Movers and shakers
At the CIA Chemical Industry Awards 2019, the Young Ambassador Award, sponsored by Scientific Update, was presented to Hallam Wheatley, from Sabic UK Petrochemicals. Dave Topliffe, manufacturing manager, Shell Chemicals UK, received the special CIA award for his contribution to the UK chemical industry.
Exploring the web of life
For many decades it has been suspected that chemistry and physics alone are not enough to account for the existence and behaviour of living systems. Even some of the simplest of forms of life can perform tasks that human engineers have no hope of matching. The most stunning example is perhaps that of a single fertilised human egg cell, which develops first into a fetus and ultimately into a mature adult. Apart from the chemical and physical processes involved, much speculation has focused on what else may be required to carry out such prodigious feats.
Light trapping pixels
The smallest pixels yet have been created by trapping light with gold nanoparticles. They could be used to change the colour of buildings while consuming very little energy.
Chemistry imagined
Imagine Chemistry (IC) is speciality chemicals company Nouryon’s approach to research, development and innovation (RDI).
Smart Cities
The world’s population is booming and more of us are living in cities. But could the future lie in smart sustainable cities that minimise their environmental impact with the help of computers
Organic cows better for birds
Organically farmed cows are good for birds, according to a study of EU agri-environment schemes and birds in Finland. Organic cattle farming has a positive impact on the abundance of insect eating birds and birds such as swallows and martins that migrate over long distances.
Regeneration for astronauts
The human body is not well adapted for life beyond the Earth’s atmosphere. Without exercise, astronauts can lose 20% of muscle mass in a space flight lasting just five to 11 days, while bone density is depleted at a rate of 1-2% a month, according to Ruth Globus of Nasa’s Ames Research Center in CA, US.
Business digest
US biotechnology company, Aldevron, which produces plasmid DNA, proteins, mRNA and antibodies, is building a gene therapy manufacturing campus at its headquarters in Fargo, ND. Three buildings will be built over the next three to five years to support genetic medicine.
New Leaf for Canada
In October 2018, Canada became the second country to legalise cannabis, after Uruguay – after sanctioning its medical use in 2001. The industry has since blossomed, giving rise to billion-dollar companies like Tilray, Canopy Growth and Aurora Cannabis, Anthony King reports.