November 2007
Vol 4, No 11
News and analysis

Bad chemistry threatens US national security
Government departments attacked for poor research planning

MRI scanners get five-year reprieve in legal U-turn
European Commission accepts that Physical Agents Directive poses a threat to crucial medical technology

Germany's 900m euro molecular imaging drive
16 October 2007
An alliance of five German firms to develop medical imaging technology with government backing

Building tomorrow's nanofactory
19 October 2007
Preview: Major grant awarded to create atom assemblers

Exclusive Interview: EPSRC's new chief executive, David Delpy
11 October 2007
'Stop filling the gaps,' research supremo tells UK chemists 

Chemists challenge EPA pesticide decision
10 October 2007
Agency approves methyl iodide despite cancer warnings

Catalytic converters go nano
10 October 2007
Mazda unveils plans to cut precious metal use by using nanoparticles

Manufacturing the carbon nanotube market
Bayer MaterialScience has opened a new carbon nanotube (CNT) production facility at Laufenburg

Chemical giants' energy bills revealed
28 September 2007
Dow biggest spender with feedstock and energy bills eating up half of running costs
News in brief
Short items
Business roundup
Industry news
New on the market
New products, November 2007
Note book
Short items
Chemical science

MRI sensitivity boosted by 10000 times
08 October 2007
Doctors could see real-time images of the effects of their treatments in unprecedented detail

3D nanoprinter makes oxide sculptures
16 October 2007
New inks allow complex nanoscale structures to be printed in three dimensions
'Tuneable' polymer can separate anything
11 October 2007
New permeable plastic can be custom made to filter small molecules

Nanoparticle reveals sulfur's Midas touch
18 October 2007
Scientists have peered inside a gold nanoparticle, answering key questions about the mysterious Au-S bond

Computer-aided nanoparticle synthesis
04 October 2007
Fed up with having to optimise your own reactions? Ever wondered why you can't get a computer to do it for you?

A photoelectrochemical ruler
09 October 2007
Scientists working in Spain and the UK have developed a photoelectrochemical sensor that can be used to measure micron-sized objects.

The sourest points with sweetest terms
03 October 2007
Scientists have shown how the protein curculin can turn sour tastes sweet

Blood transfusion risk explained
08 October 2007
Missing nitric oxide may be why banked blood is a risk to some patients

Interview: Hazard warning
19 October 2007
David Russell is using chemistry in the fight against terrorism and disease. Joanne Thomson finds out how.
Transparent film with strength of steel
04 October 2007
New nanocomposite is as tough as Kevlar but clear as day

Air, can we have our carbon back?
05 October 2007
Chemical process promises to suck greenhouse gasses from the air

Arsenic poisoning from cow-dung fuel
05 October 2007
Cow dung is the latest culprit found to be causing arsenic poisoning in unsuspecting villagers in West Bengal, India.

Catalyst problems dissolve away
15 October 2007
The products of an important industrial reaction have been found to dissolve the catalysts themselves, dispensing with the need for co-solvents.

Life for locked up cells
08 October 2007
Chemists in France have trapped live bacteria inside an aluminium-based ceramic, paving the way for new biomedical materials.

Nanofibres show hydrogen promise
04 October 2007
New form of lithium nitride stores and releases hydrogen in minutes not hours

Semiconductor splits water with sunlight
01 October 2007
Hydrogen and oxygen separated and stored by titanium photocatalyst

Instant insight: Walking in a hurricane
23 October 2007
Dean Astumian from the University of Maine, Orono, US, uncovers the mysteries of Brownian molecular machines.

Nanoparticles in sunscreens made safe
27 September 2007
Polymer-coating the nanoparticles used in sunscreens would protect DNA against any potential UV damage they might cause.
Chinese news supplement

China's drug industry set to take off
11 October 2007
International deals to make cheap drugs could be a foot in the door

Chinese universities face staggering debt
09 October 2007
Rapid expansion is causing repayment problems

Bones could heal faster with nanocrystals
15 October 2007
Tiny crystals of mineral cement make perfect home for stem cells

Herbal medicine's secret exposed
28 September 2007
Ginger could be the spice of life for millions of infants in the developing world battling diarrhoea
China News in brief
Short items
Features

The surface detective
This year's Nobel prize in chemistry has highlighted the importance of surface chemistry in modern life. Richard Van Noorden catches up with the winner, Gerhard Ertl

Solving an ancient puzzle
Analytical chemistry is revolutionising archaeological study - as well as igniting some controversy

Courtroom chemistry
When analysing the smallest traces of evidence at a crime scene, chemistry is key. Lisa Melton finds out how chemists can play their part in the justice system

Membranes for an ancient mariner
Membrane engineers are developing ways to filter drinkable water out of polluted, salty and contaminated supplies. Jon Evans reports
Opinion

Comment: There goes the science bit
Chemists should speak out against the pseudoscience of marketing, says Neil Young

Column: The crucible
It is inevitable that the origins of life on Earth will be forever shrouded in mystery, says Philip Ball

Column: Bench Monkey
Total synthesis is not immune to the vagaries of fickle fashion, says Dylan Stiles
Regulars

Classic Kit: Kipp's apparatus
If there's one piece of glassware other than a conical flask that spells the word 'chemistry' in the minds of most people it is Kipp's apparatus


















