Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology

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Located on the Busch Campus of Rutgers University in Piscataway, New Jersey, our department is home to world-class research programs that impact society in areas as diverse as health, energy, and the environment.

Our leading graduate and undergraduate programs provide exceptional training to research scientists and prepare our graduates to become leaders in industry, academia, and government. With state-of-the-art research facilities and internationally-recognized faculty, we have the tools and people needed to develop and explore groundbreaking ideas across the many fields touched by chemistry.

In addition to educational opportunities, our department is uniquely positioned as both large and small chemical companies are based in New Jersey. Chemistry exports account for over a quarter of the value of the state's yearly exports.

In September 2018, we opened our new signature building. It includes open, flexible labs and state-of-the-art core facilities as well as modern teaching, conferencing, and communal spaces that maximize collaborative interactions. This building enhances our high-quality science andtraining and continues to strengthen our broad interdisciplinary academic and research programs, further impacting our region's economy and society.

CURRENT OPERATING STATUS: Face coverings must be worn by all persons on campuswhether outdoors when social distancing is not practical or indoors in non-private enclosed settings (e.g., common spaces, bathrooms).

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Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology

New carbon allotrope predicted to hit bandgap sweet spot – Chemistry World

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Computational scientists in China have simulated a graphene allotrope featuring different hybridisations of carbon that becomes a semiconductor when compressed.

This new allotrope, Me-graphene, combines sp3-hybridised carbon atoms anchored to four neighbouring benzene rings with sp2-hybridised carbon atoms. The result is a one-atom thick structure containing octagons, hexagons and pentagons, which is open and slightly corrugated. The structure could give scientists a way to bridge differences between the characteristics of traditional graphene (an electronically conductive semi-metal) and the so-far theoretical semiconductor penta-graphene.

Despite having exceptional strength, thermal and electron conductivity, traditional graphenes use in electronic components (rather than just connections) is limited, as it cant easily switch between conducting and insulating states. This is because it lacks a bandgap.

Xiaojun Wu of the University of Science and Technology of China and colleagues have discovered that Me-graphene could be structurally stable up to temperatures of 3500K. Added to this, it has higher mobility of charge at room temperature than silicon and when compressed it turns into a semiconductor with a large bandgap but does not deform. And, with a calculated energy of formation that is more achievable than other graphene allotropes, Wus team suggest Me-graphenes characteristics could see it feature in next-generation nanoscale electronics and photoelectrics.

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New carbon allotrope predicted to hit bandgap sweet spot - Chemistry World

A Chemist Running on I Believe in Science Wants to Take Down a Trump-Loving Republican on Long Island – Gizmodo

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Democratic House candidate Nancy Goroff in the lab.Photo: Goroff for Congress

That I believe in science and I believe in using facts and evidence to solve problems are rallying cries for a political campaign says a lot about 2020. Yet thats the pitch of Nancy Goroff, a chemist at Stony Brook University who is the Democratic nominee taking on Rep. Lee Zeldin in a Long Island district.

That appeal to science-based decision-making speaks to the hellscape of modern America that Republicans have created. The Trump administration is the culmination of those efforts, having spent nearly four years sidelining science to disastrous consequences. That includes the acute crisis of a pandemic that has left the U.S. with the highest death toll in the world and one of the highest per capita death rates of any developing country. Hell, the president came down with it after holding a superspreader event. Then theres the long-simmering deregulatory campaign to fry the climate, exemplified in this weeks vice presidential debate when Mike Pence blithely lying that the Trump administration will continue to listen to the science despite all evidence to the contrary.

From denying the threat of climate change to politicizing basic public health measures, the GOP is establishing itself as not only the party untethered to facts but a danger to the health and safety of Americans, Shaughnessy Naughton, the president of 314 Action, a PAC backing Goroff and other scientists running for office, said in an emailed statement.

While the presidential race will be the biggest referendum on the role of science in policy, the down-ballot races will each be a microcosm of that fight. And the race between Goroff and Zeldin to represent New Yorks First Congressional District shines a particularly bright light on the stark differences between the parties. Goroff has been active at the science and policy nexus, serving on the advisory board of the Union of Concerned Scientists, a watchdog for science abuses in policymaking thats been particularly busy in the Trump era. Zeldin has helped create the environment for those abuses.

I decided that this is a moment in history where I need to really step forward and put my full effort into this, Goroff said on a video call. It wasnt enough just to support candidates I cared about and support issues I cared about. I just needed to work full time on it.

G/O Media may get a commission

While Goroff hasnt endorsed the Green New Deal, her platform aligns pretty good with, well, science. If she wins, it points to what could be real areas of debate in a House Democratic caucus that includes Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and a growing number of progressives. But honestly, itd be a welcome change compared to what Zeldin and the Republican party have put forward.

Goroff left her position at Stony Brook, where her lab is focused on organic chemistry, to compete in the Democratic primary. She won that tightly contested contest, which included real estate investor who took on Zeldin in 2018 and lost. Now, Goroff will face the congressman who has held the seat since 2014.

The district flipped from Obama to Trump in 2016, and Zeldin carried it by 16.4% that year, a margin larger than Trumps victory in the county. In 2018, the gap narrowed considerably, with Zeldin winning by 4.1% in what was a blue wave that saw the House flip to Democrats. Now, Goroff is fighting to flip whats considered a lean Republican seat by the Cook Political Report, giving Democrats an even larger majority in the House. Shes garnered the endorsement of former President Barack Obama, which could help her cause.

Zeldin has opened that door for her simple pitch to trust the science to be effective. He jumped on the hydroxychloroquine-as-coronavirus-cure bandwagon in July, weeks after the FDA pulled its emergency use authorization and the World Health Organization ended its trial usage because it hadnt proven to be effective. And despite being a member of the Climate Solutions Caucus, a bipartisan groups of representatives thats done about bupkis to advance climate legislation, he has a lifetime score of 13% from the League of Conservation Voters. Among his greatest hits are voting against a carbon tax, the barest minimum of climate solutions, and for an amendment to block the government from considering the impacts of climate change in agency rulemaking.

Its not just the contrast with Zeldin that could make Goroffs message of science-based leadership appealing on Long Island. The district is also home to Brookhaven National Laboratory and Stony Brook, two major scientific institutions, and is ground zero for climate change with miles of coastline still bearing the scars of Hurricane Sandy. The district needs real climate solutions to deal with rising seas, and the research institutions there could very well play a role in delivering at least some of them. Groups supporting science-based decision-making have lined up with Goroff, including 314 Action, a PAC that works to get scientists elected. The group has put more than $2 million into running TV and digital ads supporting Goroff and has made climate change a central part of its pitch for why Congress needs her.

I really see my role as a scientist in Congress, that what I would want to be is a resource for every member of Congress to make sure that Democrats and Republicans have access to the best information available, she said.

In comparison to Zeldin, Goroff has called for the U.S. to reach carbon neutrality by 2035, a target more aggressive than that of former Vice President Joe Biden. She also said shes supportive of market mechanisms to lower carbon emissions, such as cap-and-trade programs that allow companies to sell and buy a shrinking number of pollution permits as a way to reduce emissions.

I do think we need to put in some kinds of incentives to let the markets do their magic when people have financial incentives to move quickly, she said, noting vehicles as one area where incentivizing the development of electric vehicles over gas guzzlers could be a good place to start.

Yet market-based approaches to climate change have increasingly fallen out of favor with the progressive wing of the Democratic party. The Green New Deal, for example, makes no mention of it, and presidential climate plans largely set aside any calls for a carbon market of some sort. That Goroff supports it shows a potential area where the Democratic caucus could tussle over climate policy in a new Congress. But honestly, if Democrats take the White House, Senate, and the House, having a substantive debate over the role of markets in the adoption of electric vehicles would be a breath of fresh air after the decades of Republican pollution.

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A Chemist Running on I Believe in Science Wants to Take Down a Trump-Loving Republican on Long Island - Gizmodo

Global Oilfield Stimulation Chemical Market to 2024: Focus on Friction Reducer, Acids and Biocides, Corrosion Inhibitors, Gelling Agent, Iron Control…

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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Oilfield Stimulation Chemical Market 2019-2024: Trends, Forecast, and Opportunity Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global oilfield stimulation chemical market is expected to grow with a CAGR of 10% from 2019 to 2024.

The future of the oilfield stimulation chemical market looks promising with opportunities in the hydraulic fracturing, matrix treatments, and acid fracking industries. The major growth drivers for this market are increasing crude oil production and rising deep drilling operations.

Some of the features of 'Global Oilfield Stimulation Chemicals Market 2019-2024: Trends, Forecast, and Opportunity Analysis' include

This report answers the following 11 key questions:

Key Topics Covered:

1. Executive Summary

2. Industry Background and Classifications

2.1: Introduction, Background, and Classification

2.2: Supply Chain

2.3: Industry Drivers and Challenges

3. Market Trends and Forecast Analysis from 2013 to 2024

3.1: Macroeconomic Trends and Forecast

3.2: Global Oilfield Stimulation Chemicals Market: Trends and Forecast

3.3: Global Oilfield Stimulation Chemicals Market by Product Type

3.3.1: Friction Reducer

3.3.2: Acids and biocides

3.3.3: Corrosion Inhibitors

3.3.4: Gelling Agent

3.3.5: Iron Control Agent

3.3.6: Water Control

3.4: Global Oilfield Stimulation Chemicals Market by End Use Industry:

3.4.1: Hydraulic Fracturing

3.4.2: Matrix Treatments

3.4.3: Acid Fracking

4. Market Trends and Forecast Analysis by Region

4.1: Global Oilfield Stimulation Chemicals Market by Region

4.2: North American Oilfield Stimulation Chemicals Market

4.2.1: Market by Product Type: Friction Reducer, Acids and biocides, Corrosion Inhibitors, Gelling Agent, Iron Control Agent, and Water Control

4.2.2: Market by End Use Industry: Hydraulic Fracturing, Matrix Treatments, and Acid Fracking

4.2.3: Market by Country: US, Canada, and Mexico

4.3: European Oilfield Stimulation Chemicals Market

4.3.1: Market by Product Type: Friction Reducer, Acids and biocides, Corrosion Inhibitors, Gelling Agent, Iron Control Agent, and Water Control

4.3.2: Market by End Use Industry: Hydraulic Fracturing, Matrix Treatments, and Acid Fracking

4.3.3: Market by Country: Germany, France, U.K., Spain, and Russia

4.4: APAC Oilfield Stimulation Chemicals Market

4.4.1: Market by Product Type: Friction Reducer, Acids and biocides, Corrosion Inhibitors, Gelling Agent, Iron Control Agent, and Water Control

4.4.2: Market by End Use Industry: Hydraulic Fracturing, Matrix Treatments, and Acid Fracking

4.4.3: Market by Country: China, India, Japan, South Korea and Thailand

4.5: ROW Oilfield Stimulation Chemicals Market

4.5.1: Market by Product Type: Friction Reducer, Acids and biocides, Corrosion Inhibitors, Gelling Agent, Iron Control Agent, and Water Control

4.5.2: Market by End Use Industry: Hydraulic Fracturing, Matrix Treatments, and Acid Fracking

5. Competitor Analysis

5.1: Product Portfolio Analysis

5.2: Market Share Analysis

5.3: Operational Integration

5.4: Geographical Reach

5.5: Porter's Five Forces Analysis

6. Growth Opportunities and Strategic Analysis

6.1: Growth Opportunity Analysis

6.1.1: Growth Opportunities for Global Oilfield Stimulation Chemicals Market by Product Type

6.1.2: Growth Opportunities for Global Oilfield Stimulation Chemicals Market by End Use Industry

6.1.3: Growth Opportunities for Global Oilfield Stimulation Chemicals Market by Region

6.2: Emerging Trends in Global Oilfield Stimulation Chemicals Market

6.3: Strategic Analysis

6.3.1: New Product Development

6.3.2: Capacity Expansion of Global Oilfield Stimulation Chemicals Market

6.3.3: Mergers, Acquisitions and Joint Ventures in the Global Market

7. Company Profiles of Leading Players

7.1: BASF SE

7.2: Baker Hughes Incorporated

7.3: DOW Chemical Company

7.4: E.I Dupont

7.5: Flotek Industries Inc

7.6: Halliburton

7.7: Schlumberger Limited

7.8: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company

7.9: Clariant AG

7.10: Ashland Inc.

7.11: Akzonobel N.V.

7.12: Albemarle Corp.

7.13: Solvay SA

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/74elny

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Global Oilfield Stimulation Chemical Market to 2024: Focus on Friction Reducer, Acids and Biocides, Corrosion Inhibitors, Gelling Agent, Iron Control...

Chemistry prof honoured for years of research in electrochemical and solid state science – UCalgary News

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Without energy, says Dr. Venkataraman Thangadurai, nothing moves. Energy is everything.

Thangadurai, PhD,chemistry professor in the Faculty of Science, is the only Canadian to be inducted into the 2020 class of Fellows by The Electrochemical Society (ECS), which was founded in 1902 to advance the theory and practice of electrochemical and solid state science and technology.

The Fellows award, established in 1989, honours outstanding individual contributions in these fields. For Thangadurai, this recognition from peers who themselves are experts in their fields is a special honour.

To be a fellow of the ECS is about being involved in advancing next generation environmentally friendly electrochemical technologies.

Electrochemical and solid state science has applications in many fields everything from the materials that make up cell phones, batteries for electric vehicles, converting fuels into electricity, converting carbon dioxide into valuable chemicals, and many more.

Developing new and innovative all-solid-state battery and solid oxide fuel cells technologies are essential, he says. We need lightweight batteries that are capable of providing high storage capacity and use safer and less expensive materials.

Compared to the acid-based batteries used in cars, the next-generation lithium batteries areessential to making substantial improvements in performance and reducing environmental impacts. All solid-state lithium and sodium batteries currently developed in the Thangadurai research group will operate at higher temperatures and rule out the safety concerns of present-day batteries the key to cleaner modes of transportation, but also an impactful way to store energy from renewable sources like wind and solar means to balance the power grid.

The path to becoming an internationally recognized chemist has always been about new challenges for Thangadurai. Growing up in a rural village in India, Thangadurai was encouraged by his family and teachers to strive for excellence. Later, as a masters student in the Muthurangam Government Arts College in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, faculty mentors organized visits to the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. And that, Thangadurai says, is when everything changed.

I realized my passion for research. I could see that everything I had learned in the classroom chemical principles, chemical reactions and reaction mechanisms were being further investigated by researchers. It was a moment of clarity that inspired the next stage of his academic career.

At the University of Kiel in Germany, Thangadurai completed a Humboldt fellowship, pushing his fundamental research into the realm of applied materials science. I was able to study without limitations to what I could do or try, he says, and realized the practical applications of the fundamental research I had started in India.

Coming to the University of Calgary in 2005 was a natural next step. Here, we had people working on research of clear, practical value, and in an environment that encouraged entrepreneurial activities. The University of Calgary is a highly energized institution in an energized city it was the best place to continue my work.

With the support of his colleagues and family, Thangadurai flourished.

Im doing the things I love best. Research, teaching, service I love it all.

Earlier this year, Thangadurai joined the second cohort of Parex Resources Innovation Fellows. The program enables researchers to focus on innovation and technology transfer. The fellowship will allow him to continue to push towards commercial solid-state ionic devices, including solid-state batteries and solid oxide fuel cells.

Dr. Thangadurais work is on the leading edge of clean energy innovation, says Dr. Cathy Ryan, PhD, associate dean (research) in the Faculty of Science. The ECS Fellows award is a remarkable accomplishment, and he is a most deserving researcher working in a research area of critical importance.

As for whats next? His recent invitation to join the Creative Destruction Lab gives him new opportunities to promote commercialization activities in energy to encourage innovation and development, even as he forges ahead with groundbreaking research.

Science has no boundaries, says Thangadurai. His advice for students and new researchers is to always think about whats nextand what comes after that. Theres always something more, always room to think. Invention has no end.

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Chemistry prof honoured for years of research in electrochemical and solid state science - UCalgary News

For Penn State, Another Preseason Project: Building Team Chemistry – Sports Illustrated

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Penn State coach James Franklin wanted to invite the team's freshmen to his house for dinner, as he has done countless times in the past. Only this time, he was forced to ask the team's training staff trainers for virus-prevention guidelines.

By the time they delivered the list of requirements (boxed food only, distance the players, etc.), Franklin sighed.

"It didn't sound like a whole lot of fun," he said.

As if they didn't have enough concerns about keeping their players healthy and virus-free, college football coaches are finding something else to worry about: How do they rebuild team chemistry in the COVID-19 era?

Penn State restarts training camp Sept. 30 on its way to its Oct. 24 opener at Indiana and has plenty to accomplish. In addition to putting on the pads for the first time in nine months and installing their new offense, the Lions have to conduct some team-building exercises, too.

Sure, Penn State has done that through video calls since March, and the players have been training together since early June. But they haven't hit each other, or anyone else, since the Cotton Bowl. And they really haven't spent much time together as a full team.

That's one reason Franklin called team-building a priority of the next month.

"That's probably the thing I am most concerned about, is the chemistry stuff," Franklin said. "Usually, I'll have guys over to my house a lot. Whether it's in the house watching games and eating, whether it's taking them to [the sports restaurant] Champs or whether it's taking to the bowling alley and just having some fun."

Franklin has made team-building exercises (movies, bowling, etc.) frequent one-day breaks of his August training camps. When players began returning for voluntary workouts, they moved toward chemistry building on their own.

"It's important for us all to be back among each other so we can see each other's faces again," running back Noah Cain said recently. "So when it's time to come back to camp, our faces aren't foreign and we are used to each other's vibe and chemistry."

With preventive measures in place, however, Franklin has to get more creative with his team-building.

"How is it not just football, football, football and school, without some of the fun things that we all do as coaches to build that chemistry that's important?" Franklin asked.

Get the latest Penn State news by joining the community. Click "Follow" at the top right of our AllPennState page. Mobile users click the notification bell. And please follow AllPennState on Twitter @MarkWogenrich.

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For Penn State, Another Preseason Project: Building Team Chemistry - Sports Illustrated

Chemistry department will not pause admissions for Ph.D. students next academic year – The Daily Pennsylvanian

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The Chemistry Department, housed in the Roy & Diana Vagelos Laboratories building, will accept Ph.D. applications from Oct. 1 to Dec. 1 for fall 2021.

One day after School of Arts and Sciences Dean Steven J. Fluharty announced that school-funded Ph.D. admissions would be canceled for the 2021-2022 academic year, the Chemistry Department posted on its website that it will continue to accept new Ph.D. students.

While the Chemistry department must endure the same budget cut as the other SAS departments, Chemistry Ph.D. students are typically supported by research grants from government agencies such as National Institute of Health, National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, and pharmaceutical and chemical companies, Roy and Diana Vagelos Professor in Chemistry and Chemical Biology Department Chair David W. Christianson wrote in an email to The Daily Pennsylvanian.

The Chemistry department is, therefore, able to structure the budget cut over a period of years, allowing it to continue accepting students to its Ph.D. program, Christianson wrote. The fall 2021 cohort, however, will be smaller than usual, according to the department website.

"The cuts in our graduate program are a tremendous blow for the U.S. chemistry workforce at a time when discovery and innovation are reaching unprecedented news heights," Christianson wrote. "We can only hope that the SAS financial position will improve soon."

Associate Dean of Graduate Studies Beth S. Wenger confirmed that a few graduate programs, particularly in the natural sciences, will be able to continue to accept a "limited number" of Ph.D. students into its programs thanks to external funds.

Students can submit Ph.D. applications to the Chemistry department from Oct. 1 to Dec. 1 for fall 2021 admission. Graduate Record Examinations, commonly known as GRE, scores are not required for this application cycle, according to the website.

Christianson took to Twitter earlier today to address the confusion surrounding Ph.D. admissions.

To correct erroneous information that is circulating in the Twitterverse: @PennChemistry will be admitting Ph.D. students in the coming year, although our entering class will be a bit smaller, he wrote. Our exciting journey of discovery continues

Fluharty and Wenger wrote in an email to SAS standing faculty and graduate students on Tuesday that the decision to pause admissions for school-funded Ph.D. programs was made as a result of the COVID-19 pandemics impact on the schools finances.

Get our newsletter, Dear Penn, delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.

While we recognize that this news is disappointing, we also believe that this is the most responsible course of action in these unsettled times, Fluharty and Wenger wrote. "We hope to accept applications in the fall of 2021 and welcome a new cohort of graduate students in the 2022-23 academic year."

In the coming weeks, Fluharty and Wenger will meet with graduate and department chairs to create a program that will provide funding to current Ph.D. students who require extra time to complete their degrees.

"Our graduate students fuel the fires of discovery in Penn Chemistry, and ultimately in the academic and industrial labs that they join after they graduate," Christianson wrote.

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Chemistry department will not pause admissions for Ph.D. students next academic year - The Daily Pennsylvanian

Insights on the ZDDP Additives Global Market to 2027 – Featuring Afton Chemical, AMS Technologies & ZPlus Among Others – ResearchAndMarkets.com -…

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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "ZDDP Additives - Global Market Trajectory & Analytics" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The publisher brings years of research experience to the 6th edition of this report. The 278-page report presents concise insights into how the pandemic has impacted production and the buy side for 2020 and 2021. A short-term phased recovery by key geography is also addressed.

Global ZDDP Additives Market to Reach $2.8 Billion by 2027

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for ZDDP Additives estimated at US$2.7 Billion in the year 2020, is projected to reach a revised size of US$2.8 Billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 0.5% over the period 2020-2027.

Primary Alkyl ZDDP, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to record 0.4% CAGR and reach US$1.1 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After an early analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Secondary Alkyl ZDDP segment is readjusted to a revised 0.6% CAGR for the next 7-year period.

The U.S. Market is Estimated at $737.6 Million, While China is Forecast to Grow at 1.4% CAGR

The ZDDP Additives market in the U.S. is estimated at US$737.6 Million in the year 2020. China, the world`s second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$506.5 Million by the year 2027 trailing a CAGR of 1.4% over the analysis period 2020 to 2027. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at -0.3% and 0.3% respectively over the 2020-2027 period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately -0.1% CAGR.

Competitors identified in this market include, among others:

Key Topics Covered:

I. INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & REPORT SCOPE

II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. MARKET OVERVIEW

2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS

3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS

4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE

III. MARKET ANALYSIS

IV. COMPETITION

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ir01o6

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Insights on the ZDDP Additives Global Market to 2027 - Featuring Afton Chemical, AMS Technologies & ZPlus Among Others - ResearchAndMarkets.com -...

Scarlett Johansson and Florence Pugh Have ‘More Chemistry Than Johansson and Ruffalo’ – Showbiz Cheat Sheet

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Scarlett Johansson and Florence Pugh stand ready to take over the world by defending it from evil in the new Marvel Cinematic Universe movie Black Widow, the first film from Marvel Studios since the indomitable one-two punch of Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: Far From Home.

Even before uniting onscreen for the MCU movie, Johansson and Pugh shared a bond of sorts by working with Laura Dern in different movies and by both being nominated for Oscars this year. Having already weathered a delay from the original May release date, Marvel fans are more than a little eager to see them become a new Marvel super duo.

Johansson, has been acting since she was a teenager, gaining her first wide attention with the 1996 indie feature Manny & Lo, which netted her an Independent Spirit Award nomination.

Two years later, she would act opposite and be directed by her future Captain America: Winter Soldier star, Robert Redford, in the film The Horse Whisperer.

Her star kept rising over the next few years, in films as varied as Ghost World and Eight Legged Freaks. Another early career peak came in Sofia Coppolas acclaimed film Lost in Translation, where she acted opposite Bill Murray. She was double-nominated by the Golden Globes for that film and for The Girl with the Pearl Earring, although Oscar nominations for Johansson did not follow, surprising many.

She joined the MCU in 2010 with her performance as Natasha Romanoff in Iron Man 2. That movie is generally considered one of Marvels lesser efforts, but it will long be remembered for introducing Black Widow. Fans took to the character immediately, eyeing her for a solo movie, but that failed to materialize until after Natasha died in Endgame.

Her standalone movie will depict events taking place between Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War, where she returns to Russia to meet with her family, including a sister figure played by Pugh.

RELATED: Why the MCU Wouldnt Dare Kill Off Florence Pughs Black Widow Character After 1 Movie

Pugh and Johansson both enjoyed banner years in 2019, with their ascendant paths eventually crossing on the awards circuit. Before last year, Pugh had already been getting notice with acclaimed performances in movies such as 2016s Lady Macbeth.

However, 2019 was the year that Pugh well and truly arrived, with a hat trick of acclaimed performances: as wrestler Paige in Fighting with My Family, as a woman getting in over her head in the brightly lit horror film Midsommar and for playing Amy March in Greta Gerwigs Little Women, the last of which got her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Johansson, too, was nominated for Best Supporting Actress last year, for the film Jojo Rabbit, directed by Taika Waititi, who made Thor: Ragnarok. Johansson was also nominated in the lead actress category for the film Marriage Story, also starring Laura Dern, who won the Best Supporting Actress award for that film.

As it happened, Dern also starred as Marmee in Little Women.

Although Pughs and Johanssons chemistry has only been glimpsed in the trailers for Black Widow, Marvel fans on Reddit are already applauding the pair.

A fan posted a behind the scenes shot of the actresses on set, with another fan remarking. They have more chemistry than Johansson and Ruffalo.

That was a reference to the short-lived romance between Black Widow and Bruce Banner, which had been cultivated in Avengers: Age of Ultron.

The bad news is the pandemic pushed the release date of Black Widow from May to November. The good news for fans that it puts it in close proximity with Wonder Woman: 1984.

That film has also been delayed a number of times, but Warner Bros. just pushed it to Christmas Day, meaning one month fans get Johansson and Pugh, and the next month they get Gal Gadot.

Good things come to those who wait. Fans just hope they dont have to wait any longer for either movie.

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Scarlett Johansson and Florence Pugh Have 'More Chemistry Than Johansson and Ruffalo' - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Anthony Rizzos message and the team chemistry built inside Cubs playoff bubble – The Athletic

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As the union representative for the Cubs this year, Ian Happ has taken crash courses in labor relations, public health and the economics of staging a 60-game season in the middle of a pandemic. Looking at Major League Baseballs COVID-19 protocols for the playoff bubble, Happ noticed language about having to ask for permission to go for a walk outside your hotel room.

That feels more like a zoo animal than a baseball player or a human, Happ said in a matter-of-fact tone.

In simpler times, former Cubs manager Joe Maddon would bring the zoo animals to Wrigley Field. Road trips revolved around themes such as onesie pajamas, NFL jerseys and dressing like Pedro Strop, not prepackaged meals, personal protective equipment and self-isolation. But the Cubs are a first-place team with virtually a 100 percent chance to make the playoffs, in part, because they acknowledged the discipline and sacrifices it will take to stay healthy, protect their families and...

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Anthony Rizzos message and the team chemistry built inside Cubs playoff bubble - The Athletic

Artificial ‘smart cells’ created by U of A chemist could be used to treat illness at cellular level – Edmonton Journal

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They were created from fat molecules and DNA. Inside the cell, the DNA converts to RNA and produces proteins. Pores on the outside of the cell open and send proteins into neighbouring living cells and influence them.

Mansy said it sounds like science fiction, but he believes artificial cells could be used for a type of personalized medicine that monitors changing conditions in real-time.

He could see them being used to detect and respond to cancer, deliver antibiotics if the artificial cells detect a bacterial infection, or to release dopamine. Alack of dopamine is believed to cause Parkinsons disease.

If you had artificial cells that were able to assess the levels of dopamine and in very localized environments, and then when the levels drops below whats necessary, it switches on synthesizes some dopamine and releases it, that would be a very effective way of dealing with a specific problem, he said.

I think a lot of people thought this was impossible people were rolling their eyes thinking yeah, why are you trying to do something that, I guess to some people, sounds a bit too sci-fi, but it works Ithink really, the skys the limit with something like this.

One of the main advantages advantage of artificial cells is being able to design them from the ground up for a particular purpose, Mansy said, making them more predictable than using living bacteria for a similar purpose.

lboothby@postmedia.com

@laurby

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Artificial 'smart cells' created by U of A chemist could be used to treat illness at cellular level - Edmonton Journal

Black chemists protest systemic racism and connect with each other on social media – IndyStar

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Black chemists are adding their voice to calls of systemic racism in academia and STEM fields. Here's what they say needs to change in their fields. Wochit

About 4.6% of chemistry graduate students in 2016 who were U.S. citizens or permanent residents were Black or African American, according to data in aNational Science Foundation report.

And about 5.5% of people employedas chemistswere Black orAfrican American in 2017.

This summer, Black chemists in Indiana, along with scientists across the country,have been raising the public's awareness of the systemic racism that results inBlack people beingunderrepresented in STEM. Somechemists participated in #ShutDownSTEM, an international strike that drew attention to systemic racism in academia. And some have been using Twitter and other social media to connect with each other.

Felicia Fullilove, a program manger for a non-profit organization,said African Americans have beenunderrepresented in chemistry because of systemic racism andaccess to STEM careers. Fullilove, whoholds a B.S. in chemistry from Butler University and a PhD in chemistry from Emory University, said a lack of Black mentors is also an issue.

Ren Robinson, an associate professor of chemistry at Vanderbilt University, said in some instances aspiring Black scientists start down the STEMpipeline,but drop off at different points. The environment at STEM institutions and organizations is an issue some encounter in the pipeline.

"Historically, science and especially ... these kinds of chemistry professionshaven't been as inviting for diverse groups to be part of," she said.

Fullilovenoted Indiana's own history.

"PercyJulian attended DePauw University, but he wasn't allowed to live on campus," she said of Julian, who earned his undergraduate degree from DePauw in 1920."He'sone of the greatest chemists of all time."

Fullilove said that until the culture of the field of chemistry shifts and it becomes truly inclusive and welcoming,the numbers of Black chemists will not increase. She also said that universities have to both recruit and retain Black students, faculty and staff.

"If you're going to recruit them and not retain them," she said, "then you have this leaky pipeline issue."

Chemists in Indiana and elsewhere have protested systemic racism this summer.

Atheena Jenkins, a chemistry PhD student at Purdue University, helped organize the Purdue Chemistry Black Lives Matter March on Juneteenth this year. She said the march was meant to raise awareness about systemic racism in the environment at Purdue. Social interactions between individuals such as professors, students and administrators are a part of systemic racism, she said.For example,advisors have a long-standing history of treating students unequally because of ethnicity or nationality.

During the event,shegave a speech to the crowd, which was a bit nerve-wracking for her.

But also kind of powerful, I guess, for lack of terminology, Jenkins added. I had everyones attention, and in that moment, I could just speak my mind. And lately I havent been giving myself the space to speak my mind, especially on issues like these.

Her speech alluded to the fact that people cant dismantle the entire system you kind of have to take it off brick by brick, she said. And one of those bricks is microaggressions, she added. Her speech led into an exercise that taught the crowd about microaggressions.Jenkins believes that one of the microaggressions mentioned wassomeonebeing surprised at how well a Black person or person of color spoke.

Earlier in the month, on June 10, many scientists didnt go to their labs as part of #ShutDownSTEM and #Strike4BlackLives. Particles for Justice, one of the groups that organized the day, wrote on its website that the strike was necessary to hit pause, to give Black academics a break and to give others an opportunity to reflect on their own complicity in anti-Black racism in academia and their local and global communities.

Carolina Vega, a PhD student and analytical chemist at IUPUI, said no one in her research group went to their lab that day. Her group had a Zoom meeting, though, where she and her colleague talked about their experience being Black.

One thing that we try to do is just to make people conscious that we suffer stuff that a lot of people dont realize that is a thing, she said.

Carolina Vega works on research in a lab in the IUPUI Science Engineering and Technology Building II, Monday, Aug. 24, 2020. She is a third year analytical chemistry PhD student at IUPUI. (Photo: Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar)

Social media has been a way for Black scientists to connect with each other. Black chemists from across the country posted about their research on Twitter the week of Aug. 10 as part of #BlackInChem week.

Ore Cherebin scrolled through the #BlackInChem posts during the week.She saw photos of Black women with their natural hair in the lab.

There are rules about how you should have your hair in the lab, but obviously my hair isnt what they were talking about when they created the rules how long ago, she said. So its comforting to see people rocking their natural hair in the lab, for me personally.

Vega said Black people, and Black women especially,are underrepresented in science, and so"when I saw the thread, I was just like, 'that's exciting.'" She said she learned that there were more Black chemists than she thought there was.

Fullilove said social media engagement and activism by Black chemists has been receiving a lot more attention now than in the past. These efforts are not new.She said that over the last 8-10years, there has been a movement for Black scientists to connect with each other on social media or other online mediums.

In 2014, Black scientists across the country used thehashtag #BLACKandSTEM.

This year, Black scientists in various professions have participated in weeks dedicated to their specific fields, such as #BlackInNeuro weekand #BlackInAstro week.

Vega said these weeks are important and necessary.

But also, Im afraid that its just happening now and wont keep going, she said. I feel like its necessary to keep going.

Carolina Vega stands by an untitled sculpture by Cary Chapman, Monday, Aug. 24, 2020. She is a third year analytical chemistry PhD student at IUPUI. (Photo: Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar)

Some Black chemists have also been sharing the work of their fellow researchers and connecting scientists to one another.In March 2019, Elissia Franklin, a postdoc at Purdue who researches analytical chemistry, founded a podcast called The Research Her, which highlights Black women researchers. Its also a wellness podcast.

Elissia Franklin works with an instrument in a chemistry lab.(Photo: Elissia Franklin)

Black women tend to not be part of some of the clinical studies that are done relative to different medications, she said, and we tend to be left out of a lot of very important research studies.

Franklin also runs a Slack community for Black women in research. The community has channels for different fields, such as chemistry and psychology.

We have different channels so that you can connect with other people in your field who may not necessarily go to your university, she said.

Franklin is also part of the planning council for STEMNoire, a wellness and research conference for Black women in STEM. At this summer's conference, which was virtual, attendees discussed the stressors of being a Black woman in STEM, took part in a meditation session and participated in other activities.

Franklin said that since the death of George Floyd, she hasnt had to tiptoe around conversations about race.

Its easier to talk to people about race now than it was before, she said, because it was like, everyone just tried to act like it wasnt really a thing and that there werent any systematic or systemic issues within academia that were in place, when it comes to Black people in academia.

Contact IndyStar Pulliam Fellow Anne Snabes at asnabes@indystar.com and follow her on Twitter at @a_snabes.

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North America Fracking Chemicals Market to 2025 with Halliburton, BASF, Dow Chemical, CES Energy Solutions, and Solvay Dominating -…

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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "North America Fracking Chemicals Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecasts (2020 - 2025)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The North America fracking chemicals market is expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 8.77% during the forecast period

Factors such as high active rig count, longer lateral lengths, increased number of frac stages per well, and the amount of fracking fluid used per frac stage are expected to drive the market. Moreover, the market is expected to be driven by the completion of a large number of uncompleted wells in the United States. However, volatile crude oil prices and the environmental risks associated with hydraulic fracturing are restraining the hydraulic fracturing services market and, in turn, the fracking chemicals market in North America.

Key Market Trends

Water-Based Fluid Segment to Dominate the Market

United States to Dominate the Market

Competitive Landscape

The North America fracking chemicals market is moderately fragmented. Some of the key players are Halliburton Company, BASF SE, The Dow Chemical Company, CES Energy Solutions Corp, and Solvay SA.

Key Topics Covered:

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Scope of the Study

1.2 Market Definition

1.3 Study Assumptions

2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

4 MARKET OVERVIEW

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Market Size and Demand Forecast, in USD billion, till 2025

4.3 Recent Trends and Developments

4.4 Government Policies and Regulations

4.5 Market Dynamics

4.5.1 Drivers

4.5.2 Restraints

4.6 Supply Chain Analysis

4.7 Porter's Five Forces Analysis

5 MARKET SEGMENTATION

5.1 Fluid Type

5.1.1 Water-Based

5.1.2 Foam-Based

5.1.3 Others

5.2 Well Type

5.2.1 Vertical

5.2.2 Horizontal & Directional

5.3 Geography

5.3.1 United States

5.3.2 Canada

5.3.3 Rest of North America

6 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

6.1 Mergers and Acquisitions, Joint Ventures, Collaborations, and Agreements

6.2 Strategies Adopted by Leading Players

6.3 Company Profiles

6.3.1 The Dow Chemical Company

6.3.2 Parchem Fine & Specialty Chemicals Inc.

6.3.3 Halliburton Company

6.3.4 Solvay SA

6.3.5 SNF Group

6.3.6 DuPont de Nemours, Inc.

6.3.7 BASF SE

6.3.8 Flotek Industries Inc.

6.3.9 CES Energy Solutions Corp.

7 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS

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

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The ocean’s chemistry isn’t the same everywhere – Futurity: Research News

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A new study overturns a 130-year old assumption about the chemistry of ocean water.

Ocean chemistry is a complex mixture of particles, ions and nutrients. And for over a century, scientists believed that certain ion ratios held relatively constant over space and time.

The findings, however, refute that long-held belief.

The researchers discovered that the seawater ratios of three key elements vary across the ocean, which means scientists will have to re-examine many of their hypotheses and models.

Calcium, magnesium, and strontium (Ca, Mg, and Sr) are important elements in ocean chemistry, involved in a number of biologic and geologic processes. For instance, a host of different animals and microbes use calcium to build their skeletons and shells.

These elements enter the ocean via rivers and tectonic features, such as hydrothermal vents. Theyre taken up by organisms like coral and plankton, as well as by ocean sediment.

The first approximation of modern seawater composition took place over 130 years ago. The scientists who conducted the study concluded that, despite minor variations from place to place, the ratios between the major ions in the waters of the open ocean are nearly constant.

Researchers have generally accepted this idea from then on, and it made a lot of sense. Based on the slow turnover of these ocean elementson the order of millions of yearsscientists long thought the ratios of these ions would remain relatively stable over extended periods of time.

The main message of this paper is that we have to revisit these ratios, says Debora Iglesias-Rodriguez, professor and vice chair of the ecology, evolution, and marine biology department at the University of California, Santa Barbara. We cannot just continue to make the assumptions we have made in the past essentially based on the residency time of these elements.

Back in 2010, Iglesias-Rodriguez participated in a research expedition over the Porcupine Abyssal Plain, a region of North Atlantic seafloor west of Europe. She had invited Mario Lebrato, a former student who was pursuing his doctorate at the time and lead author of the current paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Their study analyzed the chemical composition of water at various depths. Lebrato found that the Ca, Mg,5, and Sr ratios from their samples deviated significantly from what they had expected. The finding was intriguing, but the data was from only one location.

Over the next nine years, Lebrato put together a global survey of these element ratios. Scientists, including Iglesias-Rodriguez, collected over 1,100 water samples on 79 cruises ranging from the oceans surface to 6,000 meters (19685 feet) down. The data came from 14 ecosystems across 10 countries. And to maintain consistency, all the samples were processed by a single person in one lab.

The projects results overturned the fields 130-year old assumption about seawater chemistry, revealing that the ratio of these ions varies considerably across the ocean. Scientists have long used these ratios to reconstruct past ocean conditions, like temperature.

The main implication is that the paleo-reconstructions we have been conducting have to be revisited, Iglesias-Rodriguez says, because environmental conditions have a substantial impact on these ratios, which have been overlooked.

Oceanographers can no longer assume that data they have on past ocean chemistry represent the whole ocean. It has become clear they can extrapolate only regional conditions from this information.

This revelation also has implications for modern marine science. Seawater ratios of Mg to Ca affect the composition of animal shells. For example, a higher magnesium content tends to make shells more vulnerable to dissolution, which is an ongoing issue as increasing carbon dioxide levels gradually make the ocean more acidic.

Biologically speaking, it is important to figure out these ratios with some degree of certainty, says Iglesias-Rodriguez.

Iglesias-Rodriguezs latest project focuses on the application of rock dissolution as a method to fight ocean acidification. Shes looking at lowering the acidity of seawater using pulverized stones like olivine and carbonate rock.

This intervention will likely change the balance of ions in the water, which is something worth considering. As climate change continues unabated, this intervention could help keep acidity in check in small areas, like coral reefs.

Source: UC Santa Barbara

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The first ever postdoc union at a private US university has been formed – Chemistry World

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Around 1700 postdocs at Columbia University in New York City have formed a union the first of its kind at a private US university through the United Auto Workers (UAW), one of the largest unions in North America. Nicholas Tay, a chemistry postdoc at Columbia who was part of the effort to build support for the union, hopes this is just a first step on the road to securing greater rights for postdocs in the US and beyond.

The new contract with Columbia addresses concerns about inadequate pay and benefits, as well as insufficient rights for harassment victims and international researchers.

While there are some local UAW unions in public universities in America such as the University of California system and the University of Washington, none officially existed at private universities until now.

Postdocs at Columbia technically became members of the UAW in July, but they never had a ratified contract and therefore had no power to negotiate their contracts with the university. Now, their new contract mandates that postdocs at the university cannot be paid less than $60,000 (47,000), among other things.

Previously, postdocs at Columbia earned slightly more than the minimum established by the National Institutes of Health, but less than their counterparts at other institutions in New York City, such as New York University and Rockefeller University, according to Tay. As a postdoc, I was being paid around $52,000, Tay tells Chemistry World. Now, that number for Columbia postdocs was raised to a minimum of $60,000, which is higher than those at Rockefeller University and NYU.

Beyond ensuring access to a living wage in one of the most expensive US cities, the new contract also secured six weeks of paid parental leave after one year of service there was none before. Safeguards for harassment and assault victims are included in the contract as well.

We have protections now for postdocs in the case that they feel pressured by their principal investigator, or anyone else, to perform actions that they dont feel comfortable with, Tay explains. The union is there to offer a way for them to file a complaint there is now a mechanism through which they can express their concerns that didnt exist before. Postdocs will now have access to a neutral arbitrator on claims of discrimination and harassment.

There are also new protections for international researchers at Columbia, including for visa and immigration-related issues. For example, they now have the right to reasonable paid time off to attend immigration-related proceedings, and the university has agreed to make reasonable efforts to allow them to work remotely if they are unable to return to the US for reasons outside their control.

We wanted rights for international workers, who have recently been under attack by the Trump administration, says Tay, referring to, among other things, President Trumps executive order in June that blocked the processing of visa categories such as H-1Bs, which universities and tech firms often use to hire researchers and scientists from other countries.

These developments at Columbia represent a good first step in that they demonstrate postdoc unions can exist and be successful at a private universities, according to Tay. We hope that this will continue to grow, because issues like low pay, unstable benefits and discrimination in academia will not go away on their own, he says. We need unions to give ourselves collective action to change the culture of academia in the US and globally, he says.

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Following offseason overhaul, Texans lack chemistry and have no time to build it – The Athletic

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. Pressure came from the right side yet again, so Deshaun Watson stepped up in the pocket to keep the play and any chance the Texans had at winning alive.

By this point in the third quarter of the NFLs opening game, which was supposed to be an exciting matchup between footballs highest-paid quarterbacks, the Texans were already down 17 points to the Chiefs, so Watson was desperate to make anything happen. He spun to his left, then juked another Kansas City defender as he broke outside the numbers. Watson kept his eyes downfield, looking for an open receiver, until finally he ran out of bounds for a loss, pointing in frustration at where he wanted running back Duke Johnson to be.

So often in these situations a broken play on a got-to-have-it third down Watson could trust DeAndre Hopkins to find a hole in the defense. But the All-Pro receiver is no longer part of this team, and Houstons...

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Following offseason overhaul, Texans lack chemistry and have no time to build it - The Athletic

Braskem Honored to Receive Responsible Care Awards by the American Chemistry Council – PRNewswire

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PHILADELPHIA, June 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Braskem (B3: BRKM3, BRKM5 and BRKM6;NYSE: BAK; LATIBEX: XBRK) ("Company"), the largest polyolefins producer in the Americas and leading producer of biopolymers in the world, announces it has been named a multiple 2021 Responsible Care awardee by the American Chemistry Council (ACC) for the Company's Outstanding COVID-19 Response Efforts and excellent Facility Safety performance. Responsible Care awards recognize outstanding and innovative work among chemical companies on their journey towards safe chemicals management and performance excellence. Five Braskem production facility sites throughout the U.S. received Facility Safety Award Certificates of Excellence including; Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, Neal, West Virginia., Seadrift and Oyster Creek, Texas, as well as the Company's Innovation & Technology Center located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

"Braskem is honored to be a Responsible Care Facility Safety Award recipient as this is a true testament to our team's continuous commitment to health, safety, and the environment," says Susan Gluodenis, Braskem Global Quality Leader. "I am proud to be a part of an organization that holds these principles at the utmost importance and I look forward to continuing improvements in operations and enhancing our safety efforts."

"Being honored with both awards demonstrates Braskem's willingness to push the limit of what's possible to protect our team, surrounding communities, and the environment, especially while presented with the unprecedented challenges associated with successfully navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. We are immensely grateful the ACC has recognized Braskem, for the tremendous efforts of our teams across the U.S.," says Brian Hughes, Braskem U.S. Quality Assurance and Responsible Care Coordinator.

ACC Outstanding COVID-19 Response Efforts Award

In 2021, the ACC developed its new Outstanding COVID-19 Response Efforts Award recognizing exemplary efforts from ACC members and Responsible Care Partner companies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fifteen ACC member companies and four Responsible Care Partner companies received this award.

Braskem deployed a range of measures across its manufacturing plants in Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia to secure the supply of essential grades of polypropylene polymers for the production of respiratory masks, protective medical gowns, and other protective material. In parallel, Braskem positioned 'live-in' manufacturing teams in both West Virginia and Pennsylvania operating in isolation for 28-days to help ensure the health and safety of its team members who were working as an essential service throughout this crisis to keep these key supply lines running.

ACC Facility Safety Award

The ACC awards member companies with significant achievements in employee health and safety performance. Braskem and 50 companies received 2021 Facility Safety Award Certificates.

Braskem aims to operate in a responsible way to achieve quality product and results. Responsible Care has helped Braskem enhance performance and improve the health and safety, and it is our intention to continue achieving our goals of meeting these expectations. The ACC awards recognize ACC members and partners on an annual basis.

The ACC announced the awards at its virtual 2021 Responsible Care & Sustainability Conference & Expo. To learn more about Responsible Care, visit https://responsiblecare.americanchemistry.com/.

ABOUT BRASKEM

With a global vision of the future oriented towards people and sustainability, Braskem is committed to contributing to the value chain for strengthening the Circular Economy. The petrochemical company's almost 8,000 team members dedicate themselves every day to improve people's lives through sustainable chemicals and plastics solutions. Braskem has an innovative DNA and a comprehensive portfolio of plastic resins and chemical products for diverse segments, such as food packaging, construction, manufacturing, automotive, agribusiness, healthcare and hygiene, among others. With 41 industrial units in Brazil, the United States, Mexico and Germany, and net revenue of R$52.3 billion (US$13.2 billion), Braskem exports its products to clients in more than 100 countries.

Braskem America is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Braskem S.A. headquartered in Philadelphia. The company is the leading producer of polypropylene in the United States, with six production plants located in Texas, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, an Innovation and Technology Center in Pittsburgh, and operations in Boston focused on leveraging groundbreaking developments in biotechnology and advanced materials. For more information, visit http://www.braskem.com/usa.

Braskem on English social media:www.facebook.com/BraskemGlobalwww.linkedin.com/company/braskemwww.twitter.com/BraskemSA

SOURCE Braskem

http://www.braskem.com

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The Right Chemistry: Maybe it’s time to smell the roses – Montreal Gazette

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It isnt surprising that a popular flower like the rose should have invited investigation for possible medicinal properties over the ages. The ancient Greek physician Dioscorides recommended an elixir of roses cooked in wine for headaches, while in the Americas, Indigenous people treated colds, coughs and fevers with various potions derived from the flowers, leaves or roots of the plant. Rosewater has also been used cosmetically, incorporated into creams for its supposed anti-inflammatory properties.

Such traditional uses, while mostly anecdotal, have stimulated some serious research into potential medicinal properties, especially since roses do contain numerous terpenes, glycosides, flavonoids and anthocyanins with potential pharmacological effects. Unfortunately, virtually all the studies have been carried out in animals or in cell culture with a paucity of human data. For example, aromatherapists have claimed that rose essential oil can have a soothing, sleep-inducing effect. However, the citations provided deal with mice. When mice are put to sleep with a barbiturate, their sleeping time increases if their food is supplemented with some rose extracts. Only specific extracts work, and only at doses far greater than any to which humans would be exposed. Furthermore, the extracts were ingested, not inhaled.

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The Right Chemistry: Maybe it's time to smell the roses - Montreal Gazette

108 Convictions Tied to Massachusetts Chemists Misconduct May Be Vacated – The New York Times

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Seven years after a disgraced former state chemist pleaded guilty to mishandling drug samples in the Boston lab where she once worked, the reverberations of the case are still being felt.

Hundreds of people have been released from jail since the revelation of wrongdoing by the chemist, Annie Dookhan. In 2017, more than 20,000 cases affected by Ms. Dookhans misconduct were found to be eligible for dismissal. And this week, the Suffolk County district attorney moved to vacate 108 more convictions, the latest development in the yearslong unraveling.

The district attorney, Rachael Rollins, filed a motion late Monday to vacate 108 cases that involved Ms. Dookhan but that district attorneys did not move to throw out in 2017, when a Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling asked prosecutors to certify that they could produce evidence at a retrial independent of Ms. Dookhans signed drug certificate or testimony, according to a statement from Ms. Rollinss office on Tuesday.

Ms. Rollins, who said the move was meant to remove a huge stain on the legal system, called the cases forever tainted by egregious and reprehensible government misconduct.

No defendant impacted by this ignominious chapter of Massachusetts law enforcement history should continue to bear the burden of Dookhans deceit, her sad and desperate need for attention, and the enormous amount of harm she inflicted on so many, Ms. Rollins said in the statement.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, she added, it makes little sense to expend additional resources litigating Dookhan cases, some of which are more than 15 years old.

Ms. Dookhan pleaded guilty in 2013 to 27 counts, including perjury, obstruction of justice and tampering with evidence. She was sentenced to three to five years in prison plus two years probation.

Prosectors said that during her nine-year tenure at a state drug lab in Boston, where she was responsible for processing drug samples seized from suspects, Ms. Dookhan mishandled samples, forged signatures and returned positive results on drugs she had never tested.

The 108 convictions affected by Ms. Rollinss motion had been designated List 3, meaning district attorneys did not try to have the cases vacated in 2017, despite Ms. Dookhans involvement. According to the statement, the nine remaining List 3 cases had already had new trial motions granted, dismissals entered or a plea agreement negotiated.

In these cases, there were mandatory minimums that make it infinitely easier to persuade and leverage defendants to plead guilty, Ms. Rollins said of the List 3 cases.

Ms. Rollinss office said it was the first in the state to take such broad action on List 3 cases, adding that the putrid legacy of Dookhan requires additional fumigation.

Her office is also seeking to vacate the guilty pleas of dozens of individuals who the court found ineligible for relief because they pleaded guilty before receiving test results of drug analysis, and it was concluded that Ms. Dookhans misconduct did not affect their decision to plead guilty.

In addition to those cases, 7,886 cases in Suffolk County were vacated and dismissed in 2017 with prejudice, meaning that prosecutors could not pursue the charges again.

This shameful chapter of our history will take dedication and perseverance to undo, Ms. Rollins said, and I will and we must.

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New ordering of elements could help find materials with promising properties – Chemistry World

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The periodic table may be the most iconic way of ordering the elements, but it is not necessarily the most useful. Elements may sit side by side that have little chemical similarity, and even the columns dont always reflect the closest affinities carbon and lead, for instance. Two scientists in Moscow now propose a new way of arranging the elements in a single linear sequence with the smallest change in properties between each successive pair.1 Using this scheme, they say it will be possible to predict which simple compounds will have similar characteristics, helping to identify new candidate materials with useful properties such as hardness or magnetic behaviour.

An ordering of this sort is not new. In 1984 theoretical chemist David Pettifor of Imperial College in London used empirical data for simple binary compounds to derive a scale for the elements.2 The sequential position in the sequence is now sometimes called an elements Pettifor number or, especially in Russia, its Mendeleev number (MN). In a two-dimensional plot with the MNs on each axis, the chemical space of binary compounds is arranged into regions where the compounds share properties.

Several other schemes have been proposed since, which define MN-type rankings based on, for example, the number of valence electrons3 or crystal structures.4 These approaches rely, however, on empirical definitions and therefore depend on which data are available and under which conditions they were measured. Zahed Allahyari and Artem Oganov of the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology in Moscow say that it would be better to define MN in terms of fundamental properties of the elements, which should then be possible to calculate for all elements at all conditions.

All previous MN schemes were empirical, says Oganov, and so become less reliable for data outside the set used to calculate them. Our MN is non-empirical and should work equally well for any kind of data.

The most important chemical properties of an element, the two researchers say, are the atomic radius, valence, electronegativity and polarisability. The last two factors, however, are strongly correlated, so just one will suffice. And because the valence of a given element can sometimes vary, it is ambiguous. They choose a MN based solely on radius (R) and electronegativity (), as given by the scale introduced by Linus Pauling. An elements atomic radius may also vary in different compounds, but for their R values Allahyari and Oganov use half the interatomic distance in the simple cubic structure of the element. These two quantities are loosely correlated too, giving a linear regression. The researchers define their MN, which they call the universal sequence of elements (Use) index, from the order in which the elements in a plot of against R project onto the regression line.

To assess how well their definition works compared with previous MN-type measures, they collected crystal-structure information for 1591 binary compounds and for 80 of the pure elements, as well as information on their enthalpy, atomisation energy, hardness and magnetisation. Materials with comparable characteristics will form clusters or islands in the two-dimensional space of binary compounds for each of these properties. To find new materials that might behave similarly to a known one, it would then be sufficient to explore others within the same island.

These clusters indicate chemistries that are worth exploring, says Oganov. You can devise a computational strategy that first discovers the clusters and then zooms into them to discover the best material. The more efficient a definition of MN is, the fewer the number of islands there are. To assess this, Allahyari and Oganov use an algorithm for detecting clusters. They find that the Use numbers perform well in this respect, compared with the others, for each of these compound properties, and is the best overall.

Santiago Alvarez, an inorganic chemist at the University of Barcelona in Spain, says that approaches like this could be useful for material discovery, because they enormously reduce the portion of the chemical space to be explored. He cautions that the current restriction to binary compounds is a serious limitation. But Oganov says the approach will also work for ternary or more complex systems, although the resulting spaces would be multidimensional and so it would be hard to visualise the results.

There is always a risk that collapsing all relevant chemical features of an element into a single number will lose some information, says Guillermo Restrepo of the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences in Leipzig, Germany, who has explored other schemes for classifying elements. But the periodic table imposes such a ranking too, by atomic number, he says and thats surely not perfect either.

But Restrepo says it remains to be seen which ordering scheme if any is the best to use. It may be that a simple linear sequence that assigns each element only two neighbours will miss some of the interesting relationships. An element may be most similar to more than one element, or several elements could be similar to a single element, says Restrepo.

The approach might also help to resolve longstanding arguments about the structure of the periodic table itself such as where to put hydrogen. From the viewpoint of MNs, hydrogen is closer to the halogens, rather than alkalis, says Oganov.

All these works contribute to a better understanding of the complexities of chemistry, says Restrepo. Chemistry is so complex that we have not been able to reduce its complexity to a single property. Not even the so-called periodic law is general only a handful of properties actually vary periodically with the atomic weight or the atomic number.

But it does not mean that there is no such fundamental chemical property, he adds. Perhaps it has always been there, waiting to be discovered. It would be great if several of these schemes converged on a single key parameter. If this were the case, we would discover a fundamental property of chemistry, Restrepo says. If this property turned out to be electronegativity, great! It would confirm Paulings genius.

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