Officials responding to chemical spill at Carteret Community College – WNCT

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MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. (WNCT) The Morehead City Fire Department and the Cherry Point Hazmat team are responding to a chemical spill reported at Carteret Community College.

The Carteret Community College Director of Security said custodians disposed of two boxes that were marked acid and flammable from a science class.

Officials said they disposed of it in a metal recycling bin near the welding classroom thinking they were empty metal boxes.

The welding instructor grabbed the boxes to reuse them for a project.

Twoof the vials inside the boxes broke, and the chemicals spilled creating a vapor cloud.

The instructor called campus security who then contacted Morehead City Fire Department, who then notified the Cherry Point Hazmat Team.

The welding instructor was taken to urgent care to be checked out as a precaution.

Campus security immediately evacuated the area as a precaution.

Cherry Point Hazmat is currently securing hazardous materials into a safe container, then the college will be tasked with disposing of the materials properly.

Stay with WNCT for more updates.

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Officials responding to chemical spill at Carteret Community College - WNCT

Young Horizon hawks will build on good chemistry – Hood River News

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Horizon Christian Schools varsity boys basketball team began its season with their first practice Monday night. Darrin Lingel, head coach for the Hawks, said he looks forward to competing this upcoming season. One aspect that this team has is chemistry, Lingel said.

One thing that this team has is that theyre friends outside of basketball, Lingel said. So, when your friends that means that when you play something thats competitive chemistry is pretty quick to come together. Because of the young Hawk squad, Lingel said hell have them do basic drills, conditioning and work on defense. Lingel builds on defense first and expects offense to develop later in the season.

When you start any new season off part of is conditioning but its also learning the plays, Lingel said. So, were working at playing together, building that chemistry, how were going to move, how were going to screen, how were going to do things. Im starting out with fundamentals.

Despite the teams limited experience, Lingel said the team never gives up in a game.

The only thing thats going to stop them is the clock running out, Lingel said.

Another aspect Lingel is proud of is of the success the team has had in previous years. The Hawks have had multiple district championships, have been to state championships in three consecutive years and won state in 2012.

Saturday the Hawks will be doing an in-team scrimmage called Hawk Madness. Modeled after Division 1 school practice schedules, HCS will display and showcase their skill in an exhibition match starting at 5 p.m.

On the college level on a certain day and time youre allowed to have your first practice. So, when the clock strikes midnight you can officially start practice, Lingel said. That first week of our practice we have an inner squad scrimmage. So its fun. The parents come, some fans come and watch the kids.

The Hawk squad will have their first game Friday, Dec. 6, against Damascus as Horizon hosts the Hawk Invitational that weekend. Tip off is at 7:30 p.m.

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Young Horizon hawks will build on good chemistry - Hood River News

Second evacuation order lifted in Texas city hit by explosion, chemical fire – Reuters.com

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HOUSTON (Reuters) - Authorities on Thursday lifted a second evacuation order in a week for thousands of people in a Texas city as U.S. safety officials began examining what caused the latest in a series of chemical plant fires in the state.

FILE PHOTO: A process tower flies through air after exploding at the TPC Group Petrochemical Plant, after an earlier massive explosion sparked a blaze at the plant in Port Neches, Texas, U.S., November 27, 2019. REUTERS/Erwin Seba/File Photo

The about 14,000 residents of Port Neches 95 miles (153 km) east of Houston were told to flee late on Wednesday when air monitors detected high levels of cancer causing petrochemicals butane and butadiene following an explosion last week.

Butadiene is the main product of the TPC Groups facility in the city struck by last weeks blast and fire, which injured three workers and prompted an initial, two-day evacuation.

The fire was put out on Tuesday after burning for six days.

This was a very serious explosion, Manuel Ehrlich, a board member of the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, said at a briefing on Thursday. He described the incident as a fundamental failure in the system at the plant.

It was the fourth major petrochemical fire in Texas this year.

A March blaze outside Houston burned for days and was followed a month later by a fire at another Houston-area chemical plant that killed one worker. An Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) chemical plant fire in Baytown, Texas, injured 37 in July.

The reason why were seeing so many this year is difficult to quantify, said safety board investigator Lauren Grim.

The specific event that triggered the TPC explosion and fire has not been determined, Ehrlich said. Workers at the plant had noticed a vapor cloud before the blast.

We are not trying to assume any ideas about what the cause was, Jason Sanders, a TPC official said in response to the description of a failure in the system. The CSB is there to thoroughly investigate what happened. We need to trust their process.

The top executive of Jefferson County, Jeff Branick, lifted the latest order less than a day after warning that elevated butadiene levels measured in some parts of Port Neches could cause dizziness, nausea, headaches, irritated eyes and throats.

I dont want this being characterized as a regular occurrence, because it is not, Branick said at a media briefing.

But one resident, Johnny Powers, 70, a retiree from the Exxon Mobil Complex in Beaumont, Texas, said: Were used to smells in this area and would remain in Port Neches because his grandchildren were there.

Another resident with a family, Marissa Hearn, 26, said she had lived in the area all her life but would now consider leaving.

If we had the money wed get up and get out.

Fire officials said workers at TPC on Thursday stemmed butadiene leaks, reducing chemical levels over Port Neches, which is in Jefferson County, to non-irritating levels.

Schools in Port Neches and nearby Groves were closed for the rest of the week. Students had been allowed to return on Tuesday.

There are a lot of these old plants that ought to be shut down, said Neil Carman, clean air program director for the Texas chapter of the Sierra Club, an environmental group that has sued industrial plants over toxic emissions. TPC is 75 years old.

TPCs Sanders said it would take weeks to remove all the chemicals from the plant.

The 218-acre (88-hectare) plant makes flammable chemicals used in the production of synthetic rubber and a gasoline additive.

Reporting by Erwin Seba and Sumita Layek; writing by Gary McWilliams and Tom Brown; editing by Marguerita Choy and Grant McCool

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Second evacuation order lifted in Texas city hit by explosion, chemical fire - Reuters.com

Greg McElroy on Jalen Hurts: Chemistry with Brian Daboll better … – SECcountry.com

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Alabama QB Jalen Hurts earned SEC Offensive Player of the Year under Lane Kiffin. Duplicating that kind of performance with a new offensive coordinator wont be easy, but not if you ask a former Tide QB.

Hurts dazzled with his arm and his legs as a true freshman, responsible for a single-season school record 36 TDs, while guiding Alabama to an SEC championship and a berth in the national championship game.

SEC Network analyst Greg McElroy, who played quarterback in Tuscaloosa from 2007-10, thinks Hurts could be poised for an even bigger year under new OC Brian Daboll.

McElroy talked about the major strides in the pocket made by Hurts in the offseason during a special segment with ESPNs Marty Smith inside Alabamas indoor practice facility.

Hes created a great relationship with Jalen and Jalen trusts him, McElroy said. In the short period of time, theyve developed a chemistry that I dont think Jalen had with Lane Kiffin at any point last season. Jalen was trying to learn the offense, but now hes got a good grasp of the offense.

Were going to see more pro-style passing concepts. Slow, deliberate, long-progressing routes downfield.

Last season, the 6-foot-2, 209-pound Hurts rushed for nearly 1,000 yards, going for 954, anAlabama single-season record by a QB.

However, McElroy believes Hurts will be showing off some newfound confidence as a passer, building on a season that saw him throw for2,780 yards with 23 TDs and 9 INTs.

Were going to see Jalen Hurts a little bit more under center this year, McElroy said. Now, Bo Scarbrough, 245 pounds, hes able to come straight downhill, and thats a full head of steam hitting A gap to A gap on either side of center. Thatll help with play-action.

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Greg McElroy on Jalen Hurts: Chemistry with Brian Daboll better ... - SECcountry.com

Welcome | Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

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Doctoral Student Wants to make Nuclear Energy Renewable12/06/2017

Radiochemistry Ph.D. student Ingrid Lehman-Andino and two of FIUs nuclear chemistry professors are working on a solution. The researchers believe the U.S. could lessen the impact of climate change by producing nuclear power with smaller amounts of reused, short-lived radioactive waste that is less toxic than what is used now.

When research led by one of the doctoral students in his lab recently landed the cover of a top journal in chemistry and toxicology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine Professor Barry Rosen likened it to a golfer getting a hole in one. Most researchers go an entire career without a cover, he said. Barry P. Rosen is a Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Fabric Phase Sorptive Extraction (FPSE), developed by Drs. Kabir and Furton, has continued to enjoy worldwide popularity as a new generation, green analytical and bioanalytical sample preparation technique. Today, Separations, a renowned Switzerland based open access journal, has announced to publish a Special Issue of the journal on "ADVANCES IN FABRIC PHASE SORPTIVE EXTRACTION". Dr. Kabir will serve as the Guest Editor of the Specia

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Welcome | Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Lignin and carbon dioxide turned into ethanol | Research – Chemistry World

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Scientists in China have developed a method to produce ethanol using the renewable resources lignin and carbon dioxide for the first time.

The process uses a rutheniumcobalt catalyst and involves three cascade reactions breaking the ether bond, a reverse watergas shift reaction and forming a new CC bond to produce ethanol from lignin (or its aryl methyl derivatives), carbon dioxide and hydrogen. Ethanol is currently produced via ethene hydration, or fermentation. It is widely used as a solvent, feedstock and fuel, as well as in medicine, so producing it from abundant renewable resources is highly desirable.

Lignin is an industrial waste product but it is rarely used in the chemical industry and large amounts of it are burnt as a low-grade fuel and effectively wasted. Despite the quantity generated, industry does not capitalise on lignins potential to produce valuable compounds because depolymerising it usually forms mixtures of products that are difficult to separate and purify. It is a great challenge to produce a chemical with high selectivity because of the complex structure of lignin, says Qingli Qian from the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China, who, along with his team, are behind this process where ethanol is the only liquid product.

The process has been successfully tested with a range of aryl methyl ethers, which are commonly used as model compounds for lignin as well as lignin from different sources, demonstrating the effectiveness of this approach. Bin Yang at Washington State University, US, says this new method opens up new avenues to turn the current cellulosic ethanol biorefinerys two waste carbon streams into ethanol. He is optimistic about future work, and says the design of a closed loop process would move to a higher carbon yield on the lignocellulosic ethanol biorefinery route.

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Lignin and carbon dioxide turned into ethanol | Research - Chemistry World

KRACZ: Clock ticking on chemistry class with Eagles Wentz and his WRs – The Intelligencer

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PHILADELPHIA Five years Alshon Jeffery and Jay Cutler played together in Chicago.

The receiver and quarterback are no longer teammates, but they will play catch-up this week when the Eagles host the Dolphins for practices on Monday and Tuesday.

Its going to be great, Jeffery said after Sundays practice. Im pretty sure well catch up. Im always rooting for him so Im sure itll be great.

What would be great is if Jeffery and his new quarterback, Carson Wentz, could find the same page.

Receivers coach Mike Groh told reporters on Saturday that he believes Jeffery is behind in his play-study, citing a route that Jeffery turned into an out route that was supposed to go to the corner during Thursdays game against Buffalo. It was where Wentz threw the ball, but Jeffery was nowhere in the vicinity.

Alshon is not behind on anything, receiver Torrey Smith said. Weve been here all offseason. Its the same offense. Obviously youd like to get more reps on the field, but hes a pro, hes been there. Theyll be on the same page right before you know it.

Head coach Doug Pederson also jumped to Jefferys defense.

Alshon is doing fine, he said. He's working. He's getting reps whether he's not in, he's getting reps off on the side. He's getting reps when he's in there. So he's right where he needs to be. Everybody makes mistakes. You know, it's that time of the year. We've got a lot of football in right now, and he's doing well. We do have very similar plays. We have like plays where routes are very similar. And the fact is, everybody is going to make a mistake.

Added Jeffery: Its the game of football. Youre going to make some mistakes on a few plays, but Ill be all right.

Pederson has handled Jeffery with kid gloves ever since Jeffery injured his shoulder early in camp. The coach held the teams star receiver out of several days worth of team drills.

I feel pretty good, he said on Sunday.

Asked if he feels behind in his playbook, he said: Not at all. But at the same time, missing a few practices here and there, just give me some time in the offense, Ill be all right.

It would be nice if all right happens Thursday against Miami.

There seemed to be a concerted effort to get Jeffery more involved on Sunday. After practice, he and tight end Zach Ertz spent some time working on some plays.

We were just working on some routes that in the team period that he didnt get to throw so he wanted to get the reps, Jeffery said about the after-practice work. Any time you get the chance to get some extra work in, its great. We understand its more about us working and getting to know each other.

The time to get to know one another is shrinking. There is only one more meaningful preseason game and three weeks until the season opener in Washington. The final preseason game against the Jets on Aug. 31 will be reserved for second and third teamers.

It would certainly be nice to see Jeffery and Smith do something encouraging.

Its definitely important, Smith said. Its always just an extension of practice. Thats how I view preseason games, as an extension of practice, where you can get your block knocked off. So you want to go out there and compete and be better and just be ready because after that, thats the last live situation until we go to Washington. Im definitely looking forward to being as sharp as we can so we go in feeling good about ourselves leaving the field.

Jeffery missed the game in Green Bay but had five targets and two catches for 23 yards in 18 snaps against the Bills.

Smith hasnt been targeted at all in 30 snaps.

I have like 10 catches my entire preseason in six years, so I dont worry about getting the ball, Smith said.

Slot starter Nelson Agholor has played 50 snaps but has been targeted just three times and has two catches for 45 yards.

So the clock ticks toward the opener.

Will that be enough time?

It certainly didnt sound like it when Jeffery was asked about Cutler and their time in Chicago specifically about the back shoulder throw that he and his former quarterback worked to perfection.

Its over time and over years, Jeffery said. We were together a long time. He knows what I like, I know what he likes. But it takes time. We were together five years.

That sort of chemistry wont come in one game and probably not in three weeks.

In due time, Jeffery said. Each and every day we get better. We practice, so over time itll get better.

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KRACZ: Clock ticking on chemistry class with Eagles Wentz and his WRs - The Intelligencer

Could improved Dak Prescott-Dez Bryant chemistry offset Elliott absence? – Fort Worth Star Telegram

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Remember when the biggest criticism or question mark of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott during a sensational rookie season of a year ago was an alleged inability to throw the deep ball and a supposed lack of chemistry with star receiver Dez Bryant.

Never mind that Bryant missed much of training camp last year with injuries when Prescott was not yet named the starter. Or that Bryant was sidelined for three games early in with the season with a fracture in his knee.

His season-ending numbers of 50 catches for 796 and eight touchdowns were somehow linked to a shortcoming of Prescott's in what was otherwise considered the best rookie season of any quarterback in NFL history.

It took only one series against in the Cowboys 24-19 preseason victory against the Indianapolis Colts for those concerns to disappear.

It was the first action of the preseason for Prescott and Bryant and they showed the world what close observers have been seeing for the last four weeks of training camp.

Bryant caught two passes for 55 yards, a 23-yarder to open the game and a 32-yard touchdown reception to cap the opening drive.

Yeah, you know theyve played a lot of football together in a short period of time, coach Jason Garrett said. They continue to grow. I think they have a very good relationship on the field and they have a very good relationship off the field and their communication is really good. I think it reflects in the execution.

They have grown because they have do have a great relationship. Prescott is the leader and Bryant follows.

But there is an open line of communication in their second year together, born out of a friendship forged last season when Bryant was one Prescott's most vocal supporters during the brief talk of a quarterback controversy with supplanted starter Tony Romo.

What's also key is that Bryant had a healthy offseason and training camp for the first time since before the 2014 season so hes also in the best shape he has been in a long time. He missed the offseason in a contract dispute before the 2015 season and was recovering from a foot surgery before teh 2016 season.

He has been healthy all offseason, so that chemistry has grown, Prescott said. He's been a guy that his ears are wide open, wanting to know what I'm thinking, and I want to know what he's thinking. It's just been back and forth of just talking and doing it out there on the field and it's only growing.

Dez is a guy that you just give him a chance one-on-one. Film study helps, but more importantly those reps we've had in practice all camp long probably have been more valuable to us.

Prescott said Bryant is the most improved player on the team and is playing the best football of his career. That says a lot considering Bryant's had three straight seasons of over 1,000 yards receiving from 2012-2014 when he caught 273 passes and 41 touchdowns. He caught 81 passes and 11 touchdowns the past two injury-plagued seasons.

To me, it's the best Dez has been," Prescott said. "Somebody asked me the other day who I think the most improved player is and I said Dez, just the way he's been taking care of his body, his effort, his attitude. Everything from last year to this year, it's just exciting to throw him the ball and watch what he can do after the catch.

The Cowboys will remain a run-first attack even with the absence of star running back Ezekiel Elliott, who is suspended for the first six games of the season for violating the NFLs personal conduct policy.

But they also showed during a brief outing against the Colts they will rely on Prescott to make plays out of the hurry up offense.

If Bryant is the best hes even been or even close to the player he was between 2012-2014, this improved chemistry will go a long way toward mitigating Elliotts absence by keeping the big play threat in the offense, forcing double coverages and keeping the defenses honest to open holes for the running game.

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Could improved Dak Prescott-Dez Bryant chemistry offset Elliott absence? - Fort Worth Star Telegram

Gators offensive line improving through cheese fries – Miami Herald

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On a recent trip to Outback Steakhouse with the rest of Floridas offensive linemen, center T.J. McCoy was feeling generous.

Look, he told the group of 14, were going to go to Outback and Im going to order everyone cheese fries.

At $9.99 each, those three plates of fries, cheese, bacon and ranch dressing cost him $30. But they provided something McCoy, his teammates and coach Jim McElwain claim is invaluable: Chemistry. And it doesnt stop with cheese fries and wings at Outback Steakhouse.

McCoy said the group also went fishing for catfish recently, with tackle Jawaan Taylor and guard Tyler Jordan reeling in the days biggest catches before the group fried them up together. There was also a trip to Yamato, a Gainesville hibachi restaurant, where they enjoyed servings of rice, noodles, steak and chicken together. With the average weight of a UF offensive lineman on scholarship being 312 pounds, the bills from these outings can be high.

We told [offensive line] Coach [Brad] Davis, We aint guy money like that, McCoy said of the trip to Yamato. You might help us out with that.

Whether he helps them or not, Davis and the other coaches are happy about the groups cohesion. McElwain said Wednesday he believes their bonding will lead to better play on the field through better communication.

I... see a group of guys, McElwain said, who now have been together enough, have understood the communication piece, and you know what, understand that they're a little bit tired of being that group, if you understand what I mean.

Florida center TJ McCoy, left, goes through drills during practice Fri., Aug. 4, 2017.

Ethan Bauer

That group is a group that ranked 71st in nation with 28 sacks allowed last season, which was an improvement over 2015, when it ranked last in the NCAA with 45. And that criticism has been heard by the players.

Most people was bashing us for the last two years since Ive been here, left tackle Martez Ivey said. Now they think were the strong point of the offense and were supposed to carry the load. Were not going to shock ourselves. We know what weve got to do.

Aside from the groups familiarity, McElwain also said it has improved thanks to better competition. With a battle between Tyler Jordan, Fred Johnson and Brett Heggie for two starting guard spots, theres plenty of motivation for all of them. But thanks to what they do away from practice, McCoy said there arent concerns about competition getting out of hand.

I talk to [right tackle] Jawaan [Taylor] about his parents, his family, where he comes from, McCoy said. Its all about getting to know each other and then saying, you know what? This guy cares about me. Not just the football, but he cares about my life.

You get to know this person on an intellectual level and not just football, but a personal level. And that makes the bond tighter.

Luke Del Rio took reps with the first-team offense in Fridays open portion of practice, but again, McElwain said not to read much into it this early in preseason camp.

Freshman wideout James Robinson, who McElwain said Wednesday UF was waiting on some things to clear up before he could enroll, was at practice for the first time on Friday. Robinson was a rated four-star receiver in Floridas 2017 class.

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Gators offensive line improving through cheese fries - Miami Herald

NEWTON VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW: Chemistry key for Eastside, Johnston – Rockdale Newton Citizen (press release) (registration)

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In her first year as coach at Eastside after two years at Alcovy, Maggie Johnston led the Eagles volleyball team to their best season in recent memory.

Eastside was far and above the best team in the east metro area in 2016, going 23-16 overall with a 6-3 mark in Region 4-AAAA and a berth in the Class AAAA state playoffs. Although the Eagles lost three productive seniors to graduation, their 17-member roster has some nine players with game experience.

Johnston, an Iowa native who played collegiately at Charleston Southern, expressed confidence in her team entering the 2017 campaign, but said team chemistry will be an important factor in the Eagles success.

Every year, no matter how many kids you have on the team, it all depends on chemistry, said Johnston. The girls dont necessarily have to like each other, but if we can control the chemistry, we should be in good shape. Theyre already comfortable with our defensive and offensive sets, so we wont have to spend a lot of time teaching that, so that helps a lot.

The returning player Eastside will most depend upon is senior middle hitter Chasity Smith, who was named first-team all-region and was a selection on the All-Citizens volleyball team. At 5-foot-10, Smith who also plays on the Gwinnett County-based Aftershock club team didnt start playing volleyball until her freshman year but Johnston says shes seen a lot of improvement in just a short time.

Shes very athletic, with a great vertical leap, said Johnston of Smith. And shes athletically built and very explosive. Shes also got a great technique. Shes grown tremendously and is now playing club. Shes already shown me that shes gotten better over the summer. Chasity is even more powerful and explosive. Shes gotten a lot better and Im expecting her to get even better and close out strong this year.

Johnston adds that she also appreciates Smiths leadership style.

Her biggest quality in the leadership department is leading by example, said Johnston. She goes out every day and works hard and practices hard.

As she tinkers with positions in the preseason, Johnston said shes still mulling personnel moves that will involve senior defender Sierra Springston and junior setter Taylor Costley.

And like many other competitive volleyball teams, Johnston has put together a rigorous pre-region schedule and in the lag between the regular season and postseason has scheduled some best-three-out-of-five exhibitions.

Were trying to schedule teams that are obviously better than us, traditionally, because I think that will be a big help in region play, she said. And weve also got a few best-of-five matches because we were used to playing best-of-three during the season and we ran out of gas when it was best-of-five at state.

New coach Khelsea Willis promises a fresh start from Alcovys 2-20 season from a year ago. The Tigers spent time this summer working with Atlanta Elite Volleyball, building and perfecting their fundamental skills, and Willis was pleased with the teams performance in summer volleyball scrimmages against the likes of Salem and Jackson County.

Alcovys 13-member varsity roster includes a half-dozen returning veterans and Willis is encouraged by the play of sophomore outside hitter Jaelyn Tillman, who transferred from Texas.

Willis also says that as the season begins, the Tigers offense is slightly ahead of its defense.

They were not used to hitting but theyve really taken off with it, she said. Weve got some very powerful hitters and were very confident in our offense. Were still working on our blocking, but I have no doubts about our offense and ability to hit the ball.

Head coach: Maggie Johnston

2016 record: 23-16 (6-3 in Region 4-AAAA), first round of Class AAAA state tournament

Players of note: MH Chasity Smith, Sr.; OH Lillian Fowler, Jr.; MH Taylor Haff, Sr.; S Taylor Costley, Jr.; MB Sierra Springston, Sr.

Head coach: Khelsea Willis

2016 record: 2-20 (0-6 in Region 3-AAAAAA)

Players of note: OH Katherine Hopson, Jr.; S/OH Rachel Culberson, Sr.; S/MH Morgan Hathorne, Fr.; OH Jaelyn Tillman, So.

2016 record: 6-17 (1-2 in Region 8-AAAAAAA)

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NEWTON VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW: Chemistry key for Eastside, Johnston - Rockdale Newton Citizen (press release) (registration)

Missoula educators on ice: A trip to the Arctic for chemistry professor, teacher – The Missoulian

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When the Canadian icebreaker CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent pushes off from the Nunavut coast in September, it will have two Missoula educators on board.

University of Montana professor Michael DeGrandpre and Big Sky High School chemistry teacher Dave Jones will be working in tandem on the complex issues of climate change and ocean acidification.

Jones was awarded a research fellowship from PolarTREC, a teacher research and exploration program that, according to its website, is designed to invigorate polar science education and understanding by bringing educators and polar researchers together.

PolarTREC links high school teachers to active researchers and, as Jones notes, brings real world research back to the classroom, and shows them why pH and solution chemistry matters.

DeGrandpres work revolves around ocean acidification. When carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is absorbed by the ocean, it makes seawater more acidic, which can dissolve the shells of oysters, crabs and other creatures and can kill coral reefs. Working on the Louis S. St. Laurent is important to gather data points about the rapidly changing ocean chemistry.

Scientists are really motivated, and its a crucial place to be, DeGrandpre said.

Changes in the Arctic can drastically shift the weather dynamics in the entire northern hemisphere.

The weird weather were having is probably driven by ice loss, DeGrandpre said. The change in the northern oceans can shift where the jet stream flows over Montana, causing massive, strange changes thousands of miles from the source.

For anyone who has sat through a chemistry lecture, these kinds of world-changing discoveries can feel very far away. But for Jones, the experience will be invaluable in his teaching.

The ability to have an experience like this, he said, is the essence of'' learning. Being "engaged with and meeting other researchers can provide vibrancy to the classes he teaches.

And maybe that vibrancy will challenge someone to change the world.

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Missoula educators on ice: A trip to the Arctic for chemistry professor, teacher - The Missoulian

Elizabeth Olsen’s Guide to Screen Chemistry – Vulture

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Photo: The Weinstein Company, Neon and Marvel

To hear Elizabeth Olsen tell it, good acting usually requires a good scene partner. Its harder for me to do it on my own! she told Vulture recently in Los Angeles. Its a lot easier when youve got someone there with you.Of course, most critics would argue that Olsen is a fine actress no matter who her co-star is: Since hopping onto Hollywoods radar in 2011s Martha Marcy May Marlene, shes been one of the most in-demand young women in acting. Still, since she so often stars in two-handers or, even in the massive Marvel movies, drills down and find something intimate with a fellow superhero Vulture decided to give her a chemistry test. What has she learned from working with some of her most notable scene partners, such as Jeremy Renner (with whom she co-stars in multiple Marvel films as well as this weekends Wind River), Ingrid Goes Wests Aubrey Plaza (their films out August 11) , and her Marvel beau Paul Bettany?

You just want to feel like you trust the actors youre around, Olsen said, so you can forget about all those people watching you and just be present.

Jeremy RennerAvengers: Age of Ultron (2015)Captain America: Civil War (2016)Wind River (2017)Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

In part because of their long-running Marvel contracts, Olsen has started working with Jeremy Renner on a near-annual basis. Still, the first day they filmed together on Avengers: Age of Ultron, she worried about what she had gotten herself into. I was intimidated by him because of his dryness and because he doesnt sugarcoat things, said Olsen, adding with a laugh, Hes not overly friendly.

Added to the Marvel cinematic universe in that film as the telekinetic Wanda Maximoff (also known as the Scarlet Witch), Olsen had segued from low-budget indies to one of the biggest tentpoles imaginable. As she tried to keep up on that daunting first day in Italy, while ushering hundreds of extras into an airship alongside Renners Hawkeye, Olsen began to panic. My character had these powers I was trying to figure out for the first time, she said, and I was like, What the hell am I doing here?

Fortunately, Renner came to her rescue. I asked him, This is really overwhelming what do you even focus on? And he started talking about his characters family, and how that roots him into something tangible, said Olsen. Thats exactly what you should be doing, and I should have already known that before starting: that you need to find something tangible in these moments of chaos.

Renners ability to stay grounded came in handy when shooting Wind River, in which Olsen plays an FBI agent who comes to rely on Renners Alaskan game-tracker to solve a murder. He really is incredibly present on-screen, said Olsen. Hes there for you. Sometimes when you work with people, youre acting with them, but theyre just thinking about what theyre gonna do next. Thats a really annoying feeling on the other end, and Im sure I might have done that at some point as well! But with Jeremy, we both know that we both have to be present for the rope to stay taut.

And now that Olsen has come to appreciate Renners no-bullshit attitude, she can play around with it. Its fun to poke at him a bit so that he knows you see him, she said. Like an I have your number sort of thing. We dont really need someone to be fluffy with us.

Aubrey PlazaIngrid Goes West (2017)

Its the young actresss lot in life: Since so many movies are geared toward men, there arent many opportunities to play more than just the love interest or the single significant female character. Thats why Olsen is so excited about her upcoming comedy Ingrid Goes West, which marks the first time in years that shes gotten to co-lead a movie with another woman, Aubrey Plaza.

Its sad that its so rare, because its some of the most fun youll have working, says Olsen. Im sure it could be the worst if youre paired with someone whos not a girls girl, but working with Aubrey on this was just so great.

In the film from first-time director Matt Spicer, Plaza plays the titular Ingrid, who moves to Venice, California, to befriend social-media influencer Taylor Sloane (Olsen), the object of her Instagram obsession. A wiser woman might cotton on to Ingrids unhealthy interest in her, but the narcissistic Taylor enjoys being adored. Shes not a complete idiot, but shes thinking so much about her image and how shes coming across that she doesnt realize, laughed Olsen. Anything Ingrid says where someone else would think, Thats weird, Taylor thinks is a compliment.

Since Plaza hails from improv-heavy projects such as Parks and Recreation, Olsen was initially curious if their acting styles would mesh. I would have said a year ago that I hate improvising and Im scared of doing it, she said. I felt like there was a pressure to be funny, but if you get rid of that, you realize that improvising is just trying to be, in some weird way, as interested in the character as you are in yourself.

Improvising also requires you to listen to your co-star, and Olsen says she hit it off with Plaza so fast that the two actresses immediately began pushing their characters further and further, just to see what hilarious remark the other would come up with. A lot of it was just trying to throw the other one off, or make the other one uncomfortable in some way, said Olsen. Both of us would get disgusted by some of the things that we came up with you dont want to admit that you understand these people so well that you can improvise anything theyd say.

Now, though, Olsen is chomping at the bit to explore more of her comic chemistry with other actors, and recently shot the indie Kodachrome opposite Jason Sudeikis. After Ingrid Goes West, I was like, Put me in any movie with a comedian! she said. I just think its so much fun.

Paul BettanyAvengers: Age of Ultron (2015)Captain America: Civil War (2016)Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Sometimes when youre on a movie with a lot of money and a lot of people helping you, the stars can kind of lean into the whole Im an ac-tor thing, said Olsen, mockingly enunciating that last syllable. Fortunately, theres an absence of thespian ego when working with Paul Bettany, whose Marvel character Vision has now become Olsens primary scene partner.

Being on set with him is a lot lighter, she said. We might talk about wire work and feeling uncomfortable getting swung all over the place, but then we would make these sarcastic jokes with each other: Oh, if only people knew how difficult our lives are! Were on a big movie being paid well to do something we love to do. Its so hard. Theres always that sense of perspective when Im working with him.

That levity comes in handy when portraying one of the Marvel series most unusual relationships: Though they were pitted against each other in Captain America: Civil War, android Vision and witchy Wanda have a bond thats hard to break. I think its a really strange and touching relationship, said Olsen. Even though hes a robot, they have this Romeo-and-Juliet kind of arc, or even a will-they-wont-they kind of thing.

So will they? In the comic books, Vision and Wanda get together, but in the Marvel movies that have come out so far, Olsen and Bettany shared significantly loaded scenes without any sort of romantic consummation. According to Olsen, though, a potential love connection has been in the works ever since Vision lifted Wanda out of some wreckage in the Joss Whedon-directed Age of Ultron. If you picked up on their chemistry even in that brief scene, it was by design.

Joss obviously didnt write the one were working on now, but I remember on Age of Ultron, he said, Hopefully, Marvel will continue this. Since then, Ive definitely made it a point to keep that thread, and I know Paul has as well, she said. And while Olsen wont confirm exactly where things go in the still-shooting Avengers: Infinity War, the poster and secret trailer seem to bring Wanda and Vision even closer. I do think its exciting to have that payoff, said Olsen. Sometimes you
look at an older Marvel movie and you can see the actors trying to tilt towards a story in the future but maybe the writers and creators didnt want to go down that road. Luckily, with [Infinity War], we got that through-line.

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Elizabeth Olsen's Guide to Screen Chemistry - Vulture

James Harden, Chris Paul already making strides in chemistry during offseason – ClutchPoints (blog)

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New teammates James Harden and Chris Paul have already started making all the strides to put themselves among the best backcourts in the NBA, working on their chemistry this early in the offseason.

The two played in the same team in the Drew League, a tradition of Hardens, but one Paul had not been a part of during his six years as an L.A. Clipper, despite being right in his backyard. This disposition has shown Pauls effort to take this chemistry past the workouts and into the hardwood, to see just how two ball-dominant players can glue together in the backcourt.

Harden and Paul have communicated daily and even worked out together, trying to jell from early on and bring an already established sense of substance to this brand new team, which has let go of more than half of last years faces to make this partnership happen.

In any relationship or partnership, you need to have communication, Harden toldBen Golliver of Sports Illustrateds The Crossover. Youve got to know that person. Me and Chris have communicated every single day. Weve worked out several times already, just to build that relationship, that togetherness before training camp hits. Once it starts, well be rolling already.

General manager Daryl Morey admitted than acquiring Paul wasnt a matter of his vision of the two fitting together, but rather trusting that two elite-caliber players will figure it out among each other in order to win.

Generally, when youre looking at long-term acquisitions of top-10 players in the league, its better to not be too selective and then work out the best way to create synergy second, Morey said.

Both Paul and Harden know the great gap in talent shown in this past postseason, as the Golden State Warriors swept their way to the NBA Finals and closed out a 16-1 run to an eventual championship, making a task to dethrone them a rather direct, but challenging one.

Theyre really, really talented, but the chemistry that theyve built the last few years is what makes everything mesh, Morey added. Adding Chris, its going to take some time, but were trying to get ahead of the game right now in the summer. Its chemistry and talent (together), thats when youve got something special.

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Clarifiying complex chemical processes with quantum computers – Phys.Org

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Future quantum computers will be able to calculate the reaction mechanism of the enzyme nitrogenase. The image shows the active centre of the enzyme and a mathematical formula that is central for the calculation. Credit: Visualisations: ETH Zurich

Science and the IT industry have high hopes for quantum computing, but descriptions of possible applications tend to be vague. Researchers at ETH Zurich have now come up with a concrete example that demonstrates what quantum computers will actually be able to achieve in the future.

Specialists expect nothing less than a technological revolution from quantum computers, which they hope will soon allow them to solve problems that are currently too complex for classical supercomputers. Commonly discussed areas of application include data encryption and decryption, as well as special problems in the fields of physics, quantum chemistry and materials research.

But when it comes to concrete questions that only quantum computers can answer, experts have remained relatively vague. Researchers from ETH Zurich and Microsoft Research are now presenting a specific application for the first time in the scientific journal PNAS: evaluating a complex chemical reaction. Based on this example, the scientists show that quantum computers can indeed deliver scientifically relevant results.

A team of researchers led by ETH professors Markus Reiher and Matthias Troyer used simulations to demonstrate how a complex chemical reaction could be calculated with the help of a quantum computer. To accomplish this, the quantum computer must be of a "moderate size", says Matthias Troyer, who is Professor for Computational Physics at ETH Zurich and currently works for Microsoft. The mechanism of this reaction would be nearly impossible to assess with a classical supercomputer alone especially if the results are to be sufficiently precise.

One of the most complex enzymes

The researchers chose a particularly complex biochemical reaction as the example for their study: thanks to a special enzyme known as a nitrogenase, certain microorganisms are able to split atmospheric nitrogen molecules in order to create chemical compounds with single nitrogen atoms. It is still unknown how exactly the nitrogenase reaction works. "This is one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in chemistry," says Markus Reiher, Professor for Theoretical Chemistry at ETH Zurich.

Computers that are available today are able to calculate the behaviour of simple molecules quite precisely. However, this is nearly impossible for the nitrogenase enzyme and its active centre, which is simply too complex, explains Reiher.

In this context, complexity is a reflection of how many electrons interact with each other within the molecule over relatively long distances. The more electrons a researcher needs to take into account, the more sophisticated the computations. "Existing methods and classical supercomputers can be used to assess molecules with about 50 strongly interacting electrons at most," says Reiher. However, there is a significantly greater number of such electrons at the active centre of a nitrogenase enzyme. Because with classical computers the effort required to evaluate a molecule doubles with each additional electron, an unrealistic amount of computational power is needed.

Another computer architecture

As demonstrated by the ETH researchers, hypothetical quantum computers with just 100 to 200 quantum bits (qubits) will potentially be able to compute complex subproblems within a few days. The results of these computations could then be used to determine the reaction mechanism of nitrogenase step by step.

That quantum computers are capable of solving such challenging tasks at all is partially the result of the fact that they are structured differently to classical computers. Rather than requiring twice as many bits to assess each additional electron, quantum computers simply need one more qubit.

However, it remains to be seen when such "moderately large" quantum computers will be available. The currently existing experimental quantum computers use on the order of 20 rudimentary qubits respectively. It will take at least another five years, or more likely ten, before we have quantum computers with processors of more than 100 high quality qubits, estimates Reiher.

Mass production and networking

Researchers emphasise the fact that quantum computers cannot handle all tasks, so they will serve as a supplement to classical computers, rather than replacing them. "The future will be shaped by the interplay between classical computers and quantum computers," says Troyer.

With regard to the nitrogenase reaction, quantum computers will be able to calculate how the electrons are distributed within a specific molecular structure. However, classical computers will still need to tell quantum computers which structures are of particular interest and should therefore be calculated. "Quantum computers need to be thought of more like a co-processor capable of taking over particular tasks from classical computers, thus allowing them to become more efficient," says Reiher.

Explaining the mechanism of the nitrogenase reaction will also require more than just information about the electron distribution in a single molecular structure; indeed, this distribution needs to be determined in thousands of structures. Each computation takes several days. "In order for quantum computers to be of use in solving these kinds of problems, they will first need to be mass produced, thereby allowing computations to take place on multiple computers at the same time," says Troyer.

Explore further: Developing quantum algorithms for optimization problems

More information: Markus Reiher et al. Elucidating reaction mechanisms on quantum computers, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2017). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1619152114

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John DeShazier: Saints linemates Larry Warford, Zach Strief already developing chemistry – NewOrleansSaints.com

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Theres a hint of pride in Zach Striefs voice when he describes himself and Larry Warford as offensive line nerds.

Not that Strief isnt accustomed to studious teammates. But the veteran right tackle has found a kindred spirit in the New Orleans Saints free agent right guard, a meticulousness that delves to a depth that perhaps few understand, or care to understand, how to explore.

I think were very into the intricacies and I think theres a lot of guys that have beliefs on techniques and how to do things, Strief said. We were legitimately excited (Friday) because we took better first steps on a naked (bootleg). Legitimately, like, high-fived each other. Its kind of weird.

Its just fun having somebody else there who can offer a different viewpoint on body mechanics and offensive line play, Warford said. It is kind of nerdy. Just (talking about) motion, what muscles are engaged, if inefficiencies are happening on a certain play, being able to diagnose whats going on and trace it back to whats leading back to mistakes.

Its a fresh dynamic for Strief.

For much of the first 11 years of his NFL career, when he looked to his immediate left, there stood Jahri Evans, one of Striefs 2006 draft classmates. Evans, a six-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro, became the second-most decorated offensive lineman in franchise history and earned franchise-wide respect.

But when the Saints signed Warford in free agency, the separation from Evans was solidified. Warford (6 feet 3, 317 pounds and entering his fifth season) seamlessly has adapted to playing alongside Strief after spending his first four seasons with Detroit.

With Zach, its real easy to transition into this offense, Warford said. Hes been in there for so long, he knows everything thats going on. He knows how he and Jah used to set and hes explained that to me.

Hed tell me how to incorporate how I play a little bit into what hes used to, and vice versa. Weve been bouncing opinions back and forth on each other and its going real smooth, as smooth as I could have hoped. With Zach, this transition has been real easy for me.

Said Strief: I think more than anything, theres just differences in how theyre moving. I felt like I could overlap Jah in play sometimes on the backside. His release from certain blocks was different, hes a different type of player.

Larry is so explosive, I feel like Im behind him half the time. So thats pushed me a lot to get going, get out of the stance and get moving because hes gone quicker than Jah was. Theyre just different types of players and I think that stuff will come. But I think its already going well. I think were already getting a good feel for each other.

So good is the chemistry, Warford said, that the two nearly have reached the point where they dont have to speak in order to have an understanding of how best to coordinate on a given play.

Cohesion-wise, were way ahead of where I would have thought we would be, Strief said. We do no doubt, in meetings all the time well get, like, all excited about a step. Like, You see that? You see that step? Its like, Thats good. Hes like, Thats nice. Its really weird.

Its a weird relationship but were both really into it. Were not going to run into any issues. I think were already getting to a point here where communication is easier, we dont have to be as descriptive. I think were seeing things.

The realization that they were on the same page came early.

I realized it pretty quick, just from the first day, Warford said. I think he was talking to Landon (Turner) about something, about engaging his hips and how he should go about doing it, and it was exactly how Id been taught. From there, I was like, Let me stand by this guy. It went on from there.

I call him Yoda. Just his vast understanding about our position from the ground up, in and out. Its on another level. I love talking about it, so I just call him Yoda.

His meticulous teammate doesnt mind at all.

Larry referred to me as Yoda, and I thought that was a nice compliment, Strief said. Thats nerdy.

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Cedar Rapids Rampage United boosted by year-round chemistry in 9-win PLA campaign – The Gazette: Eastern Iowa Breaking News and Headlines

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Aug 1, 2017 at 11:45 am | Print View

CEDAR RAPIDS For the second year in a row, the outdoor soccer season ended one step from the championship match for the Cedar Rapids Rampage United.

While Saturdays 2-1 Premier League of America tournament semifinal loss to Carpathia FC again denied the second-year club a shot at a league title, it would be difficult to deny that significant advancements were made on the field.

From when we started last year to the end of this very last game, we improved a lot, Rampage United Coach Hewerton Moreira said. (We went) from a season that obviously nobody really knew us last season to be one of the most respected teams in the PLA.

Last year, Cedar Rapids finished 5-2-4 with a semifinal loss to RWB Adria. The club moved to Kingston Stadium for the 2017 season and stormed through the first two months with an 8-0 record, which included four shutouts and a 29-4 scoring advantage.

While a July 21 loss at eventual PLA champion Milwaukee ended the Cedar Rapids unbeaten streak, the Rampage United entered the tournament with a 9-1 record and a West Division title.

Much like the Milwaukee loss, Cedar Rapids was undone by a goal in the 90th minute by Carpathia.

Sometimes sports is not fair, Moreira said. It is not every time that the best team wins. I strongly believe that we had the best team in the league, but unfortunately we were unable to pull it out.

Team captain Gordy Gurson led the team with 11 goals, while former Cedar Rapids Washington, Cedar Valley Christian and Drake player Kenan Malicevic tallied six in seven games.

With the outdoor season in the rearview mirror, the franchises focus shifts to the upcoming Major Arena Soccer League indoor campaign. For Moreira, who will turn 38 on Halloween, that means a significant shift in responsibilities from coach-only with the outdoor team to indoor player-coach.

Im going to play. I miss playing, Moreira said. For me, Im getting a little older and I need my rest a little bit longer than the other players, but I absolutely look to play. Starting today, Im already starting to get back in shape in order to be focused on the indoor season.

The club has submitted a contract proposal for Moreira to resume both roles, where he was quite productive last season. The Brazil native played all 20 games and was second on the team in goals (22) and assists (14). As a coach, Moreira led the squad to 12 victories, a seven-win improvement from the 2015-16 expansion season.

Moreira credits the year-round chemistry that developed by virtue of the franchise having a summer outdoor team and a winter indoor team.

I really wish, for the sake of the level of the MASL, it would be perfect to have every team have an outdoor season, Moreira said. Thats when you engage your players. Thats when you continue to have players in shape. You have players building chemistry. For the Cedar Rapids Rampage, to add the Rampage United, really helps the squad be stronger for the indoor season.

l Comments: douglas.miles@thegazette.com

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My Chemical Romances A Summoning: How the Bands Vision Came to Life – Variety

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My Chemical Romances reunion tour, kicking off March 20 in Australia and running through October, is among the most coveted tickets of the upcoming concert season and it comes with little marketing and zero publicity. Instead, the band reintroduced itself by way of a one-off show at Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium in Dec. 2019, and revealed its tour dates a month later via a short film titled A Summoning.

The 13-minute-long video was directed by Kristian Mercado and produced by Joanna Shaw and Audrey Ellis Fox who collaborated with the band to bring its vision to life.

Mercado first met frontman Gerard Way backstage at the Shrine, describing the encounter as a crazy vibe namely due to the presence of writer Grant Morrison. As Mercado recalls: Seeing him backstage I was like, Woah! Alright, Gerard, you roll in a really interesting way and its kind of cool. And I think him being so multi-faceted, I clicked with him quickly on that. I respect that he has so many talents being able to be the rock star, but also a writer, an illustrator, toy designer. He has so much creativity that cross pollinates.

The band had an initial storyboard for A Summoning which created the narrative. The whole concept came from the band, says Ellis Fox. They were involved in every aspect approving a production designer; with casting and approving the lead; location; all the Easter eggs that the fans went crazy over, those were all placed by the band. And then Kris and I were able to do our own spin on things. Usually with music videos you sort of talk to the band through a label. But this was direct.

For Shaw, whose production company Unicorns & Unicorns got involved through Warner Records, MCRs label, via her longtime friendship with VP of creative services Devin Sarno, seeing the band live and feeling the family vibe among the MCR team, was music to my ears, she says. We work with so many people in this industry who are not as willing to be open and inviting of people into their world.

Once the initial meetings at the Shrine were successful and the band felt comfortable bringing Unicorns & Unicorns on board, everything came together very quickly. It was this huge project and we were prepping over Christmas, so I was the casting director as well as the location scout and location manager, says Ellis Fox. This script was particularly complex. [The band] and Brian Schecter wrote a story about a boy summoned by My Chemical Romance who not only has to escape his own reality, but also the many alternate universes of My Chemical Romances past, finally encountering the band in present day in the empty Forum. Kris did an incredible job putting his own spin on the creative and modernizing My Chemical Romances history.

For them, music as a visual landscape was a really important thing, adds Mercado of the three-day shoot. So I could see, at least from a top-line perspective, how we built this story. It was essentially a young mans journey through the catalog of music and kind of in a visual sense. We were able to pull imagery from what felt like a decade of their music history. so it becomes a cool journey through nostalgia. Youre able to revisit that iconic imagery and iconic themes, but through a new lens.

The video logged over a million views on YouTube and has spawned a slew of reaction videos, from fans sharing their opinions to deciphering those many Easter eggs in the film. Says Shaw:Its almost like the reinvention of the music video because what a video used to do is promote a song. I feel like this was a super creative way to tell people, Were back, were going on tour.'

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Researchers find out how bromine fits into Venusian chemistry – Phys.Org

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July 3, 2017 Night on Venus in infrared from orbiting Akatsuki. Credit: NASA

Bromine species, and hydrogen bromide (HBr) in particular, could play an important part in the photochemistry of the lower atmosphere of Venus. This conclusion was made by researchers from MIPT and the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences after comparing the data of Earth-based observations of Venus with the predictions of a photochemical model. The paper detailing their study was published in the journal Icarus.

Since the 1960s, space agencies have launched numerous space probes to Venus. Because 17 out of 24 successful missions were launched by the Soviet Union, scientists have nicknamed it "the Russian planet." Back in the mid-20th century, sci-fi writers imagined Venus as a habitable planet covered entirely by ocean, expecting that it would welcome future generations of Earthlings. But Venus had many surprises in store for its would-be colonists. The first Soviet probes that attempted to land on Venus were crushed by immense pressures in the lower atmosphere before they could reach the surface of the planet. Eventually, it became clear that Venus has a unique atmosphere, which is very dense near the surface and harbors terrific winds at higher altitudes. They blow at many times the speed of the planet's rotation. The new study advances the understanding of the inner workings of this highly complex world.

The temperature of the surface of Venus and its lower atmosphere is extremely high, around 460 degrees Celsius at the surface. The atmospheric pressure on Venus is 93 times that on Earth. Under these extreme conditions, peculiar compounds are formed and released into Venusian atmosphere, such as hydrogen chloride and hydrogen fluoride. The discovery of these species on Venus a half-century ago was unexpected. That said, it would be reasonable to suppose then that hydrogen bromidethe next hydrogen halidecould also be found in Venusian atmosphere.

Vladimir Krasnopolsky and Denis Belyaev conducted their observations of Venus from one of the Mauna Kea observatories on the Big Island, Hawaii, at an elevation of 4.2 kilometers. The researchers used the three-meter telescope of NASA's Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF), coupled with CSHELL, a high-resolution spectrograph with a spectral resolving power of about 40,000. To search for hydrogen bromide on Venus, the researchers observed the strongest spectral lines of this molecular species, whose associated wave numbers are 2605.8 and 2606.2 units per centimeter, which corresponds to a wavelength of roughly 3.8 micrometers. By analyzing 101 spectra of Venus and searching for hydrogen bromide lines, the astrophysicists concluded that the abundance of this species relative to other molecules in the cloud tops at an altitude of 70 kilometers above the planet's surface does not exceed one part per billion.

"Retrieval of atmospheric parameters from spectroscopic data is far from trivial," says Vladimir Krasnopolsky, the head of the Laboratory of Applied Infrared Spectroscopy at MIPT. "It is possible to infer the temperature of the atmosphere at a given altitude from spectral line profiles and widths. As for the abundance of a given molecule relative to other atmospheric species, it can be determined by comparing the intensity of its spectral line to the intensities of lines of other molecules whose concentrations are known."

In 2012, Krasnopolsky created a photochemical model incorporating numerous components of the atmosphere of Venus. His model has now been updated to include the main photochemical processes involving bromine. According to the updated model, hydrogen bromide is roughly 300 times less abundant at 70 to 80 kilometers above the surface than at 60 kilometers due to its depletion by photolysis and reactions with atomic hydrogen and oxygen. Reanalysis of the observational data yielded an upper limit of between 20 and 70 parts per billion of hydrogen bromide below 60 kilometers. The relative abundances of various bromine species at different altitudes are shown in the figure below.

"Despite the low estimated bromine abundance, it could still be an important component of the atmosphere of Venus," says Denis Belyaev, a senior researcher at the Space Research Institute, RAS. "Thermodynamic calculations based on the chemical kinetic model of Vladimir Krasnopolsky indicate that hydrogen bromide is the dominant bromine species in the lower atmosphere."

Explore further: Mystery of rare volcanoes on Venus

More information: Vladimir A. Krasnopolsky et al, Search for HBr and bromine photochemistry on Venus, Icarus (2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.icarus.2017.04.016

The long-standing mystery of why there are so few volcanoes on Venus has been solved by a team of researchers led by the University of St Andrews.

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(Phys.org)Astronomers have detected a new faint dwarf spheroidal galaxy using Japan's Subaru Telescope located in Hawaii. The newly found dwarf, designated d1005+68, belongs to a nearby galaxy group known as the M81 Group. ...

A SpaceX Dragon capsule that brought supplies to the International Space Station has splashed down as planned in the Pacific Ocean.

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UB chemist awarded $2 million NIH grant for enzyme research – UB Now: News and views for UB faculty and staff – University at Buffalo Reporter

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In the human body, proteins called enzymes help speed up chemical reactions that are vital for life. After you eat, enzymes help your body break down food and obtain energy. Enzymes are also responsible for helping your liver rid your body of toxins, as well as many other imperative functions.

Now, a UB research team is studying the details of how enzymes perform their job. The focus of the project is on understandingthe molecular interactions that enable enzymes to accelerate chemical reactions.

The new five-year $2 million Maximizing Investigators Research Award (MIRA) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), titled Studies on enzyme activation and novel modes of inhibition, will allow the researchers to investigate a variety of problems related to the mechanism of enzyme action and inhibition.

The chemicals in living cells are stable until they need to undergo one of the many enzyme-catalyzed reactions that support and propagate life, explains lead scientist John Richard, SUNY Distinguished Professor of Chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences. Over the past century, scientists have made steady progress toward understanding the mechanism of action of enzymes, which are required to catalyze essentially every cellular reaction. This understanding has prompted advances on many fronts, including the development of interventions to cure metabolic diseases, the design of enzyme inhibitors with potential applications as drugs and the direct use of enzymes as therapeutic agents.

Richard has received funding from the NIH since 1988 to support research on a variety of topics related to enzyme mechanisms. The results from this research have added to a body of fundamental knowledge, which serves as the underpinning for translational research in the health sciences.

Professor Richard has made seminal contributions in the elucidation of enzymatic reaction mechanisms, notes David F. Watson, professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry. His receipt of a MIRA from the NIH is a testament to the impact of his scholarship. The funds will support the training of researchers and will further enhance our departments stature as a home for cutting-edge research in chemical biology.

Collaborators on project include Andrew Gulick, professor of structural biology in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, who will play the lead role in the determination of X-ray crystal structures for interesting enzyme complexes; Lynn Kamerlin, Distinguished University Professor at Uppsala University in Sweden, who will direct computational studies to model the utilization of substrate binding interactions in enzyme activation; and Hiroaki Suga, professor of organic chemistry at the University of Tokyo, who will develop libraries of cyclic peptides that show high specificity for inhibition of metabolic enzymes from parasitic compared with mammalian organisms.

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Old mattresses and a little chemistry help Syrian refugees grow food in the desert – Chemistry World

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At the Zaatari camp in the middle of the Jordanian desert something remarkable is happening. Despite poor soil and a lack of water, beds of flowers, herbs and vegetables are adding patches of colour to the otherwise barren backdrop. Its the result of a project run by University of Sheffield scientists that is helping Syrian refugees grow fresh food, despite the deserts arid conditions.

All it took was the sprinkling of a little bit of chemical science to allow a whole load of flowers to bloom

Tony Ryan, University of Sheffield

Zaatari currently shelters almost 80,000 people and is the worlds largest camp for people displaced by Syrias devastating civil war. But with less than 20cm of rainfall each year, Zaataris ground is dry and infertile. The camps inhabitants, having left their old lives behind, rely on humanitarian aid to survive.

During a 2016 visit to Zaatari, Sheffield chemist Tony Ryan discussed recycling options with the UN officials running the camp. They took me into a big warehouse and said We havent got a clue what to do with these, recalls Ryan. He describes his mounting excitement as he realised the old mattresses were made of polyurethane. Ryan knew from his research on polymer foams that polyurethane makes a good support for plants. After taking a sample back to his Sheffield lab for safety testing, Ryan and his colleagues returned to Zaatari to launch the Desert Garden project.

Desert Garden trains people in hydroponics and provides them with materials they need to grow crops. Recycled mattress foam is used as a synthetic soil and nutrient solutions are used in place of solid fertilisers, which are banned at the camp. The technique allows people to grow plants using significantly less water than would otherwise be needed in the arid climate.

Many of Zaataris residents have arrived from Daraa, an agricultural region of Syria, explains Ryan. The camps 12km from the Syrian border and basically is full of Syrian farmers, he says. So we showed them how you might grow things using polyurethane and by the next time we came back, theyd built a hydroponic greenhouse.

The recruitment of native Arabic speakers, including Ryans colleague Moaed Al Meselmani, a soil scientist who is himself a Syrian refugee, helped spur the project on. It has migrated from University of Sheffield employees doing the training, to Syrian refugees teaching each other how to do it. And its really taken off now weve trained about 1000 people, says Ryan.

Empowered by the training, Zaataris residents have successfully combined the Sheffield scientists techniques with their own farming know-how. Now we learn more from them about how to grow things in foam than they ever learned from us, says Ryan. Theyve been growing things that weve never grown. To date there have been crops of lettuce, chillies, cabbage, cucumbers, courgettes, aubergines basically the whole salad and herb bar, says Ryan.

The Desert Garden appeal is currently seeking donations to help support the project. 10 will provide plants and nutrient solution for one family, while 25 provides enough fertiliser to grow 300kg of tomatoes. If the team can raise 250,000, theyll be able to train and equip 3000 refugees and make the project self-sustaining within three years.

Beyond providing a bit of fresh food, the project offers a welcome distraction from the monotony of life in the camp. The [UN High Commissioner for Refugees] absolutely love what were doing because they always have bored farmers, says Ryan. They always have dirty mattresses, and growing things is really, really good for your mental health. It gives your life a purpose.

Ryan points out that the training is giving people skills that theyll be able to use for the rest of their lives and could potentially help them find work in horticulture. Theres a real opportunity here for livelihoods. If you do hydroponics well, you can use 90% less water for the same food production, he says. And in a country thats as water scarce as Jordan, thats a big advantage.

With enough donations, Ryan hopes that the project can be taken to all of the refugee camps in Jordan and then potentially to camps in other countries. And he says that the lessons learned in Zaatari could even help make hydroponic agriculture in Europe more sustainable.

All it took was the sprinkling of a little bit of chemical science to allow a whole load of flowers to bloom in a desolate place, says Ryan. And once wed shared our bit of chemistry with the Syrian refugees, they went off and ran with it.

Link:
Old mattresses and a little chemistry help Syrian refugees grow food in the desert - Chemistry World