Serving the chemical, life sciences, and laboratory worlds
VOLUME 90, NUMBER 29 JULY 16, 2012
COVER STORY
INTERNATIONAL CHEMISTRY OLYMPIAD Hosted in the U.S. for the first time in two decades, competition will be held on July 21–30 in the Washington, D.C., area. PAGE 12 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “I am grateful for the education I have had. ... All I want for our American students is what I was given.” MARYE ANNE FOX, PROFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY AND CHANCELLOR, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO PAGE 48
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NEWS OF THE WEEK ARSENIC-BASED LIFE REFUTED
Studies disprove claim that bacteria can use arsenic in place of phosphorus in biomolecules. FLUORINE GAS IN ITS NATURAL STATE
Researchers in Munich characterize the highly reactive molecule while it’s trapped in a mineral. PARTNERS FOR ISOBUTYL ALCOHOL
Gevo and Beta Renewables team up to produce the fuel from cellulosic biomass.
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HELIUM IN SHORT SUPPLY
Despite plentiful reserves of the gas, production shortfall and supply interruptions threaten users.
GOVERNMENT & POLICY
36 CONCENTRATES 37 CLEAN-COAL STALL
As Congress blocks climate legislation, incentives for carbon capture and sequestration are quashed.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
40 CONCENTRATES 42 UNSOLVED HOFMEISTER MYSTERY
After decades of study, the ordering of aqueous ions based on their effects on proteins still confounds.
44 INSIGHTS
We should drop added sugar, whether highfructose corn syrup or plain old sucrose, from our diets, experts say.
BOOKS
45 EXTRACTING OIL AND MINERALS
Two books examine resource scarcity from a social science point of view.
LOCATING DRUG ACTIVES IN TABLETS
Combination of UV methods yields 3-D maps faster than current standard techniques. REGULATING FLAME RETARDANTS
Senators urge EPA to quickly finalize regulation for seven polybrominated diphenyl ethers. ROMANCE AMONG DRAGONFLIES
Males of certain species signal sexual readiness with a vivid red color, thanks to redox chemistry. BIOTECHS SLASH PAYROLLS
Financial problems, development setbacks force five companies to cut jobs, one to shut down. FLUSHING OUT LATENT HIV
Newly synthesized bryostatin analogs activate the virus’s dormant form. EVONIK’S PLANS FOR NYLON 12
Firm will build a new plant in Singapore, continue to repair damaged facility in Germany.
BUSINESS CONCENTRATES FERMENTED FLAVORS AND FRAGRANCES
Biobased sensory compounds can mitigate the sway weather holds over nature-grown supplies.
30 CHALLENGES FOR CHINA’S PHARMA FIRMS
CPhI China highlights how strong competition and strict standards challenge drugmakers.
25 AWARDS
48 TRENDSETTING CHEMISTS
Heritage Day award winners express concern for the pacesetters of tomorrow.
THE DEPARTMENTS
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CLASSIFIEDS NEWSCRIPTS
COVER: U.S. team member Sidharth Chand of Detroit Country Day School in Beverly Hills, Mich., prepares for the International Chemistry Olympiad. He is shown during the study camp at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs at which the four-member U.S. team was selected. Sarah Chambers/U.S. Air Force
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