STORRS >> Considering the way the starting five is clicking these days, it may be hard to believe that the starters for the top-ranked and undefeated UConn womens basketball team had some uncertain moments.

With the Huskies going after their 99th consecutive win with Southern Methodist coming into Gampel Pavilion on Saturday (2 p.m., SNY), the on-court chemistry between Saniya Chong, Kia Nurse, Katie Lou Samuelson, Napheesa Collier and Gabby Williams has never been better.

Since the start of 2017 began, when the five starters are on the court together they are outscoring the opposition by an average 43-15 per game in just over 17 minutes per game. If that were to be projected over 40 minutes, it would come out to 100-35.

Yes, the time when UConns top five players were outscored in three of the first seven games seems like an ancient memory.

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None of them were playing a role that they were accustomed to, so you cant just throw people in the mix and go, OK, act like youve been here for two years, UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. It takes time to develop that. With each practice and each game you could see their comfortable level (growing) with each other and that is what is supposed to happen during the season, they are supposed to get better and more cohesive. Right now that is where we happen to be.

I dont discount the impact that Saniya has had in terms of she adds a little bit to what that group is doing and she detracts nothing. Having Saniya in the starting lineup, her role seems to have grown because she has made it grow. We have one more distributor of the ball who only helps you and doesnt hurt you. I think that has added a lot.

Certainly the competition level in recent weeks cant compare to what the Huskies faced in the early portion of the schedule when seven of the first 12 games came against ranked opponents. Still, the fact that Collier, Chong, Nurse, Samuelson and Williams have combined to shoot 60 percent from the field in the last seven games including a staggering 72 percent inside the 3-point line is not simply the case of the Huskies squaring off against overmatched opponents.

We were getting a lot of playing time in terms of offensive and defensive things and then it kind of started flowing from there, Nurse said. Obviously the first couple of games it got a little bit shaky for us but we found it a couple of games into the season. Now it is continuing to grow stronger and stronger.

UConn posted at least 30 assists in the last two games, a feat that hasnt happened with the Huskies since the 1994-95 season and the run of seven straight games with at least 90 points has also tied a program mark set during that iconic 94-95 campaign, It has set the Huskies up to go after win No. 100 in a row on Monday when No. 6 South Carolina comes to town.

Chong missed the Kansas State and Ohio State. She had 10 points and five assists in 32 minutes against Maryland in her second game back and that Huskies have been riding the play of their top five players ever since.

In the beginning of the season we have to figure out what works with each other and get that connection, Chong said. Over time everybody knew their role and knew what we needed to get done so that is pretty much every day in practice having it happen.

That very first game we didnt know what was going to happen, how we were going to react with other. Us coming out with the win was pretty great but after that game, we knew what we had to do and go from there.

UConn has used the same starting lineup in each of the last 12 games, but that streak could be at risk.

Samuelson missed Fridays practice due to illness and Auriemma wasnt certain if she would be able to play against the Mustangs.

I dont know about (her status), Auriemma said. It is certainly not going to be regular business, either she is not going to play at all or she is going to play some minutes, that would be depending on how she feels (Saturday) at shootaround.

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UConn women's starting five building strong on-court chemistry - New Haven Register

Inert helium may form stable compounds inside giant planets such as Jupiter, seen here by NASA's Juno spacecraft on Aug. 27, 2016.

Deep within giant planets, helium may form stable compounds with other elements, a new study finds something that was long thought never to happen in nature.

Helium is second only to hydrogen as the most common element in the universe; it exists in abundance in stars and gas giants. However, whereas hydrogen easily reacts with other elements to form compounds such as water, helium is a member of a group of elements known as the noble gases that do not bond readily with other elements.

Although helium is the most chemically inert element known, scientists have found a few instances in which it can form compounds with other elements. Still, until now, all known helium compounds either were highly unstable or were ones where the helium and the other elements barely interacted with one another. [Element Number Two: Facts About Helium]

Now lab experiments reveal that, at the kinds of high pressures that are found within gas giant planets, helium can form stable compounds with sodium.

"One more traditional assumption that helium does not form stable compounds has fallen," said study co-author Artem Oganov, director of Stony Brook University's Center for Materials by Design in New York and head of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology's Computational Materials Discovery laboratory.

Previous research suggested that "rules of classical chemistry break down at high pressure," Oganov said. This led study lead author Xiao Dong at Nankai University in Tianjin, China, and his colleagues to investigate whether it was possible "to break yet another rule and discover stable compounds of the most unreactive element helium," Oganov told Space.com.

The international research team searched for stable helium compounds by running calculations on two supercomputers. These machines included Tianhe II in Guangzhou, China, which is currently ranked as the world's second-most-powerful supercomputer.

Their results predicted two stable helium compounds. One is NaHe, which consists of one helium atom and two sodium atoms, while the other is NaHeO, which consists of one helium atom, two sodium atoms and one oxygen atom.

In experiments, the scientists successfully synthesized NaHe by squeezing its components between two diamonds at pressures of about 1.1 million times Earth's atmospheric pressure. The team's calculations predict that the compound will prove stable to at least up to 10 million times that pressure.

Crystal structure of NaHe, which resembles a 3D checkerboard. The purple spheres represent sodium atoms, which are inside the green cubes that represent helium atoms. The red regions inside voids of the structure show areas where localized electron pairs reside.

"This work gives a spectacular triumph of theory," Oganov said. "This very surprising compound was first predicted by theory, and only then made experimentally."

The helium atoms do not actually form any chemical bonds with the sodium atoms. Still, the presence of the helium atoms fundamentally changes the chemical interactions between the sodium atoms, forcing electrons to pair together, despite their natural tendency to repel one another.

"It is a very bizarre new kind of compound, in which helium atoms make a huge change in the way sodium atoms interact with each other," Oganov said.

To imagine what NaHe looks like, picture a 3D checkerboard of black and white cubes. In the centers of the black cubes are helium atoms, in the centers of the white cubes are pairs of electrons and at the corners of all the cubes are sodium atoms.

The calculations suggest that the other predicted helium compound, NaHeO, would be stable from 0.15 to 1.1 million times Earth's atmospheric pressure. Its structure should be similar to that of NaHe, but in place of electron pairs, it would have oxygen atoms.

These findings could "have implications for planets and perhaps also for stars," Oganov said. Although it remains uncertain what effects such helium compounds might have, researchers can no longer assume that helium is simply inert, he said.

The scientists detailed their findingsonline Feb. 6 in the journal Nature Chemistry.

Follow Charles Q. Choi on Twitter @cqchoi. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebookand Google+. Originally published onSpace.com.

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Weird Chemistry: Helium May Form Stable Compounds Inside Giant ... - Space.com

The surface of Jupiter, a planet which might have helium compounds

Heres a popular high school chemistry fact: Helium atoms dont interact with other atoms to create compounds. Well, that fact might need some reevaluating.

An international team of scientists think theyve created a stable helium compound, meaning one composed of both helium and sodium atoms together. The discovery would be wild not only because of the way it goes against some of our basic assumptions of chemistry, but would also help scientists better understand the way atoms act in the high-pressure centers of gas giant planets.

Chemistry changes when you apply high pressure, and this can be achieved inside our Earth and on different planets like Saturn, study co-author Ivan Popov, a doctoral student at the Utah State University, told Gizmodo. But this, chemistry involving helium, is a book changer. Other noble gasses, like xenon and argon, have previously been shown to bond with magnesium under high pressures.

So, chemistry lesson: Atoms are positively charged nuclei surrounded by negatively charged electrons. The more positive protons in the nucleus, the more electrons the atom can hold onto. The electrons are sorted into layers, called shells. Atoms bond by sharing electrons in their outermost shells, but if that shell is full, they normally wont bond. Noble gasses like helium or neon are atoms with full outer shells, so bonding with them is like trying to hold hands with someone already toting a pair of bowling balls. Thats why the new studys result is so interesting, if it holds up.

Ad hoc, it sounds pretty wild, Reinhard Boehler, a research scientist at the Carnegie Institute for Science in Washington, DC told me from his car when I described the studys results to him.

In their study, the researchers loaded helium gas and sodium crystals into a cavity between a pair of diamonds, and squeezed the atoms at super-high pressures. The resulting compound was a solid arrangement of alternating sodium and helium atoms in a cube shape, with electrons shared between them. Its not a real bond in the sense of the ionic and covalent bonds you learned about in chemistry, explained Popov. But [the helium] does stabilize the structure. If you take those helium atoms away, the structure will not be stable.

If this sounds familiar, it may be because last week, researchers announced theyd produced metallic hydrogen using a very similar high-pressure experimental setupthough other scientists had a lot of doubts about that result. This time around, at least one scientist found the results more convincing. This is much sounder science, Henry Rzepa, a professor at Imperial College, London, who was initially skeptical when I told him about the new study,said. This helium compound is a breakthrough. He pointed out that, of course, other scientists would need to complete similar experiments in order to verify whether a helium compound had actually been found.

Rzepa further noted that this compound isnt your standard mixture of bonded elements you learned about in chemistry class, but an electride. Such molecules consist of electrons dispersed within a crystal structure, but the structure itself is somewhat mysterious to us. We have long suspected that a quite different chemistry, controlled by rather different if not very different rules, must exist under extreme conditions such as ultra high pressures, he said. This [sodium-helium compound] offers a tantalising glimpse into this new frontier of chemistry.

That means these compounds wont have much use on Earth, and can only exist under strange conditions like those at the center of gas giant planets like Jupiter and Saturn. The helium-sodium compound could therefore give us insight into what chemistry might be like inside other planets, the papers authors write, since those gas giants have plenty of helium.

So, at least one pair of eyes thought this wild compound really could exist. We will update the post if we hear any dissenting opinions.

Correction: This article has been edited to correct Ivan Popovs university affiliation.

[Nature Chemistry]

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A Wild New Helium Compound Could Rewrite Chemistry Textbooks - Gizmodo

Chemistry is a branch of science that deals with chemical elements and compounds, and how these things work together. It is the study of the materials (things) that make up our bodies and everything in the world around us.

Before 1600, people studied substances to figure out how to do things such as turn lead into gold, but no one managed to do that. This was called alchemy. Alchemists (people that did alchemy) did discover some useful things, though. Sulphuric acid and nitric acid were two substances that they discovered. Only a few elements were known. Some of them are mercury, silver, gold, and carbon.

Chemistry began as a true science during the 1600s. This is when chemists discovered the simplest substances that make up all other substances. These simple substances are called elements. One of the things that they learned is that gold and lead are two different elements, so you can not change one into the other by a chemical reaction. The first element discovered after 1600 was phosphorus, a strange white glowing solid.

Elements were discovered more and more rapidly. People separated the air into many parts and isolated the noble gases from it. They also processed special minerals from a mine in Sweden to get rare earth metals. Radioactivity was also discovered. Today chemists have discovered 118 different elements. Some are very common, like oxygen. Many are very rare and expensive, like platinum. Some cannot be found on earth and can only be made in labs, like rutherfordium.

Since the 1920s, the increased understanding of physics has changed chemists' theories about chemical reactions. With smaller and faster computers, chemists have built better tools for analyzing substances. These tools have been sent to study chemicals on Mars. Police also use those tools to study evidence from crime scenes.

There are several types of chemistry. Analytical chemistry looks at which chemicals are in things. For example, looking at how much arsenic is in food. Organic chemistry looks at things that have carbon in them. For example, making acetylene. Inorganic chemistry looks at things that do not have carbon in them. One example is making an integrated circuit.

A large area of chemistry is polymer chemistry. This looks at plastics. One example is making nylon. Because plastics are made of carbon, polymer chemistry is part of organic chemistry. Another area is biochemistry. This looks at the chemistry of living things. An example would be seeing how arsenic poisons people. Biochemistry is also part of organic chemistry. There are many other small branches of chemistry.

The basic unit of an element is called an atom. An atom is the smallest building block that you can cut an element into without the element breaking down (turning into a lighter element, for example through nuclear fission or radioactive decay). A chemical compound is a substance made up of two or more elements. In a compound, two or more atoms are joined together to form a molecule. The tiniest speck of dust or drop of liquid, that one can see is made up of many millions or billions of these molecules. Mixtures are substances where chemicals are mixed but not reacted. An example would be mixing sand and salt. This can be undone again to produce salt and sand separately. Chemical compounds are changed by a chemical reaction. An example would be heating sodium bicarbonate, common baking soda. It will make water, carbon dioxide, and sodium carbonate. This reaction cannot be undone.

A mole is a very large amount of atoms (602,214,150,000,000,000,000,000 atoms). The atomic mass of an element can be used to see how much of the element makes a mole. For example, the atomic mass of copper is about 63.55. That means about 63.55 grams of copper metal has a mole of atoms. The atomic mass of chlorine is about 35.45. That means 35.45 grams of chlorine has a mole of atoms in it.

Moles can be used to see how many molecules are in chemical compounds, too. Copper(II) chloride is an example. CuCl2 is its chemical formula. There is one copper atom (63.55) and two chlorine atoms (35.45 2 = 70.90). Add all the molar masses of the elements together to get the molar mass of the chemical compound (63.55 + 70.90 = 134.45). That means in 134.45 grams of copper(II) chloride, there is one mole of copper(II) chloride molecules. This concept is used to calculate how much chemicals are needed in a chemical reaction if no reactants (chemicals that are reacted) should be left. If too much reactant is used, there will be some reactants left in the chemical reaction.

Acids and bases are common chemicals. Acids release H+ions when in water, and bases release OH ions when in water. Acids can react with bases. The H+ ion is taken from the acid by the base. This makes water, H2O. A salt is also made when an acid and a base react together. An example would be reacting hydrochloric acid (HCl) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Hydrochloric acid releases H+ and Cl- ions in water. The base releases Na+ and OH- ions. The H+ and the OH- react to make water. There is a solution of sodium chloride (NaCl) left. Sodium chloride is a salt.

Chemistry is very useful in everyday life and makes up the foundation of many branches of science. Most objects are made by chemists (people who do chemistry). Chemists are constantly working to find new and useful substances. Chemists make new drugs and materials like paints that we use every day.

Many chemicals are harmless, but there are some chemicals that are dangerous. For example, mercury(II) chloride is very toxic. Chromates can cause cancer. Tin(II) chloride pollutes water easily. Hydrochloric acid can cause bad burns. Some chemicals like hydrogen can explode or catch fire. To stay safe, chemists experiment with chemicals in a chemical lab. They use special equipment and clothing to do reactions and keep the chemicals contained. The chemicals used in drugs and in things like bleach have been tested to make sure they are safe if used correctly.

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Chemistry - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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The Chemistry Department has support services, shops, and fully equipped laboratories.

The Department provides opportunities for close interactions among students and talented faculty.

Offering degree programs in Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry and Chemical Physics.

Chemistry students have access to numerous research opportunities, internships and world-class labs.

Thank you for your interest in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Nevada, Reno.

We are a teaching- and research-oriented department offering degrees in Chemistry (B.S., M.S., Ph.D.), and Chemical Physics (Ph.D., jointly with the Physics Department), including bachelors degree emphases certified by the American Chemical Society (the Professional Emphasis and the Environmental Emphasis). As a relatively small department, we are able to provide close interactions among students and faculty. Many of our undergraduates and all of our graduate students participate in state-of-the-art chemistry research, working with a faculty mentor. Our graduates go on to employment in academia, industry, and government; many of our Bachelors degree graduates are admitted to high-ranked graduate chemistry programs, medical, or dental schools.

The Department of Chemistry is pleased to announce thatDr. Samuel Odoh has recently joined our faculty as an Assistant Professor in Theoretical Chemistry. Samuel was most recently aPost-Doctoral Fellow in the group of Professor Laura Gagliardi at the University of Minnesota, where he was applying modern computational chemistry tools towards the design of novel and well-characterized supported molecular catalysts, porous materials for gas capture and storage, as well as for exploring novel reactivity in compounds of f-elements. He was also involved in developing computationally affordable and accurate methods for treating strong electron correlation in molecular systems. Samuel obtained a Ph.D. in Chemistry in 2012 at the University of Manitoba, Canada in the group of Professor Georg Schreckenbach. Prior to that he earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in Chemistry at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria and University of New Brunswick, Canada, respectively. His graduate research focused on the use of computational electronic structure methods to study the properties of actinide elements. At the University of Nevada, Samuel will develop and apply computational chemistry approaches to tackle challenging energy-related problems, and advance our understanding of strong electron correlation in solid-state materials as well as the optical properties of large systems.The Odoh group will focus on the: (1) extension of multi-reference quantum chemical methods to the treatment of solids and thin films, (2) development of efficient algorithms for extending time dependent density functional theory to the treatment of large systems, and (3) computations-guided design of catalysts for the oxygen evolution and CO2 reduction electrocatalytic reactions. Information concerning all of our faculty can be found here. Information about our exciting ongoing series of seminars is here.

For those students who are interested in graduate studies in chemistry or chemical physics please visit our graduate studies webpage and the webpage outlining the graduate school application process.

We are located in the Chemistry Building near the center of the University of Nevada, Reno campus. Our web site is designed to provide information for both current and prospective students about our programs and services. Please contact us if you have questions.

The Chemistry Department at Nevada is endowed with a full complement of support services, shops, and laboratories.

Chemistry leads to careers in medicine, industry and academia.

Our state-of-the-art laboratories for student use are fully staffed with support personnel.

Advanced Placement high school students are encouraged to earn credits on campus.

Advising, placement and support information for University Chemistry students.

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Department of Chemistry - University of Nevada, Reno

Forbes

The Super Bowl Ad With Bill Nye Got At Least Three Chemistry Details Wrong Forbes This is useful when, for example, you're trying to measure how much of a chemical is present in a mystery sample. But the thing is, Nye's flasks aren't filled correctly. There's a line on those flasks that is located partway up the neck. Chemistry ... and more »

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The Super Bowl Ad With Bill Nye Got At Least Three Chemistry Details Wrong - Forbes

Jeremy Grantham, co-founder and chief investment strategist of Grantham Mayo van Otterloo, speaks at the ReSource 2012 conference in Oxford, England.

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High-profile investor Jeremy Grantham warned in a letter that falling birth rates in the developed world could accelerate in coming years due to increasing chemical toxicity, allowing only wealthy people to have children.

In recent years, economists have raised concern about the impact on economic growth of slowing birth rates in the developed world. Grantham, who co-founded GMO in the 1970s and is famous for calling the last two major market bubbles, said that trend is poised to accelerate due to increased chemical toxicity in the environment and food products.

"This interference is growing at such a rapid rate that if left alone it is likely to leave us sterile in a few decades with only the rich able to easily afford the healthy lifestyles and the exotic medical help required to have babies," Grantham said.

While acknowledging that changes in lifestyle choices is responsible for at least some of the slowing birth rates, Graham said increased chemical toxicity is making it harder for women to conceive and lowering sperm counts in men.

"The net effect of choice and postponement combined with the recent decade of 'help' from toxicity has been an unexpected and accelerating decline in delivered fertility in developed countries, as well as the critically important China and India, with new annual cohorts of babies already declining in absolute numbers, not just growth rates," Grantham said.

He also pointed to dramatic population declines in some species of insects as an example of how increased chemicals in the environment can hurt reproduction rates.

He ended his letter by warning that major chemical companies could soon be hit by widespread bans on some of their key products.

"The bottom line is this: either endocrine disrupting chemicals will go out of business or we will!" Grantham wrote.

Grantham gained influence as an investor after correctly calling the dotcom bubble in 2000 and the market's dramatic downturn in 2008. GMO has struggled in recent years, however. It reported $62.1 billion in assets under management at the end of 2018, down from about $124 billion in June 2014.

Grantham has long expressed public concern about environmental issues, including launching the Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment in 1997. His firm also runs the GMO Climate Change fund.

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Jeremy Grantham warns eventually only the rich will procreate as chemicals leave the poor sterile - CNBC

Members of My Chemical Romance, The Darkness, Gogol Bordello and more have joined forces for a special charity cover of a Ramones song.

The cover of I Believe In Miracles by the freshly formed #rockforhope collective will raise funds for coronavirus relief efforts.

The group includes My Chemical Romances Frank Iero, The Darkness Justin Hawkins, Gogol Bordellos Boris Pelekh and Eugene Hutz, The Donnas Brett Anderson, Frank Turner, Plain White Ts Tom Higgenson and Rival Sons Michael Miley. The line-up is completed by Gorilla Biscuits Walter Schreifels, MuteMaths Roy Mitchell-Crdenas, and Flogging Mollys Nathen Maxwell. Watch a performance of the cover created in lockdown below.

On a GoFundMe page created to raise money for the Partners In Health organisation, the band shared a statement about the project. This is a very special punk-rock song and we hope that it brings positivity to peoples lives at this difficult time, they wrote. We are also raising funds for the Partners In Health COVID-19 charity. Our motto is simple: Watch our video. If you enjoy it, please donate. If youre not in the position to give, share it with someone that is.

In a press release, Pelekh added: Rock for Hope was inspired by my mom whos in her mid-sixties and a staff nurse at New York Presbyterian in Queens. Her hospital became a central hotspot of the pandemic in New York City and her unit was repurposed for COVID-19 patients.

The cover isnt the first charity effort to be created by stars during the coronavirus pandemic. Last month, the likes of Dua Lipa, Ellie Goulding, Coldplays Chris Martin, Bastille, Mabel and Dave Grohl joined together to cover Foo Fighters Times Like These to raise money for Comic Relief and Children In Need.

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Watch members of My Chemical Romance, The Darkness and more cover The Ramones - NME

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Department of Chemistry - Sam Houston State University

Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area and Joe Fann of NBC Sports Northwest got together this week to discuss the big NFC West showdown in Week 10.

The San Francisco 49ers (8-0) face the Seattle Seahawks (7-2) on Monday night at Levis Stadium in Santa Clara. F

ann has a unique perspective from both sides. He spent four years covering the 49ers for 49ers.com before moving on to his current role as the Seahawks Insider at the beginning of training camp. Maiocco has covered the 49ers for the past 25 seasons.

The two Insiders shared their views of this pivotal NFC West matchup.

MAIOCCO: Joe, the 49ers might be the only unbeaten team in the NFL and theyre atop almost everyones power rankings at the midpoint of the season, but they have very little room for error.

I think there is more pressure on the 49ers to win Monday night even though they own a two-game lead in the loss column. The 49ers have yet to play either of the teams that defeated Seattle. Kyle Shanahans club faces both of those teams, Baltimore and New Orleans, on the road in back-to-back weeks in early December.

Plus, its vitally important for teams to win home games within their division. That puts the pressure on the 49ers because the last thing they want is to face a must-win game Week 17 in Seattle.

That said, the Seahawks have to feel as if they are in danger of seeing their division hopes slip away with another loss, right?

FANN: If the Seahawks have any hope of winning the division, they have to win this game. But whats funny about it is that a win not only keeps them alive in the NFC West, but it puts them in the drivers seat.

Seattle is in a nice spot to where, at 7-2, this isnt a must-win game in sheer terms of making the playoffs. The Seahawks should have a good shot at a wild-card spot with a 3-4 record down the stretch. Pete Carroll loves to utilize the us against the world mentality. He already jabbed at the media for thinking the story is already written through eight games.

The Seahawks, as 6.5-point road underdogs, are somewhat playing with house money. Nobody expects them to win, which you can guarantee is being talked about within Seattles locker room. But they also probably watched last Thursdays game between the 49ers and Cardinals and said to themselves, These guys are beatable.

Do you think Arizona exposed a few deficiencies within San Franciscos roster or do you chalk that close game up to a short week and playing on a Thursday?

MAIOCCO: What Ive come to learn is that there is no such thing in the NFL as a bad win or a good loss. The Cardinals played the 49ers tough, no doubt. Arizona always has been a problem for the 49ers, for whatever reason. The 49ers' win on Thursday snapped an eight-game head-to-head losing streak against the Cards.

And even though the 49ers were not at all satisfied with their performance, they were thrilled with the victory. Coming off the field, it might have been the happiest Ive seen the team this season. Maybe they were just relieved to get out of there with a victory.

Richard Sherman did his best afterward to bring his teammates back down to earth. That was not championship football, he said. Sherman knows the 49ers cannot play as they did against Arizona and expect to beat his former team.

The biggest issue facing the 49ers this week is finding a way to compensate for the season-ending loss of linebacker Kwon Alexander, who was a spark plug for this team. One teammate even called him the heart and soul of the defense. The 49ers did not look the same after Alexander left the field with a season-ending pectoral injury. Rookie Dre Greenlaw steps into the lineup Monday to make his first start. I'm sure the Seahawks will find a way to test him repeatedly.

The Seahawks have won six games by seven or fewer points, including an overtime victory at home against Tampa Bay on Sunday. Whats going on there?

FANN: Winning close has kind of become a ritual up in Seattle, much to the chagrin of its fans. The Seahawks only have one comfortable win all season (Week 4 vs. Arizona). Theyre notorious for making games closer than they should, especially against inferior opponents.

And yet, somehow they always seem to find a way. This season its been Russell Wilson who has carried the team. Hes got 25 total touchdowns (22 passing, three rushing) to just one interception. Wilsons QBR (78.5) and quarterback rating (118.2) are both tops in the NFL, and hes the current betting favorite to win MVP.

The defense is to blame for most of Seattles struggles, and its why many fans feel uneasy about the team. Seattle ranks 22nd in points allowed, 25th in yards allowed, 24th in net passing yards allowed per attempt and 23rd in rushing yards allowed per attempt. Just two weeks ago, Matt Schaub carved up the Seahawks for 460 passing yards, and things werent any better against the Buccaneers on Sunday.

Seattles biggest issue is the pass rush has been non-existent. The Seahawks havent been able to get pressure without blitzing. The defensive line has only nine collective sacks through nine games, and linebacker Mychal Kendricks leads the team with three.

But while the Seahawks always seem to play down to inferior opponents, they also almost always find ways to keep games close against the NFLs elite. Much of that, again, is due to Wilsons magic.

Im curious to see how each team approaches this game. Its the biggest contest for the 49ers in five years, and its a clear opportunity for Seattle to take the reins back in the division it mostly dominated from 2013-16. Do you think theres a chance this game reignites what used to be one of, if not the best rivalry in the NFL?

MAIOCCO: I doubt the head-to-head series ever reaches the heights it did during the era you reference because of the men in charge.

Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh loved to compete against each other. Or, actually, maybe they hated it. Im not sure. I know that there was always added juice to Seahawks-49ers games because of the history those men had, beginning when they were at USC and Stanford, respectively.

Everything seemed a lot more personal in those days. Now, it seems as if its more personal for the fan bases of the two teams. The 49ers are becoming relevant again to the point where I think we can actually return to calling this a rivalry.

The biggest storyline now, as it was a year ago, is Richard Sherman. Fans of the 49ers had a bitter dislike (is hate too strong of a word?) for Sherman. Now, he is playing at a high level for the 49ers and firmly established as a team leader for a team on the rise.

How is he regarded in Seattle?

FANN: This game has all of the makings records, primetime stage, etc. to reestablish the rivalry, especially among the fan bases. But I think this game will have to be a classic in order to truly do so.

As for Sherman, Seahawks fans are split. Theres a large contingent that appreciates what Sherman meant to the best stretch in franchise history. He brought the swagger to the Legion of Boom and helped turn the Seahawks into a villain, something rarely (if ever) said about a Seattle sports team. That group also understands that it was Sherman who was pushed out of Seattle, not the other way around.

Others, while still acknowledging his importance in franchise history, resent him for his bashing of the organization and Russell Wilson, in particular. Seth Wickershams hit piece on ESPN still strikes a nerve. So does Shermans quote in 2018 about Wilson saying, Ive seen him throw five interceptions in a game, too. Many viewed that as an unnecessary potshot, which, in fairness, it probably was.

Harbaugh is gone, but I think Sherman is polarizing and outspoken enough to stoke the flames of the rivalry. Quick tangent, its still wild to me that Sherman, the man who once ate Thanksgiving dinner on the 50-yard line at Levis Stadium, is now a central figure in the championship-caliber team San Francisco has built.

Anyway, you mentioned the 49ers have little ro
om for error, and yet, theyre massive favorites in this game. What is something within this matchup that might make 49ers fans nervous and give some optimism to Seahawks fans?

MAIOCCO: Ill give you a couple aspects of this game that could enable Seattle to leave the Bay Area with a victory.

1. The 49ers must compensate for the loss of Alexander. Its going to take the 49ers a period of time to make the adjustment to the rookie linebacker who takes his place.

2. The 49ers have moved to a wide-nine defensive alignment, which creates bigger run lanes between the tackles. Opponents average 4.7 yards per attempt against the 49ers. Chris Carson could have a big day.

3. Their most dynamic offensive weapon, tight end George Kittle, is banged up with a knee issue. I expect him to play, but he might not be moving as well as normal.

4. The 49ers expect to get three offensive starters back from long absences due to injuries: fullback Kyle Juszczyk (knee), left tackle Joe Staley (fractured leg) and right tackle Mike McGlinchey (knee). While that might sound like a boost to the 49ers, it could take those players a while to work back into game form.

5. Then, of course, theres the Wilson factor. As well as Jimmy Garoppolo is playing, Wilson is on a different level. Wilson has the uncanny ability to make things happen when the situation is breaking down around him. He always gives the Seahawks a chance to win. And if Carson is providing a threat on the ground, that will make Wilson even more dangerous.

Lets end it with this, Joe ... you know both of these teams very well. What has surprised you about these teams entering Week 10? And how you expect them to approach one another?

[RELATED: Should 49ers trade for OBJ if Browns move on?]

FANN: I cant say Im surprised by the 49ers. I remember being on your podcast back in July and saying I was bullish on their chances this season. Now, I didnt expect an 8-0 start, but that roster is loaded from top to bottom.

If there is a surprise, its how well Emmanuel Moseley, Daniel Brunskill and Justin Skule have played in place of Ahkello Witherspoon, Mike McGlinchey and Joe Staley, respectively. The overall health of the secondary must also be a welcome change of pace for 49ers fans as well.

As for the Seahawks, Im surprised at just how feeble the pass rush has been. Ziggy Ansah hasnt been a factor and teams are doubling Jadeveon Clowney without consequence.

I expect Seattle to lean on Chris Carson. I dont anticipate Seattle dropping Wilson back 40 times against San Franciscos vaunted pass rush (unless the game script calls for otherwise, obviously).

The Seahawks will also aim to limit the 49ers rushing attack and hope for a poor decision or two from Jimmy Garoppolo. If Garoppolo is as sharp as he was against Arizona, the Seahawks may not stand a chance.

I ultimately think it will take a perfect performance from Seattle in order to win. Wilson has to continue to play at an MVP level, and the Seahawks must win the turnover battle. Selfishly, I hope this is one that goes down to the wire and is a classic that sets the table for an equally important game in Week 17.

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49ers riding easy connection between Garoppolo, Sanders - NBCSports.com

An analysis of emissions data from two carbon capture facilities suggests that the technologies reduce carbon dioxide emissions less than previously assumed by climate models, and overall are less effective than replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy.1

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has assumed a large role in potential strategies to limit global warming and mitigate the effects of climate change. Such technology removes carbon dioxide from power plant flue gas, or directly from the air, using a variety of separation methods including physical adsorption and separation using synthetic membranes. The captured carbon dioxide can then be stored in a variety of ways. It can be sequestered; pumped deep underground into geological formations where it is unlikely to re-enter the atmosphere, stored in a material or sold for industrial use.

Previous models predicted that even with an energy penalty for running capture equipment, removing up to 8090% of carbon dioxide emissions in a plant operating CCS was possible, relative to one without. However, Mark Jacobson at Stanford University in the US is sceptical. By analysing emissions data from both a coal power plant with retrofitted carbon capture and use (CCU) equipment, and a synthetic direct air carbon capture and use (SDACCU) plant, Jacobson found that previously assumed efficiencies of carbon dioxide capture have been overstated. Part of it is that data was not available. Before that data was available and before these plants had been built, people were just speaking theoretically.

Jacobson set out to provide a holistic view of the process. This involved accounting for upstream emissions associated with mining and transporting fossil fuels to a power plant, and the energy used by gas turbines to power the capture equipment. The study also considered the social cost of the technology, which Jacobson defines as the sum of the energy, health and climate costs incurred by its use factors that he says other studies have overlooked.

For the coal-CCU plant, Jacobson found net carbon dioxide removal values to be strikingly different to earlier predictions. I looked over a 20-year and 100-year timeframe of all the carbon dioxide emitted, which includes the upstream and combustion emissions, only 1011% was captured over a 20-year timeframe. Over a 100-year timeframe its between 2030%. Net carbon dioxide removal values do increase in alternative scenarios: using renewables to power the capture equipment, and replacing fossil-based energy generation entirely with renewable sources.

Jacobson says the latter is the best strategy not just for reducing carbon dioxide emissions, but also for minimising social costs. The most unhealthy components of air pollution, such as pollutants that form ozone those are increased because you have a new source of pollution from the natural gas [powering the CCU equipment] none of that is captured, he says. When you add it all together you have a huge increase in social cost, because the equipment is so expensive and the health costs are so high, and the climate cost is only slightly reduced.

Similarly for the SDACCU plant, which removes carbon dioxide directly from the air using gas-powered capture, Jacobson concludes that whilst some carbon dioxide is removed, the near doubling of the social cost per MWh of electricity makes it less efficient than replacing coal electricity with renewables. This, he argues, is down to the increased equipment cost and air pollution from mining drawbacks that renewables would eliminate. Using wind to replace coal was about one tenth the social cost of using natural gas to run the direct air capture (DAC) equipment. So its an enormous difference theres no reason in the world that anybody should try to pull carbon out of the air as opposed to using the same money to spend on renewable energy.

In contrast, Wim Turkenburg, an emeritus professor of science, technology and society at Utrecht University who has worked as part of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, is positive about the prospects for using carbon capture. When evaluating the performance of CCS and DAC technologies, the study refers to the present status of the technology, he comments. However, the performance of CCS and DAC can improve tremendously as a function of time, caused by technological learning.

Paul Fennell, a clean energy researcher at Imperial College London, UK, echoes Turkenburgs thoughts. The work appears to be based on the first few months that the CCS plant was open, and it is unlikely that this will be representative of a fully operational plant that has been operating past its start-up period.

Specifically, Turkenburg cites research from 2017 attempting to develop cleaner and highly efficient fossil fuel plants as an example of where CCS technology could be implemented in the future.2 That study explores how to develop a fossil fuel power plant with no (direct) carbon dioxide emissions, a high conversion efficiency and low projected capital, operation and maintenance costs.

However, Jacobson argues that this is still not an optimal solution when compared to a complete uptake of renewables. All such proposals require additional energy and cost, which must come from somewhere.

More here:
Study questions benefits of spending on carbon capture - Chemistry World

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Indians notebook: Terry Francona believes in the chemistry of current team - Akron Beacon Journal

ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up for ProPublicas Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox as soon as they are published.

The data for our story and corresponding graphic comes from several sources. We provide details on each below.

The bulk of the analysis relies on data from the Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators (RSEI) model, which was developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Manufacturing facilities with 10 or more employees in particular industries, which are in possession of chemical quantities above specific thresholds, are required to disclose information on their toxic emissions to the Toxics Release Inventory, a program administered by the EPA. The EPA releases this information online each year as required by the 1986 Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. RSEI translates the TRI data, which is reported by weight, into values that reflect the relative risk to human health. These indicators allow regulators, companies and communities to assess risks and take action relative to a specific facility or waste stream.

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Our analysis uses RSEI data from 2017, the most recent year available. To understand the estimated impacts of industrial activity in neighborhoods near facilities, we looked at data at the most granular unit available 810-by-810-meter grid cells. By isolating chemical concentrations from individual facilities, we were able to identify the entities that pose the greatest potential health risks to communities along the lower Mississippi River.

In our interactive map, we visualized the estimated concentrations of cancer-causing chemicals generated from large industrial facilities. In order to compare those concentrations, we weighted them by a measure called the inhalation unit risk (IUR). A chemicals IUR is an estimate of the increased cancer risk an individual incurs if, over the course of their lifetime, they are continually exposed to the chemical at a concentration of 1 microgram per cubic meter of air. IUR values are published in the EPAs Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS). We refer to IUR-adjusted values throughout our article and graphic as toxic levels of cancer-causing chemicals. These values do not reflect non-cancer related toxicity.

Our tool lets readers see how cancer-weighted concentrations in their area compare with everywhere else in the following seven parishes on the lower Mississippi River: St. John, St. James, Ascension, Iberville, St. Charles, East Baton Rouge and West Baton Rouge. Our map uses a range of cancer risk similar to that of the EPAs National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA), which we describe in more detail in a later section. On the lower end of our scale is a cancer risk of 1 in 100,000. That is, if 100,000 people are exposed to the same concentration of a pollutant continuously over a presumed lifespan of 70 years, one person would likely contract cancer from the exposure. The high end of our scale is 1 in 1,000. In the cases where we show cancer-weighted toxicity for individual chemicals and facilities, we scale the map between 1 in 1 million and 1 in 1,000. Although we scale our map by cancer risk, the values we show do not convey absolute risk to individuals residing in these areas. We are illustrating toxic levels of cancer-causing chemicals, as modeled by RSEI. On the advice of experts in this field, our tool does not publish risks at the grid cell level. The EPA says RSEI does not perform a risk assessment, but is rather a screening-level tool to help identify situations of potential concern.

The text version of our story also uses RSEI data to analyze Louisianas improvements in toxic emissions over time, compared with the rest of the country. For that analysis, we used historical RSEI data, aggregated at the level of census block groups (data for 810-by-810-meter blocks is unavailable for years prior to 2015 in the most recent version of RSEI). The historical analysis included all chemicals, not just carcinogenic ones. We analyzed facility-level aggregated RSEI data from 1988 to 2017, every year that it was available.

In addition to determining the locations of greatest concern, ProPublica hired RSEI expert Michael Petroni to estimate increases in toxic levels of cancer-causing chemicals from new industrial plants and plant expansions that have either received approval or are currently pending approval from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). He modeled data for new industrial projects using the RSEI methodology. The data sources for that analysis are detailed in the following two sections.

For our investigation, we needed to determine where chemical companies are planning to build new and expanded plants along the lower Mississippi River. We filed several public records requests with the DEQ to obtain permit files of industrial projects that are pending approval or have already been approved by the agency.

We asked for all approved and pending air permits dating back to Jan. 1, 2015, in the seven parishes listed above.

Once we received the permit files, we excluded any projects that are not expansions or new facilities (many of the files we received were modifications of existing permits). Additionally, we only included projects that the EPA deems to be major sources of toxic air pollution. Such projects are required by federal law to receive Title V air permits before they can begin operating. A column in the data specifies each projects permit type. We filtered for initial Title V air permits, excluding other types of projects.

Once we had a list of approved and pending major-source industrial projects between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, we had to determine each projects proposed emissions. Inputs to the RSEI model include chemical name, pounds of the chemical released and other information specific to the source of the release, such as stack height and exit velocity. Stack height refers to the height at which pollutants are released to the air, through pipes, vents or other enclosed air streams. Exit velocity measures the speed at which pollutants escape into the air.

For industrial projects that have already received approval to begin operating, we pulled information on their allowable chemical releases from the Emissions Reporting and Inventory Center (ERIC), an online database administered by the DEQ. We also looked at proposed emissions information from Formosas two pending facilities in the DEQs Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) because its St. James complex is one of the largest and most expensive industrial projects in the states history, and the company was recently sued for polluting waterways in neighboring Texas. Formosa has said that the conditions of the settlement it reached with the state demonstrate its commitment to manufacturing its products in a safe and environmentally friendly manner.

The National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) is a screening tool administered by the EPA to help state and local agencies identify pollutants, emission sources and locations of potential risks to public health. Unlike RSEI, which publishes relative toxicity information, NATA assigns estimated cancer risk scores to census tracts across the country. While our analysis did not use NATA data, we checked our results against it to ensure our results matched the locations NATA flagged for high cancer risk.

Spatial data in our interactive map came from several sources. Louisiana keeps a shapefile of parish boundaries on its website. The shapefile with 810-by-810-meter grid cells is downloadable from the U.S. EPAs RSEI site. The shapes of land parcels in St. James Parish owned by industrial companies were provided by Justin Kray, a data analyst with the Louisiana Bucket Brigade. Kray pulled information on existing industry in St. James from the Parish Assessors Office and 2017 aerial photography from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Data on recent sales and transfers came from the St.
James Parish Clerk of Court.

Our graphic includes information on demographics in St. James Parish. These estimates were taken from the U.S. Census Bureaus 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.

Michael Petroni is a Ph.D. candidate and fellow of the Center for Environmental Medicine and Informatics at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

Do you live in one of these affected parishes? Share your story with us. ProPublica and The Times-Picayune and The Advocate are investigating the massive chemical plants in the industrial stretch between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, and hearing from you will help us tell more stories.

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How We Found New Chemical Plants Are Being Built in South Louisianas Most Polluted Areas - ProPublica

Oct 30, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks (10) runs past Seattle Seahawks defensive end Cassius Marsh (91) during the fourth quarter of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints defeated the Seahawks 25-20. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

New England Patriots: Team earns B- re-grade from SI for 2014 NFL Draft by Matty Simo

New England Patriots 2016 Player Grade: Dion Lewis by Nick Ziegler

After winning the Super Bowl just a few months ago, the New England Patriots will be back on the field soon to attempt to repeat as champions.

This offseason has been a fairly good one for New England. Despite having a lot of key free agents on the defensive side of the ball, the Patriots used trades and free agency to help them create a solid roster.

Even though the Patriots had one of the best offenses in the NFL last season, the unit could be even better in 2017. One of the shocking moves for the Patriots this offseason was the trade that acquired Brandin Cooks.

After shipping their first round pick in a package to acquire Cooks, the Patriots will be getting a dynamic wide receiver. Cooks has been extremely good for the New Orleans Saints the past three seasons. On one of the best offenses in the league, Cooks had excellent chemistry with another great quarterback in Drew Brees.

With voluntary OTAs starting on Monday, seeing how Cooks and Brady develop chemistry will be one of the early storylines to watch according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com.

The Patriots are loaded at wide receiver with the addition of speedy Brandin Cooks, who joins an already solid depth chart of Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan, Malcolm Mitchell and Danny Amendola. When watching an OTA, it is commonplace to hear quarterback Tom Brady talking to his pass-catchers about how precise he likes routes to be run as the work begins to develop a foundation to take into training camp. Cooks, in particular, will be one to watch.

The OTAs wont be open to the media until Thursday. However, the team will be able to get in some good work this week in their drills. With no pads, it will certainly be fun to watch players like Cooks go up against Malcolm Butler and Stephon Gilmore in practice.

As one of the most talented wide receivers Brady has ever played with, building chemistry with Cooks will be important. However, he should be able to make it a priority in the offseason to get used to throwing to his new weapon.

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New England Patriots: Building chemistry is an OTA storyline to watch - Musket Fire

Gene therapy and a range of biological research rely on the efficient delivery of nucleic acids into cells through the process known as transfection. Most widely-used transfection approaches for mammalian cells rely on electrostatic forces, usually taking advantage of cationic reagents to bind to negatively-charged nucleic acids and form strong ionic complexes. Cells then grab these complexes and internalize them through a process called endocytosis. However, the concentration of positive charge in the reagents can kill cells, and some cellssuch as embryonic cells, neurons, or cells directly isolated from tissuedont incorporate the nucleic acids successfully.

Now researchers report a novel transfection technique, SnapFect, that relies on bio-orthogonal moleculesa class of chemically-reactive molecules that dont interfere with biological systems (ACS Cent. Sci. 2017, DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.7b00132). The team designed nanoparticle liposomes carrying a bio-orthogonal ligand. When they add those fatty particles to cell culture, they fuse into the cell membrane within seconds, leaving the ketone ligand exposed on the surface. The team then packages the nucleic acids to be delivered in complementary lipid complexes decorated with oxyamines. When the oxyamine particles are added to the cells, these functional groups react quickly with the cell surface ketones. The membrane-bound nucleic-acid complex is then pulled into the cell via endocytosis, and the nucleic acid can be expressed. Its not based on electrostatics but on click chemistry, says Muhammad N. Yousaf, a chemical biologist at York University. Thats why basically every cell is transfected with the nucleic acid.

Commercial transfection reagents already bring in about $1.5 billion per year. Yousafs team compared SnapFect to two widely-used kits: Lipofectamine (Life Technologies) and ViaFect (Promega). SnapFect transfected cells with a 68% overall efficiency while the other two transfected 19% and 29%, respectively.

Yousaf launched a company called OrganoLinX that this month began selling SnapFect ($350 for 20-25 transfections). We focused on making [the kit] just as easy to use as other commercial products out there, he says.

Besides improving efficiency, researchers could also pre-treat one batch of cells to decorate them with ketones and then mix them with other cell types before adding nucleic acids. Just the pre-treated ones will be transfected, Yousaf explains. Its like precision transfection. Because the team can create a variety of complexes using the oxyamine particles, the technique can also deliver other molecules such as proteins into cells.

I think its an interesting step forward, says James H. Eberwine, a molecular neurobiologist at the University of Pennsylvaniaparticularly the techniques universal applicability to DNA, RNA, and proteins, as well as the specificity conferred by the click chemistry approach.

Eberwine adds that while the study compares SnapFect to two widely-used techniques, researchers often optimize those techniques for their particular applications and achieve much higher efficiencies than those noted in this study. I would certainly try it, he says, and if it really does have the higher efficiency then I could see value in doing this.

Currently cell surface modification with ketones must occur shortly before addition of the oxyamine-bundled cargo. But SnapFect would be especially powerful if the ketone modification was more permanent, Eberwine says. That way, researchers could pre-engineer the surface of immature cells, then allow those cells to develop, migrate, and find their place in the local microenvironment of an experimental system before they get transfected. This would be a real boon, he says.

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Genetic engineering through click chemistry - The Biological SCENE

DECATUR Honeybees are smarter than people may realize.

They can do a dance to tell the others where they've found pollen. When the hive gets too populated, the queen takes a group and leaves to start a new colony, and the ones left behind know when their queen is gone and get busy choosing an egg to create into a new queen.

They also know when a person is afraid of them.

Chase Brown of Brown and Brown Farms in Warrensburg was the guest speaker at Millikin University's chemistry camp for high school students on Tuesday. The camp is a collaboration with the University of Illinois Extension and Richland Community College. It offers high school students hands-on research, lunches with food industry entrepreneurs like Brown, preparation for scholarship-ready science projects and a demonstration dinner to wind up the camp experience.

Brown has been a beekeeper, in addition to his other farm endeavors, for a few years.

MacArthur High School student Brian Spicer performs an experiment during the Millikin University High School Chemistry Camp at the Leighty-Tabor Science Center Tuesday.

I have an Amish friend who's had bees for years, Brown told the students. He said when he goes to the hive after a long day, when he's tired and stressed, he always gets stung. If he goes on a Saturday morning, with a cup of coffee, when he's relaxed, they never sting him.

Brown likes catching wild swarms of bees for his hives because they're already in search of a new hive and already acclimated to Illinois winters, he said. A swarm of bees on a table or tree is most likely a group with their queen looking for new quarters. Before they left the old hive, they gorged on honey, so they'll be mellow and unlikely to sting.

Do you want to get in a fight right after Thanksgiving dinner? Brown asked the students, who laughed at the idea.

Honeybees are endangered, and while scientists are studying the problem, the reasons are still not clear what is killing them off. Brown said he urges people not to spray or kill a swarm, but to call someone like him to come to get them.

We want to know what's killing them so we can stop doing it, he said.

Farming is not what it once was, he told the students, not even for a family farm like his. His grandfather farmed that land before him, and he farms it with his father now, but farming has become big business.

A tractors costs $600,000, and the plow attachment costs $80,000, he said. A bag of seed corn, which will plant 2 acres, is $200. The amount of money the Browns have to borrow to get the crop in is astronomical, he said, and if the weather or markets don't cooperate, it can create a real financial bind.

Times have been good in recent years, with a profit remaining after harvest, but one effect of that is a surplus crop, which means that there's less demand, and prices fall.

The Brown farm is diversified, with cattle and rabbits raised for market, alfalfa to feed their own animals and to sell, corn and soybeans as other Illinois farms have, wheat, hogs, the bees and chickens. Their animals are not given antibiotics unless they're sick and not sold to market until the antibiotics have left their systems, and their food is non-GMO, even though GMOs would make things simpler for them, because consumers prefer it.

Farmers do a little bit of everything, Brown said: He's an agronomist, a botanist, a chemist, though his degree from Illinois State University is in animal nutrition.

Meeting Brown was a lesson in practical application of chemistry and science in general, and students at the camp are also learning some food science, said Garrett Trimble, 17, who is home-schooled. One of the things they are working on is taffy.

We're seeing the effect of the different type of butter on the finished product, Trimble said. With unsalted butter, it takes much less time to cook it because the boiling point is different. He plans to major in chemistry in college but hasn't yet decided what career path to pursue.

Hannah Flickinger, 16, who is also home-schooled, has not yet taken a chemistry course, but it's an interest of hers and she thought the camp would be a good chance to work in a lab and get a head start.

It's a new thing I wanted to try because I'm taking dual-credit classes at Richland (Community College), so I'm taking chemistry next year, and I thought it would be a fun start for that, she said. Anesthesiology is what I'm interested in for a job right now, and there's a lot of chemistry in that.

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Chemistry camp bonds over food science - Herald & Review

VOL. 132 | NO. 50 | Friday, March 10, 2017

Players and coach David Fizdale have had some, well, interesting things to say in the wake of that dreadful 122-109 loss to the NBA-worst Brooklyn Nets. But this isnt about one game, one lineup change or even one quote from Fizdale that at times has been taken out of context.

Grizzlies coach David Fizdale was more than a little frustrated with a recent loss to the lowly Brooklyn Nets. This is our lowest point, he said.

(AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

Yes, Fizdale said during a recent media scrum that he couldnt settle for mediocre play (good), he would continue to experiment with lineups (understandable) until I find something that works best and gives us the best chance at holding the trophy. And if people dont like it, they can kiss my (butt).

Understand, though, that Fizdale was not spitting fire when he said that. He was his usual measured self. If its possible to sound like a statesman while inviting all who disagree to kiss your backside, Fizdale did it. Theres a lesson in that for somebody with an overactive Twitter account, but we digress.

The truth is, the Grizzlies have been playing hide-and-seek with their consistency and their chemistry since Jan. 1. A couple of hours before the Nets game, Fizdale spoke of the teams .500 malaise. A couple of hours later, the Grizzlies were exactly 14-14 since Jan. 1 and when asked about the mood of the team the coach admitted, This is our lowest point.

But naturally it was Fizdales kiss my (butt) comment two days later that has gotten all the run. Fizdale had juggled the lineup for the Nets game, pulling out forward JaMychal Green and guard Tony Allen in favor of Brandan Wright and, ahem, rookie Andrew Harrison. The Harrison move garnered five points, one assist and two turnovers in 22 D-League-quality minutes.

No one could take issue with Fizdale wanting to shake things up a bit, but all of Memphis from inside the Grizzlies locker room to the man on the street reacted to his choice of moves with a collective SMH (Shaking My Head). It wasnt just who came into the starting lineup, it was that Chandler Parsons didnt come out of it. And that Zach Randolph, who has excelled playing off the bench (credit to Fizz on that one) only saw the floor for 16 minutes.

We dont have that much time to get ready for the playoffs, center and team captain Marc Gasol said. Its now that there has to be one goal, and thats whats best for the team not whats best for one guy or another guy.

Hmm, can read a bit into that cant you?

To be fair, Gasol wasnt necessarily speaking of Parsons or only about Parsons. There are plenty of concerns. Its just that the teams insistence on starting Parsons when his knees clearly arent healthy enough for him to approach the offensive production that netted him his four-year $94 million contract becomes a bigger albatross all the time.

Gasol often speaks of the teams need to be connected on defense (more on that in a moment), but they have not been particularly connected on offense. Common is the possession where Parsons has space on the wing and Gasol, who is a good passer, chooses to take the ball elsewhere. Rudy Gay was often accused of being a ball-stopper here (and he often was), but Parsons presence was supposed to make the ball move more, to give everyone more space to operate because his 3-point shooting was something to be feared.

Count on this: Right now, no opponent is scared they are going to be hurt by Chandler Parsons.

Perhaps the FedExForum visit from the hated Los Angeles Clippers, who were to be here on Thursday, March 9, will have proved to be some sort of elixir. But for more than two months, the Grizzlies have not sustained good play.

The Nets game wasnt just a blip and an embarrassment, though it was that, too. It was the model of how teams will continue to come at the Grizzlies.

Its drive Memphis, run them and drive them, Fizdale said. We couldnt guard them off the dribble. Thats really our biggest Achilles heel right now: handling speed off the dribble, getting back on defense, being quicker to the ball.

All of that was Fizdale at his diplomatic best, but basically saying what Dave Joerger said all too plainly: Compared to the rest of the NBA, the Grizzlies can look old and slow.

That said, effort is also part of the equation.

On the ball (defense), we gotta take more pride one-on-one, point guard Mike Conley said. Were relying on too many guys to help.

The Grizzlies are in the midst of a four-game homestand that continues with the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday, March 11, and the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, March 13. After that, six of their next seven games are on the road and this includes consecutive games at San Antonio and Golden State. And that lone home game? Also against the Spurs.

There is no good time to be struggling, but this late with playoff seeding on the line is especially bad timing.

Were hitting adversity, said Fizdale. We dont get to choose when that happens.

They do get to choose how they react to it.

We have a lot of guys here that have been through a lot, Gasol said. And I trust every single one of them that theyre going to do the right thing.

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Late in the Season, Grizzlies Still Seeking Consistency, Chemistry - Memphis Daily News

The Hindu

Nobel Laureate George Olah dies The Hindu George A. Olah, whose work won a Nobel Prize in chemistry and paved the way for more effective oil refining and ways of producing less polluting forms of gasoline, has died at age 89. Olah died Wednesday at his Beverly Hills home, according to the ... and more »

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Nobel Laureate George Olah dies - The Hindu

By Janie McCauley / The Associated Press

OAKLAND, Calif. Zaza Pachulia holds his own during competitive games of poker on the airplane alongside Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson they call it the "Good Guys Table." Andre Iguodala and JaVale McGee, one-time teammates with Denver reunited in Oakland, hold secret chats.

"We're building an empire," Iguodala joked. "We've got secret stuff we can't talk about."

Jonnie West son of Hall of Famer and Warriors executive Jerry West joins Curry, Pachulia and Thompson for their card games.

"It depends how Klay feels. If he's tired, then no card game," Pachulia said.

With all that was made before the season about adding Kevin Durant to an already star-studded roster, Golden State's players have jelled just fine. The Warriors are gearing up for what they hope is another championship run, and chemistry sure isn't holding them back.

Two-time reigning MVP Curry and KD love to watch each other accomplish amazing things on the floor, along with Draymond Green and Thompson and all of the others who contribute off the bench.

Curry initially allowed Durant to find his groove, then began to assert himself more and increase his shots. Experience playing together is the biggest factor to keep building team bonds, if you ask Iguodala.

"Weathering storms builds chemistry and adversity builds chemistry," he said. "The season's long and you want to have all types of ups and downs. And that's where you build it the most, and off the court, plane rides. I think when you play with teammates seven, eight years, you're still building throughout that time. You continue to learn about each other. You've just got to understand that that's part of the process and you've got to want to learn from one another."

The Warriors are counting on every advantage they can gain, on and off the court. During flights, team dinners, anywhere.

After a heartbreaking Game 7 to end last season's NBA Finals, Golden State's players want nothing short of a championship. Many of them got a taste winning the title two years ago for the franchise's first in 40 years.

Steve Kerr, the reigning NBA Coach of the Year, gets a kick out of watching his teams come together each year.

"It's one of my favorite parts of coaching honestly, is seeing how a team comes together, seeing the relationships develop, seeing guys laughing together, seeing who hangs out with who," Kerr said. "It's great. This team has a really, really good chemistry that developed really quickly. Obviously, we had the core group intact from last year. We lost some key guys, too. The additions have been great. The chemistry is really good."

Pachulia took it upon himself to be a part of that. With constant attention on the Warriors, he knows the importance of sticking together through all of the many challenges that come in an 82-game season and those things prepare a group for the postseason.

"You wish for the chemistry to come right away because you're kind of feeling pressure, a lot of talk's going on from outside," Pachulia said. "The reality is it's a process. It takes some days, it takes some games. It takes some bumps as well for the team to get on the same page and get the chemistry right. You've got to go through the process. I just don't see it the other way. We couldn't wait for these 40 or 50 games to pass and see where we were going to be. I feel really confident where we are right now, with everything we had throughout this 50 games, even the losses we had unexpected. It made us better, it made us stronger. You can appreciate it, honestly. We care about each other. We're on the same page. Keep going. We're not going to stop."

For Iguodala and McGee, the "chatter" stays between them.

"I have a lot of really in-depth conversations with JaVale McGee," Iguodala said, "about life."

Excerpt from:
Power of science: Warriors thrive with chemistry experiment - Daily Commercial

(for more about Power Words, clickhere)

activation energy (in chemistry) The minimum energy needed for a particular chemical reaction to take place.

atomThe basic unit of a chemical element. Atoms are made up of a dense nucleus that contains positively charged protons and neutrally charged neutrons. The nucleus is orbited by a cloud of negatively charged electrons.

bond(in chemistry) A semi-permanent attachment between atoms or groups of atoms in a molecule. Its formed by an attractive force between the participating atoms. Once bonded, the atoms will work as a unit. To separate the component atoms, energy must be supplied to the molecule as heat or some other type of radiation.

carbonThe chemical element having the atomic number 6. It is the physical basis of all life on Earth. Carbon exists freely as graphite and diamond. It is an important part of coal, limestone and petroleum, and is capable of self-bonding, chemically, to form an enormous number of chemically, biologically and commercially important molecules.

catalyst A substance that helps a chemical reaction to proceed faster. Examples include enzymes and elements such as platinum and iridium.

catalytic converter A device made of honeycomb-shaped ceramic structures that is put onto the tailpipe of a vehicle. As exhaust gases flow through it, they encounter two different types of catalysts, each able to foster a different type of chemical reaction. One or more metals, usually platinum, rhodium, palladium and sometimes even gold coat the inside of the system. All of the walls of the devices honeycomb structure increase greatly the area of catalyst-covered surfaces now available to react with the exhaust. As the gases from the engine hit these metal coated surfaces, they break apart the pollutants, turning them into less harmful materials. A sensor in the converter also measures how much oxygen is in the exhaust. If it finds too much, it tells a computer to adjust the air-to-fuel ratio in the engine so that it will burn more cleanly.

chemicalA substance formed from two or more atoms that unite (become bonded together) in a fixed proportion and structure. For example, water is a chemical made of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom. Its chemical symbol is H2O. Chemical can also be an adjective that describes properties of materials that are the result of various reactions between different compounds.

chemical bondsAttractive forces between atoms that are strong enough to make the linked elements function as a single unit. Some of the attractive forces are weak, some are very strong. All bonds appear to link atoms through a sharing of or an attempt to share electrons.

chemical reactionA process that involves the rearrangement of the molecules or structure of a substance, as opposed to a change in physical form (as from a solid to a gas).

electricityA flow of charge, usually from the movement of negatively charged particles, called electrons.

engineA machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Sometimes an engine is called a motor.

enzymesMolecules made by living things to speed up chemical reactions.

exhaust(in engineering) The gases and fine particles emitted often at high speed and/or pressure by combustion (burning) or by the heating of air. Exhaust gases are usually a form of waste.

fuel cellA device that converts chemical energy into electrical energy. The most common fuel is hydrogen, which emits only water vapor as a byproduct.

geneticHaving to do with chromosomes, DNA and the genes contained within DNA. The field of science dealing with these biological instructions is known as genetics. People who work in this field are geneticists.

hydrogenThe lightest element in the universe. As a gas, it is colorless, odorless and highly flammable. Its an integral part of many fuels, fats and chemicals that make up living tissues.

iridiumDiscovered in 1803, its name comes from the Latin for rainbow. Its a hard, brittle and corrosion-resistant metal in the platinum family. Slightly yellowish, the principle use for this element is as a hardener for platinum. Indeed, its melting point is more than 2,400 Celsius (4,350 Fahrenheit). The elements atomic number is 77.

manufacturingThe making of things, usually on a large scale.

metalSomething that conducts electricity well, tends to be shiny (reflective) and malleable (meaning it can be reshaped with heat and not too much force or pressure).

moleculeAn electrically neutral group of atoms that represents the smallest possible amount of a chemical compound. Molecules can be made of single types of atoms or of different types. For example, the oxygen in the air is made of two oxygen atoms (O2), but water is made of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom (H2O).

nutrientA vitamin, mineral, fat, carbohydrate or protein that a plant, animal or other organism requires as part of its food in order to survive.

oxygenA gas that makes up about 21 percent of the atmosphere. All animals and many microorganisms need oxygen to fuel their metabolism.

palladiumA soft, ductile, steel-white, tarnish-resistant, metallic element occurring naturally with platinum, especially in gold, nickel, and copper ores.

petroleumA thick flammable liquid mixture of hydrocarbons. Petroleum is a fossil fuel mainly found beneath the Earths surface. It is the source of the chemicals used to make gasoline, lubricating oils, plastics and many other products.

plasticAny of a series of materials that are easily deformable; or synthetic materials that have been made from polymers (long strings of some building-block molecule) that tend to be lightweight, inexpensive and resistant to degradation.

platinumA naturally occurring silver-white metallic element that remains stable (does not corrode) in air. It is used in jewelry, electronics, chemical processing and some dental crowns.

pollutantA substance that taints something such as the air, water, our bodies or products. Some pollutants are chemicals, such as pesticides. Others may be radiation, including excess heat or light. Even weeds and other invasive species can be considered a type of biological pollution.

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Explainer: What is a catalyst? - Science News for Students (blog)