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The latest statistics from the National Science Foundation show that during 2001, research and development investment continued to expand, only slightly slower than in 2000. Total spending increased 8.9 percent to $32.7 billion. Much of the spending was in life sciences, accounting for more than 50 percent of funding, as opposed to 3.1 percent for chemistry.

Chemists, medical professionals, sociologist, and other experts are exploring the relationship of brain chemistry (especially serotonin, hormone, and lead levels), brain damage, genetics, and environmental factors that can lead people to become aggressive and ultimately violent.

The article discusses theories of what causes amyloid diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other degenerative age-related diseases. Researchers think that pores or ion channels made of amyloid proteins could be the cause.

The Carnegie Institution has existed for 100 years, and with thoughtful management, has continued to remain a vital part of the scientific community by not hindering scientific research.

With an increase of online scientific data from publishers, universities, and traditional information providers, powerful search engines will become more important. Includes sidebar listing web sites and services.

Disabled chemists are benefiting from increased awareness of their needs, and offering employment thanks partly to the 'American with Disabilities Act.'

The science of bread making is a key concern of food chemists who are still intrigued by the processes that are at the heart of the bakery products industry. Researchers at Kansas State University are conducting studies into bread and flour aimed at understanding the ancient tradition.

The American Chemical Society presented awards sponsored by Dow Chemical Co., DuPont Pharmaceuticals Co., ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Co., ExxonMobil Chemical Co., Supelco Inc., Shell Oil Foundation, Alpha Chi Sigma Fraternity, Fischer Scientific Co., and the Camille & Henry Dreyfus Foundation to the following people: Magid A. Abou-Gharbia, Paul S. Anderson, John N. Armor, John D. Baldeschwielder, Ernst Bayer, Alexis T. Bell, Carolyn R. Bertozzi, Klaus Biemann, Christina Bodurow Erwin, and Joan F. Brennecke.

Industry continues to contribute the majority of funds for research and development in the United States, while government funding declines.

The chemical industry continues to see the growth of online editions of chemistry periodicals. The new online journals are now mentioned in the print journals and their articles indexed and abstracted in leading chemical publications and databases.

Seven newly employed chemists discuss their experiences seeking academic posts.

Scientists investigate what creates the sense of taste and what determines whether a person likes or dislikes a certain flavor.

The criteria for an article being published in a science journal are discussed.

Mutiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is considered by many as an illness characterized by hypersensitivity to different chemicals manifested by a number of symptoms. A person develops MCS when exposed to chemicals such as gasoline vapors, insecticides or pesticides, paint, thinner, smoke, nail polish, hair spray and other fragrances. Some scientists believe that symptoms are psychomatic and is triggered by stress, which may affect different organ systems including the mucous membranes, joints and muscles, gastrointestinal tract and respiratory system.

Researchers in the food-packaging industry are developing a technology designed to provide passive protection while actively improving food quality. Packaging developments emphasize on passive barriers, in which materials are usually combined for improved barrier and structural properties. Examples of these developments include flexible high-barrier materials that significantly reduce the rate of oxygen transfer to the food such as squeezable ketchup bottles.

The advantages of electronic publishing has just been realized by librarians, authors and publishers. Because of the advent of the electronic media, the advantages of the traditional scholarly publishing are being evaluated and compared to the new innovation. Despite the many unresolved issues regarding peer review, information ownership, publishing and subscription costs, a large number of publishers and authors are now shifting to the electronic media for wider and easier access.

Portability, in-line analysis, selected high-end items at a legitimate price and the convenient use for inexperienced operators marked the Pittcon '98. Perkin-Elmer displayed its IdentiCheck AutoIMAGE Near-Infrared Microscopy System worth $100,000. Foss NIRSystems exhibited its Rapid Resin II Analyzer worth $55,000 to $60,000. Nippon Instruments displayed its Mercury/SP-3D automatic mercury analyzer.

The Food & Drug Administration, US Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention are undertaking several measures to boost food safety. The plan includes developing a system to identify and address outbreaks of illness early, yield data to deter future outbreaks and develop speedy, and cost-effective tests from certain foodborne hazards to help apportion costs. The food industry will be directed to undertake preventive steps to curb microbial, chemical and physical hazards.

Electric automobiles are gradually becoming more consumer friendly as new developments gradually bring prices down and performance up. Battery ranges are being increased and costs and life limitations are being decreased, making electric vehicles affordable and efficient enough to command a niche market.

The first Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference was held in the summer of 1997 at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. to promote the concept of 'green chemistry' in mainstream chemical production. The move is aimed at reducing or eliminating environmentally-destructive products and pollution in all stages of chemical production. The event, which was attended by some 300 participants, was sponsored by the American Chemical Society, the Chemical manufacturers Association, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, a private philanthropic organization, has awarded the first $1 million grant to 20 academic researchers to encourage them to also teach as well as do research.

This article is about the new technology of pest control and manufacturing pesticide. The technology involves new pesticide formulations that reduces toxicity and controlled release of the pesticide and agricultural chemicals that makes it last over a period of years or in short hours.

A five year biotechnology research and development alliance between Massachusetts Institute of Technology and DuPont is discussed.

U.S. chemical companies will find numerous opportunities in Russia and China if they are willing to develop the infrastructure. These opportunities were discussed at the American Chemical Society's 2000 meeting.

Various individuals in the X-ray crystallography field want to provide research information to interested individuals while others do not. There is an interest in the prevention of duplicate research efforts but also an interest in competitive advantage.

At a symposium at the American Chemical Society's national meeting in Anaheim, California recently, evidence was presented regarding the health benefits of caffeinated beverages. Chocolate and coffee products contain a range of polyphenolic antioxidants called flavonoids, which may have such health benefits as prevention of heart disease. Joe A. Vinson, professor of chemistry at the University of Scranton in Scranton, Pennsylvania says that there may be more flavonoids than are ususlly accounted for.

Winners of the Nobel prizes and other major prizes are often inundated with speaking invitations. Some winners are sometimes overwhelmed by the sudden attention and interest. For instance, 1989 Nobel Prize in Chemistry winner Thomas R Cech describes as a little encroaching the many requests for his time. Professor Mario J Molina, winner of the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, said that winning carries an added responsibility.

Scientists are trying to develop hypoallergenic forms of food that would not evoke symptoms such as mild itching, diarrhea, asthma and deadly anaphylactic shock in an effort to fight the problem of allergies. Roughly 90% of food allergies may come from milk, eggs, fish, crustacea, peanuts, tree nuts, soybeans and wheat. Genetics can be used to ascertain why one person is susceptible when others are not.

Patent development is a tedious process that requires careful work and patience. An invention should be new and 'nonobvious' to be considered a patentable invention. All inventors should be included in the inventors' list. The invention is then submitted to the Patent & Trademark Office for patent approval which may take between 5 to 18 months. All documents should be clearly stated and include all pertinent information including its uses and the benefits derived from the invention.

Companies may reveal more about their strengths and flaws unintentionally through patents, journal papers and the Internet. The information derived from these sources may be utilized in developing a corporate strategy, including whether to fight, withdraw or to form an alliance with the competitor. Technology portfolios can show whether two companies overlap in technical competency.

Professor Vladimir Haensel will be awarded the Charles Stark Draper Prize by the National Academy of Engineering. The Draper Prize is the engineering counterpart of the Nobel Prize. Haensel is known for inventing Platforming, a platinum-reforming technique that effectively produces clean and cheap plastic raw materials and fuel from petroleum. The technique is recognized as a major breakthrough in the gas processing and plastics industries. At present, 83-year old Haensel still teaches chemical engineering research courses at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, and works as a consultant at Universal Oil Products, Des Plaines, IL.

The 2000 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring have been given to ten institutions and ten individuals. The award often recognizes the mentoring of students by university professors.

Chemical producers should strive to achieve profitability by coupling careful maintenance programs with reliability planning, according to speakers at the International Conference and Workshop on Reliability and Risk Management. There are other costs and psychological effects of workplace accidents aside from those associated physical damage but chemical producers could prevent accidents while achieving a good level of production reliability.

Participants and attendees of the International Conference and Workshop on Reliability and Risk Management mostly agree that proactive safety engineering could help prevent accidents associated with human error. Attendees agree that engineering with 'ergonomics' or human factors in mind could prevent accidents because good design can be used to modify behavior and consequently lead to a safer workplace environment.

The Institute of Medicine's Committee on the Safety of Silicone Breast Implants has been commissioned by the Department of Health & Human Services and its National Institutes of Health, to undertake a review that will aid policymakers comprehend scientific proof behind safety regards about implants. The 13-member committee, which encompasses specialists in immunology, epidemiology, reconstructive surgery, silicone polymers and other fields, will try to evaluate data submitted by speakers from the Food & Drug Administration, National Cancer Institute, unversities, manufacturing companies, hospitals and the general public. The committee will evaluate a possible link between silicone breast implants and disease, while evaluating whether implants affect the children of women with the devices.

At the recent ACS meeting, Dawn I. Del Carlo, assistant professor in the chemistry and biochemistry department of Montclair State University (Upper Montclair, New Jersey) read a paper discussing the problem of chemistry students cheating on their lab work.

The author examines the call for reforming the science curriculum in high schools. Topics include improving science literacy in students, increasing interest in the sciences, and relationships between levels of teaching.

The 2000 International Chemical Congress of Pacific Basin Societies conference included research papers on natural products applications. Industry analsyst said that natural feedstocks can be used as fuel alternatives and biodegradability ingredients.

Chemists from the University of Picardie Jules Verne, France developed new electrode materials that will give better performance to lithium-ion batteries.

The advantages and ongoing development of digital publishing, and its effect on traditional journals, is discussed.

A recent survey from the Industrial Research Institute reveals that companies are focusing their research and development activities by collaborating with academic and government labs to provide concrete business results.

The National Journal of Young Investigators will provide undergraduates an understanding of the world of science. The journal is being funded with over $150,000 from organizations that include the National Science Foundation, Glaxo Wellcome, and Duke University. The periodical is published as an electronic journal on the web site http://www.jyi.org.

Liberal arts colleges are expected to gain a higher number of students pursuing a science PhD than undergraduates graduating from research universities. The difference can be brought about by the positive effect of close student-faculty interaction, research opportunities, and the supportive environment provided by institutions that focus on undergraduates.

Research by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on the TWA Flight 800 incident concludes that a fuel-vapor explosion due to increased temperatures in the fuel tanks caused the accident. The board is considering the recommendations of the Federal Aviation Administration of substituting Jet A and A-1 fuels with JP-5 fuels used by the Navy which have higher flash points, making them less susceptible to combustion. The NTSB believes that the accident could have been averted if the fuel tanks were not explosive.

Researchers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is looking on the possibility of using plants as a source of food and gas in space explorations. The problem is actually centered on finding the right combination of plants and volatiles which would enhance the recirculation of waste gases and materials in a closed system. Some of the potential volatiles under analysis include ethylene, nitrous oxide, organics and salts.

Researcher Joseph C. Hall has formed the Innovative Reproductive Technologies, a company aimed at commercializing his research in contraceptives. Scheduled for development is Hall's male contraceptive compound which blocks the enzyme used by sperm cells to detect and fertilize eggs. Experimental trials in rats showed 92% effectivity. The compound is analogous to the N-acetyl-beta-D-hexosaminidase, the enzyme used by sperm cells to cut through the egg cell's protective sugar coating. The compound will be developed either as a patch or as an oral contraceptive.

Chemical educators are changing the way they teach chemistry to be more in tune with real world needs, especially when transitioning from high school to college and from college to industry.

In July, 2006, the FDA will require that all foods sold in the U.S. specifically list the trans fatty acids content. Currently, laws allow labels to include trans fats within the general category of fats. Frito-Lay has already changed the label on its Doritos snack foods to show that it contains no trans fats.

On June 4, 2003, EBSCO Industries bought RoweCom. RoweCom had filed for bankruptcy. The company provides a centralized management service for library periodical subscription.

Michael J. Baird read a paper at the recent ACS meeting in which he described his career as a college professor teaching chemistry to non-chemistry majors. In some cases this meant redesigning the courses to better suit students' needs, and being hit by a eraser thrown at him by a bored student.