ACS News Service Weekly PressPac: October 20, 2010

Biodegradable foam plastic substitute made from milk protein and clay

Amid ongoing concern about plastic waste accumulating in municipal landfills, and reliance on imported oil to make plastics, scientists are reporting development of a new ultra-light biodegradable foam plastic material made from two unlikely ingredients: The protein in milk and ordinary clay. The new substance could be used in furniture cushions, insulation, packaging, and…

Travelling by car increases global temperatures more than travelling by plane, but only in the long term

Driving a car increases global temperatures in the long run more than making the same long-distance journey by air according to a new study. However, in the short run travelling by air has a larger adverse climate impact because airplanes strongly affect short-lived warming processes at high altitudes. The study appears in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology, a semi-weekly…

• National Chemistry Week (NCW) is October 17 - 23, 2010
  Thousands of students around the country will be participating in NCW 2010, which has the theme “Behind the Scenes with Chemistry!” They will discover that chemistry is everywhere, whether prominent as a science fair project or tucked behind the scenes of a movie set or television show. Students can explore the special effects in movies to appreciate that it is not magic, but rather common chemical concepts which explain the mystery behind the “magic” that is shown. Visit www.acs.org/ncw for more information and resources.
• Press releases, briefings, and more from ACS’ 240th National Meeting
  www.eurekalert.org/acsmeet.php
  http://www.ustream.tv/channel/acslive
• Must-reads from C&EN: Northeast states off to flying start in innovative greenhouse gas reduction program
  A regional program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from electric utilities in northeastern states is off to a flying start toward its goal of a 10% reduction by 2018. For the full story, contact m_bernstein@acs.org.
• ACS Pressroom Blog
  The ACS Office of Public Affairs’ (OPA) pressroom blog highlights research from ACS’ 38 peer-reviewed journals and National Meetings.
• Bytesize Science blog
  Educators and kids, put on your thinking caps: The American Chemical Society has a blog for Bytesize Science, a science podcast for kids of all ages.
• ACS satellite pressroom: Daily news blasts on Twitter
  The satellite press room has become one of the most popular science news sites on Twitter. To get our news blasts and updates, create a free account at https://twitter.com/signup. Then visit http://twitter.com/ACSpressroom and click the ‘join’ button beneath the press room logo.
• C&EN on Twitter
  Follow @cenmag <http://twitter.com/cenmag> for the latest news in chemistry and dispatches from our blog, C&ENtral Science <http://centralscience.org>.
• ACS Press Releases
  Press releases on a variety of chemistry-related topics.
• General Chemistry Glossary
• Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Web site on everyday chemicals
  Whether you want to learn more about caffeine, benzoyl peroxide (acne treatment), sodium chloride (table salt), or some other familiar chemical, CAS Common Chemistry can help. The new Web site provides non-chemists and others with useful information about everyday chemicals by searching either a chemical name or a corresponding CAS Registry Number. The site includes about 7,800 chemicals of general interest as well as all 118 elements from the Periodic Table, providing alternative names, molecular structures, a Wikipedia link, and other information.
• Science Connections from CAS
  CAS - Science Connections is a series of articles that showcases the value of CAS databases in light of important general-interest science and technology news. Topics range from fruit flies to Nobel Prize winners, with the CAS - Science Connections series pointing to CAS databases for a more complete understanding of the latest news.
• The Laser’s 50th
  From DVD players to eye surgery, the laser stands as one of the greatest inventions of modern times — one that truly revolutionized everyday life. Laserfest is a yearlong celebration of the 50th anniversary of the laser, which was first demonstrated in 1960.

• Are We All From Mars?
  The first episode in the American Chemical Society’s new video series, Prized Science: How the Science Behind ACS Awards Impacts Your Life, explores that possibility. It is available without charge at the Prized Science website, YouTube, iTunes and on DVD. The launch episode features research of Richard Zare, Ph.D., winner of the ACS 2010 Priestley Medal, including Zare’s work on the possibility that life existed on Mars, seeding the emergence of life on Earth.
  
  The Chemistry of Sourdough Bread
  
  The Chemistry of Fireworks
  
  The Chemistry of Grilling and Barbecuing

• Global Challenges/Chemistry Solutions
  This special series of ACS podcasts focuses on some of the 21st Century’s most daunting challenges, and how chemists and other scientists are finding solutions. Subscribe at iTunes or listen and access other resources at the ACS web site www.acs.org/GlobalChallenges.

• SciFinder® Podcasts
  Interested in healthful plant phytochemicals, nanotechnology, or green chemistry? Check out the SciFinder series of podcasts, which explore a vast array of current interest topics and new discoveries in the 21st century. The SciFinder podcasts are available in English, Chinese, Japanese, and Portuguese.

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