ARTICLE #1 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mars Rover device gets new mission on EarthAnalytical Chemistry
Developed to sniff out extraterrestrial life on other planets, a portable device known as the Mars Organic Analyzer (MOA) is taking on a new role in detecting air pollutants on Earth. Researchers in California report the development of a modified MOA able to detect polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), potentially carcinogenic molecules from cigarette smoke and wood smoke, volcanic ash, and other sources. The report appeared in the Jan. 15 issue of ACS' semi-monthly journal Analytical Chemistry.
In the report, Richard A. Mathies and colleagues indicate that current earthbound PAH detection focuses on the cleanup of environmental contamination sites. On other planets, the concentration of organic PAH molecules can provide valuable insight into environmental conditions and the potential for extraterrestrial life. But existing PAH detection methods are slow and costly. Scientists thus are seeking an inexpensive, rapid and nondestructive technique for the measurement of PAH contamination.
The researchers tested samples from Lake Erie and a hydrothermal vent from the Gulf of California, as well as a Martian analogue sample from the Mars-like Atacama Desert, one of the driest spots on earth. They found that the detection sensitivity of the device was on par with current laboratory methods. "The method of PAH analysis developed here significantly advances the MOA's capabilities for organic carbon detection and may also prove useful for environmental monitoring," says Mathies. - AD
ARTICLE #1 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE"Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Analysis with the Mars Organic Analyzer Microchip Capillary Electrophoresis System"
DOWNLOAD FULL TEXT ARTICLE: http://pubs.acs.org/stoken/presspac/presspac/full/10.1021/ac802033u
CONTACT:Richard A. Mathies, Ph.D.University of California, BerkeleyBerkeley, CA 94720Phone: 510-642-4192Fax: 510-642-3599Email: ramathies@berkeley.edu
This is the Mars Rover at the Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Va.
(Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons)
ARTICLE #2 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Natural solar collectors on butterfly wings inspire more powerful solar cellsChemistry of Materials
The discovery that butterfly wings have scales that act as tiny solar collectors has led scientists in China and Japan to design a more efficient solar cell that could be used for powering homes, businesses, and other applications in the future. Their study appeared in the Jan. 13 issue of ACS' Chemistry of Materials, a bi-weekly journal.
In the study, Di Zhang and colleagues note that scientists are searching for new materials to improve light-harvesting in so-called dye-sensitized solar cells, also known as Grätzel cells for inventor Michael Grätzel. These cells have the highest light-conversion efficiencies among all solar cells — as high as 10 percent.
The researchers turned to the microscopic solar scales on butterfly wings in their search for improvements. Using natural butterfly wings as a mold or template, they made copies of the solar collectors and transferred those light-harvesting structures to Grätzel cells. Laboratory tests showed that the butterfly wing solar collector absorbed light more efficiently than conventional dye-sensitized cells. The fabrication process is simpler and faster than other methods, and could be used to manufacture other commercially valuable devices, the researchers say. - MTS
ARTICLE #2 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE"Novel Photoanode Structure Templated from Butterfly Wing Scales"
DOWNLOAD FULL TEXT ARTICLE:http://pubs.acs.org/stoken/presspac/presspac/full/10.1021/cm702458p
CONTACT:Di Zhang, Ph.D.State Key Lab of Metal Matrix CompositesShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai, People's Republic of ChinaPhone: 86-021-3420 2634Fax: 86-021-3420-2749Email: zhangdi@sjtu.edu.cn
ARTICLE #3 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nanotubes trigger biochemical "cross talk" for consumer protection testsNano Letters
Researchers in West Virginia and Japan are reporting an advance toward a blood test that could help protect consumers from new products containing potentially harmful kinds of nanotubes. These ultra small wisps of carbon —1/5,000th the width a single human hair — may become the basis for multibillion-dollar medical, consumer electronics, and other industries in the future.
Their report is appeared in the Jan. 14 issue of ACS' Nano Letters, a monthly journal.
Petia Simeonova and colleagues cite hints from past studies that nanotubes are toxic to the lungs of laboratory animals. Those findings emphasized the need for tests to check on the toxicity before products containing these particles hit the market.
In the new research, scientists deposited nanotubes in the lung of lab mice, and discovered the existence of a "cross-talk" mechanism, in which the animals' lungs alerted the rest of the body to the nanotubes presence. The alert caused specific genes in the animals to kick into action and produce certain proteins. The resulting biochemical signature of nanotube exposure could become a biomarker for exposure to harmful nanoparticles, the researchers say. -MTS
ARTICLE #3 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE"Cross-Talk between Lung and Systemic Circulation during Carbon Nanotube Respiratory Exposure. Potential Biomarkers"
DOWNLOAD FULL TEXT ARTICLE: http://pubs.acs.org/stoken/presspac/presspac/full/10.1021/nl801828z
CONTACT:Petia Simeonova, Ph.D.National Institute for Occupational Safety and HealthMorgantown, West Virginia 26505Phone: 304-285-6156Fax: 304-285-5708Email: Psimeonova@cdc.gov
ARTICLE #4 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Toward "invisible electronics" and transparent displaysACS Nano
Researchers in California are reporting an advance toward the long-sought goal of "invisible electronics" and transparent displays, which can be highly desirable for heads-up displays, wind-shield displays, and electronic paper. The scientists describe development of tiny, transparent electronic circuits — the most powerful of their kind to date — that could pave the way for transparent electronics and other futuristic applications, including flexible electronic newspapers and wearable clothing displays. Their study appeared in the Jan. 27 issue of ACS Nano, a monthly journal.
In the new study, Chongwu Zhou and colleagues point out that although scientists have previously developed nano-sized transparent circuits, previous versions are limited to a handful of materials that are transparent semiconductors.
The researchers describe the development of transparent thin-film transistors (TTFTs) composed of highly aligned, single-walled carbon nanotubes — each about 1/50,000th the width of a single human hair. They are transparent, flexible, and perform well. Laboratory experiments showed that TTFTs could be easily applied to glass and plastic surfaces, and showed promise in other ways for a range of possible practical applications. - MTS
ARTICLE #4 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE"Transparent Electronics Based on Transfer Printed Aligned Carbon Nanotubes on Rigid and Flexible Substrates"
DOWNLOAD FULL TEXT ARTICLE: http://pubs.acs.org/stoken/presspac/presspac/full/10.1021/nn800434d
CONTACT:Chongwu Zhou, Ph.D.University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, Ca. 90089Phone: (213)740-4708Email: chongwuz@usc.edu
ARTICLE #5 EMBARGOED FOR 9 A.M., EASTERN TIME, Feb. 9, 2009
Nanoparticles in dietary supplements cause health concerns, regulatory challengesChemical & Engineering News
An increase in the number of dietary supplements made with nanoparticles — so called "nanoceuticals" — is raising growing concerns about their potential for toxicity in the wake of little government oversight, according to an article scheduled for the Feb. 9 online issue of Chemical & Engineering News, ACS' weekly newsmagazine.
In the article, C&EN Associate Editor Britt Erickson notes that manufacturers of dietary supplements are increasingly usingnano-sized particles (about 1/5000th the width of a single human hair) to boost nutrient absorption, enhance mental focus and creativity, and other health-promoting functions. One nonprofit organization that tracks nanotechnology estimates at least 44 "nanoceuticals" are currently on the market, quadruple the number that existed three years ago.
But consumers have no way of knowing whether a "nanoceutical" is safe or whether it does what it claims to do, the article notes. Unlike drugs, dietary supplements do not need to be reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration for safety and effectiveness before marketing. This lack of government oversight, coupled with growing concerns about the potential toxicity of nanoparticles, has led consumer groups to urge regulators to do more to ensure that nanoceuticals are safe and effective.
Notes one regulatory expert, "If FDA waits much longer, we are going to be faced with hundreds of products and hundreds of companies and a much more difficult situation."
ARTICLE #5 EMBARGOED FOR 9 A.M., EASTERN TIME, Feb. 9, 2009"Nanoceuticals"
This story will be available on Feb. 9 athttp://pubs.acs.org/cen/government/87/8706gov3.html
FOR ADVANCE INFORMATION, CONTACT:Michael BernsteinACS News ServicePhone: 202-872-6042Fax: 202-872-4370Email: m_bernstein@acs.org
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This is a close-up of the scales of a butterfly wing. These scales have inspired more powerful solar cells.
(Photo Credit: Michael Apel, Wikipedia Commons.)