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May 31, 2006

Smallpox Destruction Delayed Again

Proposed date of June 2010 blocked by U.S. and Russia at world health meeting.

Unions Seek Tougher Pesticide Rules

Letter to EPA administrator claims political pressure on agency scientists.

Vaccine Approval Boosts Merck

Embattled drugmaker wins federal license to market the first shingles vaccine to people 60 and older.

Engelhard Agrees To Be Acquired By BASF

Catalyst and pigment maker capitulates after four months of resisting buyout.

May 29, 2006

SPOT Grabs, Tags Carbohydrates

Technique could ease sequencing and analysis of biological sugar chains.

Changing The Rules For Academics Labs

Universities would get a break from current requirements aimed at industry.

World Health

Gates Foundation, Novartis embark on public-private ventures to combat TB and malaria.

May 26, 2006

Unmet Goals In Climate Change

Government must prod firms to set targets for voluntarily curbing greenhouse gas emissions, GAO says.

Plant Security

Study calls for funding R&D on inherently safer chemicals and processes, safer storage.

Green Chemistry

CO₂-Based Dry-Cleaning Chain Launched In Germany.

May 25, 2006

Faulty Filters

Firm indicted for making faulty air filters for chemical, biological, and nuclear agents for military tanks.

Proceed With Care

High doses of some short hairpin RNAs cause liver toxicity and death in mice.

Challenges Ahead For Corporate R&D

Survey finds most R&D centers will be built in China and India.

Web Cameras See Chemistry Anywhere

Scientists turn standard computer peripherals into optical systems for chemical detection.

May 25, 2006

More Deaths From Chinese Drug

Chinese government tells regulators to step up enforcement.

New Head Of NSF Chemistry Division Named

Clemson's Luis Echegoyen will succeed Art Ellis.

May 24, 2006

Sunlight Controls Polymer Growth

Novel living polymerization technique relies on photoexcitation of metal-containing monomers.

May 23, 2006

House Blocks Changes To Toxics Release Inventory

Bill would cut off funds for EPA plans to reduce right-to-know reporting.

BASF Ups Bid For Engelhard Again

As Engelhard’s annual meeting approaches, BASF makes its ‘best and final offer’.

Nobel Laureate R. Bruce Merrifield Dies At 84

Rockefeller University biochemist 'revolutionized' peptide synthesis.

May 22, 2006

Antibiotic Halts Lipid Synthesis

Small-molecule natural product is a potent antibiotic with a novel target.

Supreme Court On Clean Air Act Case

High court will rule in suit over what constitutes an emissions increase.

May 22, 2006

Analyzing Protein Interactions

Technique probes compound-protein interactions comprehensively.

May 19, 2006

House Panel OKs Measure On POPs

Bill on chemical treaties crosses first legislative hurdle.

Nanotube Speedway

Gas and water zoom through the carbon nanotube pores of a membrane.

Japanese Earnings

Profits are up in Japan, but rising costs present a challenge.

Science Policy

Science Board Looks At Scientific Openness.

Drug Safety

Faulty Drug Kills Five People In China.

May 18, 2006

Cognis, Lonza Invest In Nutrition Ingredients

Specialty chemical makers buy businesses that make extracts from fish, trees.

Groups Petition FDA On Nanomaterials

Agency is asked to devise improved product testing or face lawsuit.

Big Companies Invest In Biodiesel

Chevron and Ineos spend on large plants in U.S. and Europe.

May 17, 2006

Sussex Chemistry Escapes Threatened Cuts

Department will be joined with biochemistry at British university.

Sighting The Golden Cage

First evidence of freestanding, hollow metal cages is found.

May 16, 2006

Rail Shippers Decry Fuel Surcharges

Freight customers claim they are being overcharged as railroads add on fuel costs.

May 15, 2006

AstraZeneca Is Buying Biopharma Company

British drug giant will take full ownership of Cambridge Antibody Technology.

Artisan Molecules

Metal-terpyridine complexes form fractal polymers with aesthetic shapes.

Merck Biologics

Company acquires two firms with protein-based drug technology.

Improvement Seen Across Industry

Most European chemical companies show growth in sales and earnings.

May 12, 2006

Detecting Drugs' Influence

Technique reveals compounds' direct effects on protein signaling interactions.

Responsible Care

Industry says program obviates need to legislate safer manufacturing technology.

Gast To Head Lehigh

Chemical engineer Alice Gast leaves MIT for Lehigh University.

Thermo And Fisher Agree To Merge

New company will be leading supplier of lab products and services.

May 11, 2006

More Propylene Oxide Is Planned

South Korean firm will build plant using Degussa's novel technology

Improved Tritium Monitoring Is Proposed

Nuclear industry unveils voluntary monitoring policy on inadvertent tritium releases.

Natural Sun Blocks

Compounds isolated from foods and bacteria protect skin cells from UV radiation.

May 10, 2006

Dry Run

Desert beetle wings inspire high-tech, liquid-controlling surfaces.

May 9, 2006

Bush Backs Suspension Of Ethanol Tariff

Dropping the duty on imports of the fuel additive is not the answer to high gasoline prices, industry insists.

Toward More Reliable Molecular Electronics

Two innovations in fabrication improve properties of molecular junctions.

Thermo And Fisher Agree To Join Forces

New company will be leading supplier of lab products and services.

May 8, 2006

Polyolefin Shuffle

Repeated chain transfer between two catalysts yields tailored block copolymers.

Bioethanol Boost

Interest in cellulose-based ethanol is rising with the price of gasoline.

New Tool For Drug Delivery Kinetics

Uptake and release of drug-carrier's cargo in cells is quantified in real time.

BASF, Engelhard Dispute Goes On

Even as it raises its bid for Engelhard, BASF agrees to buy Johnson Polymer.

Worming Your Way To Drug Targets

Worms are used to rapidly identify protein targets of bioactive agents.

May 5, 2006

Science Problems At NASA

National Academies report finds the agency trying to do too much with too little

Iraqi Online Tool Is Launched

Virtual Science Library gives Iraq's scientists and students access to articles.

Daniel Koshland Wins Welch Award

UC Berkeley professor is honored for his work in biochemistry and medicine.

Science Education

NSF's role in K–12 education is explored at House Science Committee hearing.

May 4, 2006

Honeywell Sells Pharma Chemicals Plant to Sigma

Sale marks exit for Honeywell and continuation of buildup for Sigma-Aldrich.

Catalysis R&D Venture Is Launched

BASF will collaborate with University of Heidelberg on homogeneous catalysis.

Coal Gasification Program Needs Clarity

Alternative energy projects could aid U.S. industries, but help from Congress is needed to attract investment.

May 3, 2006

Wash And Wonder

Antibacterial agents end up in farm fertilizer.

May 2, 2006

BASF, Engelhard Are Ready For A Showdown

BASF raises bid for Engelhard but vows to back off if shareholders don?t like it.

Scientists Protest U.S. Treatment Of Prisoners

Academics charge U.S. is violating rights of terror suspects detained at Guantanamo Bay.

May 1, 2006

EPA Is Sued Over Carbon Emissions

Ten states challenge EPA decision not to regulate carbon dioxide as a pollutant under the Clean Air Act.

New Routes To Tamiflu Emerge

Research groups in the U.S. and Japan develop routes that avoid shikimic acid.

Facilities Opt For Safer Technologies

Concerns about terrorism prod plants to move to safer materials and processes

Anthrax Destroyer

A viral enzyme is found to kill anthrax by punching a hole in its cell wall