News August 2005
31 August 2005: Desert beetle provides model for fog-free nanocoating
Scientists in the US have developed a coating made of silica nanoparticles that will prevent fogging and could be used to harvest water in desert conditions.
31 August 2005: ACS honours chemists
Eighteen research chemists from five companies have been named Heroes of Chemistry by the American Chemical Society (ACS) for their input into improving health and well-being.
30 August 2005: Antioxidant rating hints at coffee's health benefits
Coffee is the number one source of antioxidants in the US diet, claim analysts.
30 August 2005: Molecular interactions revealed in a drop of water
Femtolitre-sized water droplets surrounded by oil serve as test tubes for chemical investigation of just a few molecules, report US researchers.
29 August 2005: Increased sensitivity with nano detection of clinical markers
A biosensor that incorporates carbon nanotubes and metal oxide nanowires can sensitively detect the main clinical marker for prostate cancer, report researchers in the US.
26 August 2005: Northern lights inspire Finnish nuclear waste disposal
Finnish researchers are using energy more typically found in lightening or the local Aurora Borealis to minimise the waste output from nuclear power stations.
25 August 2005: Smart solvents switch from ionic to non-ionic
Solvents with properties that can be adjusted to suit different stages of a reaction process could be just around the corner thanks to research by Canadian and US chemists.
24 August 2005: Ecological effects of renewable energy all at sea
There is far too little known about the effects of offshore wind farms on local ecosystems, warn ecologists.
23 August 2005: Mussels flex their byssi in response to surface chemistry
Mussels alter their binding behaviour in response to the properties of the surface to which they are binding, report British and American researchers.
22 August 2005: Targeted nanoprobes for cancer detection and prognosis
Magnetic nanocrystals have been bound to cancer-targeting antibodies to create a highly sensitive probe for the detection of cancer in vivo.
19 August 2005: Sticky tape pulls out a range of CNT applications
Nanotechnologists in the US and Australia have developed a simple process for creating metre-long sheets of carbon nanotubes.
18 August 2005: Liquid crystals enter an extended blue phase
Liquid crystals with blue phases that exist over a surprisingly wide temperature range will lead to new applications in photonics, say researchers.
17 August 2005: Childhood cancer risk from perinatal pollutant exposure
High exposure to engine exhaust fumes while in the womb or as a baby can increase a child's risk of developing cancer by up to 12 times.
16 August 2005: Nitric oxide to guard medical implants
Medical implants for measuring glucose levels will only work effectively if they release nitric oxide (NO) at the same time, claim US researchers.
16 August 2005: Nasa and the falling foam
Nasa has appointed two engineering teams to investigate why a large piece of insulating foam broke off from the Space Shuttle Discovery during its launch at the end of July.
15 August 2005: Exit pass for T lymphocytes
The passage of immune cells throughout the body is more tightly regulated than previously thought, report two independent research groups.
12 August 2005: Select committee puts government in the dock
The UK parliament's science and technology committee has accused ministers of failing to engage in the debate surrounding the use of expert witnesses in court.
10 August 2005: Recreational drugs down the drain
The discovery of cocaine by-products in an Italian river challenges official figures on national cocaine consumption and has prompted similar analysis of other drugs.
10 August 2005: Behind the scenes at the chocolate factory
The 'chocolate' in the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory looks fun to swim in, but isn't as tasty as the real thing and is surprisingly difficult to make.
9 August 2005: Amphibian skin chemistry reflects convergent evolution
Similar evolutionary forces have independently honed the chemistry of poisonous frogs on different sides of the world.
8 August 2005: Ban the bomb, leading scientists urge
UK pressure group has used 60th anniversary of Hiroshima bombing to restate call to halt involvement in development and manufacture of nuclear weapons.
5 August 2005: Therapeutic potential grows on trees
Researchers in The Netherlands say they have developed a uniquely versatile method for stitching whole proteins and peptides onto dendrimer molecules.
5 August 2005: Ecstatic mice point to treatment for Parkinson's disease
New mouse model of Parkinson's disease provides further evidence that amphetamines, including Ecstasy, can reverse disease symptoms.
4 August 2005: Drug stockpiles needed in preparation for flu pandemic
Creating a massive stockpile of antiviral drugs - and the means to distribute them quickly - will be key to preventing millions of deaths from influenza.
3 August 2005: Grabbing proteins by the ELPs
A new method for protein purification based on self-cleaving polypeptide tags will be simpler and cheaper than current techniques, claim researchers.
2 August 2005: Less platinum for cheaper fuel cells
A platinum-free electrode that could help reduce the costs of polymer electrolyte fuel cells is being developed in Japan.
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