Given the opportunity to live much longer lives, many of us might feel less than thrilled at the prospect. After all, you might think, who would want to live an extra 20 years dealing with arthritis, dementia or heart problems?

But what if those years could be filled with youthful vigour or at least middle-aged comfort?

The ability to reverse, or slow down, the degenerative processes that come with increased age has been a long held human aspiration. Indeed it has provided a consistent focus for decades of scientific research on ageing.

But it is only in the last ten years that the replacement of palliative treatments (which suppress the symptoms of age-related diseases) with genuine anti-degenerative medicines (which prevent and repair) has become more than a pipe dream.

This paradigm shift stems from recent research that shows that just a few biological root causes underpin almost all the diseases of old age. Such a discovery is an opportunity to address a wide range of illnesses simultaneously with treatments that target single biological mechanisms. For the first time, ageing has become druggable.

One leading cause of age-related changes, including illness, is known as cell senescence. This is a consequence of evolution that only really comes into play when organisms outlive their normal reproductive age, or are subjected to a very damaging environment. When cells become senescent they can no longer divide, and typically behave in a way that damages the tissue around them.

For many years, much of the gerontological community had considered cell senescence to be a symptom rather than a cause of age-related decline. However, recent groundbreaking research showed that removing senescent cells from mice not only prevents normal ageing, but actually reverses many of the symptoms. This proof that senescent cells cause ageing finally provides us with the potential to develop a cure.

Follow up work has revealed that the positive effects of senescent cell removal in mice extend to myocardial infarction (which causes heart attacks), Alzheimers disease and metabolic dysfunction. The challenge now is to translate these findings to treatments in ageing humans.

To that end, major investors have now joined researchers in the search for ways to kill, remove or rejuvenate senescent cells. And they have made exciting progress.

For example, when combined, dasatanib (a leukaemia drug) and quercetin (a natural product found in vegetables), show improved health and lifespan in mice. And early results from clinical trials of this combination have demonstrated the first ever alleviation of physical dysfunction in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a progressive degenerative lung disease with no current effective treatment.

The list of common side effects associated with dasatanib means it would likely be restricted to only the most seriously ill patients. But the trials give hope for medicinal chemists to develop a more palatable second generation of similar drugs.

An alternative strategy is the rejuvenation of senescent cells. Resveratrol, found in red wine and chocolate, was shown to be able to rejuvenate senescent cells in the lab, restoring their molecular fingerprint and growth to that of normal youthful cells.

Importantly, this work also demonstrated that small synthetic modifications were able to tune the effects achieved - again demonstrating that a medicinal chemistry approach to the problem is highly likely to be successful.

Elsewhere, Fisetin, a natural product found in strawberries, apples and onions, was recently shown to confer both improvements in health and a reduction in the senescent cell load in old mice. It is now also the subject of clinical trials.

Interestingly, Fisetin also interacts with other key ageing mechanisms, such as nutrient sensing the biological mechanism that underlies the well known health and lifespan increasing effects of calorie restriction.

It is not yet clear whether this is a new kind of super-therapeutic that simultaneously targets more than one cause of ageing, or whether it will reveal a new piece of the jigsaw that allows us to integrate the known paths to morbidity into a coherent whole.

The research conducted so far, just using natural products and existing drugs, has shown unequivocally that small molecules can produce a broad spectrum of anti-degenerative effects.

Drug discovery for ageing is moving beyond its infancy, and preventative medicine that will revolutionise 21st-century healthcare is now genuinely possible. Now we need to add synthetic medicinal chemistry to the mix to develop safe and effective drugs that will help us all into a healthier and more active future.

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Advances in anti-ageing research: how chemistry could hold the key to better health - The Conversation UK

The Phil Hardin 10U All-Stars were only selected a few weeks ago, but the short time to practice together didnt create any team chemistry challenges.

Just the opposite, in fact. Whether through travel ball or being on each others team during the Phil Hardin regular season, the more than a dozen members of the team were already well familiar with one another. That showed in the results: When the team traveled to Long Beach last week for the Cal Ripken state tournament, it won the 10U competition in five games by a combined score of 66-5.

Now, the 10U All-Stars turn their sights toward Paragould, Ark., where they will begin play in the Cal Ripken World Series Thursday. Head coach Michael Vaughn said he isnt surprised at last weeks dominant performance at the state tournament.

They all want to win, and they understand whats needed (to win), Vaughn said. Theyre all friends, and theyve been coached through travel ball, which helps a lot. These kids practice three times a week and get as much reps as they can get.

The team was practicing at Southeast Lauderdales baseball field Monday evening, preparing for what looks to be a tough slate of games in the upcoming World Series. Vaughn, though, said hes confident in his kids approach.

Theyre just having fun, Vaughn said. I have 14 kids, and they all put something toward winning. At 10 (years old), you dont expect dominance like that, but theyre all good kids. Im proud of every one of them.

The focus of practice this week will be getting back muscle memory, hitting and playing the best defense theyre capable of playing. Mentally, Vaughn said his players know not to put too much pressure on themselves, even if this is a World Series.

I just tell them to have fun and dont play tight or be nervous, Vaughn said. Its just a game. At 10, I dont expect them to be high school-minded.

Logan Flaskamp, 10, said he and his teammates play well together because they always have a positive word when one is needed.

We work together, and we dont put our heads down, Flaskamp said. We pick everyone up when they make an error, because they might put their heads down (if we dont), and everyone might do the same.

Left fielder Kellan Kerley, 10, said a lot of their success comes from Vaughn and his assistant coaches teaching them the right way to approach the game.

Hes nice, and he helps you when you need help, Kerley said. He tells you what you did wrong and shows you how to do it right and he plays everybody so no one is left out.

If he had to rank the teams chemistry on a scale from one to 10, Kerley said he would easily give it a 10.

We know each other and dont get into fights, Kerley said. Were all like brothers.

Hayden Backus, 11, said a typical practice includes them working on hitting, fielding ground balls and pop flies and stealing bases. Its better to learn that stuff in practice, he said, because it increases their chances of things going smoothly during a game.

You have to do everything here first, because if you learn it here first, you can do the practice stuff in a game, Backus said.

The 10U All-Stars first game is at 2 p.m. Thursday. The World Series runs through July 17.

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Team chemistry, experience lead Phil Hardin 10U All-Stars to World Series - Meridian Star

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Sure, Martellus Bennett would love more preseason snaps with Aaron Rodgers -- or any preseason snaps with his quarterback at this point -- but the Green Bay Packers' new tight end has another formula that he thinks will help them connect on the field when it counts.

"I need all the reps I can with Aaron -- practice reps, game reps, meeting room reps," Bennett said. "Any rep I can get with him I'll try to get, whether it's just whispering to him, try to be the quarterback whisperer. It's just a lot of communication and a lot of reps. Over-communicate and over-rep every single thing we could possibly do."

Rodgers probably doesn't need to play in the preseason for his own good, but he might for Bennett's.

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It was no surprise that Rodgers didn't play in last Thursday's preseason opener against the Eagles, although he did surprisingly take part in pregame warm-ups. And given that Rodgers took only the first rep of every period on Tuesday with the No. 1 offense and then jumped over to the scout team like he did last week, it looks like this preseason might mirror last year's -- when Rodgers played just two series (26 total snaps) in the second-to-last preseason game.

If that's the case, then Rodgers' only preseason snaps likely will come on Aug. 26 at Denver.

And that's fine with him even though last year he didn't exactly start the regular season fast. Rodgers said last week that there's no correlation between playing time in preseason games and how an offense starts the season.

"I felt great, I felt great," Rodgers said of how he felt going into last season. "It was nice. Body felt really good. You know, we do things on the side conditioning wise to make sure we're ready to go. So I initially felt great. I would assume this year with Denver being the third preseason game I'll play for sure in that one. And that altitude will help with the conditioning because it's tough to play out there.

"We played out there in 2008 in the preseason, I had a good half of football, but yeah, it's preseason. Mike [McCarthy] wants to look at the other guys for sure [in] extended time. He feels good about what we've got, we're trying to work our timing in practice with the young guys and the new tight ends. We'll figure it out as we go."

Bennett said he believes he and Rodgers will be on the proverbial same page come Sept. 10 for the regular-season opener against the Seahawks.

Rodgers has raved about Bennett almost ever since he arrived for the offseason program back in April and there's been nothing on the practice field to indicate the two won't have an immediate chemistry, but the reality is they may not know until the games count.

"I'm like everybody's type, so I have chemistry with everybody," Bennett said. "I never really had problems having chemistry with anyone. Chemistry was one of my best classes, and in real life chemistry is one of my best traits. So I have a lot of good chemistry with a lot of good people, so I don't lack in the chemistry field."

Bennett played 11 snaps -- all with Brett Hundley as the quarterback -- in the preseason opener and caught the only pass that came his way, a 13-yard pickup on a third-and-2 slant.

"It doesn't matter who throws the ball or who's back there, I've just got to do my job," Bennett said. "That's what I try to do, make it easy for the quarterbacks."

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'Quarterback whisperer' Martellus Bennett talks chemistry with Aaron Rodgers - ESPN (blog)

Close

Qiang Zhang demonstrates how a glove box works Thursday in Troy Hall on Thursday.

OLIVER MCKENNA | The Daily Evergreen

OLIVER MCKENNA | The Daily Evergreen

Qiang Zhang demonstrates how a glove box works Thursday in Troy Hall on Thursday.

NINA WILLIS, Evergreen reporterAugust 28, 2017

Exploding gummy bears and elephant toothpaste represent seemingly magical concepts of chemistry in a youth summer program.

Through Pullman Parks and Recreation, youth ranging from ages six through 15 could register for Outdoor Sciences: Campus Adventures over the past summer.

This program consisted of several five day sessions touring around the science facilities of WSU and engaging in related activities, such as helping feed the bears at the bear facility, watching chemistry demonstrations and eating Ferdinands ice cream.

Jamie Gaber, science instructor of the program and WSU research neuroscientist, created her own science classes through Pullman Parks and Recreation after realizing how fast her own kids were growing and wanting to spend more time with them.

During the campus adventure program, Gaber meets up with the kids at Reaney Park and they all walk to a different WSU lab each day, she said.

Gaber set up the trips and demos by starting with people she knew from the neuroscience department, she said. Then she reached out to other departments she wanted to take her own kids, such as entomology.

Or she happened to get these opportunities by chance, such as in the case of Kara Whitman, who offered her lab after overhearing information about the class at the grocery store, Gaber said. In the case of Professor Qiang Zhang, his son enrolled in the first session and asked to volunteer afterward.

Regular people are in these labs, Gaber said. Its not people that are way out there or only old people. You can make it so much more familiar. Our brain works on expectations so much.

During the chemistry presentation, Zhang gave the group a tour of a new chemistry lab in the renovated Troy Hall, followed by an hour-long demonstration of chemical reactions.

When a lot of kids hear about science, they think oh, its so difficult when they get to college, Zhang said. So a lot of kids chose law school or business.Upon entering the lab, each student was given a set of goggles and shown some of the main equipment. Unlike the previous summer camp session, this tour featured the brand-new labs in Troy while the previous session toured Fulmer Hall.

OLIVER MCKENNA | The Daily EvergreenQiang Zhang gives a tour of the new chemistry lab to a a group of children Troy Hall on Thursday.

Starting in the instrument lab, Zhang said all the analysis takes place there. Zhang also showed them the main equipment inside the lab, and students were allowed to practice using select things, such as depressurizing the glove box by stepping on the pedals.

Its not only about getting people to study more science. Getting people to know science is more important, Zhang said. In your kitchen, for example, you put baking soda in vinegar and you get bubbles. Those things are very common and kids should know why.

For the demos, teaching assistants (TA) took turns conducting each experiment. First, the TA showed them a flask with a liquid that turned blue upon shaking it.A series of reactions that produced beverage-looking liquids, like milk or beer came next. In another flask, glucose and two clear liquids formed a thin coating of silver on the glass upon shaking.

The next TA dipped a dollar bill into a solution named magic water, which consisted of a mixture of rubbing alcohol and water. The dollar bill caught fire, but stayed intact due to the water.

Then two pieces of paper, one with Megatron from transformers and the other with Twilight Sparkle from My Little Pony. As the control test, the Megatron picture did not get dipped in the magic solution, and quickly turned to ash.

Twilight Sparkle received a coating of the solution and reacted the same way as the dollar bill, although many of the students requested destroying the picture of Twilight Sparkle as well.

A reaction named elephant toothpaste, used soap, food coloring, a clear solution and magic crystals to initiate the reaction. After adding the crystals, the solution quickly foamed and expanded out of its container, much like a volcano, a few students said.

Each student received a balloon to blow up, while Zhang pulled several balloons out of a small container of liquid nitrogen. While in the liquid nitrogen, the air inside the balloon solidified, shrinking the balloon in size. Once removed from the nitrogen, the balloon quickly returned to its original size.

The death of a gummy bear featured potassium chlorate, heated in a test tube, and combusted with the sugar in the gummy bear. Then another gummy bear turned hard and brittle after a liquid nitrogen bath. Under the fume hood, a mercury compound created a reaction resembling growing tentacles once ignited.I call it chemistry is magic, Zhang said. A lot of times in the old days, a lot of whats called magic had science in them. Theres always a scientific explanation about things. Thats what we try to deliver to the kids.

Gaber also stated that she hopes to lead the campus adventures program every summer in the future. Registration for the event will be found on the Pullman Parks and Recreation website.

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'Chemistry is magic' - The Daily Evergreen

Deertrees new repertory company is getting the theaters season rolling with Arlene Huttons Last Train to Nibroc, a touching story that follows two strangers and their intertwined journey through life after a chance meeting on a train in 1940.

Nestled in the foothills of western Maine, the rustic 1930s playhouse offers a picturesque location for the intimate two-actor production, directed by artistic and executive director Andrew Harris. The exposed wooden beams and on-site refreshment shop, the Salt Lick Caf, recall a bygone era that sets the mood for the plays rural Kentucky locale.

The production is stripped down, with two benches serving as the primary props for the two-act, three-scene performance. The minimalistic set shifts the audiences focus to the actors and the plays endearing storyline.

Emily Grotz and Luis Del Valle star as May and Raleigh. When the pair meet, May is a young woman returning home to Kentucky from California, her hopes of marriage dashed after being jilted by her soldier fianc. Raleigh dreams of going to New York City to be a writer, desperate to rebuild his life after being prematurely discharged from the service for fits that make it impossible for the young pilot to fly in the war.

Last Train to Nibroc uses the train as a metaphor that carries into the characters lives. Like the two dead writers Nathanael West and F. Scott Fitzgerald who are being transported by the train to their final resting places, Raleigh fears that he is hurtling toward his final destination in life. Upon meeting May, his view shifts and he begins to see opportunity in stops along the way. But May, a wannabe missionary, has a tendency to be judgmental, as demonstrated by her harsh recollection of her fellow passengers on the train.

Grotz and Del Valle, both theater majors at the University of Southern Maine, embrace their characters and the plays symbolism with a heartwarming maturity. Real-life chemistry seems to emanate from the two as their characters verbally spar onstage. Grotz brings just the right amount of sanctimoniousness to her otherwise good-hearted character, and Del Valle matches her with a winsome boyishness as his character playfully chides and teases May.

The pair are pure fun to watch when May, now a teacher of 51 students, tries to correct Raleighs grammar, which has become atrocious since moving back to his parents farm in the South. Its a witty battle of seen versus saw, with Raleigh delivering a series of digs that delightfully challenge Mays suppositions.

Over the half-year time span of the play, the two characters grow, solidifying the bond struck when they first met on the train. The actors bring out this blossoming maturity, delivering a tenderness that is sincere.

Deertrees Theatres Last Train to Nibroc is an engaging love story that embraces the ups and downs of life with humor and tenderness. It also serves as a gentle reminder to avoid judging by appearance or assumption. As May comes to discover about Nibroc, a festival in her hometown, preconceived notions often hinge incorrectly on our view of the world or in this case, word order.

April Boyle is a freelance writer from Casco. She can be contacted at:

[emailprotected]

Twitter: ahboyle

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In 'Last Train to Nibroc,' a chance encounter leads to lifelong chemistry - Press Herald

Avid cyclists Kayla and Mike Kaiserhave been married for 10 years and share a passion for health and public service, which inspired their nonprofit organization, BikeCar101.

As professors at California State University, Northridge in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, the pair promote travel by train and bicycle to increase environmental sustainability and public health.The couple has been commuting to campus via Metrolink and bikes since 2013.

Over the past few years, the Kaisers have seen a growing interest in public transit and healthier commutes among CSUNstudents, professors and others in the workforce, they said. According tometro.nets active mode of transportation page, they state that, Active transportation improves public health by providing more opportunities for physical activity and safe places to walk, bike or travel by other human-powered means improves access to transit and provides more travel choices.

We were on the same [Metrolink] line with other professionals, and wed start bringing our bikes on there, Mike said.They saw us bringing our bikes [to campus to ride together], and they started to bring theirs.

He also pointed out that students are the biggest advocates for sustainability and alternative modes of transportation.

Ultimately, students have the greatest voice in change with respect to where the university heads toward sustainability, Mike said. Thats powerful. I cant overstate that.

The nonprofit BikeCar101 promotes using alternative forms of transportation, such as traveling by train and biking to destinations.The Kaisers hope to lobby the Metrolink Board to add additional Metrolink Bike Cars with more bicycle stalls for greaterbicycle storage. In the future, the Kaisers hope to expand theirlobbying efforts toward theMetro Transit Agency tofollow Metrolinks Board initiativeand provide a dedicated Bike Car to each Metro light rail train.Similar to what Amtrak does with its Surfliner line.

We rode the train with a group of about five commuters with bicycles, and there was only enough room for three bicycles, Kayla said. The conductor started to give us a hard time [because we had] too many bicycles, so I said, Weve got to petition the transit agencies for more space.'

BikeCar101 uses the 3T Program to educate those who need help riding Metrolink and need help mapping their destination. According to BikeCar101s website, the 3T program is about educating the public about bringing bicycles on board Metro rail and Metrolink trains to encourage them to engage in future active transportation.The nonprofits 3T Program provides the three Ts a t-shirt with BikeCar101s logo, a train ticket to the transporters destination, and that the transporter provides a testimonial for their website.The user does not have to pay for their ticket, all the nonprofithopes is that they educate someone else from this program.

The pair is determined to promote carbon-neutral travel and use secondary forms of transportation to get around town.

We wanted to improve the environment, live in a more sustainable fashion, Mike said. [Incorporating] a bicycle into our commute with a train relieves the stress of driving. Its amazing what a stress reduction it is when you dont have to drive, and you get your workout through a bicycle.

Riding the train also helps the community interact,Kayla added.

Rather than being stuck in a car, or by yourself, you can chat, catch up, meet new people, talk about current events or what youre doing this weekend, Kayla said. It makes for a nice community, [and] its a lot more friendly and relaxing.

For more information about BikeCar101, please visit theirwebsiteat https://sites.google.com/site/bikecar101test/.

BikeCar101, bikes, Chemistry and Biochemistry, chemistry professors, Sustainability, Wellness

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Chemistry Professors Promote Cycling and Transit, On and Off Campus - CSUN Today

A Guatemalan mom who says she sustained severe chemical burns and was sexually assaulted in front of her young daughter during a kidnapping in Mexico is asking the U.S. government to let her into the country while her asylum case plays out.

The woman is currently under the Trump administration's remain in Mexico program, and her attorney says sending her there was an incredibly egregious example of the types of cases the U.S. said would be exempt from the policy.

Theyre putting us at risk. Were at risk of being kidnapped, tortured, said Elizabeth, who asked that only part of her name be used out of fear of retaliation.

Elizabeth, who went to Juarez, Mexico, in the summer to claim asylum with her 11-year-old daughter after fleeing gender-based violence in Guatemala, said she was tortured and sexually assaulted after arriving there and held for around 18 days in July and August.

In this line of work you see horrific things, but this is incredibly egregious, said Nico Palazzo, an attorney with the Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center who is representing Elizabeth.

At a court hearing in the U.S. on Friday morning, she asked immigration officials for a third time to allow her to stay in the United States and receive treatment while her case plays out. Her hearing came on the same day the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 to reinstate a block on the policy in a long-anticipated decision that dealt a blow to the Trump administration.

Elizabeth's attorneys are calling on immigration officials to release her from custody and allow her to be in the United States as a result of the ruling.

"We are hopeful but proceeding with caution," Palazzo said. "The implications of this are monumental and clearly illustrate this policy is not only appalling and dehumanizing but clearly unlawful."

"The mandate of this ruling is clear - they cannot return her and her daughter," he said.

Elizabeth was chemically burned down large portions of legs during the kidnapping and is still at great risk of infection, her lawyer said. But the U.S. has twice turned Elizabeth back to Mexico, once in November and once in January, under the Trump administration policy forcing asylum-seekers to wait there for court cases in the U.S., he said.

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Get a head start on the morning's top stories.

About 60,000 migrants have been forced to wait in Mexico under the program, which is formally called the Migrant Protection Protocols, or MPP.

Customs and Border Protection said in its guiding principles, published in January 2019, that migrants with known physical/mental health issues would not be amenable to the program.

On its website, the Department of Homeland Security said unaccompanied children will not be subject to the policy and others from vulnerable populations may be excluded on a case-by-case basis. Migrants who claim a fear to return to Mexico could be exempt from the policy if they are determined to be more likely than not to face persecution or torture in Mexico.

But immigration advocates and attorneys say that standard places an unfair burden on migrants and that some with serious health issues are still being sent back. Elizabeth has been turned back on two occasions, despite showing immigration officials her wounds and detailing her kidnapping, her attorney said.

She clearly fits the medical exception to MPP based on the severity of her wounds but also based on the fact that she is afraid of returning to Mexico because she's been tortured, Palazzo said.

According to Elizabeth and her attorney, the harrowing ordeal began after Elizabeth and her daughter got off a bus taking her to Juarez and took what she believed to be an Uber. She believes she was targeted because she is a migrant.

Elizabeth said she was threatened, kidnapped and taken to an unknown location where she was held for around 18 days.

They told us not to make noise, that they would kill us, she said.

Her captors sexually assaulted her in front of her daughter and demanded ransom money from relatives, she and her attorney said. When they could not get it, they used a chemical to burn her legs, Elizabeth said.

I just screamed and screamed and my daughter covered her eyes and ears because of my cries, she said.

Eventually, the two were able to escape and when Elizabeth was found she was described as being disoriented and having suffered a heat-stroke, Palazzo said.

She spent days in a hospital but has not received the full medical treatment she needs and is still at great risk of infection, Palazzo said.

Photos provided by her attorney appear to show massive injuries all along both of her legs. Palazzo provided a letter from a doctor saying he had reviewed her medical records and photographs and said her open wounds are still at risk of infection.

Like all burn victims, victims of chemical assault need to be treated in a multidisciplinary burn center that has the resources to provide holistic care and recovery across a lifetime to achieve a good outcome, wrote Dr. Barclay Stewart, an assistant professor at the University of Washington Medicine Regional Burn Center.

"By being denied access to a multidisciplinary burn center or the services aforementioned, she will suffer needlessly and unconscionably," he wrote.

The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to request for comment about the program Friday, but has previously defended it.

In late January, the one-year anniversary of the policy, spokesperson Heather Swift, said in a statement to NBC News that the U.S. and Mexican governments 100 percent support MPP, which is firmly authorized by bipartisan Congressional statute and has allowed the U.S. to provide the opportunity for due process to more than 57,000 migrants.

DHS is always looking at ways to expand and strengthen the program to include new locations, populations, and procedures in order to further enhance protections for migrants and ensure safe and lawful migration, while deterring smugglers and traffickers, she said. We continually work with Mexico and have provided more than $17 million in aid for safety and security measures. MPP is one of the most important and effective tools we have implemented to confront the crisis on the border and we will continue to strengthen and expand.

On Friday, Palazzo and Elizabeth are called on the government to allow her and her daughter to stay in the United States and receive the treatment she needs.

The reason we are putting so much emphasis at this point is this is the third time now that she's coming into the country and she just cannot afford to be returned back, he said.

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After chemical attack and kidnapping, migrant mom tries again to enter U.S. - NBC News

Constantine Rhodocanaces came to England sometime in the 17th century from the Greek isle of Chios. He seems to have been an alchemist of sorts, brewing up medicine in a Physicall Laboratory in London, next door to the Three Kings-Inne. I know this because it says so right on the cover of a booklet he published in 1663. A booklet that I now have. Not a copy, not a facsimile, but the original!

I have a penchant for unusual historical items, especially if they deal with chemistry or pseudoscience. My interest is aroused even more if these two coalesce. That is just the case for Rhodocanacess publication about Spirit of Salt of the World, his wonder product. I came across a reference to this epic when I was doing some research for my own recent book, A Grain of Salt, which also deals with chemistry and pseudoscience. When I saw that Spirit of Salt of the World was available from an antique book dealer, I jumped, and I now am the proud owner of this wonderful little relic.

The first word that strikes your eye as you peruse the cover is ALEXICACUS, which is Greek for averter of evil. And that is just what Spirit of Salt of the World promises to do: avert all sorts of evil diseases, from scurvy and inflammation of the feet to kidney stones and the French Disease. Rhodocanaces enlightens the reader that he works in a lab Where all manner of Chymicall preparations are carried on without any Sophistication or abuses whatsoever. This is where his Spirits of Salt of the World is now Philosophically prepared and purified from all hurtful or Corroding Qualities, far beyond anything yet known to the World, being both safe and pleasant for the use of all Men, Women and Children. In those days, sophistication meant deception, and when today we would say scientifically in 17th century England the equivalent term was philosophically. While there certainly was science involved in preparing the product, there was also a dose of deception.

So, what was Spirit of Salt of the World? Spirit of salt is an old term for hydrochloric acid. And that is what Rhodocanaces was peddling and claiming that it was a virtual panacea. Hydrochloric acid was well known at the time, having been discovered some 800 years earlier by the alchemist Jabir ibn Hayyan, who produced it by mixing salt with sulphuric acid. Hayyan is also credited with having discovered that distillation of a solution of a mineral we now know as iron sulphate heptahydrate yields sulphuric acid.

Rhodocanaces was not the first to use hydrochloric acid as medicine, but he did claim that his product was superior to others. Ordinary Spirit of Salt, he said, was outright dangerous. He writes about hearing from the Right Worshipfull Thomas Middleton, apparently a trustworthy nobleman, that not long since a sick person making use of the common Spirit of Salt bought at the Apothecaries, died upon the taking of it. Having been so informed, charity towards my Neighbour commandeth me to make publick that hereafter greater caution may be had in using the vulgar Corrosive Spirit of Salt, instead whereof I make publick this, which is most innocent, and healthful, as may be seen in the following testimonies.

And there are testimonies galore. Mrs. Bird gave some of Rhodocanacess acid to her children who were troubled with worms, which it presently killd and brought away. A man sick of an inveterate Head-ach, which afflicted him at certain times every day, having been left by Physicians, and in opinion near death, did after purgation once and again prescribed, make use of this Spirit of Salt for the space of a week and was thereby suddenly and strangely recovered. Strange indeed.

There is more. Rhodocanacess concoction procures a good appetite and prevents putrefaction of anything in the Stomak, prevents Drunkennesse and sickness therefrom, expels diseases that arise from corrupted blood, by purifying it, that lay before idle, and settled in the veins, and makes it volatile, and to proceed more regularly in its circulation. It also keeps arteries from all filth, or slime, and sends away the water that lurks betwixt the skin and flesh, by Stool and Urine.

Of course, only the original will work. There are some who pretend to make this Spirit according to my preparation, wherefore I think good to let the world know, that as yet this Secret hath not been communicated to any.

Why do I find this booklet so fascinating? Because it could have been written today. All you have to do is substitute Spirit of Salt with the name of one of the current outlandish products that some maverick blogger, doctor, naturopath or chiropractor is making available despite the efforts of Big Pharma to muffle the sales. The desperate and the worried-well are enticed with the same type of testimonials, smearing of competing products, besmirching of conventional medicine and secret breakthroughs as featured in my centuries-old document. Of course, all these claims should be taken with a grain of salt. Plus a change, plus cest la mme chose.

joe.schwarcz@mcgill.ca

Joe Schwarcz is director of McGill Universitys Office for Science & Society (mcgill.ca/oss). He hosts The Dr. Joe Show on CJAD Radio 800 AM every Sunday from 3 to 4 p.m.

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The Right Chemistry: Cure-all claims have a long history - Montreal Gazette

Professor emerita Mary Thompson, CSJ (Sister Gertrude), died on Sunday, June 25, 2017, at age 89. A St. Catherine University alumna, class of 1953, she was a professor of chemistry at the University from 1964 to 2000.

Mary attended St. Kates after graduating from Visitation High School. In 1949, she joined the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and was given the name Sister Gertrude. She took her first vows in 1952, and her final vows in 1958. During that time, she earned her bachelors degree in chemistry from St. Kates, where she became a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. She went on to earn a masters degree in chemistry at the University of Minnesota and a doctorate in chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley.

Marys teaching career began at Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, where she was a science and mathematics teacher. In 1964, she joined the faculty at St. Kates, teaching chemistry and natural sciences. She was promoted to associate professor in 1969 and to full professor in 1978. She served as chair of the chemistry department 19691990 and as Endowed Professor of Science 19861989.

Under Mary's leadership, chemistry at St. Kates was strengthened through grant-funded acquisition of modern scientific instrumentation, the inclusion of undergraduate research as an integral part of the curriculum, and American Chemical Society verification of the chemistry major.

Recognized by her students and colleagues as a superb role model for women pursuing science careers, Mary challenged students to engage in demanding research projects and to continue their education at the graduate level. She received many research fellowships, which enabled her to maintain an active scholarly life. Her work as a teacher and mentor set the stage for St. Kates increasing commitment to preparing women scientists.

Mary was a finalist for the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education Professor of the Year award in 1984 and, in 1997, received the American Chemical Societys Award for Encouraging Women into Careers in the Chemical Sciences.

Upon her retirement in 2000, she was given the title of faculty emerita. That same year, alumnae and friends of St. Kates chemistry department established the Sister Mary Thompson Scholarship to honor her dedication to women in science. The scholarship provides assistance to a St. Kates student pursuing a degree in either chemistry or pre-medicine.

During St. Kates 100th anniversary celebration in 2005, Mary was named one of the Centennial 100 for her influential role in the Universitys history and development.

Her hobbies included calligraphy and playing piano and cello. In retirement, she wrote grants for the CSJ Ministries Foundation and served as the treasurer of the CSJ St. Paul Province.

Mass of Christian Burial was held on July 5, 2017 in Our Lady of Presentation Chapel in St. Paul, Minnesota.

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University community mourns the death of Mary Thompson, CSJ, '53, professor emerita - St. Catherine University (press release)

Scientists have come up with a new way of recycling plastic, returning the material to its "virgin" state.

The U.S. recycles hundreds of thousands of tons of plastic each year, which is still just a tiny fraction of the sum chucked into the landfill, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

One of the problems with traditional methods of recycling is that it lowers the quality of the substance, so that the recycled plastic is of a lower grade than that of the original.

In practical terms, this means a plastic water bottle cannot be recycled and turned into another plastic water bottle over and over again. Rather, the recycled plastic can be used for products like piping and traffic cones that can be made from a lesser quality material.

The method developed by scientists, writing in ChemSusChem, is a form of chemical recycling as opposed to mechanical recycling, which is frequently used in everyday recycling processes.

The latter involves chipping the plastic into parts and melting it so that it can then be molded into something new. The actual material (or resin) doesn't change, except to degrade in quality.

Chemical recycling, on the other hand, alters the physical state of the plastic, returning the material to its constituent parts (or building blocks) and thus a more purified (or "virgin") form, by dissolving it in chemicals or breaking it down it with heat. It can then be returned to the industry and made into brand-new, high-quality plastic objects.

"Essentially, we are taking a repeating chain and cutting it up at regular intervals to give molecules that we can use again and again," lead author Professor Matthew Jones, from the Centre for Sustainable & Circular Technologies at the U.K.'s University of Bath, told Newsweek.

"We can use the material for its intended use and then more easily recycle it."

"Our method of chemical recycling could allow carbon to be recycled indefinitely," Paul McKeown from the University of Bath in the U.K. said in a statement.

This could help create a "circular economy," removing the need to "dig up" more fossil fuel from the ground to create new plastic or release it into the air as greenhouse gas, he added.

So far, the method has been tested with plant-based polylactic acid (PLA), a more environmentally-friendly type of plastic made using starch and crop waste (as opposed to fossil fuels) found in food packaging and disposable cutlery.

"PLA is being increasingly used as a sustainable alternative for single-use plastics," said McKeown. "Whilst it's biodegradable under industrial conditions, it doesn't biodegrade with home composting, and isn't currently recycled, so at the moment it commonly ends up contributing to the tonnes of plastic waste in landfill and oceans."

Jones, McKeown and colleagues have begun tests on PETa plastic used for bottles and containersemploying a similar process. They are also working with scientists at the University of Birmingham in the U.K. to scale up the process so that it can be used on a more industrial scale, as opposed to the much smaller scale discussed in the paper.

When it comes to scaling up, there are two main challenges, Jones told Newsweek.

"One is the stability of our catalysts, which do all the work," he said. "The other is designing the reactor, defining reaction parameters and deciding how long the process needs to be to get the optimum results."

"Our method of chemical recycling overcomes this problem by breaking down plastic polymers into their chemical building blocks, so they can be used all over again to make virgin plastic without losing any properties"

"The problem of plastic recycling is unlikely to be solved by one solution due to the diverse range of materials available," Jones told Newsweek. "However, for PLA there is good reason for chemical recycling and we hope our work inspires further work into this recycling method."

The article has been updated to include comments from Professor Matthew Jones.

Read more here:
Chemical Recycling Could Transform Plastic Recycling by Returning Waste to Its 'Virgin' State - Newsweek

Philadelphia City Council plans to propose a ban that would prevent any future refineries in the city from using the toxic chemical hydrofluoric acid.

More than 5,000 pounds of hydrofluoric acid were released into the atmosphere following last summer's explosion at the Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery in South Philadelphia.

The chemical has a wide range of research and industrial uses, from refrigerants to Teflon, but is used by refineries in the alkylation process.

Dangers of hydrofluoric acid include skin burns, bone damage and respiratory problems caused by fluid buildup. It also can irritate the eyes, nose and throat. In high enough concentrations, hydrofluoric acid can cause serious injury or death.

Philadelphia Managing Director Brian Abernathy told State Impact the forthcoming City Council legislation seeks to prevent future disasters.

We want to make it very clear that should a refinery restart at that location, HF shouldnt be used, Abernathy said.

The future of the refinery is still uncertain amid hearings over its proposed sale to Chicago-based Hilco Redevelopment Partners, which aims to use the site for warehousing and logistics. A rival bidder that includes former PES CEO Phil Rinaldi hopes to maintain the site as a refinery.

The legislation is expected to be introduced by Councilman Kenyatta Johnson.

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Philly seeks refining ban on toxic chemical released in PES explosion - PhillyVoice.com

My Chemical RomanceguitaristFrank Iero is reminding the internet of a hint about the bands return that fans didnt pick up on.

In case you missed it, in December, Iero confirmed on Twitter that he was hinting at MCRs reunion long before it was even announced.

Iero hilariously responded to a compilation of clips where interviewers attempt to get some sort of comment about the rumors of thebands returnfollowingJoe Jonas leakof their reunion.

The compilation clip shows Iero reacting to hearing the much-dreaded question interviewers felt they need to ask despite not expecting an answer.

What most fans (understandably) didnt catch is Franks careful wording of saying the rumor is like a broken clock which of course is right twice a day.

The bands fanbase has never been short on reunion theories. From one dealing with theSmashing Pumpkins to a time travel theory, they thought of all of them.

Now, the musician recently posted the phrase he was alluding to on Instagram, the words being on a piece of paper from a fortune cookie. He doesnt say if he got the fortune before or after he dropped the initial hint, but the post really drives home on the fact the whole MCRmy missed the little hint.

Fans on Twitter responded to the post, and some of them werent too happy with the reminder.

Were just glad Iero, Gerard and Mikey Way,andRay Toroare performing together once again.

My Chemical Romance hit the road for a European and later North American tour this year. Fans in the U.S will have a tougher time grabbing tickets because they sold out so quickly, but there are still opportunities to see the band at festivals such asRiot Fest and Download Festival in Australia and Japan.

Tickets for the concerts can be found here and a full list of dates is below.

03/20 Melbourne, AU @ Melbourne Showgrounds (Download Melbourne)03/21 Sydney, AU @ Parramatta Park (Download Sydney)03/25 Western Springs, NZ @ The Outer Fields at Western Springs03/28 Osaka, JP @ INTEX Osaka03/29 Download Japan @ Makuhari Messe Event Hall

06/16 Cornwall, UK @ Eden Project06/18 Milton Keynes, UK @Stadium MK (SOLD OUT)06/20 Milton Keynes, UK @ Stadium MK (SOLD OUT)06/21 Milton Keynes, UK @ Stadium MK (SOLD OUT)06/23 Dublin, IE @ Royal Hospital Kilmainham07/01 Sopron, HU @ Volt Festival07/04 Bologna, IT @ Sonic Park Fest07/06 Bonn, DE @ KUNST!RASEN07/11 Moscow, RU @ Gorky Park

09/09 Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena (SOLD OUT)09/11 St Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center (SOLD OUT)09/12 Chicago, IL @ Riot Fest09/14 Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena (SOLD OUT)09/15 Boston, MA @ TD Garden (SOLD OUT)09/17 Brooklyn, NY @ Barclays Center (SOLD OUT)09/18 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center (SOLD OUT)09/20 Atlanta, GA @ Music Midtown09/22 Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center (SOLD OUT)09/23 Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center (SOLD OUT)09/26 Sunrise, FL @ BB&T Center (SOLD OUT)09/29 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center (SOLD OUT)09/30 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center (SOLD OUT)

10/02 Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center (SOLD OUT)10/04 Tacoma, WA @ Tacoma Dome (SOLD OUT)10/06 Oakland, CA @ Oakland Arena (SOLD OUT)10/08 Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum (SOLD OUT)10/10 Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock Festival10/11 Las Vegas, NV @ T-Mobile Arena (SOLD OUT)10/13 Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum (SOLD OUT)10/14 Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum (SOLD OUT)10/16 Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum (SOLD OUT)

What are your feelings towards Frank Ieros hint reminder? Let us know in the comments down below!

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Frank Iero reminds MCR fans of reunion hint in front of them all along - Alternative Press

CBSE Class 12 Chemistry exam will be conducted on March 7. Students should not only study chemistry thoroughly to get good grades in the boards, but also to clear competitive exams.

Chemistry is considered a scoring subject in. It is conducted in two parts - Theory (70 marks) and Practical (30 marks).

CBSE Class 12 examination will be held between February 15 and March 30. Students must be busy revising syllabus and practising previous years question papers.

Here are some tips for the CBSE Class 12 Chemistry exam:

Weightage: Sections having higher weightage should be completed first. For example, Organic Chemistry carries 28 marks, so it should be studied with utmost care. This is considered a comparatively difficult section. After Organic, students should take up Physical Chemistry, which is of 23 marks. Inorganic Chemistry carries 19 marks and is a theoretical section.

Important topics: While studying chemistry, focus should be on topics like solutions, electrochemistry, chemical kinetics, p-Block elements, d and f-Block elements and aldehydes, ketones and carboxylic acids.

Name reactions: Pay attention to name reactions like Williamson, Wolff-Kishner, Hell-Volhard-Zelinsky, Clemmensen reduction.

Numericals: Students should practice numericals seriously as they are generally based on direct formulae. Numericals are asked from topics like solutions, chemical kinetics and surface chemistry.

IUPAC names of compounds: Write and remember the IUPAC name of compounds. For example, IUPAC name of C4H10 is Butane. IUPAC names play key role in organic chemistry.

General tips

Revision: Revise all the topics more than once, especially important ones. If you take the exam without revision, you may mess up some names or reactions.

Focus on a few books: Dont take up too much study material. Sticking to NCERT textbook could be enough as it covers the whole syllabus.

Previous years questions: Dont sit in the exam without going through previous years questions and model test papers.

Understand concepts: If you have basic understanding of concepts, you will be able to answer high order thinking skill (HOTS) questions. This will improve your chances of scoring above 60 out of 70.

Also Read:

CBSE 12th boards 2020: How to prepare for the maths exam

CBSE 12th boards 2020: Preparation tips for Physics exam

CBSE 2020 Board Examination: Preparation tips and strategies for Class 10, 12 students

CBSE Sample Papers 2020 for class 10, 12 released, PDFdownload links here

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CBSE 12th Chemistry boards 2020: Preparation tips for the exam - Hindustan Times

TOWN OF WALLKILL Town residents might again this year receive a letter in the mail warning them of increased total trihalomethane levels in their tap water.

The presence of TTMHs, a group of chemical compounds formed during drinking water treatment, higher than the states maximum contaminant level was found again this year in water that is dispersed to homes in the 64 square miles of the town of Wallkill from large tanks in the Washington Heights area off Route 17M, according to Town Supervisor Frank DenDanto.

A little bit of that is not bad; obviously, you don't want a lot of it, DenDanto said. There's a public health criteria we have to meet, and we are just cresting to the place where it's very likely we're not going to meet it again.

In August 2018, the towns water and sewer administrator, Timothy Grogan, sent out a letter warning Consolidated Water District No. 1 residents of the levels of TTHMs being above drinking water standards, but also alerting them that they do not need to use bottled water as an alternative to tap.

The state TTHMs standard is for no more than 80 micrograms per liter; the towns water supply had 88.5 micrograms per liter in a sample from May 15, 2018.

This is not an immediate risk," Grogan wrote. "If it had been, you would have been notified immediately.

"However, some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL over many years may experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous system, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer."

A project to scrub-clean the insides of the tanks and install an agitator into the two 1-million-gallon water storage tanks will soon begin as the town accepted a bid from Pitingaro & Doetsch Consulting Engineers at its Jan. 23 meeting. The project is estimated to cost $250,000, DenDanto said.

The agitator will keep the water moving in the tanks, preventing significant sediment buildup, and a good cleaning will take care of the underlying problem to prevent the increased TTHMs levels from occurring again.

There will be an announcement. We'll be sending our letters again, DenDanto said. That will cause people to have concern, but they shouldn't be because at the end of the day, it's really precautionary.

Between 2012 and 2017, the town of Wallkill's water district had a TTHMs measurement of 58.1 parts per billion, which also equates to micrograms per liter, according to Environmental Working Group, a research advocacy group that promotes clean drinking water.

rettlinger@th-record.com

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Town of Wallkill seeks to prevent chemical buildup in drinking water - Times Herald-Record

Beloved emo rock band My Chemical Romance returned to the concert stage on Friday for the first time in seven years.

The band, which broke up in 2013, reunited at a sold-out Shrine Expo Hall in Los Angeles.

Fans who lined up and camped out for hours and even days before the concert were surprised with blankets from the band.

"The true meaning of Devotion isn't just the fans who were out here before sunrise this morning- it's the band who's worked unflaggingly for decades to create music that makes us feel seen - and then makes blankets for their fans," one concert attendee said on Instagram.

The band, whose last show together was at the Bamboozle Festival in May 2012, will play another three live shows in Australia, New Zealand and Japan in 2020.

The group was formed in 2001 by frontman Gerard Way and drummer Matt Pelissier in Newark, New Jersey. The band announced its breakup in 2013 after recording four albums.

Since then, former members including Frank Iero, Ray Toro and Mikey Way, have pursued other musical projects.

Way created a comic book series called "The Umbrella Academy," which was developed into a Netflix series.

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My Chemical Romance play its first concert in seven years - CNN

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Ohio State football teams wide receiver room is about to get a lot younger.

The Buckeyes are going to lose all but two players from Brian Hartlines unit, which accounts for the bulk of the production. K.J. Hill, Austin Mack and Binjimen Victor combined for 1,570 yards and 19 touchdowns on 119 catches.

That will leave Chris Olave as the most experienced player in the room. It seems like just yesterday when Olave was a true freshman making a name for himself in a 62-29 win over Michigan. Now hes the old man in a room that will be filled with both talent and inexperience.

Its crazy, Olave said before the Fiesta Bowl. Especially having those four receivers coming in. Im only 19 years old so having that role is crazy. Having two lead guys like Garrett (Wilson) and Jameson (Williams), theyre very, very, very talented. Its a big role to step in.

Olave was the target of Justin Fields final throw of the 2019 season. Instead of it being the play that gave Ohio State a win over Clemson a trip to the National Championship game, it gave Fields more interceptions in one game than hed had all season. Olave misread his quarterback and it led to dire consequences.

Hes very upset in the locker room right now, head coach Ryan Day said after the game. He thought Justin [Fields] was scrambling...Justin does a lot of creating, so they werent on the same page. Theyre playing football, and theyre competing. Things like that happen. Unfortunately, that happened to us on the last play of the game when we needed it the most.

The two spend most of the season developing the type of chemistry that would eventually lead to this moment. There was a major emphasis on the receivers learning how to react to a quarterback who was just as dangerous with his legs as he was with his arm. Olave didnt have to worry about that in 2018 with Dwayne Haskins, an arm talent with little ability outside of the pocket.

It took some time for the two to build what would eventually turn into 48 connections for a team-high 840 yards and 12 touchdowns. That was best personified against Rutgers, where both had career days. Fields got his first 300-yard day to go along with four touchdown passes. Four of his 15 completions went to Olave for 139 yards, the first 100-yard receiving game of his career and the first by any Buckeye that season.

Fields had found his reliable deep-ball target.

That season-ending play against Clemson had been an untimely blip in what the two had established this season. In 2020 Fields, will once again rely on his favorite deep-ball target and Olave will have to emerge in his role as the leader in the wide receiver room.

Hes starting to speak up to younger guys because thats going to be his of his job, Hill said. Hed learned from us just seeing how we did it. I feel like theyre going to be in great hands with him as the leader next year.

Hill has been in Olaves shoes. He understands what its like to be the lead receiver on a team with receivers who had some, but nowhere near the on-field experience he had. Its part of the reason the fifth-year senior and Ohio States all-time leader in receptions was named captain. But he also had veterans Austin Mack and Binjimen Victor in the room with him. Garrett Wilson is the only other returner who got consistent playing time, but he will just be a sophomore.

Chris is more of a by-example kind of guy, Hartline said. Im able to use him as an example to show guys how to go about their business, how to carry themselves, how to be respectful, how to work. But as that goes, to mature he needs to continue to be more vocal at times.

Ohio State competed with the team that has been in its way its last two trips to the College Football Playoff. Despite some first-half obstacles rather self-inflicted or because of officiating the Buckeyes still found themselves in a position to win a football game. They were a route away from getting to New Orleans.

Next season they could get back there, and with how the roster is shaping out it may come down to Fields and Olave once again.

Chris Olave is an unbelievable competitor, Day said. He loves his teammates. Nobody feels worse than Chris right now. So when you play games like this, you put yourself out there, and thats what happened at the end of the game. Our guys were competing all the way down to the end.

Get Buckeyes Insider texts in your phone from Doug Lesmerises: Cut through the clutter of social media and communicate directly with the award-winning OSU football reporter, just like you would with your friends. Sign up for insight on the Buckeyes for $3.99 a month. You can register in just a minute or two below by entering your phone number.

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Link:
Why Justin Fields and Chris Olaves chemistry will be vital for Ohio State football this offseason - cleveland.com

While talking about his experience on the set of the television series "Law & Order: SVU," Christopher recounted one very memorable event that occurred. He spoke about how he and his co-star, Mariska Hargitay, had instant chemistry.

When Christopher Meloni got a call to audition for the television series, "Law & Order: SVU," he saw it as a great opportunity. Accordingto him, he did a great job at the audition because he could relate well to the character he was to portray.

It took a while before he got a call back from them, but he eventually did, and he was paired with actress Mariska Hargitay.

THEY HAD AN INSTANT CHEMISTRY

Like many actors in Hollywood, Chris Melony and Mariska Hargitay got along very well behind the scenes. Mariskasaidas soon as they got paired up, they both knew they were going to get cast. She said they had instant chemistry.

Christopher also thought so. He said they hit it off immediately. They were comfortable with each other, and he thinks their relationship contributed to the success of the show. Hesaid,

"She and I hit it off right from the get-go."

The viewers of the show loved their chemistry andhopedthat they would one day end up as a couple in real life. However, this never happened. The same way their characters never dated on screen, they never became anything more than friends off-screen.

THEY WERE THE PERFECT PARTNERS UP UNTIL HE LEFT

The duo portrayed two lead detectives named after the creator, Dick Wolf's children, Elliot and Olivia. They were partners in the series and were a perfect fit.

While Olivia Benson was the passionate and empathetic one, Elliot Stabler was the one who embodied the "how can this happen" feeling. Their characters were utterly relatable as they both represented the way we would feel when we hear about the cases they worked on.

On and off-screen, Chris Meloni and Mariska Hargitay got along well and remained close even after he left the show in 2011. Since then, they had severalreunionsand even spent one night out. They documented most of their outings on their Instagram pages.

In 2016, more than seven years later, their relationship was still as strong as ever. They went out again, and Mariska took to Instagram to share their pictures. Shecaptioned the photo,

"And then that happened... Just when I thought Valentine's Day was over."

WHY DID CHRIS LEAVE?

Chris left the show because he couldn't make things work with the executives of the show. He had a contract dispute with NBC and decided to go.

On the show "Watch What Happens Live," Chris was asked if he regretted leaving "Law & Order: SVU,"and hesaid:"not for a day."

Even after this response, his fans didn't give up hope. They had faith that the way he shocked them with his departure, he would surprise them again with his appearance.

This, however, wasn't the case as the actor crushed the hearts of many when he tweeted in 2018 that he had zero plans to return to the show.

THE FAMILIES

Christopher was paired and worked with Mariska for about 12 years, and although they maintained a tight relationship all through, they never crossed any lines even though that was what the fans wanted.

At the time when he played Elliot Stabler on screen, he was married to hiswife, Sherman Williams. They met in 1989 while Christopher was working on the set of a television series.

He said when she rode in her motorcycle, she made an impression, and he knew he had to meet her. However, at the time, Sherman had a boyfriend.

Years passed before they were finally single at the same time, they became a couple and married later in a medieval-themed wedding ceremony on the beach in Malibu.

They both had lived in different parts of the country. While Chris Meloni's wife preferred Los Angeles, Chris preferred New York. Eventually, they were able to agree to settle and raise their two kids in New York.

Mariska, on the other hand,marriedthe American actor Peter Hermann in 2004, and they have three children together.

Read more here:
Christopher Meloni Gushes over Mariska Hargitay and the Chemistry They Had on Law & Order: SVU - AmoMama

PHOENIX -- The suspense is over. The Sacramento Kings will not finish the 2019-20 with a record of 82-0.

After a promising final three games to the preseason, the Kings looked like a team with two new starters and four new rotational players in their season opener. The result was a brutal 124-95 loss at the hands of a Phoenix Suns team that tallied just 19 wins a season ago.

Sacramento took a 59-54 into the half, but point guard DeAaron Fox picked up his fourth personal foul just 1:56 into the third quarter. Without their leader on the floor, the tide turned almost instantly.

It kind of stopped the rhythm a little bit, Marvin Bagley said. Whenever you have players in foul trouble, it kind of throws things off.

Phoenix seemed to seize on the moment. They turned up the defensive intensity, specifically on Buddy Hield, who had torched them for 22 points in the first half.

With Fox on the sidelines and Hield getting all of the attention, the Kings pressed. They were outscored 32-17 in the 12 minutes after the half and the game was all but lost.

The Kings looked like five individuals on the floor and not a team for long stretches. They turned the ball over in bunches and the many of those turnovers led to fastbreak opportunities for the Suns on the other end.

In the second half alone, Sacramento turned the ball over 19 times, which led to 27 points for the Suns. On the flip side, Phoenix gave it away just nine times and the Kings scored just four points off of those mistakes.

It got contagious, coach Luke Walton said. Its funny in the game of basketball how momentum changes things. Making the extra pass, making the right pass will become contagious. If you start turning the ball over, it is the negative type of energy out there that we have been king of struggling with in the preseason.

The starting backcourt of Hield and Fox combined for 10 turnovers and Harrison Barnes added another four. All but one of the 13 players who stepped on the floor turned the ball over at least once for Waltons squad.

Turnovers were too much, Hield said following the game. We have to do a better job. First game might have brought some jitters. Everybody is trying to make a play. They were more active. They were the better team today.

The Kings havent even had time to leave the drawing board, let alone get back to it. After a mini training camp and a week in India, Walton and his staff have had to throw everything together on the fly.

Adding to the issue, reserve point guard Cory Joseph missed a big chunk of time with a calf injury and then an illness. Hes practice the last few days and he was solid in his 21 minutes of action, but chemistry is always going to take time to form and the veteran point has had very little of that precious commodity with his teammates.

It always takes a little bit, but thats no excuse for tonight, they outplayed us,Joseph said.

Joseph showed flashes on both ends of the court. He was physical on the defensive end with the Suns guards and came away with a steal and a block. On the offensive side, he bullied his way to the basket to finish with 10 points on 3-of-6 shooting.

But without Fox to push the tempo and get the team flying around the court, the lack of experience together was apparent.

Its a new team, so that comes with it, center Dewayne Dedmon said. That comes with it. Were just working on our chemistry, trying to get a feel for each other and just play basketball at the end of the day.

There is no time for the Kings to sulk after a bad loss. They flew home to Sacramento following the game where they might be able to squeeze in a practice on Thursday. Theyll face the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday for the home opener at Golden 1 Center and then head straight to Utah for a back-to-back on Saturday.

Complicating matters is that both Hield and Fox took a beating in the fourth quarter. Hield said he was OKfollowing the game, but he tweaked his ankle. Fox left the floor late in the game as well and according to Walton, the team will have an update on the pair on Thursday.

[RELATED: Hield, Fox exit early with injuries]

This wasnt the start the team was looking for. A 29-point loss was unexpected, but this is the NBA and things like this happen.

You get 81 more games, Hield said. There is a lot of basketball left. Yes, stuff happens in basketball. As a team, we have to be better and be more composed.

Be better. More composed. Less turnovers. Better communication. Better chemistry. Welcome to the start of a new season of Kings basketball.

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Kings pinpoint areas that burned them in ugly loss to Suns - NBCSports.com

ALAMEDA Raiders receiver Hunter Renfrow got hit hard trying to make a catch against the New York Jets, with Bless Austin putting a shoulder in his shoulder that he instantly felt.

The Raiders receiverwas crumpled on the turf for an extended stretch.

Renfrow said Thursday that time was spent trying in vain to catch his breath. Pain came with the hard hit, but he managed to walk it off and remain in the game.

Had he known then that he broke a rib and punctured his lung, Renfrow wouldve stayed out of that game. He toughed it out instead.

It wasnt hard because we were getting beat so bad, Renfrow said. In those situations, you dont want to give up on your teammates. There are injuries a lot of guys play with that people dont even hear about. It definitely didnt feel good, but I thought I could finish the game.

Renfrow spoke right after the game but not since, during a stretch of three games missed with a scary injury. Renfrow said his main issue was catching breaths during the game, but another hard hit from a defensive lineman prompted him to request further examination.

An x-ray at MetLife Stadium came back negative, buta CT scan back in the Bay Area showed Renfrow had a break on the interior of his rib.

Renfrow said he has felt good for some time now, but was allowed to practice more fully with the team Thursday. Now hes waiting for clearance to play Sunday against the LAChargers.

He looks fresh, offensive coordinator Greg Olson said. "There wasnt an issue to be honest with you, hes been able to run out here in the rehab process without any pain, but because of the injury and the rib and where it was at, they were just concerned it could reinjure. But hes been running now for a couple weeks and has looked very well.

[RELATED:Brown was lone home run in Raiders offseason]

Renfrow hasnt missed much time in his football career. He hasnt missed a practice since his sophomore year at Clemson and didnt like not being involved much in recent Raiders work.

I felt good today, Renfrow said. Being able to go out there and run routes after some time away really makes you appreciate it. There are things you can improve while youre sitting back and watching, but theres always that itch to get back.

Theres a drive to get back and find previous rhythm with quarterback Derek Carr. Those two really started to click before Renfrow got hurt, and theyll have two games to establish old form before the regular season ends.

I think we were starting to hit our stride a little bit and its tough to miss time at that point, but those good things you did dont just go away, Renfrow said. Hopefully were building something for a while, so we work on things every day at practice and gain confidence from doing that in games.

More:
Renfrow set to rejoin Raiders, find old chemistry with Carr - NBCSports.com

Wide receiver Eric Decker insists he has no desire to go out Saturday night and remind the New York Jets what they're missing after letting him go in June as part of the team's salary cap purge.

Oh sure, he'll say hello to a few old buddies, maybe even a coach or two.

But Decker is focused on improving his chemistry with Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota two weeks into training camp with his new team.

"I don't worry about that stuff," Decker said Thursday . "I know I still got it, and I'm happy to be here. I'm excited about what we're capable of doing. Just have to put the work in."

Decker was just the latest of several big names released when the Jets cut him June 12 to save $7.25 million in salary after failing to trade the 30-year-old receiver . Decker had interest from some teams as a free agent but signed with the Titans in Nashville, where his family has a home.

The seven-year veteran with 385 receptions for 5,253 yards and 52 touchdowns has shown an immediate chemistry with Mariota. Decker also has shown off the precise route-running and hands that earned him a five-year, $36.25 million deal from the Jets in March 2014.

The Titans aren't counting on Decker to start, though he should be on the field alongside Rishard Matthews in the preseason opener because rookie Corey Davis is recovering from a strained hamstring .

Titans coach Mike Mularkey says he doesn't think Decker has any type of payback approach to this game.

"He's going to try and operate at a high level for us with this new system that he's in," Mularkey said. "I think it would be more of 'I don't want to disappoint us' than 'try to wow them' in my opinion. That's just the personality the guy has."

Decker played in only three games last season, catching nine passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns. He wound up having surgery to repair a hip issue in October before another surgery in November to repair a torn rotator cuff.

The receiver says he feels great physically, taking advantage of the break from football because of the surgeries.

"This is the best as far as strength and mobility and just everything I've felt for a long time, so I'm happy I took care of those things," Decker said. "It's unfortunate that it happened. Never want to be put on injured reserve or miss time and be away from the game. But at this point, I'm at a good place physically and mentally."

Decker's also now with a team with a rising young quarterback in Mariota, who threw for 3,426 yards with 26 touchdowns and only nine interceptions last season. Mariota has a 93.8 passer rating through his first two NFL seasons, putting him behind only Kurt Warner, Dan Marino, Nick Foles, Russell Wilson and Ben Roethlisberger for quarterbacks attempting at least 500 passes.

The wide receiver says Mariota has made his transition to Tennessee easy.

"He has good instincts, seems like he's very comfortable with the system, puts us in spots to be successful and makes the right reads," Decker said. "Our job is to just be at those spots where he expects us to be. We're getting there. Making some good progress."

Decker will work in the slot once Davis is healthy.

Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jurrell Casey just knows he likes watching how Decker competes for the ball in the air.

"I'm waiting to see what he does on Sunday with Marcus, and a talented quarterback like that putting the ball in his hands is going to be exciting for us," Casey said. "I'm just waiting to see them big numbers."

NOTES: Mularkey said Pro Bowl running back DeMarco Murray won't play against the Jets, though Murray is expected back at practice Monday night from an injured hamstring. CB Demontre Hurst (groin), Davis and DL Karl Klug (ankle) also won't play. ... GM Jon Robinson helped out by using a couple of tennis rackets to simulate defensive linemen's hands in the air during a passing drill.

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Read more from the original source:
Decker focused only on chemistry with Mariota vs. Jets - ABC News