Vancomycin is an antibiotic of last resort for tackling resistant bacteria like MRSA. Now, researchers have improved its effectiveness by boosting the associated immune response, they report.
As world leaders gathered in Glasgow, Scotland, for COP26, countries were already backtracking on their announced proposals, changing their proposals or making even more extravagant announcements to support their posturing. Meanwhile, gas prices continued to surge prompting, at least in the UK, dire warnings regarding industry shutdowns and widespread energy poverty.
A study from the University of Georgia, US, suggests a non-edible oilseed crop could generate jet fuels and reduce carbon emissions by 68% per litre (GCB Bioenergy, doi: 10.1111/gcbb.12888).
A chemical mini-plant entirely powered by solar power offers the potential to produce fine chemicals in remote locations on Earth, possibly even Mars, according to researchers in the Netherlands.
Hydrogen is expected to play a key role in future energy systems. But there are concerns leaks from its production, use and transport could contribute to climate change in the same way as fugitive emissions of methane.
The latest news updates and developments from the chemical industry in October 2021 in C&I Magazine.
Artificial intelligence (AI) in drug discovery is promising to drastically cut down timelines and costs of bringing new therapies to patients. IDTechEx has analysed 25 AI drug discovery companies (out of 100 companies identified) that are actively developing drug candidates and have published detailed information on their pipeline (AI in Drug Discovery 2021: Players, Technologies, and Applications).
Combining chemical sunscreen mixtures with zinc oxide may limit protection against UVA, according to a new study. Sunscreen mixed with zinc oxide was also found to cause toxic effects when tested in zebrafish embryos.
A network of UK advanced manufacturing organisations has published a joint report setting out policy recommendations to maximise the potential of UK manufacturing to generate and sustain high value jobs and growth.