Jun
19
19
Ripped From the Pages
Frameworks, Jobs, Fraud, And Stuff
Posted by Rachel Pepling on June 19, 2008 in Ripped From the Pages
In case you haven’t already flipped through this week’s issue of C&EN (or it hasn’t come in one piece yet), here are a few stories of interest:
- Chemists aren’t necessarily thinkin’ outside of the box when it comes to frameworks of compounds in the CAS registry.
- The U.S. job market isn’t looking so hot right now, but it’s looking less not-so-hot for chemists.
- What is hot? Preventing fraud in journal articles.
- Everybody’s favorite, What’s That Stuff?, returns to tackle liquid bandages.
High Potency
Jun
16
16
Posted by Rachel Pepling on June 16, 2008 in Ripped From the Pages, The Editor's Blog
Nothing terribly controversial in this week’s editorial. Rudy highlights Senior Correspondent Ann Thayer’s cover package on the manufacturing of highly potent compounds for pharmaceuticals and on conjugates of potent drugs and biological molecules. Rudy also highlights “C&ENtral Science,” though if you’re reading this post, you’re already aware of our humble blog. So feel free to focus on the highly potent compounds part.
Smorgasbord
Jun
2
2
Posted by Rachel Pepling on June 2, 2008 in Ripped From the Pages
A few stories from the June 2 issue that you might find of interest (plus, a movie review):
Associate Editor Britt Erickson takes a close look at the bisphenol A issue. BPA has been around for years, is in numerous everyday products, and has been deemed safe by federal and industry regulators. Industry, however, is bowing to consumer pressure and, when possible, switching to BPA-free plastics. Meanwhile, lawmakers are discussing banning the compound entirely, at least from products used by kids. Prudent or overly cautious?
Money talk–the 2007 Starting Salary Survey results are in (albeit far later than usual). Chemists who graduated between June 2006 and July 2007 seem to be doing pretty well. The market’s looking a bit shakier now, so let’s hope the ‘08 grads fare the same.
And Assistant Editor Tonia Moore reviews “Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull” in Reel Science. She gives it a 3-flask rating. What do you think?
Grab your BPA-free water bottle, a tub of popcorn, and the C&EN Classifieds (C&EN Online is hiring, by the way), and enjoy!
Journal Metrics
May
29
29
Posted by Rachel Pepling on May 29, 2008 in Ripped From the Pages
In this week’s issue of C&EN, Senior Editor Sophie Rovner explores the world of journal metrics. The traditional impact factor clearly has limitations, and several potential alternatives either exist or are in development. Which metric do you favor? What wild ideas do you have for measuring the significance of a journal?
Bush And The Environment
May
27
27
Posted by Rachel Pepling on May 27, 2008 in Ripped From the Pages, The Editor's Blog
From this week’s editorial:
What’s with the Bush Administration and environmental regulation? What is it about President George W. Bush and his closest advisers that has led to an almost complete rejection of the 30-plus-year consensus in the U.S. that legislative and regulatory means are required to ensure a healthy environment for us and for future generations?
I’m not talking here about efforts to prevent global climate change. We now know that President Bush’s 2000 campaign promise to regulate greenhouse gases was as bogus as his claim to be a “uniter, not a divider.”
No, I’m talking about the more mundane, but still vitally important, control of mercury from coal-fired power plants, ozone in urban environments, air quality in national parks, and reporting toxic releases from industrial plants, to name just a few examples. In every one of these cases, and in many others, the Bush Administration has worked for seven years to undermine coherent regulation on these issues and the agencies, especially the Environmental Protection Agency, responsible for that regulation.
Read on, then share your thoughts here.
Life And Death
May
19
19
Posted by Rachel Pepling on May 19, 2008 in Ripped From the Pages, The Editor's Blog
There’s lots of discussion fodder in this week’s editorial. Rudy highlights several articles from this and last week’s issues:
- Jean-Francois Tremblay’s cover story, “Sourcing From China“
- A trio of heparin contamination stories in the May 12th issue
- William Schulz’s story on lethal injections (subscription required)
Sticky Reminders
Apr
23
23
Posted by Carmen Drahl on April 23, 2008 in Chemistry is Everywhere, Ripped From the Pages
I’ll admit that I don’t actively seek out fascinating references to chemistry after work hours. But there are times when I get subtle reminders of its omnipresence. I received a wedding invitation in the mail a little while back with a stamp on the return envelope that could only have been chosen by chemists in love. (People who are familiar with my graduate alma mater should be able to discern the meaning of the other stamp.)
I couldn’t find this stamp after a cursory search of the U.S. Postal Service’s website, although the stamps Sophie Rovner wrote about are available for purchase. Anybody know where to get my hands on this one?
A couple of impressions (and sorry about the poor picture quality):
I didn’t check to see whether the volumetric flask was filled properly, but I probably should have.
Is that enormous flask still called an Erlenmeyer flask? I’ve never seen one that looks like that.
If I were to put that (really full!) round-bottom flask on the rot. evap., I’d be concerned about it bumping and spilling everywhere, particularly if it contains an intermediate that’s 14 steps deep in my natural product synthesis. Of course, I don’t know what solvent is in the flask, and I’ve seen people just hook up a full flask anyway. Thoughts?
**Updated 4/25/08
Avid “C&ENtral Science” reader Corinne Marasco pointed out that this particular stamp dates to 1976, and that interested parties can find them on eBay. We’re guessing the stamps are still worth only 13 cents as far as the post office is concerned, though. Geek-chic costs extra.
Celebrating Two Anniversaries: The Priestley Medal And C&EN
Apr
7
7
Posted by Rachel Pepling on April 7, 2008 in Ripped From the Pages, The Editor's Blog
And now for something completely different from the ACS meeting. This week’s editorial touches on the 85th anniversaries of the Priestley Medal and, ahem, C&EN.
If that just whets your whistle for more Priestley coverage, check out our special Priestley anniversary package which includes the annual profile and award address of the current winner (Gabor Somorjai, in case you didn’t know). Any guesses on who the 2009 winner will be?
OK, enough self-promotion. Go back to the meeting.
Recent Comments