Chemistry News - October 2008 Archives

Predatory bacterial swarm uses rippling motion to reach prey (10/31/2008)

Like something from a horror movie, the swarm of bacteria ripples purposefully toward their prey, devours it and moves on.Researchers at the University of Iowa are studying this behavior in Myxococcus xanthus, a bacterium commonly found in soil, which preys on other bacteria. ...> Full Article

Denser, more powerful computer chips possible with plasmonic lenses that 'fly' (10/29/2008)

Engineers are reporting a new way of creating computer chips that could revitalize optical lithography, a patterning technique that dominates modern integrated circuits manufacturing. ...> Full Article

Investigation of changes in properties of water under the action of a magnetic field (10/27/2008)

Scientist studying the properties of water, and their changes under the action of a magnetic field were surprised by new and strange phenomena ...> Full Article

Magic solar milestone reached (10/26/2008)

Researchers claim 25 percent solar cell efficiency title ...> Full Article

Protein Compass Guides Amoebas Toward Their Prey (10/25/2008)

Molecular switch shared by humans may also help immune cells locate infection sites ...> Full Article

Which grass is greener for bioenergy? (10/24/2008)

bioenergy plant experts are learning which field grasses are the best candidates for "dedicated energy" crops ...> Full Article

Scientists unwrap the elements of life (10/23/2008)

Researchers have taken a step forward in our understanding of how the fundamental building blocks of life are put together. ...> Full Article

Secret Lives of Catalysts Revealed (10/22/2008)

New window into nanoscale chemistry could help improve pollution control, fuel cell technologies ...> Full Article

Ruthenium in a Clinch (10/21/2008)

Selectively and under mild conditions: primary amines from alcohols and ammonia with a ruthenium catalyst ...> Full Article

New Solar Energy Material Captures Every Color Of The Rainbow (10/20/2008)

Researchers have created a new material that overcomes two of the major obstacles to solar power: it absorbs all the energy contained in sunlight, and generates electrons in a way that makes them easier to capture. ...> Full Article

More flexible method floated to produce biofuels, electricity (10/19/2008)

Researchers are proposing a new "flexible" approach to producing alternative fuels, hydrogen and electricity from municipal solid wastes, agricultural wastes, forest residues and sewage sludge that could supply up to 20 percent of transportation fuels in the United States annually. ...> Full Article

Patent for renewable alternative to petroleum-derived isoprene granted to researcher (10/18/2008)

Discovery of isoprene production by bacteria will help make tires greener - ...> Full Article

Border control: Study shows how proteins permit entry to a cell (10/18/2008)

The means by which proteins provide a 'border control' service, allowing cells to take up chemicals and substances from their surroundings, whilst keeping others out, is revealed in unprecedented molecular detail for the first time ...> Full Article

Classic experiments give new insight on life's origin (10/17/2008)

The building blocks of life may have emerged in volcanic eruptions on the early Earth ...> Full Article

Atlanta firm to develop algae bioreactor (10/17/2008)

New technology could reduce air and waste pollution, provide biofuel ...> Full Article

Researchers develop new way to use biomass (10/16/2008)

Scientists have discovered a novel way to directly convert cellulose to industrially useful chemical compounds using tungsten carbide as a catalyst. ...> Full Article

Study specifies chemical pathway for ions through the cell membrane (10/15/2008)

Researchers have for the first time mapped a stepping-stone pathway of amino acids that these charged particles, or ions, follow across cell membranes. ...> Full Article

New Research Center Will Free Chemistry from Earth's Bonds (10/14/2008)

A new research center combining the tools of chemistry and astronomy will use the unique laboratory of interstellar space to free the study of basic chemistry from the restrictive bonds of Earth. ...> Full Article

'Fingerprinting' method tracks mercury emissions from coal (10/13/2008)

Researchers have developed a new tool that uses natural "fingerprints" in coal to track down sources of mercury polluting the environment. ...> Full Article

Promising new material that could improve gas mileage (10/12/2008)

With gasoline at high prices, it's disheartening to know that up to three-quarters of the potential energy you are paying for is wasted. A good deal of it goes right out the tailpipe instead of powering your car. ...> Full Article

Stabilizing force for good communication between neurons and muscle cells found (10/12/2008)

Scientists have found what keeps unstable protein in proper conformation ...> Full Article

Melt-castable nitrate ester with high explosive energy (10/11/2008)

Solid at room temperature, is a highly powerful explosive, and can be melt-cast into the desired shape. ...> Full Article

Cell protein suppresses pain 8 times more effectively than morphine (10/10/2008)

Researchers have discovered a new therapeutic target for pain control, one that appears to be eight times more effective at suppressing pain than morphine. ...> Full Article

Scientists design bomb-proof thermometer to measure the heat of explosions (10/9/2008)

Scientists have designed a high-speed thermometer that can measure the temperature inside explosions without being damaged in the impact. ...> Full Article

Discovering drugs, biofuels in tropical seas (10/8/2008)

Scientists to explore the biodiversity of Philippine marine mollusks and associated microbes that offer clues to potential central nervous system, cancer and antimicrobial drugs as well as enzymes for biofuels production ...> Full Article

Surface tension drives segregation within cell mixtures (10/7/2008)

What does a mixture of two different kinds of cells have in common with a mixture of oil and water? The same basic force causes both mixtures to separate into two distinct regions. ...> Full Article

Chemical 'orienteering': how accurately can cells follow a chemical trail to find their way around? (10/6/2008)

Study sheds new light on cells' ability to sense chemical gradients around them ...> Full Article

Deep biosphere research points to new methods for recovering petroleum (10/5/2008)

Researchers are using a novel approach that integrates physical organic chemistry with organic geochemistry and biogeochemistry to uncover the source of deep earth organic compounds like oil. ...> Full Article

Researchers support biodiversity in biofuels production (10/4/2008)

U.S. and European mandates for subsidies of cellulosic ethanol production and use have uncertain environmental consequences according to researchers ...> Full Article

Don't stress! Bacterial crisis command center revealed (10/3/2008)

A bacteria cell's 'crisis command centre' has been observed for the first time swinging into action to protect the cell from external stress and danger ...> Full Article

Engineers mass-produce smell receptors in lab (10/1/2008)

Biological engineers have found a way to mass-produce smell receptors in the laboratory, an advance that paves the way for "artificial noses" to be created and used in a variety of settings. ...> Full Article