FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ACS News Service Weekly PressPac: April 14, 2010
ACS News Service Weekly PressPac: April 14, 2010
Contact
- Science Inquiries: Michael Woods, Editor, 202-872-6293
- General Inquiries: Michael Bernstein, 202-872-6042
The geologic time scale, shown in this chart, might be amended in the future to include a new period called the “Anthropocene epoch” that is marked by stunning population growth and unprecedented changes in human activity. In just two centuries, humans have wrought such vast and unprecedented changes to our world that we actually might be ushering in a new geological time period that...

Eggs from chickens that consumed extremely high levels of melamine in their feed still did not contain levels of the potentially toxic contaminant that exceeded U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) limits. That was the conclusion of the first study to check on the effects of melamine-contaminated feed in laying hens. It appears in ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, a bi-weekly...

Scientists are reporting first use of a new method that may make it easier for manufacturers to recover, recycle, and reuse nanoparticles, some of which ounce for ounce can be more precious than gold. The method, which offers a solution to a nagging problem, could speed application of nanotechnology in new generations of solar cells, flexible electronic displays, and other products, the scientists...

Restrictions should be placed on the use of Ginkgo biloba (G. biloba) — a top-selling herbal remedy — because of growing scientific evidence that Ginkgo may increase the risk of seizures in people with epilepsy and could reduce the effectiveness of anti-seizure drugs, a new report concludes. The article appears in ACS’ monthly Journal of Natural Products. It also suggests that Ginkgo may...
The hazy smoke lingering after forest fires contains chemicals that summon the forest back to life — and now are emerging as a potential new generation of agricultural chemicals that could boost food crop production and revitalize barren soil. Those biochemical signaling molecules, which stimulate the plant growth, are the topic of an article in the current issue of Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), ACS’ weekly newsmagazine. C&EN Senior Editor Bethany Halford notes that smoke’s ability to spur the growth of seeds…
Journalists’ Resources

- Save the Date: ACS Fall 2010 National Meeting
Join thousands of scientists gathering in Boston August 22-26, 2010 for the 240th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society. Watch for further information in the months ahead. - Press releases, briefings, and more from ACS’ 239th National Meeting
www.eurekalert.org/acsmeet.php
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/acslive - Must-reads from C&EN: Paints from plants
In a classic case of “back-to-the-future,” some paint and coating manufacturers are trying to reintroduce raw materials from natural oils and sugars into their products — a throwback to the paints and varnishes from yesteryear. With such bio-based raw materials, companies aim to reduce dependence on petroleum-based ingredients and market more environmentally-friendly products. To read more: 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.
- Bytesize Science
Bytesize Science is a science podcast for kids of all ages that entertains and educates, with new high-definition video podcasts and some episodes in Spanish. Subscribe to Bytesize Science using iTunes. No iTunes? No problem. Listen to the latest episodes of Bytesize Science in your web browser. - 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. - Science Elements
Science Elements is a podcast of PressPac contents that makes cutting-edge scientific discoveries from ACS journals available to a broader public audience. Subscribe to Science Elements using iTunes. Listen to the latest episodes of Science Elements in your web browser. Science Elements is on Facebook, friend it to see the latest updates and information. - 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.
Note to Journalists and Other Viewers
This is the latest American Chemical Society (ACS) Office of Public Affairs Weekly PressPac with news from ACS’ 38 peer-reviewed journals and Chemical & Engineering News.
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The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 161,000 members, ACS is the world’s largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.