Blame oxidation for rusted bridges and browned avocados. But this fundamental process can be harnessed for good, too and now scientists have scored front-row seats that could show them how.

Researchers watched at near-atomic resolution as iron nanoparticles transformed into iron oxide not rust in this case, but related compounds. That closeup view could help scientists better control oxidation and design corrosion-resistant materials or new kinds of catalysts, the researchers report in the April 21 Science.

This is the first time the oxidation process has been observed in such detail, says Andreu Cabot, a physicist at the Catalonia Institute for Energy Research in Barcelona who wasnt part of the study.

When a metal oxidizes, its atoms mix and mingle with oxygen atoms to create a new material. That process is perhaps most famous for creating rust, which flakes and corrodes. But iron can oxidize in a variety of ways, some of which are useful.

For instance, chemist Yugang Sun and his colleagues at Temple University in Philadelphia are trying to create hollow iron oxide nanoparticles that could serve as catalysts to speed up chemical reactions or as vessels to deliver drugs or store energy in chemical form. But making these nanoshells from iron nanoparticles requires precise control over the oxidation process.

If oxygen atoms work their way into an iron nanoparticle faster than the iron atoms can diffuse out, that nanoparticle becomes a tight, solid ball, Sun says. If the iron diffuses out faster than the oxygen comes in, on the other hand, it becomes the hollow sphere that Suns lab wants.

Controlling that process is difficult because it has been unclear exactly how these shells form on an atomic level, Sun says. Scientists havent been able to watch it happen, because high-powered microscopy techniques can disrupt the reaction or show the action in only two dimensions.

Suns team tried a different approach to observe the reaction, by shooting X-rays at many identical iron nanoparticles suspended in a liquid. Each time the X-rays hit a different material moving from the liquid to the solid, for instance they scattered.

Story continues after graphic

Researchers measured the way X-rays bounced off oxidizing nanoparticles and then used computer models to reconstruct where atoms were moving over the course of the chemical reaction. As the nanoparticles oxidized, small holes developed and merged together to eventually form a hollow iron oxide shell

By tracking how the X-rays bounced off many small, uniform iron nanoparticles, the researchers were able to reconstruct where individual atoms were going as the particles oxidized into hollow shells over the course of several hours.

The researchers watched as the iron moved out of the center of the nanoparticle to react with the oxygen, initially forming many small holes inside the nanoparticle. Eventually, those empty spaces merged together to form one big void in the middle of the nanoparticle.

The impact of this paper is more than just the hollow [nanoparticles], says Yadong Yin, a chemist at the University of California, Riverside who wasnt involved in the research. The imaging technique itself will be a useful way to study how other types of nanoparticles form something scientists still dont understand well, he says. It can be used to gain insight into other types of oxidation, too.

Read the original here:
Chemistry controlled on tiniest scale can create hollow nanoparticles - Science News

The American Chemistry Councils (ACC; Washington, D.C.; http://www.americanchemistry.com) Global Chemical Production Regional Index (Global CPRI) shows that the first quarter ended on a soft note, with headline global production slipping back 0.1 percent in March, as measured on a three-month moving average (3MMA) basis. This follows a revised 0.1 percent drop in February and a revised 0.4 percent gain in January. During March, chemical production decreased in every region except Africa & the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. The Global CPRI was up 1.3 percent year-over-year (Y/Y) on a 3MMA basis and stood at 108.9 percent of its average 2012 levels in March.

During March, capacity utilization in the global business of chemistry slipped 0.2 percentage points to 78.0 percent. This is off from 79.4 percent last March and is below the long-term (1987-2016) average of 88.7 percent.

Results were mixed on a product basis during March, with gains in agricultural chemicals, bulk petrochemicals & organics, and plastic resins. Considering Y/Y comparisons, growth was strongest in plastic resins followed by coatings and inorganic chemicals.

ACCs Global CPRI measures the production volume of the business of chemistry for 33 key nations, sub-regions, and regions, all aggregated to the world total. The index is comparable to the Federal Reserve Board (FRB) production indices and features a similar base year where 2012=100. This index is developed from government industrial production indices for chemicals from over 65 nations accounting for about 98 percent of the total global business of chemistry. This data are the only timely source of market trends for the global chemical industry and are comparable to the US CPRI data, a timely source of U.S. regional chemical production.

Original post:
Global chemical production ends Q1 with slight decline, ACC says - ChemEngOnline

By Deborah Kania, Craven Community College

Fifth-year Craven Early College (CEC) students Emily Chance and Sar Oo attended the 253rdnational meeting of the American Chemical Society held in April in San Francisco, Ca.

Chance and Ooand Craven Community College instructor Don Carpenetti presented, Evaluation and refinement of theprocedure used to prepare training samples for arson detection K-9s.

This chemistry honors program project started in 2015 by former Craven CC students SydneyGiammona and Nicole Miller.

The project has been a collaborative effort between the students, NewBern Fire Department Marshal Danny Miller, and Darby who is a female K-9 arson dog trained as anaccelerant detection canine.

According to Hill, the collaboration between the fire department and chemistry program hasachieved the fire departments goals of acquiring training fuel that is consistent, readily available andaffordable.

We appreciate the help for the training fuel, said Hill.

In fall 2016, Chance picked up where the previous students left off as part of her honors project inchemistry class.

Oo assisted Chance with the laboratory experiments and making of the training fuel.

The students spent extra time out of class to complete the project.

Chance and Oo said they enjoyed learning more about chemistry and its many educational andcareer opportunities at the conference.

They also had some time to tour San Francisco, includingdragging their chemistry instructor around a nine-story mall according to Oo.

Carpenetti also presented, Reciprocal peer tutoring in general chemistry: Benefits to informationretention and lowered student test anxiety, to his peers at the chemistry conference.

Chance and Oo are both graduating from CEC in May with honors and as members of the PhiTheta Kappa international honor society.

Chance will graduate with her high school diploma, and an associate degree in arts, generaleducation and science.

She will attend N.C. State in the fall to study chemistry and forensics.

Afterreceiving my bachelors degree, I would like to enlist in the military, said Chance.

Oo will graduate with her high school diploma, and an associate degree in arts and science.

Shewill attend Elizabeth City State in the fall to study pharmaceutical science.

After college, Oo said shewould like to be a researcher.

The week before the chemistry conference, Carpenetti was honored in Los Angeles as a 2017National Science Teachers Association (NTSA) award winner in the college level category.

Thechemistry project was one of the abstracts he submitted in his application for the annual award. Theseteachers and science education professionals have shown tremendous dedication and commitment totheir students and to science education, noted NSTA President Mary Gromko.

Carpenetti plans to continue to recruit future students to continue working on this project.

Carpenetti said there is more to learn. When you conduct one experiment, it usually creates three orfour more, he said.

Deborah Kania is the director of marketing, communications and development liaison at CravenCommunity College.

Read more:
Chemistry project that helps local fire department presented at national conference - New Bern Sun Journal

Eight senators last week announced the formation of a new group to assess issues related to chemistry and the nation's chemical sector.

The Senate Chemistry Caucus, members said, would provide a bipartisan forum to discuss chemistry and its economic impacts, as well as facilitate policies that encourage science education and innovation in chemical manufacturing.

The group will be helmed by co-chairs Chris Coons, D-Del., Gary Peters, D-Mich., Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V. -- whose states are home to major chemical companies, including DuPont and Dow and Steve Daines, R-Mont. and a chemical engineer by trade.

We cant predict what the next big thing will be, but every day the field of chemistry is making groundbreaking discoveries that can grow our economy and improve our daily lives," Peters said in a statement. "Im proud to help launch the bipartisan Senate Chemistry Caucus to encourage scientific research, spur new innovation and promote safety in the chemical industry.

Other members include John Boozman, R-Ark., John Neely Kennedy, R-La., Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., and Joe Manchin, D-W.V.

The Senate caucus follows a House chemistry caucus founded last summer by Reps. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., and Daniel Lipinski, R-Ill. The Congressional Chemistry Caucus now has more than 35 members.

Chemical industry groups lauded the formation of the caucus at "a very pivotal moment for the chemical industry and manufacturing."

Read more:
Bipartisan Lawmakers Announce Senate Chemistry Caucus - Chem.Info

Fieldwork at the Yudoma River in Siberia, Russia. Credit: Rachel Wood

Skeletons and shells first came into being 550 million years ago as the chemical make-up of seawater changed, a study suggests.

Ancient marine life may have developed from soft-bodied animals into creatures with hard body parts as oxygen levels rose and calcium and magnesium levels in prehistoric oceans changed, researchers say.Until now, little was known about how skeletons and shells which are made of calcium carbonate first evolved, the team says.

Previous theories suggested that soft-bodied organisms had undergone a mass extinction, which allowed organisms with skeletons and shells to flourish.However, researchers at the University of Edinburgh have found that the earliest lifeforms with hard body parts co-existed with closely related soft-bodied species.

The team examined a range of fossils unearthed from limestone rocks in Siberia, which formed millions of years ago from seawater with high levels of calcium carbonate.They concluded that hard-bodied lifeforms were first present only in such environments where high levels of calcium carbonate allowed organisms to develop primitive hard parts.

Artists impression of a Suvorevella fossil, one of the oldest known skeletal macrofossils. Credit: Alina Konovalenko

Around 10m years later, the diversity of life of Earth increased rapidly a period known as the Cambrian explosion and hard-bodied life began to thrive. An increased threat from predators led lifeforms to develop new, more complex hard parts in environments that were less carbonate-rich, the team says.

The development of hard body parts through a process called biomineralisation marked a significant evolutionary advance from the previous world of soft-bodied life, the team says.

The study is published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. The research was carried out in collaboration with Lomonosov Moscow State University.

Professor Rachel Wood, of the University of Edinburghs School of GeoSciences, who led the study, said: How animals produced shells and skeletons is one of the major events in the evolution of life. We are only now starting to understand the processes underlying this revolution.

Original post:
Skeletons developed as chemistry of oceans changed, study shows - Astrobiology Magazine (registration)

Forbes

Sugar Chemistry Is Helping Zika Virus Cross The Placenta Forbes Remember Zika virus? It might not be popping up in your news feed or your searches lately. But that shouldn't necessarily be reassuring. Yes, the World Health Organization lifted its emergency declaration on Zika in November. When they did, though ... Stopping Zika from crossing the placenta American Chemical SocietyEurekAlert (press release) all 29 news articles »

See the article here:
Sugar Chemistry Is Helping Zika Virus Cross The Placenta - Forbes

Sometimes science makes sense. This is a message we should not forget because we are being hit by a constant barrage of new information, theories,guesses, etc., all related to coronavirus, a bizarre pathogen that has no precedent and doesn't make much sense, at least yet.

So, it was rather comforting to read about one familiar aspect of drug discovery,an assay called hERG, which stands for (don't even try to guess) thehuman ether-a-go-go-related gene (1). Because if there is anything that gives drug discovery scientists oneMamacita of astomach ache it is finding out that a potential drug candidate they've been working on has a hERGproblem. It's usually a show-stopper. This is such a serious issue in drug development that high-throughput screens of multiple potential drugs can be run to weed out these compounds early in the process.

It ishERG that makes HCQ (and other drugs) potentially dangerous. And it is no coincidence that the primary concern about the drug is cardiac toxicity, specifically arrhythmias. It might even make some sense to you, assuming you can withstand a few paragraphs about voltage-gated ion channels a topic that doesn't come up often enough at dinner parties, if you ask me. Give it a try. It's not too bad.(Figure 1)

Figure 1. A simplified view of voltage-gated ion channels. Sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride ions (all ions in this diagram are represented by red circles) move between the inside (orange) and outside (green) of cells through channels (purple cylinders) embedded in the cell membrane. This causes a tiny electric current, which forms the basis for the timing of heartbeats as well as multiple nerve-related functions. The timing of the movement of ions (in and out of cells) is controlled by the opening and closing of a gate (blue ovals).

WHAT DOES hERG HAVE TO DO WITH THIS?

hERG is a gene that makes a protein that ispart of the potassium ion channel. So, when a drug or chemical binds to thehERGprotein it can block that channel, which disrupts the timing of the flow of ions in and out of the cell. The degree of binding determines the amount of disruption. Given that the heart is controlled by regular electrical impulses it should not be surprising thatheart cells have ion channels or that messing with them disrupts the timing.

What happens when the timing of your heart screws up? Arrhythmias - irregular heartbeats.If the ventricular contraction speeds up it is called ventricular tachycardia, which is something you'd be wise to leave off your Christmas wish list, especially if you would liketo see New Year's Eve. Ventricular tachycardia can cause the heart to beat uncontrollably or stop beating entirely. All of this from tiny little gates in cell membranes that decide which ion goes where and when. How cool is this?

WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH HCQ?

When drugs block the hERG(potassium) channel it can result in acondition called QT prolongation or LongQTsyndrome (LQTS), which results in the heart beating quickly and erratically. This can be seen on an electrocardiogram (ECG).

Sometimes QT elongation can cause a dangerous condition called "torsades de pointes" (French for twisting of points) where the hearts two lower chambers (ventricles), beat faster than the upper chambers (atria). It is the mismatch of the timing of the lower and upper chamber that causes the problem.

Source: Allphase Consulting

RELEVANCE TO MEDICINE

There is a database called Credible Medsthat enables you to see which drugs cause prolonged QT intervals. The database ranks drugs for their ability to cause torsades de pointes(TdP).

Here's one:

And here's another:

So, what you've been hearing on the news should make sense. Hydroxychloroquine does have some cardiac risk because the molecule is known to block potassium channels. So does azithromycin.(2)When they are combined,the risk goes up; maybe by a lot.

POLITICIANS, PLEASE SHUT UP

Last I heard, voltage-gatedion channels do not register for primaries, and they vote only infrequently. We are talking about the binding of a drug (or any other molecule) to a channel whose job is to keep ions moving in and out of a cell in such a way that your heart beats properly. Not anything that should be part of a presidential campaign. It should be "torsades de pointes," not "talking de points."In other words, real science.

Such a thing still exists.

UPDATE 5/22

A paper in Lancet was just published. It is also an observational study, but a large one. The authors claim that all combinations of hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine, and azithromycinresulted in more patient deaths than controls (no drugs given). Of particular interest to this discussion is the incidence ofventricular arrhythmias as a rationale for the excess deaths:

Control: 0.3%

HCQ (alone): 6.1%

HCQ plusmacrolide (azithromycinand clarrithomycin): 8.1%

Chloroquine (alone): 4.3%

Chloroquine plus macrolide: 6.5%

"Each of the drug regimens of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine alone or in combination with a macrolide was associated with an increased hazard for clinically significant occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias and increased risk of in-hospital death with COVID-19."

NOTES:

(1) This name isn't as stupid as it sounds.The hERG channel was discovered in fruit flies. The name comes from what was observed when they were anesthetized with ether. Their legs started shaking. OK, it's still pretty stupid-sounding.

(2) This does not mean that either HCQ or azithromycin will definitely cause heart problems. Most of the time they won't or they wouldn't be drugs. But, as with all other drugs, the relationship betweenrisk and benefit is what matters. If the benefit of a drug is zero then taking it is insane.

See the rest here:
The Real Problem With Hydroxychloroquine Is Nothing New. It's Chemistry. - American Council on Science and Health

Forbes

This Chemistry Might Just Give Outdated Fast Fashion A New Life Forbes Now hear this, fashionistas. Your trendy clothes are probably taking a huge toll on the environment. With the rise of the business known as fast fashion (think retailers like H&M and Zara), stylish attire has become so cheap that it's treated as ... and more »

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This Chemistry Might Just Give Outdated Fast Fashion A New Life - Forbes

Does winning football produce good team chemistry? Or does good team chemistry produce winning football?

Its a fair question, an eternal question, the sports version of a chicken or the egg conundrum.

Whats the answer? Obviously, even if players are best friends forever, that wont help them win unless they also have talent. So I guess you have to lean toward winning being the more fundamentally important factor.

But a positive locker-room vibe, also known as good chemistry, can help matters a lot. And this years Ravens are Exhibit A.

I can pinpoint several examples of where good chemistry is helping their greater good. For instance, there are no issues between the offense and the defense. (A bugaboo around here more than a decade ago.) The wide receivers are fine with an unusual job description that prioritizes blocking over catching passes. The tight ends are tighter than the stars in a bromance comedy.

Cornerback Marlon Humphrey opened up on the subject earlier this week, describing a locker room in which players get along so well they hang around together off the field and even stay late after practice to talk football a hugely positive sign, with the alternative being hitting the exit and fleeing the scene as quickly as possible.

Ive always felt like the biggest thing you can do with the team is have that family approach, because it shows on the field. We keep growing as a team and just keep getting to know each other, Humphrey said.

Asked to identify where the good vibes come from, Humphrey said it starts with Head Coach John Harbaugh, who is having, no doubt, a stellar year, not only with Xs and Os but with calibrating the teams mindset. He commands the locker room, but he also has eye-level relationships with his players, meaning he talks with them.

He listens to us with different things, Humphrey said.

The cornerback also identified Lamar Jacksons leadership as a key ingredient. He is humble and personable, a natural gatherer of troops. And, like Humphrey, he feels the good vibes.

Its a family thing going on here, Jackson said this week.

Jackson is so focused on the communal goal, winning, that he views all other factors as meaningless distractions and Im talking all other factors, from the MVP race to making his debut on Monday Night Football. His ability to smile and yet focus on that communal goal sets a tone any coach would want.

Hes always been like that, since hes been here, Humphrey said.

Yes, its easy for the players to be happy and laugh at each others jokes when theyve won six games in a row, taken command of the AFC North and rightfully been identified as serious contenders for playoff glory.

But if you think their good chemistry is just a byproduct of that, Humphrey wants to convince you otherwise:

I just think you start to know each other really well on the field. As soon as you know somebodys game, you know this guy struggles with that, on the field, it all just meshes together. Theres never a time when youre like, I feel like I cant go talk to this guy about something. There were a lot of egos in the past, and in the past, Ive seen a lot of different confrontations and different things with coaches and players and players and players. And I havent really seen much of that this year There hasnt been a lot of conflict. Its always, Hey, man, lets do this. Its never bad blood, no feelings or egos in between us. Its all just, I want to do whatever I can to win.

Winning helps, no doubt. But I get the sense the bond could be an asset in tough times, too.

You never know when a group is going to develop good chemistry. The conditions have to be right. But you know it when you see it. And the Ravens have it.

Read more:
Eisenberg: The Chicken or the Egg Conundrum on Team Chemistry - BaltimoreRavens.com

Rajon Rondo has just thrown an underhand parabola of a pass thats traveled nearly three-quarters of the court, and Jared Dudley is running up the right sideline tracking the ball like a wide receiver. As soon as he catches the pass, he goes right into his shooting motion as if the ball is too hot to even hold. His legs splay as he glides to the side, the momentum of his run carrying him and his jumper forward. A split second after the ball leaves his fingertips, the third quarter buzzer sounds.

A full-court view shows every one of his teammates tracking the ball all the way to the hoop, watching intently until it swishes through the net. Dudley extends his arms like Maximus in Gladiator, both hands in his patented three-fingered celebration. As he runs back to the bench, he transforms into a human bumper car, bouncing off teammates who are swarming him for chest bumps that Dudley absorbs from all angles until he settles onto the bench. These Lakers are having so much fun they can barely contain themselves. Soon enough, they have a win, too.

When LeBron James and Anthony Davis are the anchors of your team, the first strength you think of probably isnt chemistry. Talent? Sure. Basketball acumen? Maybe. But, chemistry? Thats probably way down the list of things youd think of when describing what makes a team with two players as talented as them on it special. But, if you ask those around the team or, hell, even just listen to them talk, theyll be the first to explain that a key reason for this groups success this season is that they get a long so well.

In a recent episode of The Lowe Post podcast, Danny Green was asked about things he didnt know about AD, but has since learned after playing with and being around him this season. After talking about some of the on-court things that hes learned about his superstar teammate, Green pivoted to what AD is like off the court. His answer is both illuminating, and a peek behind the curtain into the elixir that has slowly became a key component for this teams strong play (emphasis mine):

Off the court, (AD) is very similar to LeBron. Those guys are very humble guys who enjoy their teammates. They enjoy hanging out and kickin it, and bringing everyone together. Theyre the reason our chemistry is so good off the court. We have a group chat and theyre the ones chiming in, talking and making other guys feel comfortable to talk and bring things to the table Theyre the leaders, they talk about everything, we hang out, we do everything together.

And we have fun. Regardless if were winning or losing. This is probably the most fun season Ive had off the court, by far. By far.

As powerful as chemistry is, though, there are things chemistry cannot do. Chemistry cant turn a 28% 3-point shooter into a marksman. Chemistry cant take on the challenge of guarding Kawhi Leonard or Giannis Antetokounmpo for a key 15 minute stretch of a playoff game. Chemistry cannot initiate your offense when LeBron is on the bench, beat a defender in isolation for a layup, or force the defense to respect your jumper when you turn a corner coming off a pick and roll. Talent and skill can do those things, but chemistry cant.

And herein lies the rub.

Despite having the second-best record in the NBA through 45 games (36-9), the Lakers have holes on their roster that are clear as day. These holes do not outweigh the top-end talent on the team, but in a league in which the playoffs become a war of attrition where opponents pinpoint your weaknesses and try to force you away from your strengths, those holes can be highlighted and exposed to the point of demise. The only way to fill those holes is by getting different players whose skill sets address them.

But any addition to this team necessitates a subtraction of a player already on it. And any subtraction risks the disruption of that chemistry. These things are delicate and must be treated as such. As an outsider, its very easy to simply disregard this. After all, the NBA is a talent league. The team with the best players almost always wins. The Warriors didnt ruin the league with their chemistry, they ruined it by adding Kevin freaking Durant to a team that had just won 73 regular season games and came within a nut-punch of a championship.

The Lakers, then, must actively look at ways to upgrade their roster. There are ways to improve this team to make it an even stronger contender, and not doing their due diligence on that would be a dereliction of duty.

That said, they must also take any potential disruption of their chemistry into consideration before making a change. A swap of players who might fit better from an Xs and Os standpoint would surely help on the court, but if theres a chance it hurts the team off the court, this too must be a factor in the decision making. That might sound silly on its face, but is it really?

We often think of the fallout of the Lakers losing out on Kawhi as this mad scramble for whatever leftovers remained on the free agent market. But, hindsight would give this Lakers front office more credit than that. Rob Pelinka and the rest of his staff signed a good group of veteran players who all understand their place in the league and their role on this team. Theyve all bought in, following the lead of LeBron and Davis, but also of Frank Vogel a coach who has brought a positivity and affability that, combined with his preparedness and ability to communicate, has also contributed to the tenor of togetherness to the point that its clear every single person (be it player or coach) are all rowing in the same direction.

Of course, talent still does rule. And theres little chance Id turn down a talent upgrade or a better fitting piece who can contribute on the court to enhance this teams chance at a championship. This season the race for the title is as wide open as its been in a decade and the Lakers are one of the two or three teams who can lay claim to true contender status.

What Id hope, however, is that the same care that was taken in crafting this roster in the first place is also applied to any potential changes that could come. Because chemistry does have a cost, and predicting correctly which way the ledger will shift when making a change can make all the difference in the world. Especially to a Lakers team whose strong chemistry has become such a key facet of their identity.

Because, the fact is, many of the players fans might think are most expendable are the exact players who seem to be contributing in ways that go beyond their simple on-court production. And even if your argument is that Kyle Kuzma is the best player to trade since he has the most value, his cheap contract makes it nearly impossible to not include more players as salary ballast in order to get the upgrade you want. And once you go down that road, you run into the same problem of getting rid of players who have clearly become a part of the fabric of this team.

Like it or not, Rajon Rondo is a clear leader in the locker-room, someone who is well liked by his teammates and is known to be able to offer advice and guidance that helps on the floor even when hes not on it. DeMarcus Cousins is injured and is a longshot to play at all this season, but has a clear friendship with Davis and Rondo while also having a stature in the league that allows him to constructively critique LeBron on ways he can play better including keeping on him about his defense. Similar anecdotes about the value Quinn Cook or Troy Daniels offer are surely there too, even if theyre now only likely to get spot minutes during regular season games, much less see significant time in the playoffs.

Letting go of any of these guys could have drawbacks, not the least of which would be how the teammates they would be leaving behind would feel about it. Dont take my word for it, though, take LeBrons. We have enough right now, James told reporters after beating the Nets when asked if the team needed another piece. This team believes in themselves, and that belief might just end up matter
ing more than what outsiders think can be improved on.

For more Lakers talk, subscribe to the Silver Screen and Roll podcast feed on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts.

More here:
How much is chemistry worth for the Lakers? - Silver Screen and Roll

Kim Jung Hyun has shared his thoughts on the on-screen chemistry between his Crash Landing on You co-stars Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin!

The two actors, who previously starred together in the film The Negotiation, were swept up in dating rumors multiple times last yearand Hyun Bins agency recently denied rumors of their romantic involvement a third time, after a fan suggested that the two appeared to be holding hands in behind-the-scenes footage from the filming of Crash Landing on You.

In an interview with Korean news outlet Segye Ilbo, Kim Jung Hyun praised the professionalism of his two co-stars, explaining that their intense romantic chemistry in the dramawhich has led to legions of fans hoping that life will imitate artwas the product of their acting skills.

When they were rehearsing, there werent any of the rosy, romantic vibes that the media talked about in articles [about their dating rumors], he shared. But as soon as the cameras began rolling, they would gaze at each other lovingly, with honey dripping from their eyes. When I saw that, I thought they were really cool.

It made me think that I was working together with really amazing senior actors, he continued. They were cool to the extent that I thought, This must be what a real professional looks like.'

Kim Jung Hyun went on to enthuse, Both Son Ye Jin and Hyun Bin look really cool when theyre acting. They were very active in terms of coming up with ideas, and they spoke everything that was on their mind. Even though I was standing beside them as a junior actor, they treated me as a same-level colleague. They made it possible for me to act comfortably.

The actor also spoke highly of his co-star Seo Ji Hye, commenting, Seo Ji Hye helped me a lot so that I could act act comfortably. When I first saw her, I thought that she looked very cold and untalkative, but she was so nice to me that it made it easy for me to prepare for my scenes.

During rehearsals, she would share her opinions with me, and she was also great at listening to my own ideas, he recalled. So there werent any difficulties in working together on scenes.

Crash Landing on You aired its final episode on February 16, setting a new record for the highest viewership ratings in tvN history.

Source (1)

How does this article make you feel?

Link:
Kim Jung Hyun Talks About Hyun Bin + Son Ye Jin's Dating Rumors And Chemistry In Crash Landing On You - soompi

Science in its totality is the study of the objects, surroundings and various natural events and their effects based on experiments and observations. It encompasses a systematic and logical approach towards the behavior of changes around us and the events concerned with them. The curiosity of human brain for understanding the world and things that are beyond this world has led to the development of various laws and principles. Science has helped the human brain to understand its surrounding very precisely which in turn has resulted in numerous discoveries and inventions. These discoveries and inventions have improved the standard of living on this planet and have paved the way for further studies. Science has been divided into different sub-groups based on their concerned area of study. Chemistry is a branch of science that deals with matter, particularly the study of atoms and molecules and the parameters that govern their inter-convertibility.

What is Chemistry?

Chemistry is one of the basic branches of science that deals with the properties, structure, and constituents of matter or substances and its interactions with other forms of matter. There is a lot of difference that can be seen when you compare Basic Chemistry and Modern chemistry. Basic Chemistry originated in ancient times at the hands of famous scientists called Alchemists. It explained all the basics of the subject which were concluded after a series of experiments which shed light on how they really worked. Whereas Modern Chemistry prevailed in the 17th century which laid systematic steps in gaining knowledge about the matter. Modern chemistry brought about various theories which finally became justified with the experiments they conducted to prove how matter interacts.

The domain of chemistry comprises of the study of thecomposition of matter, its structure, and properties. The fundamental constituents of matter, atoms & molecules, form the basis of chemistry. Chemistry has provided answers to various questions. The quantitative measurement of the number of basic constituents of matter i.e. atoms and molecules and their dependence on the mass of the given matter is well explained by chemistry. Advances in chemistry have helped scientists and engineers to harness the energy associated with these atoms & molecules.

Today we can preserve food items for long durations of time; we have millions of chemicals that are being used in different industries for manufacturing a variety of products. Cell phone covers, plastic bags, the steel used in construction, the pasteurized milk, photosynthesis, the crackers we burn, etc. are only a few examples of products of chemistry. These products are such deeply rooted in our lives that we fail to visualize their importance and the role of the science behind them.

Branches of Chemistry

Due to the vast variety of interactions possible between matter in general, there are said to be five branches of Chemistry namely organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, biochemistry and physical chemistry. The details about them are explained below-

It is a branch of chemistry which deals with the study of carbon-based compounds. It mainly applies to the study of the behavior, characteristics, compositions and the properties of the organic compounds. It is also known as The Chemistry of Life.

A branch of chemistry that deals with the study of metals and gaseous matter or materials which do not contain carbon as an element in it is called as Inorganic chemistry. It is opposite side of Organic Chemistry.

The combined study of using physics and chemistry to explain chemical systems is called as Physical chemistry. This branch relates to the physical properties along with the structure of matter and energy. The sub-branches coming under this field are quantum physics and thermodynamics.

Biochemistry is a branch of chemistry which deals with the study of the chemical processes that takes place in living organisms. Hence the name Biochemistry.

It is an interesting field of chemistry that studies about the properties of matter, along with the composition of different substances and materials. This branch of chemistry uses quantitative methods for the identification of chemical and physical properties of matter.

Chemical Reactions

As you might be aware of common salt which we use in our foods, Have you ever observed what happens when the elements of these substances are involved in reactions?

Consider the sodium metal element when it reacts with water it produces a kind of hissing sound by giving out hydrogen as a gas. This is due to the chemical reaction which makes it happen. The equation for this chemical reaction can be represented as given below :

Na + H2O NaOH + H2

On more reaction would be the chemical reaction between sodium and chlorine. There is a formation of Sodium chloride or commonly known as common salt. Likewise, there are many chemical reactions taking place within and around us all which are all by the phenomenon of chemistry.

Applications of Chemistry

Chemistry has a wide number of applications coming in various fields, some of which are given below-

Learning Chemistry Online How is it helpful

Chemistry is a subject that involves fun. Meanwhile, it also requires a good imagination to understand the deeper insights of the topics. Many students find it hard when going through chemical reactions and formulas. These things need an imaginative and conceptual study. With the old blackboard learning, there might be few topics which the student might have been missed or might not have understood.

Hence online learning is so preferred because it enhances the learning skills of students. They tend to enjoy while learning things online. A student can easily fetch a topic which he/she has missed in the classroom.

Here at BYJUS, students are offered with engaging and fully structured video sessions from experts and the methods of studying explained will widen their learning ability. At BYJUS, the chemistry topics are taught with animated diagrams in such that they never forget about. A student is provided with chemistry quiz programs, regular tests and interactive study sessions with our experts for the class 4 to class 12 so that Chemical engineering aspirants can make it to their goal.

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Chemistry - Organic, Inorganic, and Physical Chemistry Concepts

Achieving unconfined supersonic explosions

In some forms of supernovae and chemical explosions, a flame moving at subsonic speeds (deflagration) spontaneously evolves into one driven by a supersonic shock (detonation), vastly increasing the power output. The mechanism of this deflagration-to-detonation transition (DDT) is poorly understood. Poludnenko et al. developed an analytical model to describe DDTs, then tested it with lab experiments and numerical simulations. Their model successfully reproduced the DDT seen in the experiments and predicted a DDT in type Ia supernovae, which is consistent with observational constraints. The same mechanism may apply to DDTs in any unconfined explosion.

Science, this issue p. eaau7365

The nature of type Ia supernovae (SNIa)thermonuclear explosions of white dwarf (WD) starsis an open question in astrophysics. There is a general consensus that SNIa explosions are driven by fast thermonuclear burning in 12C/16O WD stars with a mass close to, or below, the Chandrasekhar-mass limit of 1.4 solar masses. Beyond this general statement, however, the exact mechanisms of SNIa remain unclear, with a number of possible scenarios.

Virtually all existing theoretical models of normal, bright SNIaincluding the classical, single-degenerate Chandrasekhar-mass and sub-Chandrasekhar-mass scenarios, along with the double-degenerate merger modelrequire formation of a supersonic detonation wave. This wave consumes all of the stellar material as a WD begins to expand during the explosion. Detonation initiation in unconfined systems, such as the interior of a WD, remains poorly understood and is particularly difficult to achieve in the absence of the confining effect of walls and obstacles or preexisting or externally introduced strong shocks. Numerical models of SNIa are unable to capture detonation formation from first principles because of the extreme range of scales involved. Instead, they are forced to make two crucial assumptions: (i) that detonation ignition always occurs during an explosion and (ii) the time and location of the detonation formation. As a result, detonation initiation conditions are free parameters present in most existing SNIa models, which limits their predictive power.

Thermonuclear combustion waves in SNIa are qualitatively similar to chemical combustion waves on Earth because they are controlled by the same physical mechanisms. This similarity allows us to seek insights into the fundamental aspects of the physical processes that control SNIa explosions by using theoretical, numerical, and experimental results obtained for terrestrial chemical systems. This includes detonation initiation phenomena that are also relevant to terrestrial applications that range from detonation-based propulsion and power-generation systems to the explosion safety of industrial facilities related to coal mining, fuel storage, chemical processing, and nuclear power generation.

Prior direct numerical simulations (DNS) have shown that chemical flames interacting with high-intensity turbulence can spontaneously accelerate and produce strong shocks or detonations. Such turbulence-driven deflagration-to-detonation transition (tDDT) can occur in essentially unconfined settings.

We present a general analytical theory of tDDT in unconfined systems. The theory explains the behavior of fast turbulent flames that become unstable, produce shocks, and can transition to detonations. This occurs when the turbulent burning speed exceeds the Chapman-Jouguet deflagration velocity, which is the maximum possible speed of a steady-state reaction wave without a shock. We describe an experimental confirmation of this process in terrestrial H2-air flames. Next, we used numerical simulations of a fully resolved turbulent thermonuclear flame in a degenerate 12C stellar plasma to show that under conditions representative of those in a SNIa explosion, this mechanism can also result in the spontaneous formation of strong shocks. We show that these shocks can rapidly amplify by interacting with surrounding turbulent flames and ultimately trigger a detonation. Last, we used the developed theory to determine the criteria for detonation initiation in the classical single-degenerate Chandrasekhar-mass model of SNIa. We found that DDT is almost inevitable at densities in the range of 107 to 108 g cm3, with the maximum probability at 3 107 g cm3.

We developed a theory of turbulence-induced DDT and validated it by using experiments on chemical flames and numerical simulations of thermonuclear deflagrations. Our results describe a unified mechanism of unconfined DDT both in chemical and thermonuclear reacting flows. This theory is parameter free and can be used to predict self-consistently the conditions for detonation initiation in SNIa explosions.

The DDT in SNIa is predicted to occur on scales of ~103 to 106 cm, which is well below the characteristic scale of a WD star (109 cm) and mostly below the smallest scales resolvable in three-dimensional simulations, ~105 cm. To demonstrate the turbulence-driven, unconfined DDT in experiments and DNS, we considered turbulence-flame interaction on small scales of ~105 to 10 cm. The synergy between the experiments and DNS of chemical and thermonuclear flames led to our unified theory of DDT.

The nature of type Ia supernovae (SNIa)thermonuclear explosions of white dwarf starsis an open question in astrophysics. Virtually all existing theoretical models of normal, bright SNIa require the explosion to produce a detonation in order to consume all of stellar material, but the mechanism for the deflagration-to-detonation transition (DDT) remains unclear. We present a unified theory of turbulence-induced DDT that describes the mechanism and conditions for initiating detonation both in unconfined chemical and thermonuclear explosions. The model is validated by using experiments with chemical flames and numerical simulations of thermonuclear flames. We use the developed theory to determine criteria for detonation initiation in the single-degenerate Chandrasekhar-mass SNIa model and show that DDT is almost inevitable at densities of 107 to 108 grams per cubic centimeter.

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A unified mechanism for unconfined deflagration-to-detonation transition in terrestrial chemical systems and type Ia supernovae - Science Magazine

Michael Leggett has been a member of his local astronomical society for several years. He tells us how he has been drawing on his chemistry background to deliver lectures on astrochemistry to astronomers.

My local astronomical society ran a survey to find out what subjects members might want covered. One member requested something about chemistry and I decided to prepare an introduction to astrochemistry as a series of short talks looking at one element at a time, its basic chemistry and aspects of interest to astronomers.

The series began in 2016 with the first short talk on hydrogen, and this was followed by a second short talk on the heavy hydrogen isotopes deuterium and tritium. The final short talk in 2016 was about helium and the noble gases.

The series will continue well into 2017 (possibly beyond) with the next short talk provisionally about lithium and the alkali metals. This will be followed by talks on beryllium, boron, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine and their corresponding groups, with subsequent talks on selected transition metals, lanthanides and actinides.

I also regularly present talks for astronomical societies on chemical, biological and historical aspects of astronomy and astronautics.

The Orion Nebula, taken by a member of the Milton Keynes Astronomical Society, John Bell Picture: John Bell

More here:
Chemistry of the stars - Royal Society of Chemistry

Washington The American Chemistry Council recently released updated guidelines on preventive health measures and the use of personal protective equipment for workers exposed to phosgene, a chemical used in manufacturing that is a poisonous gas at room temperature.

To detect the presence of the phosgene, ACC recommends the use of monitoring badges, which change colors when exposed to the chemical. ACC added that remote optical sensing systems may be effective in identifying phosgene down a long path, rather than detecting its presence at a single point.

Badges should be placed in the breathing zone of a worker, and any badges potentially hindered by water or ultraviolet light should be placed underneath the front brim of a hard hat. Clips also may be used to keep badges attached to a collar, but wearing them underneath protective equipment or on the back of a hard hat could negate their effectiveness.

ACC suggests that organizations develop written instructions for the use of badges and establish a medical reporting system. The organization also recommends handling the gas in completely closed processing systems to decrease possible worker exposure.

If phosgene is released, ACC advises quickly evacuating the affected area and upon re-entry, using proper respiratory protection pressure demand full-face supplied air respirators in combination with an auxiliary self-contained breathing apparatus.

ACC also noted additional PPE to be used:

For decontamination purposes, ACC recommends that emergency response personnel seal any contaminated clothing/phosgene badges in airtight containers. Decontamination should be verified before respiratory protection is removed. Keep in mind, ACC states, that phosgene can remain trapped in low dips in pipes/equipment, process fluids or solids.

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American Chemistry Council updates PPE, hygiene guidelines for phosgene - Safety+Health magazine

"They have very good chemistry," head coach Pete Stanton said. "They're both very similar that they're very good leaders and both have the same goals. They both have a great understanding of the game, and I think that chemistry is what's really helped in the first couple games."

Gibson has proven to be the worthy choice of starting quarterback for the Hawks. He threw four touchdown passes in the 43-28 win over Rocky Mountain College on Aug. 24, and three more in Saturday's 30-21 win over Valley City State University. Those three scores were all to Ewoniuk.

Ewoniuk easily stands out on the field. The Belfield native checks in at 5-foot-7, 160 pounds and sports brown hair that hangs to his shoulders. But those aren't the only traits that makes him so easy to spot.

"Seth is very quick and very smart, and one of the things that he does when we put him in the slot with some of the routes we've been running, he gets matched up with linebackers and we like that matchup," Stanton said. "He's got a really good knack for getting open. He's very elusive and very quick and experienced."

Over two games, Ewoniuk has scored four touchdowns and caught nine footballs for 149 yards. That accounts for nearly a third of the Blue Hawks' 455 passing yards.

"We were just taking what they gave us," Ewoniuk said. "We had good play calls and we got the run going to set up play-action. Hayden threw me good balls and they were the three easiest touchdowns I've ever scored in my life."

At 6-foot-3 Gibson is one of the taller players on the team and is able to see over the field to spot open receivers.

"He's done a good job," Stanton said of the young quarterback. "His completion percentage has been very high. He's made good decisions as far as what we want to do offensively. He's gotten the ball out well. He's just been very efficient. His arm is strong too. When it's third-and-8, third-and-9, we know he has the ability to make that throw and make the right read."

Over two games, Gibson has completed 30 of 42 pass attempts, good for a 71.6 completion percentage.

"His job is to read the play and give the ball to the guy that's open," Ewoniuk said of Gibson. "I happened to be the read last week but next week it could be a different guy scoring three touchdowns."

While it's the two of them lighting up the scoreboard so far, Gibson said it's not just him and Ewoniuk who can take the credit for offensive success.

"I think the whole group on offense played well," Gibson said. "The big guys up front had a good game. You know, it's not just the guy that catches the ball, it's all the other wideouts that run their routes really hard and take the defense from guys like Seth."

Read more:
They go together: Gibson, Ewoniuk exhibit chemistry early in season - The Dickinson Press

Seahawks Wire

Seahawks rookie DBs continue to build chemistry in group workout Seahawks Wire According to a post by Ford Sports Performance owner Tracy Ford, the Seahawks defensive backs have been getting their grind on together and building chemistry. The training facility where the rookies are shown below working out is also frequented by ...

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Seahawks rookie DBs continue to build chemistry in group workout - Seahawks Wire

New York Times

'Chemistry' Is an Anti-Coming-of-Age Story New York Times She is also deeply ambivalent about marriage and committing to a career in synthetic organic chemistry. Chemistry is a sort of anti-coming-of-age story: Instead of figuring out how to be an adult, the narrator learns to live with uncertainty and ...

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'Chemistry' Is an Anti-Coming-of-Age Story - New York Times

An action comedy about white women beset by brown men in Latin American countries portrayed by Hawaii, "Snatched" is Amy Schumer's second big movie, her follow-up to the very funny "Trainwreck," which introduced her to audiences unfamiliar with her stand-up or her TV work on "Inside Amy Schumer." The film co-stars Goldie Hawn, in her first major screen role since "The Banger Sisters" 15 years ago. Shrewdly, 20th Century Fox is positioning their product as a Mother's Day weekend offering; what better way to market it? Mother. Daughter. Kidnapped by Ecuadorean ransom-seekers while on vacation. They get stuffed in a car trunk; they harpoon a bad guy; they dance; they learn to take it easy on each other.

The movie does not take it easy. Director Jonathan Levine ("50/50," "The Night Before") has skill, but broad visual gags aren't really his strength. Screenwriter Katie Dippold wrote "The Heat," the one with Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy (sequel coming), which pulled a successful variation on a familiar odd-couple theme. "Snatched," more about victimhood than women running their own show, is funny here and there, but in ways that make the bulk of the formulaic material all the more frustrating.

Stiffed by her boyfriend (Randall Park) on the eve of their nonrefundable Ecuador getaway, directionless, hard-drinking Emily (Schumer) invites her cat-obsessed suburban shut-in of a mother (Hawn) on the trip instead. Mother Linda's fears of abduction come true soon enough, though Emily's too smitten by the flirtatious Englishman (Tom Bateman) on vacation to sense trouble. "Snatched" engineers ways to get Emily and Linda in danger and then out again, evading their kidnapper (Oscar Jaenada, stereotypical swarthy menace incarnate) as best they can, while back home Emily's agoraphobic brother (Ike Barinholtz) nudges a skeptical U.S. State Department in the rescue of his family.

If you're going to write a movie like this one, you're going to try to invent ways and means of pushing the story forward without your audience getting that weary, back-to-the-kidnapping-stuff feeling. I had that feeling a lot during "Snatched." You sense the relief on Dippold's behalf every time she gets the chance to ditch what's "required" and focus on what's amusing, or offbeat. Wanda Sykes and Joan Cusack make for entertaining side players as a couple of vacationers who come in handy plotwise; Christopher Meloni scores a laugh or two as a would-be adventurer who serves as Emily and Linda's guide through the jungles of Colombia. "Feel free to drink from any puddle you see," he says at one point. "All water in the jungle is safe." The jokes are sardonic 21st century variations on "Don't Drink the Water," sometimes literally.

It's extremely broad humor, for the most part, nervously edited, involving the extraction of a vicious-looking tapeworm from Emily's throat, or Emily makeshift-douching herself in a restroom, preparing for a possible hookup with her English friend. Hawn does not easily suggest a paranoid lonelyheart with bad knees, as the script dictates, but she and Schumer parallel-play together, affectionately. "Snatched" is too busy with everything around, and outside, this central relationship. In that regard it resembles the Tina Fey/Steve Carell action comedy "Date Night," which got by with audiences despite itself. We'll see about this one; it is, after all, opening on Mother's Day weekend.

Michael Phillips is a Chicago Tribune critic.

mjphillips@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @phillipstribune

"Snatched" 2 stars

MPAA rating: R (for crude sexual content, brief nudity, and language throughout)

Running time: 1:37

Opens: Thursday evening

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'Snatched' review: Amy Schumer, Goldie Hawn's mother-daughter chemistry gets lost in Ecuador getaway - Chicago Tribune

The Golden State Warriors overcame a 25-point deficit on Sunday to steal Game 1 of the Western Conference finals against the Spurs.

All season long the chemistry among the Warriors, who boast the No. 1 offense in the NBA, has been what has made this team so difficult to oust. It's been their calling card. And on Sunday, the chemistry was so good that it bled over into other facets of the game -- like the way they complained about officiating.

Look at how beautifully timed this reaction is from Zaza Pachulia, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. It's synchronized complaining at its finest.

The Warriors began the game out of sync and let the Spurs ride the early momentum into a 20-point halftime deficit but, as you can see, they clearly found their rhythm and put things together as a team, which was a major part of their 113-111 win in Game 1.

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WATCH: Warriors' chemistry is so good, they even complain to ref in perfect sync - CBSSports.com