Bayer and Evogene to work together on GM wheat
German chemical group Bayer has said it will pay $20 million (£13 million) as part of a five-year deal with Israeli plant sciences company Evogene that will see the two develop new genetically modified wheat varieties. In a separate deal, Bayer will buy a $12 million stake in Evogene at a price of $7 per share. The aim of the project will be to improve key characteristics such as yield, drought tolerance and fertiliser utilisation. (more…)
In this week’s Chemistry in its element podcast, Author Brian Clegg uncovers some chemical lies (or should that be lyes…) and scrubs up the compound that helps us to get stuff clean.
Could the humble street light be adding to air pollution? Yes it can, says Harald Stark from the University of Colorado at Boulder, US according to a story on the BBC website.
Talking at the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco, Stark explained that artificial lights that shine throughout the night are destroying chemicals in the night sky that help to clean up the pollution caused in the day.
— Tasty science
‘Chemistry, it’s basically cooking isn’t it?’ A question I’ve heard a few times in my life, but I’d like to think that my experiments in the kitchen produce better smells than the average organic lab. With that in mind, I thought I’d investigate how chemistry can help us cook our traditional Christmas fare.
Christmas dinner for me has always involved some sort of poultry, from the old school goose to that modern usurper the turkey. So, what’s the chemistry going on with a roast turkey? (more…)
13 December 2010: Have something to say about an article you’ve read on Chemistry World this week? Leave your comments below… (more…)
BASF buys Cognis
German chemical company BASF has completed its €3.1 billion (£2.6 billion) purchase of speciality chemical company Cognis, which it agreed to in June. Cognis makes chemicals for industries covering: health and nutrition; cosmetics; mining; agriculture; and detergents and cleaners. It also makes lubricants and coatings. The company employs 5500 people, and in 2009 it made sales of €2.6 billion. (more…)
A couple of things have caught my eye this year and made me think, ‘wow, that’s really cool! If only I had enough spare cash…’ (well, a guy can dream can’t he?). So that’s inspired me to spread the word – some of you may be in the enviable position of being able to afford such extravagances, but the rest of us can just sit and drool, hoping that Santa feels generous this year…
Your DNA as art
Blue Azur (C) DNA Art
Got a big space on your wall and a spare 300 quid or so? Fed up of that fading Madonna and child/Velvet Elvis? Then DNA Art could be for you.
Simply send this UK based company a sample of your DNA using the special kit they provide. They’ll then digest it and visualise it using gel electrophoresis, which separates the chewed up fragments of DNA by size.
Mars attack rainbow mix (C) DNA Art
Depending on your individual DNA sequence, you’ll have a different distribution of fragment sizes, which gives your own individual pattern – this is similar to the DNA profiling technique used by the police. They will then turn it into a stunning piece of unique graphical artwork – as unique as your DNA.
You can choose from a variety of sizes colour schemes and materials (depending on your budget and taste) from refined shades of blue, to the psychedelic ‘Mars attack rainbow mix’
The slimy goo that covers the spiny starfish (Marthasterias glacialis) found in the seas of Scotland, UK could hold the key to a new treatment for asthma, hay fever and arthritis as well as other inflammatory conditions, according to a news story on the BBC website today.
When we get infections or injuries, the body’s response is to become inflamed, but inflammatory conditions such as hay fever occur when our immune system starts to go mad. When this occurs white blood cells start sticking to blood vessel walls and can cause tissue damage – so an immune response designed to protect us could cause us bigger problems. (more…)
New boss at Pfizer
Ian Read
US drug giant Pfizer has a new boss at the helm. Jeff Kindler has unexpectedly retired from the company after four and a half years as chief executive, citing the demanding nature of the job. The vacancy has been filled by Ian Read, who from 2006 headed the biopharmaceutical businesses. ‘The combination of meeting the requirements of our many stakeholders around the world, and the 24-7 nature of my responsibilities, has made this period extremely demanding on me personally,’ said Kindler. ‘I am excited at the opportunity to recharge my batteries, spend some rare time with my family and prepare for the next challenge in my career.’
Brilinta news
Blood thinner BriIinta (ticagrelor) from pharma major AstraZeneca has been approved in Europe for the prevention of heart attacks and other cardiovascular events in patients with coronary problems. (more…)
Cannabis gets the Chemistry in its element podcast
treatment this week as our very own Akshat Rathi is tempted to explore the medical and mind-bending chemistry of Tetrahydrocannabinol, affectionately known as THC.
Latest News Chemistry in its element podcast
