Movers and Shakers
Movers and shakers in the chemical industry October 2020. Read all the people moves in the chemical industry in C&I online.
The travellers’ guide to modern atomic theory
The much-travelled author of this book is clearly a man on a mission. His objective is to motivate readers to follow in his footsteps on pilgrimages to destinations across Europe and North America to experience some of the numerous sites associated with major scientific ideas over the past 500 years. Although Rodgers’ prime focus is to explore the origins and development of modern atomic theory, his commentaries frequently spill over into other related areas of science.
Smells – all in the mind
Our sense of smell is underappreciated, underused and poorly understood. After centuries of philosophical musings and half-hearted attempts to systematise, it only became a part of modern molecular biology in 1991 when Linda Buck and Richard Axel discovered a large family of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and showed that these were the molecular sensors for odorants. Vision served as a precedent, and we now know that other senses, including taste and temperature sensation, also use GPCRs.
Balance and transparency
Mass balance is a mechanism to help phase out the large scale use of fossil raw materials. It is about mixing fossil raw materials together with recycled or renewable raw materials in existing systems and processes, while keeping track of their quantities and allocating them to specific products. Ultimately, the goal will be to deliver a chemical industry that has been fully converted to using recycled and renewables.
Global impact
While the UK chemical industry appeared moderately optimistic about the future in late August 2020 (C&I, 2020, 84, 9, 4), the picture was not quite so positive in the EU, according to the most recent report from Cefic, the European Chemical Industry Council.
To dye for
Engineered microbes, light-reflecting bacteria and nanocellulose gels are among the technologies that could change the way we lend colour to textiles, Vanessa Zainzinger reports. Read the feature in C&I Magazine.
Weather dependant plastics
Polyolefin plastics in commodity packaging are the major source of land pollution. Waste plastic on land undergoes weathering degradation, normally generating microplastics, with subsequent soil biodegradation, depending on environmental conditions.
Stem-cell bandages
A special bandage with stem cells has been shown to speed bone repair after severe fractures in lab animals. The method could dramatically accelerate bone healing, say its developers at King’s College London, UK. Read the article in the C&I Magazine.
Genomic sequencing of Covid19
Genomic sequencing of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is helping to provide a more complete picture of Covid-19 spread, which may return life to normal faster, according to researchers. Read the article in C&I Magazine.