002 - BBC News
One day soon…you might be able to store data inside a molecule. Scientists at the University of Oklahoma recently discovered how to manipulate atoms in a molecule to store more than a 1,000 bits of information. Scientists observe, however, “it will be a long time before their work results in working molecular memories.”
9/11: One Year Later
Sep 11 2002 - Scientific American
The editors of Scientific American online have pulled together articles from the past year, grouped in the following topic areas: Antiterrorism Technology; Biological and Chemical Weapons; The Psychology of Terror;
Readers' Reactions. Not all the articles directly address the events of September 11, 2001, but they are all relevant and thought-provoking.
Researchers Spin Straw into Gold
Aug 30 2002 - National Geographic -- Christian Science Monitor
Who needs Rumpelstiltskin when there are scientists to perform his magic? As the above article reports, two researchers have developed a method that uses ordinary crop plants to draw gold from the ground. Okay, the business isn't exactly lucrative -- the yields are microscopic, with the gold appearing as particles mere billionths of a meter wide. But the approach does offer promise as a cheap and easy way to produce gold in forms tailor-made for use in the burgeoning field of nano- technology.
New Process Could Harness Hydrogen Fuel From Plants
Aug 29 2002 - Scientific American
Many believe that hydrogen can someday be widely used as a clean-burning energy source, decreasing our reliance on fossil fuels that generate greenhouse gases. The problem: hydrogen has proven very difficult and expensive to procure. A new study, however, offers some hope. Published in today's Nature, the study details a new technique for making hydrogen from plant matter. While the process is not yet commercially viable, the researchers expressed confidence that the necessary improvements can be made.
From Toilet to Tap: Engineers Seek to Conserve by Recycling Urine
Aug 28 2002 - ABCNews.com
One of the biggest issues being tackled this week at the Earth Summit in Johannesburg is limited water supplies. In fact, it is estimated that by 2025, 48 countries representing 35 percent of the world's population will face chronic water shortages. What can be done? As the above article reports, engineers for NASA and for at least one municipality in the U.S. are experimenting with treatment projects that would recycle human wastewater for drinking. Of course, for their idea to catch on, they'll first have to overcome the "yuck" factor.
Nanoscience: Big Interest in Studying the Very Small
Aug 23 2002 - National Geographic -- Scripps Howard News Service
What is nanoscience? You may want to ask the Incredible Shrinking Man. As the above article reports, nanoscience is the science of the very, very small -- focused, for example, on the interactions, reactions, and construction of materials the size of atoms and molecules. But what can scientists possibly learn by studying materials on a nano scale? Quite a lot, say experts, who hope to some day use nanoscience to build more durable metals and materials, including products that, remarkably, can repair their own defects.
Lobster Shell Color Shift Explained
Jul 30 2002 - Scientific American News
Why does a lobster shell change color from purplish-blue to red-orange during cooking? The question has long intrigued scientists (and shellfish lovers), but new research has at last revealed the molecular mechanism underlying the phenomenon. What's more, the finding could have important implications for drug delivery. Click above to read more...
Sometimes, the March of Science Goes Backward
Jul 23 2002 - New York Times (requires free registration)
Three years ago, scientists working at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California made headlines the world over with their “discovery” of Element 118, temporarily labeled "ununoctium." But as the above article notes, the discovery was officially retracted last week amid charges of scientific misconduct -- "a reminder that the march of science isn’t always in the forward direction.” The silver lining to all of this? As one science writer puts it in the article: "Sad as it is to see this discovery having to be withdrawn, it again means that the prize is there to be won."
It Slices! It Dices! Nanotube Struts Its Stuff
Jul 16 2002 - New York Times (requires free registration)
"In the last decade, the cylindrical molecule of carbon known as a nanotube has become a do-all wonder substance," the above article reports, touted for future use in everything from X-Ray machines to artificial fibers to molecular-scale electronic circuits. That's high praise for a material that can be as thin as a billionth of a meter. What makes nanotubes so remarkable, and what are some of their other potential uses? Click above to learn more...
Scientists Create Polio-Causing Virus from Scratch
Jul 12 2002 - Washington Post
Researchers in New York have created infectious polioviruses from scratch, marking the first time that a working biological entity has been made from inert chemicals. The achievement is raising a host of concerns, including whether other viral ailments can be manufactured from raw materials, perhaps for bioterror purposes. "What they've done is demonstrate a potential that's very alarming," one biologist said. "It really challenges the notion of what 'extinct' means." Other scientists went further, suggesting that the work might have been better left unpublished.
When Scientists Get Silly, Chemical Names Do Too
Jun 25 2002 - Los Angeles Times (requires free registration)
So you think all scientists are humorless nerds, huh? Paul May, a British chemistry professor, would beg to differ. In addition to his serious "Molecule of the Month" website, May and colleagues have designed a site that features real molecules with unusual, ridiculous or downright silly names. A small sample includes: moronic acid, Hi-O-silver, and megaphone. Click above to learn more about how the site came to be...
Scientists Fashion First Single-Molecule Transistors
Jun 13 2002 - Scientific American
How small and fast can electronic devices get? Two teams of researchers working in the field of "nanotechnology" report in today's Nature that it is indeed possible to create transistors from single molecules. While challenges remain, it is hoped that molecular-scale transistors might one day serve as the building blocks for a new generation of electronic components, resulting in exponential increases in computing speed.
Hydrogen Puts Iceland on Road to Oil-Free Future
May 30 2002 - Yahoo -- Reuters
Can you imagine a world without greenhouse gases? The nation of Iceland can. The small island on the edge of the Arctic has launched a 40-year plan aimed at ditching fossil fuels entirely. Under the plan, all of the country's car's, buses, and ships will eventually be driven by electric motors powered by hydrogen-fuel cells that produce nothing but water in their exhausts. The scheme is also backed by major energy companies, who view Iceland as a test-bed for a technology that some think holds the key to the world's energy needs. While significant technical challenges remain, Icelanders will get their first taste of the new era next year when three hydrogen-powered buses hit the road.
Bees Learning Smell of Bombs With Backing From Pentagon
May 13 2002 - New York Times (requires free registration)
Bomb-sniffing bees? At first blush, the notion may provoke a chuckle -- but not from the U.S. military. Scientists working for the Pentagon are training ordinary honeybees to home in on minute traces of explosives, a preliminary step toward creating a detection system that could be used to find truck bombs, land mines, and other hidden explosives. "It appears that bees are at least as sensitive or more sensitive to odors than dogs," one official noted. Find out more...
Researchers Link Common Weed Killer to Flaws in Frogs
Apr 16 2002 - MSNBC -- AP
A new study suggests that male frogs exposed to even very low doses of the popular weed killer atrazine can develop multiple sex organs -- sometimes both male and female. The researchers contend that the effect on the frogs results from atrazine promoting the conversion of testosterone to estrogen, adding that the widespread presence of the chemical may be a factor in global amphibian population declines. A company that manufactures an atrazine-based herbicide, however, questions the study's results. Read more...
The Interstellar Amino Acid Test
Apr 10 2002 - SPACE.com
It's one of the great, unsolved mysteries: How did life get started on Earth? According to the above article, a recent experiment adds weight to the possibility "that the seeds of life may have come drizzling down from space: not as full-blown microbes, but as those infamous building blocks of biology, amino acids." If the theory is true, it might just turn out that life is "as common as planets themselves." Read more...
In a Plant's Plentiful Genes, a Chemistry Lesson
Apr 8 2002 - Washington Post
As reported in a previous story, scientists announced last week that they have detailed the genome of the rice plant. What many have found mystifying, however, is the revelation that the plant most likely contains more genes than a human being. Why in the world does a seemingly simple rice plant need so many genes? As the above article explains, the short answer is this: Plants live by chemistry, and the complicated evolutionary knowledge of how to make various chemicals is encoded in a plant's genes. In case you're worried though, there is some redeeming news for humans: Scientists stress that an organism's complexity doesn't depend strictly on how many genes it has; what's more important is how these genes are used. Read more...
Researchers Explain the Transformation of Water into Ice
Apr 3 2002 - Scientific American
The process by which water turns into ice seems simple enough, but as scientists recently showed, it is anything but that. In a report published in last week's Nature, Japanese researchers describe how they used a supercomputer to pinpoint the specific conditions required to start the process. The team found that the spontaneous appearance of several unusually long-lasting hydrogen bonds between water molecules in one location is the crucial first step in ice formation. "The initial nucleus then slowly changes shape and size until it reaches a stage that allows rapid expansion," the authors write, "resulting in crystallization of the entire system."
USGS: Beauty Aids, Other Chemicals Contaminating Waterways
Mar 13 2002 - Yahoo -- AP
A new analysis by the U.S. Geologic Survey shows that the nation's waterways are awash in traces of chemicals commonly used in beauty aids, medications, cleaners, and foods. These substances, known as pharmaceutical and personal care pollutants (PPCPS), largely escape regulation, and according to experts, represent the "next big unknown" in environmental contamination. Industry and water utility officials said they expect the EPA to decide in the next few years how to regulate PPCPs.
Sniffing Out Dirty Nukes
Mar 12 2002 - ABC News.com
In the fight against terrorism, the U.S. government has a new tool: "smart" radiation detectors. In contrast to traditional Geiger counters, smart detectors, also called gamma ray detectors, use exotic chemicals to determine precisely what nuclear material may be in a terrorist's radiological weapon. This gives special response teams a more accurate idea of the threat they are facing. Find out more...
Experiment Hints at Tabletop Fusion
Mar 5 2002 - MSNBC, New York Times
Nuclear fusion, the power that lights the sun, has long been regarded as the ultimate energy source: limitless and waste-free. Now, a team of scientists will report in Friday's issue of Science that it has achieved nuclear fusion in a small, tabletop experiment. The claim is already generating fierce debate. Did the researchers really create fusion, or did they misinterpret the results of their experiment? And even if fusion was achieved in such a manner, can it be used as a viable commercial energy source? Learn more about this breaking story. Click above for an MSNBC article, or click here for an article in the New York Times (requires free registration).
Scientists Create Self-Healing Plastic
Mar 1 2002 - Nature
Are self-mending windows in our future? Maybe so. Scientists have manufactured a transparent polymer that seems to have a unique attribute: Cracks in the material can be repaired indefinitely through a relatively simple heating and cooling process. Click above to learn more about the chemistry behind this promising breakthrough...
Sulphuric Acid Could Wreck Wreck
Feb 21 2002 - Nature
Sometimes, you just need to let sunken ships lie. That's the lesson being learned by a Swedish museum, where a restored wreck known as the Vasa is being ravaged by a chemical reaction between the air and the sulphur the wooden vessel soaked up while buried undersea. The case underscores the difficulties of preventing rapid decay in wooden artifacts whey they are removed from their preserving sediments. There is a silver lining to this story, however: Archaeologists have decided the problem is so interesting that they have chosen to make Vasa's decay part of an exhibition that opens in Stockholm this week.
Chemicals in Feathers Shed Light on Songbird Migration
Feb 12 2002 - Scientific American
Based on their work with the black-throated warbler, a North American songbird, scientists have developed a new technique for tracking some birds' complex travel habits. The technique involves analyzing the chemicals present in a bird's feathers, which are influenced by diet, to determine where the bird was when the feathers grew. Ultimately, researchers hope that a better understanding of birds' migratory patterns will aid conservation efforts. Read more...
Mud Batteries: Power Cells of the Future?
Jan 23 2002 - National Geographic
Will a "mud battery" be powering your car in the near future? Probably not, but in a promising sign that the seabed might some day be exploited as a natural low-level power source, scientists have identified bacteria that produce electricity by breaking down organic material in sludge. The bacteria might also be used to degrade toxic pollutants in groundwater, scientists say. Find out more...
Rust-Buster for Ships May Also Aid Environment, Scientists Say
Jan 10 2002 - Nature
It's a common problem: When ships are weighted by filling their ballast tanks or empty cargo holds with seawater, animals, plants, and microbes also come on board. And when the vesels flush these tanks at their destination port, the stowaway organisms often find a new home, displacing native plants and animals and altering ecosystems in the process. What can be done? According to scientists, a new way to reduce rust on ships--which involves removing oxygen from the seawater that ships carry--may also offer an antidote to the worldwide spread of invasive species.
Did Planetary "Belch" Cause Prehistoric Warming?
Dec 31 2001 - National Geographic
According to a new study by NASA scientists, the Earth belched a massive bubble of methane gas from beneath the sea floor around 55 million years ago, triggering a 100,000-year period of intense global warming. The theory, if true, begs the question: Could it happen again today? While the answer is still anyone's guess, the study at the very least suggests that scientists should "look at climate change from a much broader perspective," says lead author Gavin Schmidt. "We can't get too fixated on just one [greenhouse] gas like carbon dioxide when we think about global warming. It's complicated and surprises happen--they happened in the past and they can happen now."
Scientists Move a Step Closer to Hydrogen Power
Dec 10 2001 - Nature
Scientists in Japan have developed a new material for using sunlight to extract hydrogen, the ultimate "green" fuel, from water. While their water-splitting "photocatalyst" is not yet efficient enough to be commercially viable, they are hopeful that it can be improved. If they are right, clean-burning hydrogen may soon be on tap just like natural gas.
True Believers: Cold Fusion Scientists Pine for a Breakthrough
Oct 12 2001 - MSNBC-Newsweek
On the fringes of the scientific community and often the objects of ridicule, cold-fusion scientists nevertheless remain fiercely committed to their primary pursuit: finding a cheap and easy way to produce vast amounts of energy from a nuclear-fusion reaction without the need for so much as a Bunsen burner. Whether they get there or not, many cold fusionists have come to relish the role of outsider. “Researching cold fusion makes me feel a lot like Galileo,” one believer said.
Bacteria Offer Tips For Creating Clean Fuel
Oct 10 2001 - Nature News
Are non-polluting, hydrogen-fueled cars in our future? Based on new research, scientists at the University of Illinois believe they can steal the secrets of hydrogen-generating bacteria to make the gas cheaply and efficiently for industrial use.
Harnessing "Star Power"
Oct 2 2001 - BBC News
Fusion, the form of nuclear energy that powers the stars, may be "within reach" as a commercial energy source, say British scientists who are experimenting with leaner, swifter fusion reactors. "Perhaps in a few decades we could have commercial fusion reactors in cities providing cheap pollution-free power," said one of the scientists involved in the project.
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