ACS News Service Weekly PressPac: March 02, 2016
ACS News Service Weekly PressPac: March 2, 2016
- General Inquiries: Michael Bernstein, 202-872-6042
- Science Inquiries: Katie Cottingham, Ph.D., 301-775-8455
News Items in This Edition
Toward diagnosing diseases such as cancer in their earliest stages
Detecting diseases such as cancer in their earliest stages can make a huge difference in patient treatment, but it is often difficult to do. Now scientists report in the journal ACS Central Science a new, simple method that could...

What gives parmesan cheese its unique taste?
When it comes to pasta and pizza dishes, nothing beats a sprinkle of grated parmesan on top. But the flavor quality of the popular cheese can be inconsistent. Now scientists are using “molecular food engineering” to help ensure...

Hair forensics could yield false positives for cocaine use
Hair analysis has become standard practice for determining whether someone has abused illicit drugs. But some experts have questioned whether current methods to wash away external contaminants from samples might affect test...

Electric-car battery materials could harm key soil bacteria
The growing popularity of battery-powered cars could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but they are not entirely Earth friendly. Problems can creep in when these batteries are disposed of. Scientists, in a new study...

Syrian academics face danger, limited options
The Syrian civil war, which began in 2011, continues to result in death, destruction and displacement. The country’s higher education system has suffered dramatically, too. An article in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN)...


Journalists’ Resources
ACS Experts: Chemistry Sources for Reporters
On a deadline? Need a reliable explanation of a chemistry concept? Then you need an ACS Expert. We have a growing list of scientists who can comment about neuroscience, green chemistry, pharmaceutical science, policy issues and much more. Just contact us at newsroom@acs.org.
ACS Editors' Choice
Do you want to keep up with the frontiers of science? Check out our new Open Access service, ACS Editors’ Choice. The website features one top story every day, selected from ACS’ more than 40 peer-reviewed journals, to give the public free, direct access to some of the most relevant scientific research going on today.

ACS National Meeting News
Couldn't go to the ACS 250th National Meeting & Exposition in Boston? Then check out our resources for info you might have missed:
Press releases: www.eurekalert.org/acsmeet.php
Press conferences: bit.ly/ACSLiveBoston
ACS Webinars®
Is Your Etiquette Holding Back Your Career?
Thursday, Feb. 18, 2 - 3 p.m. ET
Employers spend millions of dollars on advertising, training and customer service, yet a lack of professionalism and etiquette by their employees can sabotage all these efforts. Watch this ACS Webinar to discover how basic workplace etiquette will enable you to be remembered for your work and not your faux pas.
Toolkits on Global Challenges/Research Funding
Journalists covering some of the great global challenges of the 21st century and federal funding of research and development (R&D) can find videos and scores of other resources in websites that the American Chemical Society has prepared on those topics.
ACS Press Release Archive
Visit our press release archive for news on a variety of chemistry-related topics.
ACS Videos
The American Chemical Society encourages news organizations, museums, educational organizations and other websites to embed links to these videos.
ACS Video of the Month
You're Cleaning Your Contacts Wrong (Probably)
Improper lens care can have gross — and sometimes serious — consequences. This week, Reactions and Gross Science explain why contacts can cause problems and how to prevent them.
Check out more Reactions videos and subscribe to the series at http://youtube.com/ACSReactions and follow Reactions on Twitter @ACSReactions.
C&EN Video Spotlight
Can You Make Helium Beer?
Two craft-brewing daredevils show Speaking of Chemistry that you can, in fact, make helium beer. It’s just not a great idea.
Related Links
ACS Podcasts
Science Elements
Science Elements is a podcast that makes cutting-edge scientific discoveries from ACS journals available to a broader public audience. Listen to the podcasts at www.acs.org/ScienceElements.

This is the latest American Chemical Society (ACS) Office of Public Affairs Weekly PressPac with news from ACS’ more than 40 peer-reviewed journals and Chemical & Engineering News.
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Please cite the individual journal, or the American Chemical Society, as the source of this information.
The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 158,000 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.