Imagine a massive international effort to combat global warming by reducing carbon dioxide - build up in the atmosphere. It involves gathering billions of tons of cornstalks, wheat straw, and other crop residue from farm fields, bailing it, shipping the material to seaports, and then burying it in the deep ocean.
Researchers in Australia are reporting an advance toward the first urine test for diagnosing coronary artery disease (CAD), the condition responsible for most of the 1.5 million heart attacks that occur in the United States each year. The test could save lives in the future by allowing earlier diagnosis and monitoring of the disease, which is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States, the researchers say.
Surprising new scientific research is raising concerns about the potential health and environmental hazards of tungsten "” a metal used in products ranging from bullets to light bulbs to jewelry "” that scientists once thought was environmentally friendly, according to an embargoed article scheduled for the Jan. 19 issue of Chemical & Engineering News.
Scientists and regulators have a golden opportunity to reduce the health toll from a range of diseases by focusing more attention on identification of environmental factors that can damage the prenatal immune system as well as that of infants and children, according to an article scheduled for the January 19 issue of ACS' Chemical Research in Toxicology, a monthly journal.
In a finding straight out of science fiction, chemical and biomolecular engineers in Maryland are describing development of microscopic, chemically triggered robotic "hands" that can pick up and move small objects.
Scientists in Oregon and India are reporting an advance toward developing the first saliva test to diagnose and monitor effectiveness of treatment for Type 2 diabetes.
In a macabre discovery fit for Indiana Jones, archaeologists in Spain unearthed a 14th century brick oven with a unique role "” to bake bones. Scientists report that the animal bones were burnt in the oven and mixed with other materials to produce a protective coating to strengthen the grand medieval walls of what is today Granada, Spain. In a study scheduled to appear in Analytical Chemistry, scientists describe how they found these materials thanks to a powerful new testing method.
Scientists in the United Kingdom are reporting evidence that humans can make their own salicylic acid (SA) "” the material formed when aspirin breaks down in the body. SA, which is responsible for aspirin's renowned effects in relieving pain and inflammation, may be the first in a new class of bioregulators, according to a study scheduled for the Dec. 24 issue of ACS' biweekly Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
Meeting the world's growing energy demands while minimizing global warming will be one on the biggest challenges humanity has every faced, said Dr. Raymond Orbach, the U.S. Department of Energy's Under Secretary for Science, in the first of two special podcasts on "Confronting Climate Change" from the American Chemical Society's podcast series, "Global Challenges/Chemistry Solutions."
The American Chemical Society is now offering Global Challenges/Chemistry Solutions, a series of podcasts focusing on daunting global problems and how new discoveries from the labs of chemists and other scientists offer solutions.
The American Chemical Society (ACS) Publications Division has announced the appointment of Kirk S. Schanze, Ph.D., professor of chemistry at the University of Florida, as editor of a new journal, ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. Beginning publication in first-quarter 2009, ACS Applied Material and Interfaces will publish full-length articles, letters, comments, and forums.
An authority on the quality of drinking water today describes new challenges for consumers and municipal water supply systems, including unexpected consequences of efforts to conserve water in the first of a special series of podcasts from the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world's largest scientific society.
Four of the nation's top high school chemistry students "“"“ one each from California, Connecticut, Missouri and New Jersey "” have been chosen to represent the U.S. team in the 40th annual International Chemistry Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary July 12-21, 2008. They will compete with students from 65 other countries in the event, sponsored by the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society.
Mark your calendars for one of this year's biggest and most comprehensive scientific events "” the 236th National Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), which will be held Aug. 17-21, 2008, in Philadelphia.
Scientists in Wisconsin have discovered an ingredient that prevents the formation of ice crystals that can spoil the smooth, silky texture of ice cream and other frozen foods. The substance, which acts like an antifreeze, is non-toxic and doesn't change the taste of foods, the researchers say.
The development of deep-tank fermentation by Pfizer "”"“ which enabled the mass production of penicillin for use in World War II "”"“ was designated a National Historic Chemical Landmark by the American Chemical Society (ACS) in a special ceremony in Brooklyn, N.Y., on June 12, 2008. ACS President-elect Thomas H. Lane presented a commemorative plaque to Pfizer.
The percentage of 2007 chemistry graduates with full-time jobs as of early last October was relatively high, extending an upturn in employment rates of the past several years, according to the June 2 issue of Chemical & Engineering News(C&EN). CE&N is the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world's largest scientific society.
Washing fresh fruits and vegetables alone "” even with chlorine disinfectants "” may not be enough to reduce the risk of food poisoning. Studies show that certain disease-causing microbes can make their way inside the leaves of lettuce, spinach and other vegetables and fruit, where surface treatments cannot reach. The research will be described in April at the American Chemical Society national meeting in New Orleans.
Sugar-powered cars may be in your future. Chemists report development of a "revolutionary" process for converting plant sugars into hydrogen, which could be used to cheaply and efficiently power vehicles equipped with hydrogen fuel cells without producing any pollutants. The scientists will describe their unique hydrogen production system in April at the American Chemical Society national meeting in New Orleans.
In a finding that challenges conventional medical knowledge, researchers report that plaques formed in during atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, are associated with certain harmful chemical reactions that can contribute to damage in the lungs, liver, and other organs. The study, which suggests that the effects of the disease are more widespread than previously believed, will be presented in April at the American Chemical Society national meeting in New Orleans.
Amid concern that recipients of certain blood transfusions may risk infection with a deadly protein responsible for the human form of mad cow disease, researchers in Canada now report development of a special filter that quickly and effectively removes the protein from blood. They will describe the blood filter, which could reduce the risk of developing the disease from transfusions, in April at the American Chemical Society national meeting in New Orleans.
Chemists report that carbon dioxide removed from smokestack emissions in order to slow global warming could become a valuable raw material for the production of DVDs, beverage bottles and other products made from polycarbonate plastics. Their studies will be presented in April at the American Chemical Society national meeting in New Orleans.
Escalating oil and gas prices along with the global challenge of climate change has in the past few years spurred a generation of scientists to pursue alternative energy sources while redirecting the focus away from fossil fuels. A countrywide panel of experts gathered Monday at the 235th national meeting in New Orleans to provide a comprehensive overview of the current status, limitations and future challenges of alternative energy sources.
Despite oil prices that hover around $100 a barrel, it may take at least 10 or more years of intensive research to reduce the cost of solar energy to levels competitive with petroleum, according to a leading expert on the topic. Researchers will describe advances and challenges in solar energy research during a special Presidential Symposium in April at the American Chemical Society national meeting in New Orleans.
Scientists in Georgia are reporting development of a fast new method to detect fake Tamiflu, the mainstay medication for preventing and treating bird flu. Tamiflu has become a target for counterfeiters as recent outbreaks of bird flu have increased public demand for supplies of just-in-case antiviral drugs to use in case of an epidemic of the deadly disease. The study will be presented in April at the American Chemical Society national meeting in New Orleans.
Scientists in Texas report development of a highly dependable, rapid, and inexpensive new method for identifying the presence of gunshot residue (GSR). The test fills a GSR-detection gap that results from wider use of "green" "” lead free "” ammunition. Their study will be presented in April at the American Chemical Society national meeting in New Orleans.
Despite their reputation for deadly attacks on humans and pets, alligators are wiggling their way toward a new role as potential lifesavers in medicine. Scientists report that proteins in gator blood may provide powerful new antibiotics to help fight infections associated with diabetic ulcers, severe burns, and "superbugs" that are resistant to conventional medication. Their research will be presented in April at the American Chemical Society national meeting in New Orleans.
Mud may be coming to a medicine cabinet or pharmacy near you. Scientists in Arizona report that minerals from clay could form the basis of a new generation of inexpensive, highly-effective antimicrobials for fighting MRSA infections that are moving out of health care settings and into the community. Their study will be presented in April at the American Chemical Society national meeting in New Orleans.
Those exploring the uncharted seas at the fringes of the Periodic Table of the Elements have landed on one long-sought island "” the fabled Island of Stability, home of a new genre of superheavy chemical elements sought for more than three decades. Researchers now are eying other islands on the more-distant fringes of the periodic table. Their pioneering research will be described in April at the American Chemical Society national meeting in New Orleans.
Gabor A. Somorjai, Ph.D., has been chosen to receive the 2008 Priestley Medal by the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world's largest scientific society, for his contributions to the fields of surface science and catalysis for more than 40 years. A professor of chemistry at the University of California at Berkeley, Somorjai has been a pioneer in the study of surfaces and surface phenomena, which has in turn impacted various other disciplines.
The spiraling use of corn for food and fuel is creating heightened concerns about contamination of this staple crop with deadly aflatoxin. Produced by certain fungi that grow on corn, this contaminant is a known human carcinogen that especially threatens food safety in the developing world and can potentially cause the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in the United States each year.
Fifteen hundred years ago, tribes people from the central Amazon basin mixed their soil with charcoal derived from animal bone and tree bark. Today, at the site of this charcoal deposit, scientists have found some of the richest, most fertile soil in the world. Now this ancient, remarkably simple farming technique seems far ahead of the curve, holding promise as a carbon-negative strategy to rein in world hunger as well as greenhouse gases.
Scientists presented evidence today that desert heat, a little water, and meteorite impacts may have been enough to cook up one of the first prerequisites for life: The dominance of "left-handed" amino acids, the building blocks of life on this planet. In a report at the 235th national meeting of the ACS, Ronald Breslow, Ph.D., University Professor, Columbia University, and former ACS President, described how our amino acid signature came from outer space.
Chemists in Colorado now are reporting solutions to two major problems with bamboo fabrics that may speed adoption of this amazing plant — which grows like Jack's beanstalk without special care — in garments and other consumer products.
Valued for its antibacterial and odor-fighting properties, nanoparticle silver is becoming the star attraction in a range of products from socks to bandages to washing machines. But as silver's benefits propel it to the forefront of consumer nanomaterials, scientists are recommending a closer examination of the unforeseen environmental and health consequences of nanosilver.
The American Chemical Society (ACS) Office of Communications is offering the news media the opportunity to join press briefings whether covering the meeting onsite or from a remote location. This new updated format during ACS's 235th national meeting April 6-10 in New Orleans will provide access to the increasing number of journalists who cover scientific meetings from their home base.
The American Chemical Society's workshop, Cooks with Chemistry "” The Elements of Chocolate, provided reporters with an assortment of new information on one of the world's favorite treats. With chocolate consumption nearing an annual peak as the holidays approach, the ACS is providing the content from this event to news media unable to attend the workshop.
Applications are being accepted now through March 1, 2008, for the 2008 - 2009 ACS Scholars Program. Applicants should be African American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian students who are high school seniors, or college freshmen, sophomores or juniors. They must plan to major in or already be majoring in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering or a chemically-related science.
The American Chemical Society's workshop, Cooks with Chemistry "” The Elements of Chocolate, provided reporters with an assortment of new information on one of the world's favorite treats. With chocolate consumption nearing an annual peak as the holidays approach, the ACS is providing the content from this event to news media unable to attend the workshop.
Catherine T. ("Katie") Hunt, Ph.D., president of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society, comments on today's award of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Gerhard Ertl. Surface science, the topic of the prize, was fundamental to Hunt's initial scientific research.
Researchers in California are reporting development of a fast, inexpensive test suitable for home use that could help millions of people avoid those "˜out of the blue' headaches that may follow consumption of certain red wines, cheese, chocolate, and other aged or fermented foods. The test is designed to detect the presence of so-called biogenic amines, naturally occurring toxins that can trigger a wide range of symptoms in sensitive individuals.
Consuming large amounts of caffeine while taking acetaminophen, a widely used painkiller, could potentially cause liver damage, according to a preliminary laboratory study. The toxic interaction could occur not only from drinking caffeinated beverages while taking the painkiller but also from using large amounts of medications that intentionally combine caffeine and acetaminophen, the researchers say.
Scientists in California are reporting an advance toward rapid testing for pre-natal detection of Down syndrome and other birth defects that involve an abnormal number of chromosomes.
Plastic pipes, which are increasingly being used in place of copper water pipes, can significantly affect the odor and taste of drinking water, according to a pioneering study on the subject. The study will be presented in August at the American Chemical Society national meeting in Boston.
Researchers have found new evidence that soft drinks sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup may contribute to the development of diabetes, particularly in children. Drinks containing the syrup had high levels of reactive compounds that have been shown by others to have the potential to trigger cell and tissue damage that could cause the diabetes, a growing epidemic.
Scientists are reporting an advance toward turning corn plants into natural factories for producing gelatin to replace animal-sourced gelatin widely used by the pharmaceutical industry for manufacturing capsules and tablets. The advance may lead to a safe, inexpensive source of this protein for manufacturers who now rely on material obtained as a by-product of meat production.
It's yet another example of how a good thing can go bad: Researchers have found evidence in laboratory studies that "˜good' cholesterol, renowned for its ability to protect against heart disease, can undergo detrimental changes in protein composition that make it "˜bad' for the heart. The study could lead to new lab tests and treatments for heart disease, they say. It will be presented in August at the American Chemical Society national meeting in Boston.
The multi-billion-dollar global cosmetics and skin-care-product industry sometimes is beset by a me-too mindset in which research and development focuses on matching the competition rather than applying sound science to improve products, a scientist who studies cosmetic ingredients said. As a result, it could be missing a golden opportunity to provide consumers with more effective products, he said.
Researchers at an American Chemical Society meeting will report the development of an unusual biological detergent, called a Pepfactant ®, a surfactant made from peptides, protein subunits. Its potential applications range from a laundry detergent that hardly needs a rinse cycle to a non-irritating eye rinse to increasing the amount of oil that companies can extract from a well.
Public health officials may soon be able to flush out more accurate estimates on illegal drug use in communities across the country thanks to a new screening test. The test doesn't screen people directly but instead seeks out evidence of illicit drug abuse in drug residues and metabolites excreted in urine and flushed toward municipal sewage treatment plants. It will be described in August during the national meeting of the American Chemical Society in Boston.
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