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My Chemical Romance Have Started Using Their Blog Again – ROCKSOUND.TV

Posted on January 20, 2020 by Danzig

It really is nice to have them back, isn't it?

My Chemical Romancehave revived the blog section on their website, and it's all started with a short blog post from frontman Gerard Way.

Before the infamous breakup of MCR in 2013, the members of My Chem used their website blog as a means of communicating with their fans in a more long-form way than Twitter (which at the time was still only limited to 140 characters per tweet - what a time!).

Now that they're back in action, the old My Chem blog feature has roared back to life, with Gerard sharing some thoughts on his preparations to hit Japan later this year, for two scheduled live appearances.

"Gearing up to head to Japan it has always been a magical place for me," Gerard shared. "Every time I am there, I learn something about the culture, and something about myself. I come back home feeling fresh, with a new perspective. The crowds are as spectacular as the beauty of the country."

This is the first time since the announcement of the reunion that Gerard has spoken about My Chem being back, beyond the initial announcement made on his Instagram on Halloween last year.

So far, MCR have five live appearances scheduled for 2020, across Australia, New Zealand and Japan. But it looks like the UK and the US might be up next. Check out the full list of announced tour dates below:

MARCH

20 - MELBOURNE Download Festival21 - SYDNEY Download Festival25 - AUCKLAND Western Springs28 - OSAKA Intex29 - TOKYO Download Festival

Venetian physician had a key role in shaping early modern chemistry – Phys.Org

Posted on May 26, 2017 by ev1

May 26, 2017 Santorio's marginal note to col. 406C-D, in Santorio Santori, Commentaria In Primam Fen Primi Libri Canonis Avicennae (Venice, 1625), British Library, 542.h.11. Credit: Santorio's marginal note to col. 406C-D, in Santorio Santori, Commentaria In Primam Fen Primi Libri Canonis Avicennae (Venice, 1625), British Library, 542.h.11. Courtesy of the British Library.

Newly discovered notes show for the first time the Venetian doctor who invented the thermometer and helped lay the foundations for modern medical treatment also played a key role in shaping our understanding of chemistry.

The physician Santorio Santori, who lived between 1561 and 1636, came up with an accurate explanation for how matter works twenty years before Galileo.

Handwritten notes made by Santorio in a 1625 edition of his own book Commentaria in primam Fen primi libri Canonis Avicennae (A Commentary on the First Fen of the First Book of Avicenna's Canon) show he realised matter was made from invisible 'corpuscles'. Although the Greek philosopher Democritus and others after him had already maintained the existence of such bodies, historians previously believed that nobody had come up with the proof for their existence before Galileo.

The book, kept in the British Library, was found by Dr Fabrizio Bigotti, from the Centre for Medical History at the University of Exeter. The language used and handwriting style strongly suggest the notes were made by Santorio.

Dr Bigotti said: "This discovery makes the case for a deeper study of early modern chemistry in the Medical School of Padua, where Santorio taught, and the work carried out there between the end of the sixteenth and the beginning of the seventeenth century. Santorio's true contribution to chemistry has been forgotten but, I hope, this new discovery means that will no longer be the case.

"The notes show he did not see the world not made up of four elemental qualities - hot, cold, dry and moist - as Aristotle had suggested. This helped to start the process of getting rid of the idea that magic and the occult could be found in nature.

"It is truly remarkable that, beyond his undoubted merits in science and early modern technology, Santorio also held very innovative ideas on chemistry and was so fully committed to investigating the structure of matter."

Santorio had correctly identified the minimal structure of matter as a series of corpuscles as early as 1603, and proved his assumptions by means of a series of optical experiments on light, as well as distilling urine. All these experiments were carried out with instruments Santorio made especially for his own research.

It was already known that Santorio laid the foundations for what is understood today as evidence-based medicine and the study of metabolism. The new discovery shows he was he among the first scientists to suggest the body aims at preserving its own balance through discharge of invisible particles.

Dr Bigotti began researching the life and works of Santorio in 2013. His project is now funded by Wellcome Trust. He outlined this new discovery at an international conference organised with Professor Jonathan Barry, Co-director of the Centre for Medical History of the University of Exeter, in Pisa this month.

Explore further: The next scientific breakthrough could come from the history books

More information: Fabrizio Bigotti, A Previously Unknown Path to Corpuscularism in the Seventeenth Century: Santorio's Marginalia to the(1625), Ambix (2017). DOI: 10.1080/00026980.2017.1287550

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New research from the University of Exeter has found that the Roman influence on our landscape extends beyond the legacy of our urban infrastructure to also shape the countryside and our rural surroundings.

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Researchers from the University of Warwick and the Universit Franois-Rabelais Tours have identified the first manuscript known to have belonged to the eminent French essayist, Michel de Montaigne.

The Wellcome Library is to bring the papers of the pioneers of modern genetics together in one place for the first time as part ofaground-breaking digitisation project, Modern Genetics and itsFoundations.

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Venetian physician had a key role in shaping early modern chemistry - Phys.Org

Chemistry, trust lead Herd defensive line to success – Huntington Herald Dispatch

Posted on November 7, 2019 by Danzig

HUNTINGTON Anyone who has ever been a competitor knows there is no trust like that within yourself to get a job done.

The beauty of team sports is that, just like a player trusts in his or her own abilities, he or she also must build that same trust level within their teammates to see success.

For Marshalls 2019 football season, there is no better example of this than the Thundering Herd defensive line, led by defensive ends coach Cornell Brown and defensive tackles coach J.C. Price.

Marshall rotates as many as 11 or 12 players six defensive ends and five or six defensive linemen to apply constant pressure within a game. The result of that rotation is a Marshall defense that is tied for sixth in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 32 sacks and a team that is finishing games strong in the fourth quarter.

Marshall head coach Doc Holliday said that unselfish nature among those players is one way that he knows he has a special team.

Im sure all of these guys would like to play more, but they also like that feeling in the locker room after theyve won the game, Holliday said. Theyre an unselfish bunch and theyre playing well.

Channing Hames, a senior defensive tackle who has been in the program for five years now, said that building that trust level starts in the offseason when guys are working in the weight room and in individual drills. Hames can see those guys who are working hard beside him and going through every repetition at full speed, giving their all for the team, which helps create that bond between teammates.

One such player whom Hames has worked closely with is sophomore Jamare Edwards, who is Hames backup. Whereas at one time Hames would have wanted every rep, now he can see the benefit of shared time.

I think Jamare has done an outstanding job coming in and executing his job what hes supposed to do and even doing a little more just showing extra effort on plays and showing up when a play comes toward him, Hames said. I feel like when opportunities came, hes definitely (taken) advantage of that.

Things like that help me and the starters out to know that we can trust him to do what hes supposed to do when were not in there.

The defensive end rotation is even more impressive with Marquis Couch and Darius Hodge starting the games, but a six-man wave that includes names such as Koby Cumberlander, Sam Burton, Fermin Silva and Owen Porter, who all get action during a contest.

On average, Marshalls defense is only seeing around 66 plays per game with snaps being divided.

If Hodge played the number of snaps a lot of people in this league play, he may be leading our league in sacks, Holliday said. Gosh, he plays 30 plays a game. Then, you roll Koby Cumberlander and Sam Burton goes in there and plays welland you have Couch and Silva. We have about six defensive ends who are rolling in there to help us, and thats a good thing.

In the shorter picture of one week, Marshalls defensive linemen are at their best when the game is on the line.

I think we do a good job subbing in and out so by the time the fourth quarter comes, either me or one of us is ready to go in and cause havoc, Hames said.

In the longer scope of an entire season, that depth has been pivotal for the Herd in terms of injuries, which have been limited along the defensive line because players arent seeing the field as much. With the Herd in control of its destiny in Conference USAs East Division, it is now preparing for its final stretch run of the regular season a pivotal three-game race to the finish that starts with a Nov. 15 matchup against Louisiana Tech.

If things go as they have to this point in the season, Marshalls defensive line is going to be a key cog in seeing that success continue.

That entire unit is focused on quality not quantity as it moves toward its goals of a Conference USA championship.

Mavs see young core building chemistry during summer of training … – Mavs.com

Posted on May 11, 2017 by Fredricko

DALLAS Finishing the 2016-17 season with nine players on the roster 26 years old or younger, the Dallas Mavericks now hope to continue the progression of their emerging youth movement going into next year.

Starting off the season with a 4-17 record while 13-time All-Star Dirk Nowitzki missed time due to a right Achilles strain, the Mavericks were forced to turn to their young contributors early and often. The Mavs then saw their young players rally together by the end of the grueling 82-game schedule, despite missing out on the playoffs following a 33-49 campaign. The Mavericks will now attempt to foster their young talent with an extensive offseason training schedule that begins during the month of May. And according to Mavs coach Rick Carlisle, the goal is to help facilitate the growth, chemistry and development of the teams first- and second-year players throughout this summer.

Its going to be busier (this summer) with player development internally than its been, Carlisle admitted. We have a schedule in place. Our first- and second-year guys will be back in mid-May for a couple of weeks, and then mid-June for a couple of weeks. Were going to space out their workouts, so that their bodies can stay fresh, and then prepare them for the Summer League. Weve got to get Yogi (Ferrell) and (Dorian) Finney-Smith and (Nicolas) Brussino and (A.J.) Hammons better. In the first year, theres always going to be an increase in skill level and things like that. Weve just got to be careful not to let these guys plateau. One of the ways we get better is to get better from within.

Weve got to be careful about doing too much too soon, the coach added. So much in this league is really geared towards a group of guys being tied together in the locker room and having a set of definable skills. We want there to be an element of positive predictability within the team, so that everybody knows what everybody can do.

The Mavericks young contributors began to develop definable roles late in the 16-17 schedule while seeing the bulk of the playing time during the final six games of the season. The young Mavs also had their hard work rewarded with a 100-93 win in Memphis during the season finale on April 12, snapping a five-game losing streak to enter the offseason on a high note.

The Mavericks hope to carry the momentum of that victory into the summer, looking to grow the confidence of the young core. That said, each of the young pros will also be asked to grow their own games and come into next season a better player.

A lot of young guys now are just taking it by storm a little bit, and its just more ammo for us to go out there and play even harder for each other, Ferrell explained. We know were young and were going to make mistakes, but thats all a part of the learning process.

I think were excited going forward, 26-year-old combo guard Seth Curry echoed. We showed a lot of things we can build on with young talent. Guys were playing big minutes and playing big moments throughout the season against other great teams and playing well, showing that we can win and not just playing well and just being good. We competed with some of the best teams in the league. And obviously, guys have got to get better going into the offseason. Guys have got to come back and build off the experience they got this year. I think everybody who played and got an opportunity to show what they can do is excited about that.

Much of the teams success next season will come from chemistry on and off the court, according to 25-year-old big man Dwight Powell. That said, the Mavericks hope their budding stars can develop chemistry by spending an extensive amount of time together during the summer.

The Dallas front office also hopes to add another young star capable of stepping in and contributing during the upcoming NBA Draft in June. And with a schedule already in place for the first- and second-year pros to train together in Dallas during the summer, the Mavs see the lessons learned this season serving as motivation for the entire young core.

I mean, chemistry comes down to spending time with one another off the court, playing and having success together, Powell said. We had some trying times this year, but I think it helped us build some strength together and learn a lot about each other during those tough times. That comes with the territory. Guys came in ready to work every day, and I appreciated that. So, at the end of the day, we had a team of guys that wanted to win and wanted to work hard and wanted to be here. You cant ask for more than that. I think the most confidence I have is in guys hunger and guys resolve at the end of the season. They wanted to get better and really are prepared to kind of attack this offseason. I know we all kind of have a bitter taste in our mouths from the whole season and the result at the end of the day, but well try to convert that into motivation for the next few months.

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Mavs see young core building chemistry during summer of training ... - Mavs.com

Brandin Cooks’ chemistry with Tom Brady among Pats’ OTA storylines – ESPN (blog)

Posted on May 22, 2017 by Danzig

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots move to the third phase of the voluntary offseason program this week, holding their first organized team activity on Monday. Players can now be at the facility for up to six hours and take part in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills.

While the first OTA open to the media isnt until Thursday, here are a few things of particular interest in the no-pads setting:

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

Gilmore and Butler at corner. After an offseason of uncertainty as to whether Malcolm Butler would be back in New England, the Patriots can now boast that they have arguably one of the NFLs best 1-2 cornerback tandems with Butler and Stephon Gilmore. This will be their first chance to work together in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills -- where coaches often stress the importance of communication -- with reporters also potentially getting a feel for which cornerback the coaching staff currently views as the top option in the slot in a three-corner nickel package.

Any sign of Gronkowski? Tight end Rob Gronkowski is making progress in his return from back surgery that prematurely ended his 2016 season, and this will be a chance for further context on how far along he is. If Gronkowski can get in the ring as part of a WWE show, is it unreasonable to think he could be on the field in a non-contact, no-pads setting?

A new look at running back. While running backs coach Ivan Fears has passionately pointed out that it isnt real football until players are in full pads, this will be a first look at how natural Mike Gillislee and Rex Burkhead look catching the football. They join James White, Dion Lewis and D.J. Foster atop the depth chart in a new-look backfield. The Patriots no longer have a big, power rusher with LeGarrette Blount now in Philadelphia, as Gillislee has a similar physical makeup as Stevan Ridley at 218 pounds.

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Brandin Cooks' chemistry with Tom Brady among Pats' OTA storylines - ESPN (blog)

Caltech Chemistry Student Receives Fulbright Fellowship – Pasadena Now

Posted on May 26, 2017 by Fredricko

Pasadena Now

Caltech Chemistry Student Receives Fulbright Fellowship
Pasadena Now
At Caltech, Roberts has focused her studies on inorganic chemistry and has worked in the lab of Jonas C. Peters, Bren Professor of Chemistry and director of the Resnick Sustainability Institute. Through Caltech's Summer Undergraduate Research ...

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Caltech Chemistry Student Receives Fulbright Fellowship - Pasadena Now

Shatori Walker-Kimbrough ‘nervous’ in preseason debut as Mystics … – Washington Post

Posted on May 4, 2017 by ev1

With 11 days left until their regular season opener, the Washington Mystics were back in the gym Wednesday afternoon less than 24 hours after defeating the Indiana Fever, 87-67, in their preseason opener in Indianapolis.

Coach Mike Thibault spent the final portion of practice on the main court at Verizon Center working on end-of-game situations. In one drill, prized offseason acquisition Elena Delle Donne stepped into the passing lane for a steal to preserve a lead. Moments later rookie Shatori Walker-Kimbrough did the same.

Its a play the No. 6 pick in this years draft made time and again while at Maryland, where she completed her career this past season as the schools fourth all-time scorer.The guard-forward also developed into a responsible defender, leading the Terrapins in steals as a senior.

Walker-Kimbrough finished with 12 points in 20 minutes in Tuesdays exhibition, logging the most playing time among the starters at a venue where she shined in college. As a junior, Walker-Kimbrough was named most outstanding player in helping the Terrapins win the Big Ten tournament title at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

[Elena Delle Donne sharp as Mystics beat Fever in preseason opener]

Im not going to lie. I was a little nervous, Walker-Kimbrough said of her professional debut. Its so crazy just being out there actually going against a different team. Its like so surreal to me, but it went great. I thought we played really good as a team.

Honing team chemistry has been a priority during training camp given the many newcomers to the club. Just two starters against the Fever were with Washington last season, and among the seven reserves who played, only forwards Tianna Hawkins and Ally Malott have experience in a Mystics uniform.

Thibault held out starting guard Tayler Hill because of a sore ankle, and backup point guard Ivory Latta did not play while sherests her surgically repaired knee. Also missing from the lineup were Emma Meesseman and Kristi Toliver, both starters who have yet to come back from playing overseas.

Meesseman and Toliver are expected back next week, but not in time for the final preseason game Monday night against the Minnesota Lynx at Verizon Center.

I thought it was good just to get out there against a different team, said forward Asia Taylor, who came off the bench to lead Washington with 13 points against the Fever. I liked our energy we came out with. I liked that coach put us out there with different lineups and different matchups, and I got to play a bunch of different positions, which was good for me to just kind of get out there and put everything together weve been doing in practice.

[After 10 seasons in the WNBA, Ivory Latta remains Mystics bundle of energy]

The next few days of practice are set to include, among other assignments, installing more offensive sets, Thibault indicated. The Mystics are somewhat limited in what they can do in that regard in part because of the absence of Toliver, the starting point guard.

Still, getting Delle Donne more comfortable within the offense remains an ongoing process, with the next step scripting plays designed especially for the 2015 WNBA MVP. Delle Donne joined the Mystics in a blockbuster offseason trade with the Chicago Sky in which Thibault, also the general manager, dealt the No. 2 overall pick this year, center Stefanie Dolson and guard Kahleah Copper in exchange for the then-restricted free agent.

Delle Donne had 12 points, three assists and two rebounds in 17 minutes against the Fever while frequently matched against forward Candice Dupree, a five-time all-star.

We arent running that many plays right now, and were certainly not running plays designed for individuals at the moment, Thibault said. She had a good flow [against Indiana]. The goal is to play her between 15 and 18 minutes and kind of get her out there particularly when they had Dupree and those guys on the court. I thought it was a good start.

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Shatori Walker-Kimbrough 'nervous' in preseason debut as Mystics ... - Washington Post

A&S Outstanding Instructor Award Presented To Chemistry Lecturer – Yankton Daily Press

Posted on May 8, 2017 by Danzig

VERMILLION Kadarkaraisamy "Kadal" Mariappan, Ph.D., a lecturer in the Department of Chemistry at the University of South Dakota, is the 2017 recipient of the Outstanding Instructor Award presented by the College of Arts & Sciences.

After joining the chemistry department as a post-doctoral fellow in 2002, Mariappan began teaching laboratory courses as an instructor in 2005. He became a lecturer and chemistry teaching laboratory coordinator in 2007.

Mariappan teaches large lecture courses for students who are not majoring in chemistry and may have limited background in math and science.

"How do I make chemistry interesting for those students? The very first meeting of class I go over the importance of chemistry concepts," Mariappan said. "For example, I show them how the water molecule exists in liquid form because of one simple chemical interaction."

Mariappan says his approach to teaching the chemistry survey course for non-majors has spurred a greater interest in chemistry for some in his class. "There are usually a few students who change their majors to chemistry after the class," he said. "That means somebody listened."

With large lectures that start at 8 a.m., Mariappan also must encourage students to make it to class at an early hour. Short quizzes on the previous lecture or readings ensure attendance and Mariappan lets students discuss the questions and answers during the quiz. "They can work as a group to find the best answer," Mariappan said. "I tell them that education is not about grades but about training themselves to think."

The Outstanding Instructor Award is given annually to a faculty member in the College of Arts & Sciences who demonstrates outstanding classroom teaching and mentoring of students. The winner receives a cash prize, made possible through an annual gift of the Johnson family. Mary Elizabeth Johnson is a USD graduate in mass communication who served as Chaplain at the Mayo Clinic for over three decades, working closely with women experiencing health issues and loss. Johnson completed graduate work at Seattle University, and served as an adjunct member of the Mayo Medical School.

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A&S Outstanding Instructor Award Presented To Chemistry Lecturer - Yankton Daily Press

First one bit chemical memory unit: The ‘chit’ – Science Daily

Posted on May 4, 2017 by Danzig

Science Daily

First one bit chemical memory unit: The 'chit'
Science Daily
The chemical foundations of the memory constructed by the IPC PAS researchers is the Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction. The course of the reaction is oscillatory: when one cycle is over, the reagents necessary to start the next cycle are reconstituted ...

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Joe Flacco, Breshad Perriman finally have chance to build chemistry … – Baltimore Beatdown

Posted on May 4, 2017 by ev1

The Ravens front office did not draft a receiver. Inhale, exhale and relax. Not only is there still time in the offseason, but the receivers on the roster, notably Breshad Perriman, still have a lot to prove and have not had the time to prove it.

Barring injury (please God) this will be Perriman's first complete offseason. He now has chance to enter and undergo a full training camp, therefore practicing with the maximum ammount of reps.

The lack of chemistry with Joe Flacco was apparent this past season, especially on stop routes along the sidelines where Flacco's ball placement was often wayward and the ball was being thrown much after Perriman turned around.

If Perriman and Flacco can go through an entire training camp and an entire pre-season together, the resulting chemistry gained could help mitigate the loss of Steve Smith, and perhaps even help Breshad Perriman ascend as a number one wide receiver.

Perriman and Flacco have a lot of things to iron out. Perriman still fights the ball and his transition to a runner after catching the ball is still not as smooth as it could be. The timing on routes that demand to be sharp - like slants, comebacks and back shoulder fades was not present last year. They have the opportunity to make big strides in the coming offseason. It would not be a stretch to say that it is paramount for the two players in question to find their groove.

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Joe Flacco, Breshad Perriman finally have chance to build chemistry ... - Baltimore Beatdown

Massive, computer-analyzed geological database reveals chemistry of ancient ocean – Science Daily

Posted on April 1, 2017 by Fredricko

A study that used a new digital library and machine reading system to suck the factual marrow from millions of geologic publications dating back decades has unraveled a longstanding mystery of ancient life: Why did easy-to-see and once-common structures called stromatolites essentially cease forming over the long arc of earth history?

Stromatolites are contorted layers of sediment formed by microbes, and they are often found in limestone and other ancient sedimentary rocks deposited beneath oceans.

"Geologists have known for a long time that stromatolites were abundant in shallow marine environments during the Precambrian, before the emergence of multi-cellular life" more than 560 million years ago, says Jon Husson, a post-doctoral researcher and co-author of a study now online in the journal Geology. "But, stromatolites are rare in the ocean today."

The new study measures the slide in stromatolite prevalence based on descriptions of rocks sifted from more than 3 million scientific publications.

"Paleontologists have largely attributed the decline in stromatolites to the evolution of animals, starting some 560 million years ago," says Shanan Peters, a professor of geoscience at University of Wisconsin-Madison and study first author. "Many multi-cellular animals, like snails, eat microbes. The evolution of these big microbe-grazing animals hit 'reset' on the stromatolite's world. Or so the story has gone."

The new study found a weak correlation between stromatolite occurrence and the diversity of animals, but a stronger link to seawater chemistry.

"The best predictor of stromatolite prevalence, both before and after the evolution of animals, is the abundance of dolomite in shallow marine sediments," says Husson. Dolomite is a high-magnesium variety of carbonate, the type of sediment that forms limestone. Dolomite is harder to make than low-magnesium carbonate and it forms today in only a narrow range of marine environments.

When the ocean water is super-saturated with carbonate, "that can make it easier for things like stromatolites to form," says Husson. "In Lake Tanganyika [Africa], there are stromatolites forming today, even though there are animals everywhere, snails and fish. The lake is super-saturated with carbonate, and it's begging to be precipitated. The microbes come along and help it to precipitate, and the result is an abundance of stromatolites." Elevated carbonate saturation can also help the formation of dolomite, thereby driving the correlation with stromatolites found in this study.

Measuring the prevalence of stromatolites through all Earth history is difficult because counting the number of stromatolites alone is not sufficient. You must also know how many rocks could potentially have stromatolites, but do not.

The big innovation of this study is the interplay of a new type of digital library and machine reading system called GeoDeepDive with a geological database called Macrostrat. Both were spearheaded by Peters at UW-Madison.

GeoDeepDive is a digital library built on high throughput computing technology that can "read" millions of papers and siphon off specific information. To date, the GeoDeepDive library contains more than 3 million scientific publications from all scientific disciplines; some 10,000 new published papers are added daily.

Macrostrat is a database describing the known geological properties of North America's upper crust, at different times and depths.

The massive computing capacity at UW-Madison's Center for High Throughput Computing and HTCondor system, the brainchild of UW-Madison computer scientist Miron Livny, powers GeoDeepDive. Combining the digital library with the geological database allowed the researchers to estimate, at different time periods, the percentage of shallow marine rocks that actually have stromatolites.

The study began in the summer of 2015, when the third author, Julia Wilcots, a Madison-native who was then an undergraduate at Princeton, asked Peters for a summer project. "In my typical fashion I gave Julia a few options," Peters says. "She picked stromatolites, so I said, 'Okay, go do it!' With minimal help from us, she developed a working application to discover and extract every mention of stromatolites from our library."

Among 10,200 papers that mentioned stromatolites, "our program was able to extract 1,013 with a name of a rock unit, which enabled us to link stromatolite occurrences to Macrostrat," says Husson.

Wilcots did not have to travel to see stromatolites, Peters says. "In Madison, we are sitting on top of rocks recording one of the biggest rises in stromatolite abundance -- at least during the age of animals."

Scientists long ago observed that stromatolites started a long decline just before the start of the Cambrian era, but that decline represented a "fundamental question of paleobiology," Husson says. "Stromatolites are the oldest fossils that are visible to the naked eye. If you look at rock that is a billion years old, the chance for seeing evidence of life equals the chance of seeing stromatolites."

Beyond answering a fundamental question of Earth's history, the new study "allows us to do the kind of analyses that scientists used to only dream about, Peters says: 'If we could just compile all the published information on... anything!'

"Doing this study without GeoDeepDive would be all but impossible," Peters adds. "Reading thousands of papers to pick out references to stromatolites, and then linking them to a certain rock unit and geologic period, would take an entire career, even with Google Scholar. Here we got started with a talented undergrad working on a summer project. GeoDeepDive has greatly lowered the barrier to compiling literature data in order to answer many questions."

Another beauty of the big data, machine-reading approach is the baked-in capability for replication and improvement. "Now that this study has been done, we can run the stromatolite application again and again. We can refine the searches, and they will evaluate the new data that is being published all the time," Peters says. "So a rerun could make a better study, with minimal effort."

For centuries, "geologists have transferred hard-to-get information from the field to hard-to-get information in the literature," Peters says. "To achieve a broad-scale synthesis, you have to survey all of the published knowledge. There are new discoveries waiting in the scientific literature, if you can see the big picture and get all the data into one place."

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Massive, computer-analyzed geological database reveals chemistry of ancient ocean - Science Daily

Tesla battery researcher unveils new chemistry to increase lifecycle at high voltage – Electrek

Posted on May 4, 2017 by Fredricko

Electrek

Tesla battery researcher unveils new chemistry to increase lifecycle at high voltage
Electrek
Those are already pretty good results, but Tesla aims to do better with Jeff Dahn, a renowned battery researcher and the leader of Tesla's research partnership through his battery-research group at Dalhousie University. The scientist and his team ...

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Tesla battery researcher unveils new chemistry to increase lifecycle at high voltage - Electrek

With More Light, Chemistry Speeds Up – R & D Magazine

Posted on May 4, 2017 by ev1

Light initiates many chemical reactions. Experiments at theLaser Centre of the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the University of Warsaw's Faculty of Physicshave for the first time demonstrated that increasing the intensity of illumination some reactions can be significantly faster. Here, acceleration was achieved using pairs of ultrashort laser pulses.

Light-induced reactions can be accelerated by increasing the intensity of illumination -- this has been demonstrated in experiments carried out at the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IPC PAS) in Warsaw. In order to thoroughly investigate the nature of the processes involved, ultra-short consecutive pairs of laser pulses were used, and an increase in the rate of reaction between the molecules was observed by up to several dozen percent. The observations of the Warsaw scientists have been reported in the well-known scientific journalPhysical Chemistry Chemical Physics.

"Our experiments provide fundamental knowledge about the physical processes that are important for the course of important light-induced reactions. This knowledge can potentially be used in many applications, especially when dealing with high intensity light sources. These include, among others, various microscopic imaging techniques, ultra-fast spectroscopy as well as photovoltaics, particularly if light-focusing devices such as solar collectors are used," says Dr. Gonzalo Angulo (IPC PAS).

In light-induced reactions, a photon with the appropriate energy excites a molecule of dye. When there is a molecule of quencher near the excited molecule, an interaction takes place: there may be a transfer of energy, an electron or a proton, between the two reactants. Reactions of this type are common in nature. A good example is electron transfer in photosynthesis, which plays a key role in the formation of the Earth's ecosystem.

It turns out that a factor that can influence the acceleration of reactions is the intensity of the light that initiates them. In order to study the nature of the processes taking place, the Warsaw chemists used laser pulses lasting femtoseconds instead of the traditional continuous stream of light. The energy of the impulses was adjusted so that, under their influence, the dye molecules moved into the excited energy state. The pulses were grouped in pairs. The interval between pulses in a pair was several dozen picoseconds (trillionths of a second) and was matched to the type of reacting molecules and the environment of the solution.

"The theory and the experiments required care and attention, but the physical idea itself is quite simple here," notes Jadwiga Milkiewicz, a PhD student at IPC PAS, and explains: "In order for the reaction to occur, there must be a molecule of quencher near the light-excited dye molecule. So, if we have a pair of molecules that have already reacted with each other this means that they were close enough to each other. By increasing the number of photons in time, we thus increase the chance that if, after the reaction, both molecules have managed to return to their ground state, the absorption of a new photon by the dye has the potential to initiate another reaction before the molecules move away from each other in space."

The course of reactions in solutions depends on many factors such as temperature, pressure, viscosity or the presence of an electric or magnetic field. The research at the IPC PAS has proved that these factors also influence the acceleration of the chemical reaction that occurs with an increased intensity of illumination. Under some conditions, the acceleration of the reaction was unnoticeable, in optimal conditions the rate of the reaction increased by up to 25-30%.

"In our experiments so far, we have concentrated on light-induced electron transfer reactions, that is, those which change the electrical charge of the molecules. However, we do not see any reason why the mechanism we have observed could not function in other variations of these reactions. So, in the near future, we will try to confirm its efficacy in energy transfer reactions or in reactions involving also proton transfer," says Dr. Angulo.

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With More Light, Chemistry Speeds Up - R & D Magazine

Still Nervous About Attending a Sex Party? Go to Williamsburg’s Chemistry. – Thrillist

Posted on March 30, 2017 by Danzig

I arrived to the party a little late -- 1:30am to be exact; a not entirely unreasonable hour to show up to a loft party in Brooklyn. After making my way up the steps and through the metal emergency exit door, I found a crowded loft filled with exposed brick, loud music, a bartender mixing drinks, and an outdoor patio with a string of Christmas lights. It was exactly what youd expect from a loft party in Brooklyn, except for the fact that almost everyone was naked and more than half of them were having sex. This was Chemistry: the citys most laid-back sex party.

The New York sex party scene used to be stereotyped as dingy, illicit debauchery replete with mustachioed gentlemen in silk shirts and gold chains. You can thank Platos Retreat for that -- an Upper West Side sex club that was popular in the late 70s and 80s and described by author Steven Gaines in his book, The Sky's the Limit: Passion and Property in Manhattan, as an assortment of kinky types from the suburbs: dry cleaners and their wives or fat men in toupees with their heavily made-up girlfriends. But the modern day New York City sex club scene is a far cry from that, and Chemistry, a members-only, secret location-based, monthly sex party in Williamsburg, is the best example of it.

We strive to create an atmosphere that is fun, visually interesting, has great entertainment, is a treat for all of the senses, and is sexy -- but one that doesnt hit you over the head with sex. We know thats why people are there, and dont think that they need the reminder of hardcore porn projected on the walls, says Kenny Blunt, co-founder of Chemistry. The environment is completely relaxed and unpretentious; attendees run the spectrum from happily committed couples to ambiguous friends with benefits to singles looking for a hookup or to be a court-side observer. Its as hands on (or off) as you wish to make it. Theres a band, a DJ, a bartender, couples dancing, talking -- it isnt until much later that sex is put on the table and the floor and everywhere else.

Before attending Chemistry for the first time, my previous sex party experience had been at Behind Closed Doors, another members-only party thats strictly held in upscale locations (think penthouses and suites). Geared toward a more corporate-type crowd, complete with Champagne flutes, suits, and glittering Rolexes, it was the complete opposite of Chemistry. Of course, to some, that may be a more comfortable, erotic environment in which to strip down. And the fact that a party like that and a party like Chemistry can coexist in the same city speaks to just how varied New Yorkers sex preferences can be. No matter your style or preference, whether youre a Wall Street tycoon or bearded and into small-batch, whether you prefer your public sex swanky or subdued, youll find a spot to fit in. For me, that was Chemistry.

On my most recent visit to Chemistry (also my fourth), I arrived to find the lofts various dark spaces filled with suggestive blue and red lighting, strangers casually wandering around naked, a bartender doling out potent vodka sodas, couples standing around chatting in their underwear, and lofty screams of pleasure echoing from couples strewn across couches in private corners known as play rooms. Standard sex party procedure. On the outdoor patio were a series of small tents set up like a bawdy bedouin enclave. Tent doors were left slightly ajar, perfect for catching the occasional flailing leg.

It felt as normal to me as if I had walked into a local dive on a Friday night: a casual nod to another regular, a hug for the party owner, and a quick stop at the bar for a drink. It was a drastic change from my first time, even second or third, when I had an overwhelming feeling of anxiety. It makes sense -- taking our clothes off and having sex is usually reserved for private encounters with someone we care about (or at least someone whose body we care about for that particular evening). But the more Ive been to sex parties, the more Ive come to understand about New Yorks ever-evolving relationship with sex (and my own).

To become a member at Chemistry, youre required to answer a few questions about your outlook on sex and sexuality via a questionnaire that can be found on the website (these include, What is your philosophy on sex?, What role does sexuality play in your life?, and What is your favorite nonsexual hobby, past or present? Why?).

The monthly events are hosted in a large space in Williamsburg, but every now and then there are smaller, more intimate VIP events, held in a space in Clinton Hill, like a Halloween-themed party for select, regular members. There are fees per party that range based on who you are (i.e., a single woman, a couple, a regular). Chemistry member female tickets range from $20-60, and member couple tickets range from $130-200 (single men are only allowed if they are regulars and the organizers know them).

In addition to its incredibly relaxed venue, Chemistrys greatest appeal is the fact that its completely judgment-free, no matter if youre squeezed into your most revealing lace or something a little less porous. (The organizers urge attendees to shy away from jeans and sneakers and to embrace the theme du jour, whether its Leather & Lace, or a Naughty & Nice Christmas, but you certainly will not be turned away if you dont.) Members tend to be anywhere from their mid-20s to early 40s, and the vibe is all about casual conversation, laughter, and comfort, all interspersed with mood-setting entertainment like fire dancers, burlesque, or acrobatics.

I always had these grand visions of going to a swingers club or a sex party, but I could never muster the courage or frankly find the right partner, one male avid Chemistry attendee tells me. After 30-something years and asking many girls throughout my life if theyd be open to it, I finally got the opportunity to go to one of Chemistrys parties. I had no idea what to expect. The first time I entered the playroom I was amazed. It was like looking at every porn site but live, in person, in one room. People of all shapes, sizes, colors, preferences, and moaning volume.

Another member, a first-timer at the most recent party I went to, told me she was amazed by how instantly at ease she felt. I quickly came to realize, everybody was in their own world. Nobody was judging, looking at you funny -- it was just a group of open-minded, adventurous, free-spirited, and fun people expressing themselves in the best way possible. As I was bent in front of my date standing up behind me, I glanced over to see a couple sitting 5ft from us just watching. Instead of freezing or retreating, I simply waved hello. In that moment, I knew I had totally let go and felt completely at ease... and excited.

That at-ease feeling is certainly contagious at Chemistry. The third time I went, I accompanied a curious girlfriend of mine so that she could see it for herself but have me there as a built-in safety net. Like any new social setting, she was hesitant at first, clinging to my side and waiting for someone else to break the ice. By the time I left the party she was mounted atop a Sybian, on a stage in front of dozens of people, getting off while a half-naked, muscled man massaged her shoulders.

A large portion of the time, New York City singles go out with the hopes of getting laid. We go through the motions -- eye contact (but not too much because you dont want to seem too eager), conversation (but not too much because you dont want to seem desperate or self-absorbed), and the exchange of phone numbers (but not too soon, of course). We cling to our dating apps because its just so hard to meet people. We join clubs, attend Meetups, play dodgeball (or kickball, or cornhole), and even speed date -- all in attempts to meet new people, ideally with the intent on one day having sex with them. Sure, you may also be looking for a relationship, but sex is always part of the equation, even though youre working tirelessly to prove that it isnt. At a sex party... well, its ki
nd of the whole point, isnt it?

That said, no one at Chemistry forces you to participate in anything. Hours before the recent party I went to, Id feasted on Thai food and tequila with an old college roommate and wasnt feeling my most particularly sexy... or sober. I wasnt there for sex, and that was understood. (Third base on the dance floor? Completely different story.) Chemistry is a (self-proclaimed) sensual gala that is so far removed from the stigmas that sex partygoers are freaks or have bizarre fetishes. Its a club, like Craft Beer for Dummies, or Introduction to Spanish. Just a little more naked.

If youre curious about a sex party, that doesnt make you weird or a fetishist. It makes you inquisitive, it makes you adventurous, and it makes you healthy. So much of the dating scene in New York is about playing games, beating around the bush, and guessing whats going on. At Chemistry, its all laid out for you, both proverbially and literally naked. Theres no guesswork, no games. You all came for the same thing. Its the perfect place for New Yorkers who want to test boundaries, meet interesting, educated people, and maybe even have sex with them.

Meagan Drillinger is a contributing writer for Thrillist. All of her dates are tax deductible. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @drillinjourneys.

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Still Nervous About Attending a Sex Party? Go to Williamsburg's Chemistry. - Thrillist

Sculpting optical microstructures with slight changes in chemistry – Phys.Org

Posted on March 30, 2017 by Danzig

March 30, 2017 A mathematical model (left) uses a geometrical framework to explain how previous patterns grew and predict new carbonate-silica structures (right, imaged by scanning electron microscopy). Credit: Wim L. Noorduin/ C. Nadir Kaplan/ Harvard University

In 2013, materials scientists at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and the Wyss Institute of Biologically Inspired Engineering, grew a garden of self-assembled crystal microstructures. Now, applied mathematicians at SEAS and Wyss have developed a framework to better understand and control the fabrication of these microstructures.

Together, the researchers used that framework to grow sophisticated optical microcomponents.

The research is published in Science.

When it comes to the fabrication of multifunctional materials, nature has humans beat by miles. Marine mollusks can embed photonic structures into their curved shells without compromising shell strength; deep sea sponges evolved fiber optic cables to direct light to symbiotically living organisms; and brittlestars cover their skeletons with lenses to focus light into the body to "see" at night. During growth, these sophisticated optical structures tune tiny, well-defined curves and hollow shapes to better guide and trap light.

Manufacturing complex bio-inspired shapes in the lab is often time consuming and costly. The breakthrough in 2013 was led by materials scientists Joanna Aizenberg, the Amy Smith Berylson Professor of Materials Science and Chemistry and Chemical Biology and core faculty member of the Wyss Institute and former postdoctoral fellow Wim L. Noorduin. The research allowed researchers to fabricate delicate, flower-like structures on a substrate by simply manipulating chemical gradients in a beaker of fluid. These structures, composed of carbonate and glass, form a bouquet of thin walls.

What that research lacked then was a quantitative understanding of the mechanisms involved that would enable even more precise control over these structures.

Enter the theorists.

Inspired by the theory to explain solidification and crystallization patterns, L. Mahadevan, the Lola England de Valpine Professor of Applied Mathematics, Physics, and Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, and postdoctoral fellow C. Nadir Kaplan, developed a new geometrical framework to explain how previous precipitation patterns grew and even predicted new structures.

Mahadevan is also core member of the Wyss Institute.

In experiments, the shape of the structures can be controlled by changing the pH of the solution in which the shapes are fabricated.

"At high pH, these structures grow in a flat manner and you get flat shapes, like side of a vase," said Kaplan, co-first author of the paper. "At low pH, the structure starts to curve and you get helical structures."

When Kaplan solved the resulting equations as a function of pH, with a mathematical parameter standing in for the chemical change, he found that he could recreate all the shapes developed by Noorduin and Aizenbergand come up with new ones.

"Once we understood the growth and form of these structures and we could quantify them; our goal was to use the theory to come up with a strategy to build optical structures from the bottom up," said Kaplan.

Kaplan and Noorduin worked together to grow resonators, waveguides and beam splitters.

"When we had the theoretical framework, we were able to show the same process experimentally," said Noorduin, co-first author. "Not only were we able to grow these microstructures, but we could also demonstrate their ability to conduct light."

Noorduin is now a group lead at the Dutch materials research organization AMOLF.

"The approach may provide a scalable, inexpensive and accurate strategy to fabricate complex three-dimensional microstructures, which cannot be made by top-down manufacturing and tailor them for magnetic, electronic, or optical applications," said Joanna Aizenberg, co-author of the paper.

"Our theory reveals that, in addition to growth, carbonate-silica structures can also undergo bending along the edge of their thin walls," said Mahadevan, the senior author of the paper. "This additional degree of freedom is typically lacking in conventional crystals, such as a growing snowflake. This points to a new kind of growth mechanism in mineralization, and because the theory is independent of absolute scale, it may be adapted to other geometrically constrained growth phenomena in physical and biological systems."

Next, the researchers hope to model how groups of these structures compete against each other for chemicals, like trees in a forest competing for sunlight.

Explore further: Mathematical framework explains diverse plant stem forms

More information: "Controlled growth and form of precipitating microsculptures," Science, science.sciencemag.org/cgi/doi/10.1126/science.aah6350

It is well known that as plants grow, their stems and shoots respond to outside signals like light and gravity. But if plants all have similar stimuli, why are there so many different plant shapes? Why does a weeping willow ...

By simply manipulating chemical gradients in a beaker of fluid, materials scientists at Harvard have found that they can control the growth behavior of crystals to create precisely tailored structuressuch as delicate, ...

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What if you could make any object out of a flat sheet of paper? That future is on the horizon thanks to new research by L. Mahadevan, the Lola England de Valpine Professor of Applied Mathematics, Organismic and Evolutionary ...

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Compressed sensing is an exciting new computational technique for extracting large amounts of information from a signal. In one high-profile demonstration, for instance, researchers at Rice University built a camera that ...

(Phys.org)A team of researchers from several institutions in Germany has used laser pulses to change an atomic wire from an insulator to a metal and back again in what the group describes as the fastest electronic switch ...

In November of 2005, the satellite Venus Express at a speed of about 18,000 miles per hour made the trip to the second planet from the sun in about 155 days.

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Sculpting optical microstructures with slight changes in chemistry - Phys.Org

My Chemical Romance announces first US tour in nine years – CNN

Posted on February 1, 2020 by Danzig

Just weeks after My Chemical Romance reunited for a sold-out Shrine Expo Hall in Los Angeles, they have announced they are heading out on their first US tour in nine years.

The tour will start on September 9 in Detroit, Michigan and end on October 11 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The band, broke up in 2013, previously announced a series of overseas performances for March, including shows in Milton Keynes, England -- two of which sold out (65,000 tickets) in less than an hour.

Formed in Newark, New Jersey, My Chemical Romance made its debut in 2002 with the independently released album "I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love."

The band made its major label debut with 2004's "Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, "now 3x certified Platinum. The album contained the platinum hit "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)," the gold-certified "Helena," and "The Ghost of You."

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My Chemical Romance announces first US tour in nine years - CNN

US Senators form chemistry caucus – Chemical Watch (subscription)

Posted on March 30, 2017 by Fredricko

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US Senators form chemistry caucus - Chemical Watch (subscription)

Massive, computer-analyzed geological database reveals chemistry of ancient ocean – Phys.Org

Posted on March 30, 2017 by Danzig

March 30, 2017 by David Tenenbaum A stromatolite from Northern Wisconsin in the courtyard of Weeks Hall on the UWMadison campus. Credit: David Tenenbaum

Stromatolites are contorted layers of sediment formed by microbes, and they are often found in limestone and other ancient sedimentary rocks deposited beneath oceans.

The new study measures the slide in stromatolite prevalence based on descriptions of rocks sifted from more than 3 million scientific publications.

The new study found a weak correlation between stromatolite occurrence and the diversity of animals, but a stronger link to seawater chemistry.

Among 10,200 papers that mentioned stromatolites, "our program was able to extract 1,013 with a name of a rock unit, which enabled us to link stromatolite occurrences to Macrostrat," says Husson.

Wilcots did not have to travel to see stromatolites, Peters says. "In Madison, we are sitting on top of rocks recording one of the biggest rises in stromatolite abundance - at least during the age of animals."

Explore further: A window on Earth's first life formsfinding more stromatolites

Stromatolites have been discovered beyond the well-researched south-east corner of Hamelin Pool, in Shark Bay Western Australia, according to a researcher from Bush Heritage.

Look at the world-renowned stromatolites protruding from saline seas at Hamelin Pool in Shark Bay and you could be forgiven for wondering what all the fuss is about.

New research from a University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science-led science team provides new insight into one of the world's most diverse and extensive ecosystems of living microbes. The ...

Could there be a way to find bacterial structures on another planet? And if so, how important might these bacteria be in making a planet life-friendly? These are some of the questions that could be answered through studies ...

The origin of life lies in unique ocean reefs, and scientists from the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science have developed an approach to help investigate them better.

Ancient clusters of rock that preserve some of the oldest microbes on Earth occasionally possess mysterious branch-like formations. Now, scientists think they know what might have caused this enigmatic branchingchanges ...

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In 2011, researchers observed something that should be impossiblea massive bloom of phytoplankton growing under Arctic sea ice in conditions that should have been far too dark for anything requiring photosynthesis to survive. ...

A new study involving the University of East Anglia (UEA) has revealed for the first time the global scale of premature deaths related to air pollution from international trade.

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A team of scientists led by the University of Southampton has found that the Antarctic ice cap underwent dramatic cycles of expansion and melt-back millions of years ago when carbon dioxide levels were similar to those experienced ...

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Massive, computer-analyzed geological database reveals chemistry of ancient ocean - Phys.Org

Welch Foundation to Establish New Chemical Engineering Chair at UT – UT News | The University of Texas at Austin

Posted on October 26, 2019 by Danzig

AUSTIN, Texas The Welch Foundation, one of the nations largest private funding organizations for basic chemical research, is giving $2.5 million to establish the Norbert Dittrich-Welch Chair in Chemical Engineering in the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering at The University of Texas at Austins Cockrell School of Engineering. The chair is named in honor of Norbert Dittrich, who is retiring as the foundations president after serving for 26 years in this role.

The Welch Foundations generosity has helped bring outstanding faculty to UT and advanced fundamental research in chemistry, and Norbert has been vital to fostering this great relationship, said UT Austin President Gregory L. Fenves. Its fitting that the Norbert Dittrich-Welch Chair will honor his legacy in the Cockrell School. I look forward to continuing our collaboration with The Welch Foundation for many years to come.

The gift will enable the McKetta Department to invest in a prominent researcher who generates bold new ideas and develops innovative solutions to some of societys most complex problems. Already recognized as a national leader in chemical engineering research, the department will use the new chair to further strengthen its research capabilities and continue shaping the future of engineering innovation.

Dittrich joined The Welch Foundation in 1977 and became its president in 1993. Among his many accomplishments, he has been recognized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science for his philanthropic service, through which he has enhanced chemical research that continues to improve the quality of life around the world. During his 42 years with the organization, The Welch Foundation has contributed more than $800 million to the advancement of chemistry.

Throughout my career at The Welch Foundation, I have enjoyed witnessing firsthand the foundations impact on researchers, students and faculty. These Welch-funded research grants and endowed chairs are so important and continue to drive the foundations mission, advancing chemistry to improve the world, Dittrich said. It is an honor to be recognized in such a significant way.

The new chair represents the latest contribution in The Welch Foundations long history of support for chemical research at UT and throughout Texas. Since 1954, the organization has contributed nearly $930 million to the advancement of chemistry through research grants, departmental grants, endowed chairs and other chemistry-related programs statewide.

In addition to its philanthropic efforts, the foundation also presents the Welch Award in Chemistry and the Norman Hackerman Award in Chemical Research. Recent UT recipients of these annual awards include mechanical engineering professor John Goodenough, who received the 2017 Welch Award for innovative contributions to materials science and technology; chemical engineering professor Delia Milliron, who received the 2017 Norman Hackerman Award for her contributions to the chemistry of colloidal nanocrystals and novel nanomaterials; and former chemical engineering professor Christopher Ellison, who received the 2016 Norman Hackerman Award for his creative application of chemistry to the design and development of new materials and processes of great value to society.

We must remain competitive in recruiting and retaining top faculty and providing them with the resources they need to change the world, said Thomas Truskett, chair of the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering. The Norbert Dittrich-Welch Chair represents an extraordinary opportunity for us to support a highly regarded researcher who advances innovation and propels our department to even greater heights.

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Welch Foundation to Establish New Chemical Engineering Chair at UT - UT News | The University of Texas at Austin

‘The Office’: Jim and Pam’s Chemistry Is Evident in This Iconic Moment, According to Jenna Fischer – Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Posted on January 20, 2020 by Danzig

Name a better TV couple than Jim and Pam on The Office fans loved the way the two clicked as flirty friends, then watched as they dated and got married, stumbled a bit in their marriage, and looked like they had a beautiful future as the show ended. During a recent Office Ladies podcast, Jenna Fischer, who played Pam, pointed out one moment between the two that really showed their chemistry.

During the Jan. 14 installment of the Office Ladies podcast, hosts Fischer and Angela Kinsey looked at season 2s Halloween episode, in which boss Michael Scott is forced to fire a staff member of the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin. Their co-star Creed Bratton shared his experiences from the episode during the podcast as well.

Brattons character, it turns out, almost got fired, as Michael labored over who to cut, called Creed into his office to fire him and, when he was unsuccessful, fired the other background actor, Devon Abner, who played the character Devon.

Fisher shared that show-runner Greg Daniels couldnt fire a series regular cast member because they had contracts and he didnt want to fire a supporting cast member either, so it came down to Bratton and Abner, who at the time were the two background actors on the show.

Bratton shared: Greg found out that Devon had atheater contract and that he was going to go on tour, adding, Hetold us, One of you guys is going to have to go, but we dont know yet. Weregoing to shoot you both and see how it works. I remember being a little nervous,and Devon and I were friends.

During the podcast, the hosts pointed out that Jim and Pam had their first air high five during the episode, a moment that comes to the minds of many fans when they think about the couples timeline on the series.

Kinsey noted how its pretty tricky to pull off, having tried it with her daughter, finding the timing challenging, but Fischer said she and John Krasinski, who played Jim, Kind of did it perfectly the first time, adding, it was meant to be. That speaks to our chemistry, I believe.

During the Halloween episode, Pam suggests that Jim should apply for another job and he is hurt by the idea of her not missing him if he left. She later apologizes for pushing him about the job, saying shed blow her brains out if he left and he tells the camera that Pam is the only thing keeping him there.

During the podcast, they discussed how these characters are being pushed together, pulled apart quite often, with Fischer pointing out that these episodes of The Office start to feature a sweet Pam and Jim moment and then a moment where someone gets their feelings are hurt.

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'The Office': Jim and Pam's Chemistry Is Evident in This Iconic Moment, According to Jenna Fischer - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

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