Chemistry News - February 2008 Archives

Mechanism Discovered in Worm Digestion Identifies Potentially Widespread Cell-to-Cell Communication Process (2/29/2008)

The focus of two recent Nobel prizes, a species of roundworm has made possible another advance in the understanding of how cells talk to one another, according to a study published online today in the journal Current Biology. ...> Full Article

Uncharged organic molecule can bind negatively charged ions (2/28/2008)

Chemists have designed an organic molecule that binds negatively charged ions, a feat they hope will lead to the development of a whole new molecular toolbox for biologists, chemists and medical researchers who want to remove chlorine, fluorine and other negatively charged ions from their solutions. ...> Full Article

Researchers Developing a More Efficient Ethanol Production Method (2/27/2008)

A University of Wyoming professor has received a $485,000 grant to explore a more economical way to produce ethanol. ...> Full Article

Research Pushes the Right Buttons - Mushrooms are the New Fat (2/26/2008)

Scientists have discovered a new method to replace fat in food products. ...> Full Article

Solar cell directly splits water for hydrogen (2/20/2008)

Plants trees and algae do it. Even some bacteria and moss do it, but scientists have had a difficult time developing methods to turn sunlight into useful fuel. Now, Penn State researchers have a proof-of-concept device that can split water and produce recoverable hydrogen. ...> Full Article

Coal Gasification Could Fuel Clean Coal: Myths, Challenges And Opportunities (2/19/2008)

There is a growing consensus that increased demand for electricity will cement coal's place in the energy portfolio for years to come. In fact, more than half of the electricity produced in the United States comes from coal. With demand for electricity expected to double by 2050 and renewable resources still years away from offsetting increased demand, it is clear -- coal is here to stay. ...> Full Article

Researchers developing equipment to get double duty out of biofuels (2/15/2008)

Researchers are developing equipment that would allow farmers to have their biofuels and let their animals eat it, too. A project led by Paul Aakre, assistant professor in agriculture, examines opportunities for individual farmers or farm groups to produce their own biodiesel from crops like canola and sunflowers and use the byproduct of that biodiesel production to feed their animals. ...> Full Article

Moss protein plays role in Alzheimer's Disease (2/9/2008)

Preventing Alzheimer's disease is a goal of Raphael Kopan, Ph.D., professor of molecular biology and pharmacology at the Washington University School of Medicine. The moss plant Physcomitrella patens studied in the laboratory of Ralph S. Quatrano, Ph.D., the Spencer T. Olin Professor and chair of the biology department on WUSTL's Danforth Campus, might inch Kopan toward that goal. Here's how. ...> Full Article

Breakthrough may revolutionize ethylene production (2/6/2008)

Scientists create environmentally friendly technology to produce commonly used compound ...> Full Article

The eyes have it (2/5/2008)

Researchers can now determine when a human was born by looking into the eyes of the dead ...> Full Article

Study of Energy Crops Finds Miscanthus More Productive than Switchgrass (2/4/2008)

At the annual meeting of the American Society of Plant Biologists in Chicago (July 7-11, 2007), scientists presented findings on how to economically and efficiently produce plant crops suitable for sustainable bioenergy. Improving the production of such biomass is important because it should significantly ease and eventually replace dependence on petroleum-based fuels. Biomass is plant material, vegetation or agricultural waste used as fuel. ...> Full Article

Hot Liquids Release Potentially Harmful Chemicals in Polycarbonate Plastic Bottles (2/3/2008)

When it comes to Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure from polycarbonate plastic bottles, it's not whether the container is new or old but the liquid's temperature that has the most impact on how much BPA is released, according to University of Cincinnati (UC) scientists. ...> Full Article

Researcher Makes Another Breakthrough on Corrosion-resistant Zeolite Coating (2/2/2008)

Research means that the aerospace manufacturing process could be more environmentally friendly ...> Full Article

It's All About Geometry: Protein Contact Surfaces Hold Key to Cures (2/1/2008)

Supercomputer Powers Tool to Reveal Hidden Interaction ...> Full Article