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May 31, 2005

Design Of An Antismoking Pill

The makers of varenicline got their inspiration from two natural products.

May 30, 2005

Auxin Receptor

Two independent research teams identify a receptor for auxin, the hormone critical to plant growth and development.

Fighting Infection

Researchers devise a strategy to fight bacterial infection by blocking biosynthesis of siderophores.

Chiral Polyometalates

Researchers create nanosized metal-oxide complexes that retain enantiomeric purity.

Global Health

World Health Organization adopts new rules concerning infectious diseases, including bird flu.

May 27, 2005

Fueled By Arsenic

Microbe discovered in an alkaline lake in the Mojave Desert uses arsenic for respiration.

Genentech Vision

Firm's new biopharmaceutical to treat macular degeneration rocks a competitor's stock price.

Crestor Problems

Doctors report a side-effect rate for Crestor that is double that of other cholesterol-lowering drugs.

May 26, 2005

OSTP Officials Tapped To Fill NSF, NIST Posts

President Bush nominates Kathie Olsen and William Jeffrey.

Photocatalyst Is Driven By Visible Light

New catalyst induces formation of hydrogen gas from water.

New Investment For IP2IPO

Technology commercialization firm buys into Oxford spin-off.

LG To Make PVC Feedstocks

Korean firm and partners will spend $300 million in China.

May 25, 2005

Embryonic Stem Cell Research

House passes bill to fund expansion of human embryonic stem-cell research.

Simon Campbell

President of Royal Society of Chemistry is heading campaign for chemistry in the U.K.

May 24, 2005

GSK adds External R&D Management Unit

Collaborative drug discovery will be the focus of new center.

May 23, 2005

Chemistry Mentors

Three chemists win presidential medals for mentoring students in science, math, and engineering.

Energy Bill

Now in committee, a Senate energy bill is expected on the floor for a vote in June.

Japan Earnings

Chemical firms post record results in the fiscal year that ended March 31.

CF Industries

Fertilizer cooperative files for an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange.

May 20, 2005

Visa Policy

Coalition seeks broader reform of U.S. visa policy for students, scientists, and other scholars.

Harvard Women

University President Lawrence Summers pledges $50 million to support women's initiative.

May 19, 2005

Serono Enters Two Deals

One is for small and the other is for large molecules.

Groups Challenge EPA's Mercury Rule

Environmental coalitions contend that Clean Air Act requires new control equipment, not emissions trading.

Accounting For OH Radicals

A previously ignored source may be producing significant amounts of this important atmospheric radical.

May 18, 2005

Antitumor Agent Shows Promise

Molecule kills cancer cells by blocking pathway that prevents cell suicide.

Fighting Lab Fires

Explosion and fire at an Ohio State University chemistry lab highlights safety issues in academia.

May 17, 2005

Polymer Resists Biofouling For Months

Polypeptide mimics may offer long-term control of surface fouling.

Lonza And UCB Sign Antibody Production Pact

Deal puts spotlight on emerging field of antibody fragments.

May 16, 2005

General Electric

CEO pledges substantial new investments in environmentally friendly technologies.

Countering Resistance

Targeting LexA protease could defeat bacterial mutations leading to antibiotic resistance.

Contract Manufacturing

Deals highlight push to combine cytotoxics with monoclonal antibodies.

Marine Products

Genes of bacterial sea squirt symbionts prompt E. coli to produce natural products.

Toxic Releases

EPA's 2003 inventory again ranks chemical industry third, after mining and utilities.

May 13, 2005

Flame Chemistry

Researchers discover that previously undetected enols are produced in significant amounts in gas flames.

Environment

Institutional investors pledge $1 billion toward technologies that reduce greenhouse gases.

May 12, 2005

White House Wins Energy Panel Suit

Appeals court says details of policy meetings do not have to be divulged to public.

Earlier Ovarian Cancer Detection

Sensitive test measures levels of four cancer-linked proteins in blood.

SABIC Chief Sees Challenges Ahead

Al-Mady calls for WTO membership and increased R&D in Middle East.

Rhodia Advances Silicon Venture

Rhodia and China National Blue Star consider broader alliance.

May 11, 2005

Buckyball Antibacterial

Water-soluble aggregates of C₆₀ inhibit the growth of two types of common soil bacteria.

Third Time's The Charm For Celanese

CEO Weidman expects Celanese will be a winner in its third go as a publicly owned firm.

May 10, 2005

Metallurgy In A Beaker

Solution route to multimetal nanocrystals has advantages over traditional solid-state syntheses.

May 9, 2005

Targeted For Phaseout

Four more chemicals proposed for control under persistent organic pollutant treaty.

Bonding Surprise

Commonly held assumptions about bond making and breaking may not always be valid.

RNA Catalysis

Once thought to be poor catalytic agents, RNA nucleobases can directly mediate proton transfer in RNA enzymes.

Basell Sold

Polyolefins joint venture goes for $5.7 billion to a consortium led by Access Industries and the Chatterjee Group.

Rhodia Woes

With share prices sinking, irate shareholders call for ouster of top directors, CEO.

May 6, 2005

Improved Polymers

Designer nucleating agents can improve the physical properties of isotactic polypropylene.

Glaxo Vaccines

Firm's acquisition of adjuvants maker Corixa strengthens big pharma in vaccines sector.

New CEO at Merck

Richard Clark replaces Raymond Gilmartin.

Journal Editor

Laura L. Kiessling has been named editor of ACS Chemical Biology, set to debut in January 2006.

May 5, 2005

Kavli Prizes Carry Handsome Reward

New awards will honor nanoscience, neuroscience, and astrophysics.

Responsible Care Gets Global Charter

Single code to be employed by 52 countries worldwide.

Solvay Outlines New Top Team

CEO Michielsen to be succeeded by chemical business head.

Estrogen-like Chemicals Linked To Prostate Problems

Chemicals in oral contraceptives and plastics cause prostate defects in developing mice.

Railroad Wins Hazardous Transport Decision

Appeals court blocks District of Columbia hazardous rail shipment law.

May 4, 2005

Sciences Academy Elects New Members

NAS elects 72 new members and 18 foreign associates from 14 countries.

Is The Case For A Diels-Alderase Dead?

New theoretical results cast doubt on whether enzyme relies on well-known pericyclic reaction.

May 3, 2005

More Funds Sought For Energy Department

Senators urge Appropriations Committee to hike Office of Science budget.

May 2, 2005

Lerman Honored In U.K.

Chicago professor receives Nyholm Award for contributions to chemical education.

Beyond Kinetics

Yield of artificial acetylcholine receptor reveals the power of dynamic combinatorial libraries.

Tabletop Fusion

Device achieves deuterium-deuterium fusion under ambient conditions.

Polystyrene Sale

Ineos will buy BASF's U.S. and Canadian polystyrene business for an undisclosed sum.

Earnings Up

Earnings surge continues as firms hike prices to meet energy costs and drive profits.

Stem Cell Ethics

National Academies issues guidelines for work with human embryonic stem cells.

Weapons Hunt Ends

U.S. Iraq Survey Group, headed by Charles Duelfer, ends its investigation.