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▸ Letters to the editor Chemistry stamps In addition to the upcoming solar eclipse stamp being issued by the U.S. Postal Service (C&EN, June 5, page 40), several other countries have released stamps printed with thermochromic ink. Of particular interest to readers of C&EN may be the buckminsterfullerene stamp issued in Great Britain in 2001 to honor the centennial of the Nobel Prizes. Gentle warming of the stamp’s surface reveals the presence of
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C&EN | CEN.ACS.ORG | JUNE 26, 2017
a black sphere (presumably a noble gas or metal atom) inside the molecule of C60: an endohedral fullerene!
Dan Rabinovich Charlotte, N.C.
On age diversity The editorial advocating for age discrimination (C&EN, May 22, page 3) was provocative. Why should older people be taking up so many positions when, in the words of the editor-in-chief, we assume that both productivity and innovation decline with age? Let’s put aside any pesky data to the contrary. Let’s also put aside the fact that many older chemists are financially unable to retire
Correction ▸ June 19, page 8: A production error led to a page from the Jan. 9 issue printing in place of the correct page of science concentrates from the June 19 issue. Read the stories missing from the June 19 print edition online at cenm.ag/solarcolors and cenm.ag/ fdaopioid.
because of excessive industry layoffs and the consequent unemployment or underemployment. Instead, we need to address the worrisome trend that the mean age of scientists in 2010 was 48.6 years. I suggest that the Creative Department at C&EN create one of those wonderful emojis—perhaps a 49-yearold chemist on an iceberg?
Wendy Sheridan Westfield, N.J.
On smelly refrigerators A recent humorous Newscripts article concerning smelly refrigerators (C&EN, May 8, page 40) prompts me to suggest a simple cure. Cut a large hole in the lid of an empty plastic coffee can. To the can add 100 g of diatomaceous earth. Then add 50 g of conc. sulfuric acid. Stir the mixture with a spoon to evenly disperse the acid. The resulting powder should be free flowing. Stretch a porous cloth over the top of the can and use the cut lid as a retaining ring for the cloth. The odor remover acts by forming nonvolatile “-onium” salts of molecules containing oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, or double bonds. The odor absorber is placed in the bottom of a refrigerator and is useful for six to 12 months. It works a lot better than charcoal or paraffin shavings.
Albert Anderson Wilmington, Del.
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CREDIT: DAN RABINOVICH
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