Hydrogen researchers at Graz University of Technology (Austria), together with the Graz-based start-up Rouge H2 Engineering, have developed a cost-effective process for the decentralized production of high-purity hydrogen using chemical looping.

Currently, hydrogen is mainly produced centrally from fossil resources and compressed or liquefied in an expensive and energy-intensive process in order to be able to supply it to filling stations. Additionally, expensive infrastructure with high investment costs is needed there to store large quantities of hydrogen.

The process is well established and economically efficient due to the moderate costs for production, the feedstock and the existing infrastructure. However, centralized large-scale production implies the major drawback of emitting vast amounts of greenhouse gases during the transport over wide distances to the consumer using trucks. Additionally, large amounts of hydrogen have to be stored in pressurized form on site at the customer to compensate for fluctuations in consumption. Both the transportation and the storage contribute considerably to the hydrogen price.

Decentralized chemical looping hydrogen production out of bio resources like biogas or gasified biomass in contrast has the potential for the efficient on-site hydrogen supply for stationary or mobility applications. The chemical looping concept generally utilizes chemical intermediates, often metal oxides to oxidize fuels and regenerate the intermediate in a separate reaction.

Chemical looping combustion (CLC) uses the lattice oxygen of metal oxide based oxygen carriers to fully oxidize of a fuel for thermal utilization and thereby enables the possibility for efficient carbon dioxide capture. Chemical looping partial oxidation (CLPO) is used to gain a synthesis gas rich in CO and H2 via partially oxidizing a hydrocarbon feed in contrast to CLC. The CLPO concept was successfully used in renewable energy systems for the production of CO and H2 via thermochemical splitting of CO2 and H2O.

Chemical looping water splitting (CLWS) or chemical looping hydrogen (CLH) recently got high attention in the scientific community due to the possible use of renewable energy sources as well as the inherent possibility for carbon dioxide capture. The innovative reformer steam-iron cycle (RESC), developed at TU Graz, enables the production, purification and storage of pure pressurized hydrogen with efficiencies of up to 75%. Renewable fuels like biogas, gasified biomass, or bio-alcohols can be used to generate green hydrogen on demand directly at the place of consumption. The technology makes it possible to produce high purity hydrogen in one compact unit without a complex gas purification step.

Zacharias et al. (2019)

The Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Systems Working Group at TU Grazs Institute of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology has been looking for ways to make hydrogen production more attractive. As part of the HyStORM (Hydrogen Storage via Oxidation and Reduction of Metals) research project, the team led by working group head Viktor Hacker developed a chemical-looping hydrogen method for decentralized and climate-neutral hydrogen production.

The research resulted in a compact and space-saving on-site, on-demand (OSOD) system for filling stations and energy plants and is being developed and distributed by the Graz-based start-up Rouge H2 Engineering.

A prototype of the OSOD H2 generator is currently being tested on the premises of PDC Verfahrenstechnische Entwicklungsgesellschaft m.b.H. in Raaba-Grambach, Styria. RGH2

The OSOD system is a hydrogen generator with integrated storage device in one system. Hydrogen is produced by converting biogas, biomass or natural gas into a syngas. The provided energy is then stored by means of a redox process (reduction-oxidation process) in a metal oxide, which can be stored and transported without any losses or safety risks.

OSOD H2 generator. The blue cuboid is the core development: a gas furnace with four tubular reactors in which the chemical looping process for hydrogen production takes place. RGH2

The subsequent demand-oriented production of hydrogen is achieved by feeding water into the system. The iron-based material is charged with steam and high-purity hydrogen is released.

This process also makes the system interesting for smaller applications.

Current conventional processes for hydrogen production from biogas or gasified biomass require complex and cost-intensive gas purification processes such as pressure swing adsorptiona separation process in which hydrogen is isolated from the gas mixture in several steps. This works very well on a large scale, but is poorly scalable to smaller, decentralized systems. However, our process generates only high-purity hydrogen through the steam-based redox cycle anyway, so there is no need for any gas purification step at all.

TU Graz hydrogen researcher Sebastian Bock

For this reason, the OSOD system is freely scalable and is particularly suitable for decentralized applications with low feed-in rates in laboratories and smaller industrial systems as well as larger decentralized units such as hydrogen filling stations or hydrogen production from biogas.

In addition to the provision of high purity hydrogen, Gernot Voitic, lead project manager of R&D at Rouge H2 Engineering, points out that the OSOD system can switch to standby mode in the case of low demand and resume hydrogen production at any time if required.

This on-demand release and integrated storage is the USP of the OSOD H2 Generator, and sets it apart from other similar products.

Gernot Voitic

Rouge H2 Engineering and TU Graz researchers are already focusing on the next step. At present, the system is still operated on an industrial scale with natural gas. The working group now wants to make it usable for biogas, biomass and other regionally available raw materials. Biogas plants, for example, could thus become even more competitive in the future and, instead of electricity, also produce green hydrogen, which could be used for sustainable mobility concepts.

The HyStORM research project is anchored in the Field of Expertise Mobility & Production at TU Graz, one of the five strategic research foci of the university.

Resources

Bock, S., Zacharias, R., Schauperl, R., Voitic, G., & Hacker, V. (2020). Decentralized hydrogen generation and energy storage from biomass and biogas with Fixed-Bed Chemical Looping. In 6th Central European Biomass Conference CEBC 2020, Proceedings (pp. 59). Graz.

Robert Zacharias, Simone Visentin, Sebastian Bock, Viktor Hacker (2019)High-pressure hydrogen production with inherent sequestration of a pure carbon dioxide stream via fixed bed chemical looping,International Journal of Hydrogen Energy,Volume 44, Issue 16, pages 7943-7957 doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.01.257 (open access)

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Graz researchers develop cost-effective chemical looping process for decentralized production of high-purity hydrogen - Green Car Congress

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Impact on China Chemical Industry due to the COVID-19 Pandemic" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The chinese chemical industry has been deeply affected with the outbreak of COVID-19. The high infection rate, city shutdowns, and transportation halts across the nation had a negative impact on the chemical industry of the country. In addition, China is a major player operating in the chemical industry across the globe. The chemical industry was the fifth-largest industry in the country in 2018, accounting for 3.5% of the nation's output in 2018 that is around $1.5 trillion.

With the spread of the coronavirus, many production facilities of several end-user industries including automobile have been halted. With this, the demand for chemicals used in these production facilities has been exhibiting a sharp decline. China accounts for about 70% of the total rubber chemical products across the globe and consumes about 33-35% of it. Rubber chemicals are among the major components to produce auto tires and other auto parts including hoses, belts, and gaskets. With the halt in production facilities of several automobile manufacturers witnessed a steep fall in the demand for tires, which in turn is anticipated to impact the demand for rubber chemicals. Based on chemical type, the chemical industry is segmented into petrochemical, basic inorganic, polymer, specialty chemical, consumer chemical, and others.

The major companies operating in the chemical industry being affected with the coronavirus outbreak include ABA Chemicals Corp., BASF SE, Bluestar Co., Cathay Industrial Biotech Ltd., China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., Kingboard Holdings Ltd., PetroChina Company Ltd., SABIC, Shanghai Bairun Investment Holding Group Co., Ltd., Wanhua Chemical Group Co., Ltd., and others. To combat this situation chemical manufacturing firms in China are keeping their businesses running in the face of this epidemic. Many chemical plants that were closed in early January 2020 have been reopened at the latter end of February. Most of the petrochemical plants operating in the southeast province of Zhejiang, which is a major chemical industry hub in China had started their production facilities by the end of February. However, most chemical plants are running at a reduced capacity of around 40-70% owing to the understaffing, and a lack of raw material. In addition, the weakening demand from end-users due to the economic slowdown is among the key factors that are hindering the efforts of chemical manufacturers to get back to full speed in the country.

This report provides an in-depth analysis on market size and the intended quality of the service preferred by consumers. The report will serve as a source for 360-degree analysis of the market thoroughly integrating different models.

The Report Covers

In the report, the analysis of the country is provided by analyzing various regional players, laws and policies, consumer behavior and macro-economic factors. The report includes analysis of different regions and countries and the effect of COVID-19 on the Chemical industry of each respective region. In addition, an expected recovery timeline of the industry is also included with the best- and worst-case scenario which will aid clients to take their future steps in the decision-making process.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Report Summary

1.1. Research Methods and Tools

2. Market Overview and Insights

2.1. Scope of the Report

2.2. Analyst Insight & Current Market Trends

2.3. Government support/bailout packages

2.4. Supply Chain Analysis

3. Industry Overview

3.1. Historical market growth estimation of the China Chemical industry pre-COVID-19 pandemic effect

3.2. Deviations in the China Chemical industry growth post-COVID-19 pandemic

4. Verticals Affected Most

4.1. Petrochemical

4.2. Basic Inorganic

4.3. Polymer

4.4. Specialty Chemical

4.5. Consumer Chemical

4.6. Others

5. Company Profiles

5.1. ABA Chemicals Corp.

5.2. BASF SE

5.3. Bluestar Co.

5.4. Cathay Industrial Biotech Ltd.

5.5. China Petroleum & Chemical Corp (Sinopec)

5.6. Kingboard Holdings Ltd.

5.7. PetroChina Company Ltd.

5.8. SABIC

5.9. Shanghai Bairun Investment Holding Group Co., Ltd.

5.10. Wanhua Chemical Group Co., Ltd.

5.11. Zhejiang NHU Co., Ltd.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/9iqbax

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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China's Chemical Industry and the Road to Recovery from Economic Impacts of COVID-19 - ResearchAndMarkets.com - Business Wire

Support for Students and Schools Impacted by CoronavirusIn response to school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, were offering at-home testing for 2020 AP Exams. Note that any related adjustments to 2020 AP Exams, such as length or content covered, may not be reflected on all AP Central pages. Visit Taking theExams for the latest exam information.

New Secure Practice ExamThe international 2019 AP Chemistry Exam is now available on the AP Course Audit siteand in theAP Classroomquestion bank, along with scoring guidelines and a scoring worksheet.

You continue to have access to the international 2018 and 2017 exams. All are available as secure practice exams on the AP Course Audit site and as individual secure questions in the question bank.

As a reminder, these exams are most appropriate for student practice late in the school year, as the exam date approaches.

Get Real-Time Feedback from Personal Progress ChecksPersonal progress checks in AP Classroom are a great way to ensure your students are continuing to build mastery of content and skills. The real-time results can help you and your students prioritize additional practice before the AP Exam.

Sign In to AP Classroom

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AP Chemistry: The Exam | AP Central The College Board

Europa is the smallest of the four Galilean moons that orbit Jupiter and the sixth-largest of its kind in the Solar System. But unlike its counterparts, Europa has a very smooth surface, which has led scientists to hypothesise that a water ocean exists beneath the surface, which may be concealing life. It was revealed on the Science Channels NASAs Unexplained Files how this speculation became a strong probability after NASA investigated a series of mysterious red lines that criss-cross the moon.

The series detailed in 2014: New discoveries suggest extraterrestrials may be closer than we think.

Less than half-a-billion miles from Earth, could creatures be living on an icy world scarred red by mysterious bloody lines?

In 1995, the Galileo probe explores Jupiter, but the gas giant is not NASAs sole target.

Galileo is also investigating the planets moons, especially Europa.

Blood-red veins criss-cross the moons icy surface, some bearing an uncanny resemblance to roads on Earth, others chillingly similar to the Martian Red Weeds in War of the Worlds.

Scientists attempting to explain the blood-coloured stripes remain unsure.

In 2001, NASA scientist Brad Dalton took a closer look by measuring the infrared chemical signature from Europa and comparing it with samples taken from Yellowstone National Park.

Mr Dalton explained: It has this strange reddish tint that looks kind of like rust, but it also looks a lot like some kind of slime.

It occurred to me that we have certainly seen all kinds of forms of life that have that reddish-brown pigmentation here on Earth, so why couldnt some microbes out there be providing this colourisation?

Wouldnt you know it, the infrared test matched up almost perfectly, the features we see on Europa could be explained by life.

It was all scary how well it matched.

The narrator claimed: A positive result suggests we found life on another world.

But Hubble astronomer Dr Neill Reid had another theory.

He said: Theres actually a lot that we dont understand about the environment on Europa.

The fact that the streaks are red means theyve got a particular kind of chemical in them.

The speculation is that it is probably sulphur thats contributing to the redness of those streaks.

If you find water, then thats the first step in saying that there could be life here.

In 2013, more evidence of a subterranean ocean emerged when Hubble spotted water gushing out of the moon near its south pole.

The finding led NASA scientist Chris McKay to theorise that organisms found on Earth known as extremophiles may also be on Jupiters moon.

He said: Extremophiles are organisms that live in environments that we humans would not want to live in.

So life on Europa could indeed look like what we see on Earth.

Small moons seem to be where it's at.

See original here:
Weve found life on another world How chemical signature of Jupiter's moon MATCHED Earth - Express.co.uk

To download a pdf of this article, visit http://cenm.ag/exercise.

References used to create this graphic:

Burton, Deborah Anne, Keith Stokes, and George M. Hall. Physiological Effects of Exercise.Contin. Educ. Anaesth. Crit. Care Pain (Dec. 2004). DOI: 10.1093/bjaceaccp/mkh050.

Lavelle, Judy. Exploring the Molecular Basis of Runners High.Chemical & Engineering News, Oct. 5, 2015.

Miller, Kevin C., Marcus S. Stone, Kellie C. Huxel, and Jeffrey E. Edwards. Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention.Sports Health (July 2010). DOI: 10.1177/1941738109357299.

Zoorob, Roger, Mari-Etta E. Parrish, Heather OHara, and Medhat Kalliny. Sports Nutrition Needs: Before, during, and after Exercise.Primary Care: Clin. Off. Pract. (June 2013). DOI: 10.1016/j.pop.2013.02.013.

A collaboration between C&EN and Andy Brunning, author of the popular graphics blog Compound Interest

To see more of Brunnings work, go to compoundchem.com. To see all of C&ENs Periodic Graphics, visit http://cenm.ag/periodicgraphics.

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Periodic Graphics: The science of exercise - The Biological SCENE

With 63 games in the books, the Los Angeles Lakers have won more games 49 to be exact than many people expected. Whats been an even bigger surprise, though, is how quietly theyve been able to do it.

Generally speaking, having a superstar player like LeBron James can amplify the attention problems within an organization, as we saw all throughout last season. Additionally, being in a win-now situation can cause tension between players, even if the team is winning games just ask Kevin Love about his first few seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

This season, the Lakers havent had those problems, and its because of the teams chemistry. In an interview with Mike Trudell of Lakers.com, Dwight Howard talked about the synergy in the Lakers locker room, how its contributed to their early success, and why hes confident it wont wane as a result of the seasons suspension:

Just the chemistry we had before this was off the roof, he said. And then now, its like we have to build that up again. We got to get that engine flowing But I think with the group of guys that we have, I also think with the hunger that we have to win a championship, once we get back it will be like we never left each other.

The way we care for each other, we care for this team, this city and winning the championship, he added later, when asked what would be captured behind the scenes with this team in spirit of The Last Dance documentary.

Everything is already broadcast, a lot about who we are as people and our character. I just think youd get a chance to see it more in depth. Just how much we really love being with each other, how much we really enjoy the game, enjoy playing with each other. Weve all had to come from some difficult situations and things have all happened to us in our personal lives and for us to really sacrifice whatever weve had to sacrifice for this team.

Theres obviously nothing that can replicate team plane rides, or competing with each other, but the Lakers have stayed connected during the quarantine through their famous group chat, and now through workouts. Unless everyone on the team has been really good about hiding their disdain for each other throughout the season, the Lakers chemistry should be fine once the season resumes.

The real question is whether or not the Lakers will be able to get back to where they were before the season was suspended from a physical standpoint. For example, Howard has been great all season, but how will his body react to not playing for nearly three months at the age of 34?

I guess well find out soon enough.

For more Lakers talk, subscribe to the Silver Screen and Roll podcast feed on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. You can follow this author on Twitter at @RadRivas.

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Dwight Howard says Lakers chemistry is through the roof - Silver Screen and Roll

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry has developed a new program to assist incoming freshman chemistry/biochemistry majors succeed at OU. It is designed to assist the student who wishes to seek a degree in one of our majors but may need a little additional assistance to reach their true potential.

Approximately 19-20 students will be invited to join the Chemistry Learning Community. These students will be selected through an application process. The selected consort will take a course each semester taught by faculty from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. This course will be a one- or two-credit hour class and will augment the first- and second-year chemistry curriculum.

Faculty teaching the additional courses will also serve in a mentoring role. This mentor is not intended to replace the formal advising by professional advisors in University College, rather offer more detailed information on courses, careers, and pitfalls the student might encounter.

The department will interface with various student service and support systems already in place on campus, including advising, career services, and financial aid in order to offer consistent information to the student regarding these services so important to a students success.

We know from our own personal experiences and from observing graduating class after class of undergraduates that students who participate in faculty-mentored undergraduate research are much more likely to have successful careers in a STEM field or in professional health related areas. Thus, we are committed to providing our students with these opportunities.

We have partnered with the Honors College to offer a Four Year Research Experience (FYRE). In Spring 2015 we had about 70 participants in this program with about half doing 10-12 hours per week of research in chemistry/biochemistry faculty labs. Many of these students continue with research in the following years. Participation in FYRE is not required to join a research team. Many students join a research lab during their sophomore or junior years and complete a senior thesis. Many of our undergraduate researchers receive undergraduate Research funding awards, present posters at the campus-wide Undergraduate Research Day each spring, travel to scientific conferences, and see their research work published.

Other organizations and programs chemistry majors may want to be a part of:

Continued here:
Chemistry - University of Oklahoma

To understand the fundamental causes of lupus and neuropsychiatric lupus (NPSLE), Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) Gina M. Finzi Memorial Student Summer Fellowship (Finzi) award winner, Thomas Winans, used genetic tools in an animal study to research proteins. People with NPSLE display elevated levels of two circulating proteins called interferons that are important components of the immune system. He found that overactivation of the protein (Rab4) happens in lupus patients immune cells and in lupus prone mice. The Rab4 protein is found just inside the outside of a cell.

Interferons are detected by membrane-spanning interferon receptors called interferon / receptors (IFNARs). Using genetic tools created in a lab, he was able to artificially over activate Rab4 and studied the behavior and brain chemistry of mice. The identification of Rab4 overactivation in NPSLE development opens the door for further investigation to understand how the protein regulates receptor recycling, behavior, and chemical processes from the immune system and the brain. A better understanding of the fundamental causes of NPSLE will inevitably lead to improved diagnosis, treatments, and prevention.

Winans plans to continue his research of immune-related disease and how immune system functions are dysregulated in disease. Each year the Finzi award grant program that connects students with leading scientists in the lupus field to advance lupus research and contribute to future therapies, prevention strategies and educational programs. Learn more about Winans and his research efforts.

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The Role of Protein Rab4 in Behavior and Brain Chemistry in People with Neuropsychiatric Lupus - Lupus Foundation of America

Informative Report On PCMP Cleaning Chemistry Market 2020

PCMP Cleaning Chemistrymarket has recently added by Grand View Reportto its massive repository. It offers the continual advancements in technologies which helps to understand the platform for the development of the businesses. It offers numerous strategies for boosting the performance of the companies. Both primary and secondary research techniques carried out to find solutions to different issues faced by various stakeholders.

Top Key Players Profiled in This Report: , Air Products, Anji Microelectronics, Inc., Entegris, BASF SE, Cabot Microelectronics Corp. (Epoch Materials of Taiwan), DuPont EKC Technology, JT Baker, Kanto Chemical Company, Inc., Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Shanghai Sinyang Semiconductor Materials Co., Ltd., Technic France, Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd., ,Post-CMP cleaning plays a critical role in meeting stringent CMP defectivity requirements. Post-CMP copper interconnect cleaner required in the manufacturing of advanced semiconductor devices. It features high pH formulations for Cu BEOL and can be used with various barrier slurries.

Get a Sample (Use official email ID to Get Higher Priority) Report:https://grandviewreport.com/sample/19662

Covid-19 pandemic affects most industries in the globe. Here at Grand View Report we offer you comprehensive data of related industry which will help and support your business in all possible ways.

Segmentation across regions such as North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Europe was undertaken on the basis of productivity. Technological advancements pertaining to the specific market has been studied. Methodologies that can boost the outcome of the businesses have been mentioned in the report.

The Global PCMP Cleaning ChemistryMarket Can Be Segmented As

The key product type of PCMP Cleaning Chemistrymarket are:, Copper Interconnect Cleaner, Aluminum Interconnect Cleaner, Others,

PCMP Cleaning ChemistryMarket Outlook by Applications:, 300 mm Wafer, 200 mm Wafer, Others

Significant Features that are under Offering and Key Highlights of the Reports:

Exclusive Upto 30% discount:https://grandviewreport.com/discount/19662

Key Questions responded in the report:

Table of Contents:

For More Details On this Report:https://grandviewreport.com/industry-growth/PCMP-Cleaning-Chemistry-Market-19662

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COVID-19 Impact: PCMP Cleaning Chemistry Market | Strategic Industry Evolutionary Analysis Focus on Leading Key Players and Revenue Growth Analysis by...

The Science of It: Color Changing Chemistry

Updated: 12:22 PM EDT Aug 24, 2020

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JAZMIN: WERE BACK WITH A NEW EDITION OF THE SCIENCE OF IT, WHERE WE STRETCH OUR STEM SKILLS WITH THE ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER. OUR ADRIAN WHITSETT IS DOING SOME CHEMISTRY, ALL NEW THIS MORNING. ADRIAN: TEXT FOR BEING BACK WITH US THIS MORNING AT THE ORLANDO -- THANKS FOR BEING BACK WITH US THIS MORNING AT THE ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER FOR THE SCIENCE OF IT WITH OUR FRIEND SPENCER. >> IT LOOKS A LOT LIKE MAGIC. CHEMISTRY IS ONE OF THE RELAY COOL THINGS WE GOT TO DO HERE AT THE ORLANDO SCIENCE -- REALLY COOL THINGS WE GET TO DO HERE AT THE ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER. I WILL HAVE YOU HELP OUT BY MEASURING SOME THINGS OUT. I HAVE SOME MYSTERIOUS RED LIQUID. WHEN I POUR IT IN HERE, SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL WILL HAPPEN -- IT WILL TURN THAT LIQUID READ. ADRIAN: DILUTE IT. >> NOW THAT IS MAGIC. ADRIAN: THAT IS PRETTY MAGICAL. >> YOU WILL NOTICE WE HAVE EVEN MORE MAGIC -- ADRIAN: HOT PINK! >> WE HAVE THE MAGIC CONTINUING OVER AND OVER AND OVER, CHEMISTRY AND ACTION. ADRIAN: IF I TAKE THAT ONE AND POUR IT INTO THIS ONE OVER HERE -- >> ITS LIKE THOSE TELEVISION SHOWS WHERE YOU SEE PEOPLE POUR CHEMICALS TOGETHER AND THEY EXPLODE. WE DONT WANT TO DO THAT. ADRIAN: WE CAN TALK ABOUT HOW THIS HAPPENED. >> WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE IS NOT MAGIC. WE DO SCIENCE HERE. WE ARE WORKING WITH ACIDS AND BASES. THIS IS A CHEMICAL INDICATOR. IT TURNS COLORS DEPENDING ON HOW ACIDIC THE SOLUTION IS. GRAB A GRADUATED CYLINDER AND YOUR SAFETY GOGGLES AS WELL. ADRIAN: GRADUATED CYLINDER -- >> THE LONG, SKINNY ONE. YOU HAVE GOT YOUR GRADUATED CYLINDERS THERE AND YOUR BEAKERS HERE, FOR NOMENCLATURE. THAT WILL HELP YOU STAY NICE AND SAFE AND KEEP THE VINEGAR INSIDE THE GRADUATED CYLINDER. ADRIAN: YOU SAID 10? >> 10 MILLILITERS. BE AS ACCURATE AS POSSIBLE. YOU WANT TO TRY TO NOT USE THE MENISCUS, THE CURVE THAT RIDES THE EDGE. THAT IS TOO MUCH BUT THATS OK. YOU CAN POUR THE EXCESS INTO MY BEAKER THAT HAS SOME VINEGAR IN THERE. PERFECT. THIS IS EXACTLY HOW A CHEMIST DOES IT. ADRIAN: I FEEL VERY SCIENCE-Y RIGHT NOW. >> WE HAVE A CHEMICAL LAB HERE WHERE WE USE ALL THE SAFETY PERCUSSIONS, WE WORK WITH REAL CHEMICALS. ADRIAN: I HAVE 10 MILLILITERS OF THE VINEGAR. WHERE DOES IT GO? >> THE MIDDLE BEAKER. THE OTHER MIDDLE BEAKER. ADRIAN: POOR 20 MILLILITERS OF VINEGAR NOW -- WE ARE WORKING ON DIRECTIONS HERE. >>P POUR 20 MILLILITERS OF THE VINEGAR NOW. I THINK THAT IS PRETTY GOOD. I THINK YOU NAILED IT. ADRIAN: I WILL TAKE IT. >> POUR THAT IN THE CLOSEST TO ME BEAKER. NOW WE WANT TO GET MONIA. MO -- TO GET AMMONIA. 20 MILLILITERS OF AMMONIA INTO THE REMAINING BEAKER. PERFECT. ADRIAN: CHECK THAT. >> VINEGAR IS ACIDIC. IT HAS HYDROGEN IONS OR PHOTONS FLOODING ALL AROUND WHEREAS -- FLOATING AROUND WHEREAS AMMONIA IS BASIC. WE GO THROUGH ALL THESE DETAILS IN OUR CHEMISTRY LAB. ADRIAN: I CAN REALLY SMELL THAT AMMONIA. >> YOU DONT WANT TO DO THIS AT HOME. EVEN IF YOU HAVE THE VINEGAR AND AMMONIA -- YOU DONT HAVE ALL THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT. YOU ARE LOADED UP. START POURING DOWN. PART -- POUR THAT RED INTO THE WATER. THE COOLEST OF ALL LIQUIDS, BUT THE LEAST EXCITING. ADRIAN: DONT DRINK IT. THIS IS VINEGAR. >> 10 MILLILITERS OF VINEGAR. YOU CAN SEE THAT RED DILUTED SOLUTION -- ADRIAN: IMMEDIATELY TURNS THAT YELLOW. THEN I AM POURING IT INTO THE AMMONIA. >> THAT AMMONIA IS A BASIC SOLUTION. ADRIAN: WHY DOES IT TURN SUCH BRIGHT PINK? >> WE WILL COVER THAT A DIFFERENT TIME. ADRIAN: WE NEED A WHOLE HOUR. THEN THE FROM HERE, I AM GOING TO POUR IT ONE MORE TIME. >> PERFECT. LOOK AT THAT. SWIRL THAT TOGETHER A LITTLE FOR ME. ADRIAN: HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? >> IT DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH OF EACH WE PUT IN THEIR. WE MIGHT HAVE HAD TOO MUCH AMMONIA. ADRIAN: THATS OK. >> THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT ALL THESE DIFFERENT CHEMISTRY TIPS AND TOOLS ARE FOR. ADRIAN: WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO EXPLAIN THIS FURTHER TO ONE OF THE KIDS WHO COMES HERE TO THE SCIENCE CENTER, WHERE DO THEY GO FROM HERE? WHAT CAN THEY DO WITH THIS KNOWLEDGE? >> CHEMISTRY IS SO COOL. A LOT OF THE MEDICINE WE MAKE IS BASED ON CHEMISTRY. THIS IS KIND OF THE BASICS OF ACIDS AND VASES HERE, BUT CHEMISTRY EXPANDS -- YOU CAN GET DEGREES AND IT. IT DEPENDS. YOU CAN KEEP LEARNING FOREVER AND EVER. ADRIAN: THANK YOU. HERE AT THE ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER FOR THIS MORNINGS EDITION OF THE SCIENCE OF IT. JAZMIN: THAT WAS ADRIAN WHITSETT REPORTING. IF YOU WANT SEE WHAT OTHER COOL STUFF IS HAPPENING AT THE ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER, ITS OPEN, THURSDAY THROUGH TUE

The Science of It: Color Changing Chemistry

Updated: 12:22 PM EDT Aug 24, 2020

WESH 2 News has partnered with the Orlando Science Center to bring you The Science of It.This week, we're talking about color changing chemistry.Check out this experiment in which the colors change due to the acidity of the substances being used!Find more information from the Orlando Science Center, HERE.

WESH 2 News has partnered with the Orlando Science Center to bring you The Science of It.

This week, we're talking about color changing chemistry.

Check out this experiment in which the colors change due to the acidity of the substances being used!

Find more information from the Orlando Science Center, HERE.

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The Science of It: Color Changing Chemistry - WESH 2 Orlando

One of the glorious things about Joan Ryans new book is how often her interview subjects tell her that her premise is utter baloney.

Willie Mays scolds her.

Chemistry? Chemistry. Theres no chemistry!

Jeff Kent scoffs.

Listen, the best players are some of the biggest pricks to ever play the game. The biggest assholes. Selfish. Greedy.

Jim Leyland takes another puff from his cigarette.

To me chemistry was a subject you took in school. I had teams thatd go to chapel together every Sunday and couldnt win a game. So that dont mean shit to me. Forget chemistry out here.

Ryan, a nationally award-winning journalist who is now a media consultant with the Giants, welcomes the skepticism. Thats the point of this whole enterprise, to sort through the fact and fiction of what locker-room camaraderie or lack thereof might mean to...

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'Intangibles' examines team chemistry, with help from Barry Bonds and Jeff Kent - The Athletic

ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (WJHL) One chemistry professor saw different kinds of experiments surface on social media and decided to examine how effective different kinds of masks are against the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Milligan University Assistant Professor of Chemistry Kristen Mudrack told News Channel 11s Bianca Marais that she had seen plenty of studies and experiments on mask effectiveness, but she and her research assistant Madison Blanton, wanted to focus more on the different types of masks.

I did the experiment, I said all the tongue twisters, with a hospital mask, a cloth mask that I had made and an N95, which was not fitted to my face so there were some spaces that the air could get out and what my research assistant and I found was that any mask helps, Mudrack explained.

With no mask, theres a whole bunch of droplets on the plate, with a cloth mask or a hospital mask or an N95, theres maybe one or two droplets on the plate. Now, the thing to understand about this, is that those are bacterial droplets, we do know that COVID spreads through aerosol droplets, okay, so when you talk, even though you dont realize it, you are spraying things out of your mouth and nose. The virus travels through those particles. Whats on those plates is bacterial growth, not viral growth, but the priciple still stands. Viruses are going to travel further because theyre smaller but any aerosolized particle is going to get stopped by a mask, and thats essentially what I found: that any mask helps more than no mask, she explained.

This is how Mudrack said the experiment was conducted:

I held it in front of my face, about a foot and a half, said a bunch of tongue twisters, covered the plate and then set it in the incubator for about a week. The reason I let it go for a week instead of just a day, was to magnify the growth on the plates. After a day, I checked them and you couldnt see a whole lot, you could tell that there was something, but I knew that it would be better to see after about a week what was actually there, she said.

Mudrack also included a control Petri dish.

So that I knew that if something grew on that plate, there was something in the air that was settling onto the plate, she said. What actually happened, was on the control plate, nothing grew, which tells me that its not something thats in the air thats getting it here to the plate, its when Im actually talking, the aerosolized droplets are landing on the plate and growing.

Mudrack told News Channel 11s Bianca Marais that she was most surprised by the N95 mask.

The N95 has a really big spot on the plate and that is likely because the mask was not fitted to my face. The other reason N95s arent as good as we initially thought is because some of them have that valve. That valve only filters what goes in, but not what comes out and so youre still actually breathing out aerosolized particles, that would end up on a Petri dish like that, she explained.

She explained that scientists, over the last six months, have proven that COVID-19 spreads through droplets that have to somehow be projected. This happens when we talk or cough or sneeze, Mudrack explained.

What were trying to accomplish with social distancing is staying far enough apart, that those droplets kind of dissipate before they get to the person, thats also what a mask does, she explained. So, the mask is going to stop the droplets before they ever get into the air.

To her, someone who is immuno-compromised, the issue is personal. She asks that people wear a mask to help limit the spread of the coronavirus.

The science is there. It has been proven over and over how COVID is spread and youre seeing science move at such a fast pace right now, that weve never seen before and probably never will see again in our lifetime. Yes, we keep getting emerging information, thats how science works, and if it turns out that masks really dont help, whats the harm in wearing one? Even if they dont help, its just a small thing that doesnt hurt. Now, the science is there that it does help and it does reduce the spread of COVID, and thats why we are being asked to wear them in public, she said.

Continuing coverageof the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

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Any mask helps: Local chemistry professor tests how effective masks are against the spread of COVID-19 - WJHL-TV News Channel 11

The tip of a scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) has been used to precisely switch between three possible isomers of a single molecule. The approach offers a new way to manipulate the configuration of 3D molecules using mechanical force and could find applications in the field of molecular machines.

Small structural variations often lead to significant differences in the chemical and physical properties of molecules, so controlling isomerisation at the single-molecule level is crucial in areas such as catalysis or drug synthesis. Scanning probe microscopy is a powerful technique for studying on-surface isomerisation and several strategies involving light and electrical activation have been proposed. Although using mechanical force to trigger the process offers additional benefits, advances in this area are still limited.

Researchers in China and Germany have now discovered a new way to induce reversible isomerisation of a single molecule on a silver substrate using an STM tip. Mechanical force can be applied to specific atomic sites of the molecule, offering unprecedented control over the chemical process and products, points out Hong-Jun Gao of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. In our study, we designed and synthesised a 3D, butterfly-shaped molecule called N,N-dimethylamino-dianthryl-benzene. Gao explains that when this molecule is placed on a substrate, the two anthryl groups are in-plane, forming the butterflys wings, whereas the dimethylamino group is located out-of-plane, acting as the head. This structure is important to ensure asymmetric interactions between the molecule and the tip, he says.

When the tip approaches the molecule, it interacts with only one of the wings due to the steric hindrance coming from the head of the butterfly. Inversely, when the tip is retracted from the molecule, the wing interacting with it is pulled away from the substrate while the other one stays attached. Upon further retraction of the tip, the molecule eventually detaches from it and falls on the surface with one of the wings completely rotated to form another isomer. The researchers found that without the out-of-plane group, the isomerisation process was blocked. They carried out molecular dynamics simulations and control experiments to confirm this mechanism. Our method can be extended to other molecules, Gao says. The key is to have a 3D molecular topology to allow different mechanical interactions with the tip.

Thomas Frederiksen, who studies nanostructures and interfaces at the Donostia International Physics Center in Spain, notes that the study contributes to understanding possible strategies for manipulating single molecules on surfaces. Such a level of control is of fundamental importance and can, for instance, help towards the design and operation of molecular machines, he says. These results exemplify and enrich the active research field of atomic-scale manipulation and control, which has advanced substantially over the last decades.

Takashi Kumagai of the Fritz Haber Institute in Germany and the Institute for Molecular Science in Japan, who demonstrated the hopping manipulation of two hydrogen atoms in a porphycene molecule,2 mentions that force-induced switching also works for other systems, although in different ways. Since different molecules have different properties, the mechanism cannot be exactly the same, he says. But it should always be associated with a modification of the potential energy surface, which determines the chemical dynamics. He adds that although the results are not revolutionary regarding the measurement technology, examples of force-induced single-molecule switching are very limited. Therefore, this paper is an essential piece to establish single-molecule mechanochemistry, which I believe is an important emerging field.

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Mechanical force used to trigger isomerisation in 3D molecule - Chemistry World

Professor YIP Shea-ping (right), Head of PolyUs Department of HTI said that this ground-breaking discovery will be included in the new guidelines on autophagy research this year.

HONG KONG (PRWEB) July 09, 2020

In most research using the zebrafish model, a chemical compound called 1-phenyl-2-thiourea (PTU) is commonly used to suppress pigment formation in zebrafish embryos, maintaining optical transparency to facilitate microscopic imaging. Over the past three years, the PolyU research team led by Dr MA has been using the zebrafish model to investigate the causes of leukaemia and its relationship with autophagy (self-eating) a mechanism of metabolism that involves the degradation of cells by lysosomes and the process of cell renewal and regeneration. It is a cellular reaction to various physiological and pathological conditions regulating important processes, including intracellular material turnover, cell death, proliferation, development, ageing and tumourigenesis.

According to Dr Ma, Upon 0.003% PTU treatment, aberrant autophagosome and autolysosome formation, accumulation of lysosomes and elevated autophagic flux were observed in various tissues and organs of the zebrafish, He pointed out that Autophagy is crucial in the process of drug resistance of various cells and over-activation of autophagy may potentially interfere with the efficacy of drugs. The research finding means that when we are using this prominent model to study any autophagy-related processes like cancer, the results may not be truly reflected. These studies could have produced skewed results. Researchers should avoid using PTU in autophagy-related research in the future. Dr MA added that the team has already suspended the use of PTU in zebrafish research. Light-sheet microscopy, which offers greater imaging depth, will be employed as an alternative, for image autophagy in the zebrafish embryo with pigment for their study on leukaemia.

Furthermore, the new research findings also provide a direct mechanistic link between autophagy and melanoma, suggesting autophagy probably regulates melanoma development and drug resistance through interaction with tyrosinase, a key rate-limited regulator of melanin synthesis. Investigation into details of the molecular mechanism between autophagy and melanoma is expected in the future.

Professor YIP Shea-ping, Head of Department of Health Technology and Informatics, said, We are pleased to see our research teams recent discovery published in Autophagy, the highest impact journal in the field. Dr MA has also been invited as co-author for new guidelines on autophagy research using zebrafish embryos, a revision that takes place every four years. With the new guidelines in place, we will be able to modify the way we conduct autophagy-related studies with the zebrafish model and, hopefully, to open the door to new treatments for various deadly diseases.

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During this difficult time, Chemistry World is checking in with chemists around the globe to see how they are weathering the Covid-19 pandemic.

Its an odd time for Dave Berkowitz, whose work at the University of NebraskaLincoln sits at the interface of synthetic organic chemistry and enzymatic chemistry, to take the helm of the chemistry division at the US National Science Foundation (NSF), which funds about one-quarter of all federally supported basic research conducted at American universities.

Yet, amid a global pandemic, on 24 May Berkowitz officially started his new job as director of the division, whose annual budget is nearly $250 million and primarily funds individual investigator awards. Although the agency is located just outside of Washington, DC in Arlington, Virginia, he is back in Lincoln working remotely. He interviewed for the job before Covid-19 struck, quashing his plan to move right after the semester ended in May.

Berkowitz is essentially on loan to the NSF from the university, where hes been a faculty member in the schools chemistry department since 1991 and previously served as its chair. He will continue his research programme during the appointment.

Berkowitzs lab closed due to the pandemic in mid-March. All researchers at the university started working remotely, except for essential personnel involved in Covid-19-related work.

Shuttering the lab was emotionally hard, Berkowitz says. There were some safety issues that needed to be addressed ahead of time, including solvents stills that contained chemicals like sodium that needed to be quenched before shutting down. There were also regular checks of the -80C freezer to ensure that it was running properly throughout the closure.

Nebraska has begun easing its lockdown and Berkowitzs lab started back up again on 1 June, with researchers working in shifts, practicing social distancing and wearing masks. The lab had to submit a plan that detailed these measures to the university leadership before it was allowed it to reopen.

Normally it would be about 10 people in the lab, and now its four at a time with careful spacing, Berkowitz explains. The morning shift is 7am1pm and the afternoon shift is 28pm, plus one group has Saturdays and the other has Sundays. We are fortunate to have enough space that we can do this safely, he adds.

Now that his research group has returned to the lab, they have begun the process of assessing the quality of their biological and other samples. If our enzymes have lost activity, for example, we will have to go back and grow up cells, repurify, reassay, Berkowitz says.

He has only been to his lab a couple of times since it reopened. Since I am not doing experiments most of the time, I want to contribute to the de-densification of the labs, Berkowitz explains.

Meanwhile, the NSFs building in Virginia opened up this month, but just to be retrofitted with safety features like barriers in high-density areas. It remains unclear, however, when staff can return, so Berkowitz is staying put in Nebraska and participating in agency meetings via Zoom.

He says the chemistry division, which has a staff of about 30, is on track to fund research awards at the normal rate. Before Covid-19, about one-third of the agencys grant reviews panels were virtual, so the switch to 100% online has been relatively easy.

When it comes to applying for NSF grants, his advice is for chemists is to push on. A lot of people are getting nervous that they dont have enough preliminary results because they are just getting back into the lab, Berkowitz says. Be aggressive, come forward with your best ideas, he recommends. If you are not sure if you should submit write a one-pager and send it to your programme officer, or the programme officer or two whose programmes seem to fit your science the best, and they will follow up and give you good advice.

An advantage of being in the US heartland is population density Nebraska is over 400 miles long and has fewer than 2 million residents. We have, I think, more cattle than people here, certainly more cattle than chemists, Berkowitz remarks.

His county of Lincoln/Lancaster has fared relatively well during the pandemic compared to others, with nearly 1500 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and 10 associated deaths, as of 16 June. Overall, there were more than 16,500 cases of the virus across Nebraska and less than 220 related deaths in the state, compared with almost 2.1 million cases across the US and over 115,000 associated fatalities.

In the meantime, Berkowitz is working from home with his wife, a Montessori school teacher who is instructing young children by Zoom now. The two must be careful not to talk over each other as he is also teaching a weekly three-hour graduate seminar over Zoom.

For Berkowitz its all a bit surreal working two jobs remotely while planning a big move whose timing is completely uncertain. He admits hes a bit Zoomed out.

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The Hansol Chemical Co (KRX:14680) share price is currently trading at 121500. But to try and predict what the price will look like in the next 12 months and beyond, it's worth knowing its strengths and potential weaknesses. The good news for shareholders is that it stacks up well against some important financial and technical measures...

Hansol Chemical Co is a mid-cap share with strong exposure to two of the most influential drivers of investment returns in the stock market: high quality and strong momentum.

Quality and momentum are highly prized among investors looking for reliable investment ideas. That's because good quality stocks tend to be resilient, cash-generating businesses that can compound investment returns over time. And those with strong momentum in price and earnings have a habit of beating expectations.

To understand why quality and momentum are so important in a share like Hansol Chemical Co, here's a close-up view:

GET MORE DATA-DRIVEN INSIGHTS INTO KRX:14680

When it comes to stock analysis, company quality tends to show up in high profitability and strong industry-leading margins. These kinds of firms are stable, growing and often have accelerating sales and earnings. They also have strong and improving financial histories with no signs of accountancy or bankruptcy risk.

One of the stand out quality metrics for Hansol Chemical Co is its 5-year Return on Capital Employed, which is a solid 14.6%. Good, double-digit ROCEs are a pointer to companies that can grow very profitably.

Positive momentum trends show up in share prices and earnings growth. You can find the clues in stocks that are trading close to their 52 week high prices and outperforming the market. Theyll often be beating broker estimates and getting forecast upgrades and recommendation changes.

This is true at Hansol Chemical Co, where the share price has seen a 56.8% return relative to the market over the past 12 months. Market volatility and economic uncertainty can be a major drag on momentum, but previously strong stocks can be quick to recover when confidence returns.

In summary, good quality and momentum are pointers to some of the best stocks on the strongest uptrends. This combination of factors can be a clue to finding shares that can compound investment returns over many years.

In good times, these shares can become expensive to buy. But in volatile markets, there may be chances to buy them at knock-down prices.

Finding good quality stocks with strong momentum behind themis a strategy used by some of the world's mostsuccessful investors. If you want to find more shares that meet these rules,you can see a comprehensive list on Stockopedia's StockRanks page.

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Here are two reasons why Hansol Chemical Co (KRX:14680) could be a stock to watch - Yahoo Finance UK

LEWISBURG Think a catalyst causing an exothermic molecular reaction isnt your thing? Then try watching a puking watermelon without laughing.

The Lewisburg Childrens Museum (LCM), in partnership with the Bucknell University Chemistry Department, is hosting a simulcast streaming of the Backyard Chemistry Show on Tuesday, June 23, at 6 p.m. on the LCM Facebook page. Though free to the public, donations are encouraged to support the museums mission.

Topping off the Backyard Chemistry Show will be a special appearance by Billy Kelly, a Grammy-nominated family singer, songwriter and comedian living in Lewisburg.

Kahla DeSmit, executive director of the Lewisburg Childrens Museum, noted the museum has partnered in the past with Bucknells Chemistry Department to host an annual Halloween Chemistry Show

Pat Martino (Bucknell University chemistry outreach coordinator) is fabulous at creating unique science opportunities that really engage both parents and children, DeSmit said.

Our department wanted to come up with a way to give back to the local communities during these challenging times, and so we figured wed do what we do best: entertain the public with a series of fun and exciting chemistry demos! Martino said. We also wanted to help raise support for the Lewisburg Children's Museum, a nonprofit that has allowed children from all over the Susquehanna Valley and beyond to explore so many different fields of study in a safe and supportive environment.

Also known as Science Pat, Martino said Bucknell chemistry students provide opportunities for children to enjoy hands-on STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) activities. Facebook videos show groups of children cheering as a row of carved pumpkins, donated by Ards Farm Market, erupt with a combination of household chemicals. This is the first time the show will be performed virtually.

We are so excited to inspire and entertain the local communities with this new format, Martino said. Were bringing back everyones favorite demos from our annual Halloween show, but with a watermelon theme. Everyone loves the puking pumpkins, so were definitely going to feature a lot of those, but with watermelons. If you like our annual Halloween show, youre definitely going to love this.

Through this simulcast event, the LCM and chemistry department will stream a series of chemistry demonstrations, including the puking watermelons and also flamethrowers, liquid nitrogen reactions, and more.

The museum chose the online format to provide children with a fun activity while adhering to social distancing guidelines. They are looking forward to portraying science beyond the sterile, lab coat vision, DeSmit said, adding, Besides the exploding produce, children will really enjoy seeing how science can be fun and exciting.

Cindy O. Herman lives in Snyder County. Send email comments to her at CindyOHerman@gmail.com.

We are making critical coverage of the coronavirus available for free. Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the latest news and information on this developing story.

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Program will show children the fun of chemistry - Sunbury Daily Item

A now-deleted essay in Wileys Angewandte Chemie arguing that diversity actually harms organic synthesis research has sparked indignation and outrage among chemists. Sixteen of the journals 44 international advisory board members have now resigned and the community has been left questioning how the manuscript was peer reviewed and then published in one of the highest profile chemistry journals.

When I think about the efforts to which underrepresented groups and young people go to try to get a publication in Angewandte and then something of this incredibly low quality is reviewed and accepted this is the definition of privilege, says Cathleen Crudden from Queens University in Canada, and the first board member to resign.

This kind of behaviour has been tolerated far too long

Cathleen Crudden, Queens University

Brock University chemist Tom Hudlicks piece was published on Thursday 4 June, as a reflection on Dieter Seebachs 1990 review Organic synthesis Where now?. Hudlick looks at eight factors that influence chemistry using a figure reproduced from his 2007 book The Way of Synthesis, published by Wiley. It purports to show that certain factors such as information technology can be either positive or negative, while others like diversity only exert a negative influence on the field.

Hudlick laments that diversity training has influenced hiring practices to the point where the candidates inclusion in one of the preferred social groups may override his or her qualifications. He also claims that efforts to increase womens participation in science like Gordon Research Conferences power hour diminishes the contributions by men. Hudlick also asserts that skills transfer can only occur successfully if there is an unconditional submission of the apprentice to his/her master.

This caught the attention of University of Nottingham, UK, chemist Matt Cliffe, who on Friday tweeted at Angewandte Chemie: Im sorry, your RSS feed appears to be broken again. This anti-diversity screed appears to be from thirty years ago.

Hundreds of chemists replied to Cliffes post, expressing outrage over the scientifically unfounded and morally questionable claims. Richmond Sarpongs team at the University of California, Berkeley, US, called the essay abhorrent, while Donna Blackmond and Phil Baran at Scripps in the US said it was egregious. The sections in question are pure opinion uncontaminated by expertise, Andrew Bissette, senior editor at Nature journal Communications Chemistry, pointed out.

The Chinese Chemical Society responded to a section on literature integrity, calling it slander. Hudlick alleged that publishing pressures on Chinese academics mean it is not surprising that fraud and improper publication protocols are common.

Hudlick declined to comment.

Most chemists were unsurprised by the sentiments expressed in the essay. It is very important that our community understands how toxic attitudes have shaped (and now we see continue to shape) the demographics of our field, wrote Carolyn Bertozzi from Stanford University, US.

Some in our community still hold attitudes that are outdated, offensive and discriminatory

Alliance of six chemical societies

We spend an awful lot of time talking about unconscious bias in the academic world, but it makes us forget that there is perfectly conscious bias going on as well, which this is a very clear example of, agrees Tom Welton from Imperial College London, UK.

Some in our community still hold attitudes that are outdated, offensive and discriminatory, said a statement signed by six chemical societies, including the Royal Society of Chemistry and the German Chemical Society. We will not stand for this. Diversity and equality are fantastic strengths in workplaces, in culture and in wider society. This is not only demonstrated by overwhelming evidence from decades of research, but we also hold it is morally the only acceptable position.

What shocked the community most was the essays publication in a prestigious journal. Welton questions what the reviewers were asked to do and how they were selected in the first place. You would have to positively avoid reviewers who would not look at that article and say: Theres a problem with this, he says.

The journal promptly deleted the manuscript on Friday afternoon, stating that it wasnt the final version and is pending further editing and final review. Something went very wrong here and were committed to do[ing] better. The essay was marked as accepted article, meaning it was awaiting editing, proofing and formal publication, but had been accepted after peer review.

We are deeply sorry and know we have failed the community that puts their trust in us

Neville Compton, Angewandte Chemie

We are deeply sorry and know we have failed the community that puts their trust in us, said Neville Compton, Angewandte Chemies editor-in-chief, in a statement later on Friday. In a joint statement released on Monday, Annette Beck-Sickinger, chair of Angewandte Chemies editorial board, and German Chemical Society president Peter Schreiner confirmed that two editors had been suspended and the essays two international referees removed from the journals reviewer pool. A full investigation of the case has been initiated, they wrote.

Many of the journals international advisory board members felt further action needed to be taken. After I read through the article, I just didnt think there was any way I could remain on the board, says Crudden. She was the first to resign on Friday afternoon. I have had other issues brought to my attention in the Canadian context of bias in publishing at Angewandte, Crudden adds. When I got involved in the discussion, nothing really happened. I didnt feel that the issue of bias was taken seriously.

On Monday, 15 other board members a third of the entire board, including three Nobel laureates followed suit. We believe the disturbing act of Angewandte Chemie accepting and publishing an essay that promotes racist and sexist views points to a larger problem wherein systems in the journals publishing practices have suppressed ethnic and gender diversity, they wrote in a joint statement.

Whether the essays publication will have any consequences for Hudlick professional standing remains to be seen. Do I wish we lived in a world where actually his employer would at least look and take action? I do, says Welton. But I dont think we yet live in that world. In a statement, Brock University distanced itself from Hudlicks views, but didnt state that any action would be taken.

The time for boilerplate statements is done, says Crudden. We need to tell the community what is going to happen. This kind of behaviour has been tolerated far too long.

Correction: The publication date of the essay was updated 10 June 2020

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Angewandte essay calling diversity in chemistry harmful decried as 'abhorrent' and 'egregious' - Chemistry World

Credit: Angewandte Chemie, International Edition

Hudlick's essay has now been removed from Angewandte Chemie's website.

A June 5 essay on the state of organic synthesis sparked immediate outcry from chemists due to the authors criticism of efforts to increase representation of women and underrepresented groups in the field. The journal that published the essay, Angewandte Chemie, International Edition, has since removed the article from its web site and suspended two of its editors, while it investigates the editorial process that led to the essays publication. Several members of the journals international advisory board have also resigned in protest over the essay.

The piece, written by Tom Hudlick of Brock University in recognition of the 83rd birthday of organic chemist Dieter Seebach, reflects on factors that influence how the field of organic synthesis continues to develop. One of the factors that Hudlick discusses is workforce diversity. He argues that efforts to promote diversity have prioritized inclusion of certain groups of people at the expense of meritocracy.

After immediate and intense criticism of the piece by chemists on social media, the journal quickly deleted the essay from its website. The digital object identifier (DOI), a universal code used to identify published articles, first sent readers to a page not found error message, and now redirects to a statement by the journals editor in chief, Neville Compton.

Credit: Guacamoleman/Wikimedia

Hudlick.

In that statement, Compton writes that while diversity of opinion and thoughts can spur change and debate, this essay had no place in our journal. Compton added that the journal will share the actions we are implementing within the next week to ensure this will not happen again. Angewandte Chemie is the official journal of the German Chemical Society (GDCh). In a follow-up statement released on June 8, the German Chemical Society apologized for the publication of the essay. The statement added that two editors involved in the essays publication have been suspended and the referees who reviewed the essay will no longer be used as peer reviewers for the journal.

On June 9, Angewandte Chemie shared a more detailed list of actions that the journal and its publisher have taken since the essay was published. The publisher has established an interim editor-in-chief committee made up of four employees from the editorial department of Wiley-VCH. This committee will take full editorial responsibility for Angewandte Chemie. Wiley-VCH has not confirmed Comptons status at the publication. The journal says it is introducing a new process for peer-reviewing opinion pieces that will rely on experts in the topic of the essay instead of reviewers from the field of the journal. The journal also pledges to build more diversity within the editorial and advisory boards and develop new editorial guidelines incorporating diversity equality and inclusion principles and practices. An external review is planned to evaluate the journals processes, while an internal review is ongoing.

On social media, some researchers have stated that they have already withdrawn articles for consideration by the journal and others have told C&EN that they are considering ending their membership of the GDCh.

On June 8, 16 chemists issued a joint statement announcing they were resigning from Angewandte Chemies international advisory board. In the statement, the chemists denounced the essay and the process by which it was published before adding that their resignation provides the journal with an opportunity to reconstitute the Board in a way that reflects our broader communty and society. One of the 16, Cathleen Crudden, a chemist at Queens University, had originally announced her resignation from the board on June 5. She says she felt she could no longer have her name associated with the journal. In addition to this one instance, Angewandte Chemie has shown a significant lack of leadership in terms of addressing issues related to equity, so I felt it was time for me to remove my name from their board, she wrote in statement emailed to C&EN.

The Royal Society of Chemistry, American Chemical Society, German Chemical Society, and Chemical Research Society of India released a joint statement on June 8 that didnt address the essay directly but stated that sexism, racism, discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and many other forms of inequality are sadly all too prevalent in the chemical sciences, both at individual and institutional levels. And the provost of Brock University, Greg Finn, released an open letter on June 7, in which he wrote that The statements contained in the paper are not representative of the Brock community and that further response was being considered.

Chemists criticizing the essay say that the opinions expressed by Hudlick point to much wider problems within the chemistry community, which has failed to adequately address overt and covert discrimination against chemists who are members of underrepresented groups. Fixing this is not about removing one article, says Jen Heemstra, a chemist at Emory University and author of C&ENs Office Hours column. It is about dismantling the pervasive, toxic culture that selects for and promotes these values.

As an experienced recruiter and a leader of a large group of chemists in the pharmaceutical sector, I can tell you that these views [expressed by Hudlick] are not only factually wrong, they represent the exact types of biases that have long plagued the field of organic chemistry, says L.-C. Campeau, executive director, head of Process Chemistry and Discovery Process Chemistry at Merck & Co. In our own work, weve benefited immensely from a more inclusive culture and increased diversity leading to more creative solutions to the unprecedented scientific problems that we solve every day in our quest to improve human health.

In fact, studies have shown that students from underrepresented minority groups innovate at higher rates than majority students, but their novel contributions are discounted and less likely to earn them academic positions (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2020, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1915378117). Also, in one study, scientists from groups underrepresented in the sciences were less likely to get invited or assigned to give talks at scientific meetings (Nature 2019, DOI: 10.1038/d41586-019-03688-w).

Hudlick feels that his essay had been taken out of context and he stands by what he wrote, adding that he has received emails of support as well as criticism since the article was published and then deleted. He points out the diversity of his own research group, and explains that he is not against diversity, instead he is arguing against preferential hiring of one group over another.

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Hudlick confirms that the article had gone through peer review and that Angewandte Chemie had not informed him before it removed his article from the journals site. He describes attempts to destroy his career and those of the editors who handled his essay as going beyond censorship. He argues that his article should not have been deleted from the literature record and instead the journal should have invited chemists to write rebuttals.

The real tragedy is that this article does not represent an isolated opinion, says Andy Cooper, an organometallic chemist at the University of Liverpool. Most of us have seen or experienced this kind of stuff up close, and it needs to change.

The surprise, says Csar A. Urbina-Blanco, a postdoc at the University of Ghent, is that the views made it through peer review and were published by what he felt was a respected journal. The hard work that chemistry needs to do, he says, involves looking at where these attitudes survive, something that has too often fallen to those who are most affected by them. Minorities are the only ones starting these conversations when we shouldnt have to be, he says. Academia is where we belong, but its not us who need to change.

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Mineral vs. chemical sunscreen: Is one safer?

Every year and every season brings about new wellness, fitness and beauty trends. You know, things like charcoal toothpaste, bioceramic infrared therapy pajamas and nonsurgical face-lifts.

For the last couple of years, all-natural or mineral sunscreens have been growing in popularity, and as summer approaches, your Facebook feed is sure to be full of suspiciously timely ads for what's supposedly a healthier version of conventional sunscreen.

Whether or not mineral sunscreen is safer or healthier than chemical sunscreen is a gray area (for now), but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is working to more tightly regulate the US sunscreen market and find out which ingredients in currently approved sunscreens, if any, are harmful to human health.

Chemical sunscreens tend to go on the skin easier, while mineral sunscreens are often difficult to rub in.

Sunscreens are divided into two major classes, Dr. Tyler Hollmig, director of dermatologic surgery at University of Texas Dell Medical School in Austin, tells CNET. They're either classified as chemical or physical, based on how they work.

Both classes have been shown to reduce short- and long-term damage to the skin, reduce the risk of sunburn and of skin cancer, Dr. Hollmig says: The only real difference, he points out, is how they do that.

"Chemical sunscreens act almost like a sponge, absorbing UV light, while physical sunscreens act more like a shield, deflecting the sun's rays," Dr. Hollmig explains.

Common ingredients in chemical -- or conventional -- sunscreens include oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate, and octinoxate. Because of their makeup, chemical sunscreens tend to "be more elegant in terms of ease of application and minimizing that icky white residue," Dr. Hollmig says.

Physical (also called mineral) sunscreens, on the other hand, contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, and often feel sticky going on the skin.

You can absorb chemicals through your skin, but no dangerous ones are approved for use in the US.

Part of the reason mineral sunscreens have become so mainstream is that many people worry about their bodies absorbing the ingredients in chemical sunscreens. While it's possible you could absorb a small amount of mineral sunscreen, it's unlikely based on the way they work: They sit atop your skin and deflect the sun's rays, and are easily washed off with sweat or water.

It's a fair concern: Ingredients from certain sunscreens have been demonstrated to be absorbed and enter the bloodstream, although no data to date shows that any FDA-approved chemical sunscreens are harmful, Dr. Hollmig says.

Two ingredients can be harmful when absorbed through the skin (more on that below), but as of this writing, claims that approved chemical sunscreens are toxic or a hazard to human health have not been proven, says Dr. Hollmig.

So, while it's true that chemical sunscreen does indeed get absorbed by the body, more information is needed on what exactly the health implications are when this happens with currently approved sunscreen ingredients.

The FDA is working to gather more safety data about the extent to which our skin absorbs approved sunscreen ingredients and, most importantly, whether absorbing sunscreen has any effects on your skin or body. In February 2019, the FDA issued a proposed rule asking manufacturers to provide more data about the safety of certain sunscreen ingredients which have been used in the US for years.

In January 2020, the FDA released a brief about a clinical trial that looked at the absorption of sunscreens. The brief reports that "there is evidence that some sunscreen active ingredients may be absorbed. However, the fact that an ingredient is absorbed through the skin and into the body does not mean that the ingredient is unsafe, nor does the FDA seeking further information indicate such."

The FDA continues to advise that everyone use sunscreen to protect their skin.

There are 16 active ingredients found in sunscreens, including:

In the February 2019 proposed rule, the FDA proposed that only two of the above ingredients be classified as "generally recognized as safe and effective" (GRASE) -- zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which are found in mineral sunscreens. As for the other 14, the FDA wants more data on the safety and effectiveness of 12 of them. And for the final two ingredients, theFDA proposes that they are labeled as not GRASE.

Those two ingredients are Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and trolamine salicylate. The FDA evaluated those ingredients and concluded that "the risks associated with use of these active ingredients in sunscreen products outweigh their benefits."

For what it's worth, neither PABA nor trolamine salicylate are currently allowed in FDA-approved sunscreens.

"It's important to note that the FDA asking for more data does not mean the ingredients are unsafe," Dr. Hollmig says. "In fact, many dermatologists feel like the FDA is overly strict in regulating sunscreens in our country."

"Some fabulous sunscreens have been used for decades in Europe, and with a wonderful safety record, and yet these have never been approved in the US," he continues. The FDA regulates sunscreen as an over-the-counter drug, rather than a cosmetic product, which contributes to the stricter rules.

To sum up, aside from the two ingredients that are not approved for use in the US, we know that chemical sunscreen ingredients are absorbed, but we don't know exactly what happens when they're absorbed and how that ultimately affects our short-term or long-term health.

Either type of sunscreen will work to protect your skin.

Because the science is currently lacking, Dr. Hollmig doesn't recommend one type of sunscreen over the other -- if your concern is protecting your skin, either will work.

"Well, I am a dermatologist," Dr. Hollmig says, "so I have to first recommend avoiding the sun altogether, at least at peak hours. I'd probably have us all live in caves if I could!"

Since we can't all live in caves (and we need adequate vitamin D for good health, anyway), Dr. Hollmig offers some tips that go beyond the avoidance strategy, namely: sunproof clothing and accessories, such as broad-brimmed hats, and sunscreen, no matter which type.

In other words, either mineral or chemical sunscreen is far better than nothing when it comes to skin health.

"The known benefits of wearing a chemical sunscreen -- reduction in risk for skin cancer, reduction in sunburn, reduced skin aging -- absolutely outweigh the theoretical risks of absorption," Dr. Hollmig says, although he adds that further scientific study is a good idea.

"Still, it would be surprising if a strong link to health problems is found simply because sunscreen use has been so prevalent for so long," he says, "almost like finding out that, when it comes to safety, maybe seat belts aren't all they are cracked up to be!"

The bottom line: Wear protective clothing or any kind of sunscreen when you're going to be out in the sun for a while (but be sure to find a balance between protecting your skin and getting enough vitamin D).

If you have decision paralysis because of the mineral-versus-chemical debate, you might be overthinking it, Dr. Hollmig says: Regardless of the UV-blocking mechanism (physical or absorptive), you should look for a few key characteristics in sunscreens.

Sunscreens should be "broad-spectrum," Dr. Hollmig says, meaning they have UVA and UVB protection, with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 30 or higher, and are water-resistant.

"SPF refers to how well the product reduces penetration of UVB light, which causes sunburn and certain skin cancers," Dr. Hollmig explains. "UVA light is more difficult to block, but has been shown to contribute to skin aging and certain melanomas. The 'broad-spectrum' denotes a product that mitigates both UVA and UVB."

As for the SPF 30 specification, Dr.
Hollmig says it's recommended because SPF 15 blocks about 93% of UV light, while SPF 30 blocks 97%.

Sunscreens with an SPF above 30 really only have the potential to prevent an additional 3% of UV from being absorbed by the skin, which is typically not worth the high price tag of many of these products, Dr. Hollmig says.

"As a general rule, you don't have to break the bank to find a great sunscreen," Dr. Hollmig says. "More expensive products often feel better as they are applied to the skin, but this doesn't mean they are better at managing harmful UV rays. La Roche might feel more elegant, but Walmart can get the job done, too."

Whatever you buy, make sure to reapply throughout the day for optimal efficacy, Dr. Hollmig advises.

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

Read more:
Mineral vs. chemical sunscreens: How they work and which one is better - CNET