Analytical

Article (8)
  • Quantum interface between light and atoms
    Physicists have developed a quantum interface which connects light particles and atoms.
  • The chemistry of decent vodka
    Although vodka is a reasonably pure mixture of alcohol and water, beverage drinks typically show differences in appeal among brands. The question immediately arises as to the molecular basis, if any, of vodka taste perception.
  • Taking a close look at unique diamonds
    The song says "diamonds are a girl's best friend", but scientists at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) are finding that diamonds are a researcher's best friend too. The NRL, which has been involved in pioneering work involving chemical vapour deposition of diamonds and the use of diamond materials in advanced technologies relevant to the Department of Defence since 1987, has undertaken some new projects in diamond research.
  • Terahertz radiation reveals ‘lost’ works of art
    Research scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS are revealing the secrets of 'lost' paintings non-destructively using terahertz beams.
  • Thieves need to beware as bacterial ‘signatures’ linger
    Skin bacteria left behind on keyboards and computer mice can be used to identify who was using the object. Human microbiome researchers are testing if such leftovers can be used forensically or by law enforcement agencies.
  • Water in orbit
    Space is not a fun place to get a stomach bug. To ensure drinking water is adequately disinfected, University of Utah chemists have developed a two-minute water quality monitoring method that just started six months of tests aboard the International Space Station.
  • Freeze-drying for foam fabrication
    Chemists and engineers at the University of Warwick have found that exposing particular mixtures of polymer particles and other materials to sudden freeze-drying can create a high-tech armoured foam that could be used for a number of purposes, including a new range of room-temperature, low-power gas sensors.
  • Science and the global food crime fight
    Australian Earth Scientists have joined forces with food scientists and chemists in an international effort to fight global food crime using new tamper-proof technology that pinpoints exactly where in the world particular foods have been produced.
Feature (11)
  • Bottling light
    Light can be 'bottled' or confined to a very small space by controllably inserting light into a microscopic container surrounded by reflective walls.
  • A quicker, cheaper way to sort isotopes
    Stanford chemists have developed a new method of isotopic analysis that does not use mass spectroscopy so it is much less expensive.
  • Carbon nanotube can detect the entire visible spectrum
    Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have created the first carbon nanotube device that can detect the entire visible spectrum of light, a feat that could soon allow scientists to probe single molecule transformations, study how those molecules respond to light, observe how the molecules change shapes, and understand other fundamental interactions between molecules and nanotubes.
  • Testing for adulteration
    As adulterated milk continues to ravage the health of Chinese babies, the question of why the milk wasn't tested for melamine raises its head.
  • Forensics and the Mary Rose
    Forensic examination of the teeth of some of the sailors on the ill-fated Mary Rose shows they were not English.
  • Weighing individual atoms and molecules
    A nanoelectromechanical system that can function as a scale sensitive enough to measure the mass of a single atom of gold has been created.
  • Sound chemistry
    For most of us, sound chemistry or sonochemistry is about the use of ultrasound in chemistry. The science has been around for about 80 years and now mainly focuses on the effect of ultrasound on reactions
  • Food science goes nuclear
    Food science is going nuclear and The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), is currently commissioning a new world-class research reactor and neutron beam instruments
  • A new class of polymers
    For years, polymer chemistry textbooks have stated that 1,2-disubstituted ethylenes could not be transformed into polymers. However, University of Delaware (UD) polymer chemists were determined to prove the textbooks wrong
  • How green are my solvents?
    Volatile organic solvents are the normal media for the industrial synthesis of organic products. The Montreal protocol has resulted in a compelling need to re-evaluate many chemical processes that have proved otherwise satisfactory for many years
  • Scientific advances boost anti-doping campaign
    The unprecedented anti-doping campaign for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne is aimed at making these Games the cleanest ever with thousands of tests being carried out on athletes in Australia and overseas
Product (3)
  • Pilot-scale tablet press
    GEA Pharma Systems has introduced the Courtoy ModuL P Tablet Press (P for pilot scale) to meet the demand for increased flexibility and product containment when working with potent compounds, especially with regards to small-scale tablet presses.
  • Pesticide analysis
    The Zebron MultiResidue columns represent a solution for all classes of pesticides analysis. The columns were developed using two new stationary phases and each phase has been optimised to resolve a different set of analytes. However, both are good for a wide variety of pesticides.
  • Internet nutrition tool
    Sigma-Aldrich has enhanced its Bioactive Nutrient Explorer. This internet-based tool has been specifically designed to help nutrition and animal scientists, medical researchers, biologists and analytical chemists studying dietary plants and supplements locate the chemicals and kits they need to support their work.
News (27)
  • Poplar protein for better computer memory
    Protein from poplar trees can be used to greatly reduce size of memory elements and increase the density of computer memory.
  • Diamond to become the blind’s best friend
    A Melbourne Materials Institute team is developing a diamond electrode array that will be part of a chip embedded in the retina for use in the bionic eye. This device is designed to have sufficient resolution to allow the blind to recognise faces and read large print.
  • Element 117 - the latest of the superheavies
    The last hole in row seven of the periodic table has been filled with the latest superheavy element to be discovered - element 117.
  • Gold nanoparticles used to detect melamine in milk
    The interaction between gold nanoparticles and melamine has been found to cause a dramatic colour change indicating the presence of melamine in milk.
  • New quantum cascade lasers emit more light than heat
    Mid-infrared laser diodes that generate more light than heat, developed by researchers at the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science, are an important step towards the use of quantum cascade lasers in a variety of applications.
  • 'Copernicium' proposed as name for element 112
    Element 112's existence has been officially confirmed by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry and now the name 'copernicium' (Cp) has been proposed as its name.
  • Alloys between incompatible elements
    Pressure has been used to make what was previously impossible possible — an alloy between two incompatible elements.
  • Intellectual property management
    The 2008 Biotechnology Intellectual Property Manual, developed and funded by a partnership between the Brumby government, Ausbiotech and specialist intellectual property lawyers Spruson & Ferguson, contains information about the types of IP available, when to file a patent application and how to commercialise successfully, and will benefit researchers, SMEs and venture capitalists looking to invest in the area.
  • Ion track mystery cracked
    A research team from The Australian National University (ANU) has found that the ion tracks left by heavy ions as they move across a solid are consistent with a frozen-in, nanoscale acoustic shock wave — a discovery that could revolutionise geological dating and nano-wire manufacturing.
  • Carbon nanotubes and nanoelectronics
    Next generation of nanoelectronics could be based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and the intramolecular junctions that connect CNTs for integration.
  • Liquids alter viscosity when confined, shaken
    New research shows that when water is confined to a small space, it behaves like a gel. Then, when shaken, it becomes fluidic and exhibits the same structural and mechanical properties as water in a bottle. The study — the first to use an atomic force microscope to measure the viscosity of confined fluids — revealed that these liquids can respond and modify their viscosity based on environmental changes.
  • Redox potential calculations and drug discovery
    Using a supercomputer, reaserchers have sped up redox potential calculations for potential drugs.
  • Australia helps to redefine the kilogram
    Staff from the CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Precision Optics and the National Measurement Institute have played an integral part in redefining the kilogram.
  • Development in coherent x-ray science
    La Trobe University is one of a number of Australian and overseas universities and other organisations sharing a $9 million ARC grant over five years to develop a Centre of Excellence in Coherent X-ray Science.
  • Method to detect potential bioterrorism agent
    A new combination of analytical chemistry and mathematical data analysis techniques allows the rapid identification of the species, strain and infectious phase of the potential biological terrorism agent Coxiella burnetii. The bacterium causes the human disease Q fever, which can cause serious illness and even death.
  • Australia paves the way in international test reliability
    Sixty years ago this month, Australia developed a system of ensuring laboratory competence that has been adopted by more than 70 countries and led to the formation of the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA).
  • First man-made fractal molecule
    All objects in nature are made of irregular molecules called fractals and scientists now have created and captured an image of the largest man-made fractal molecule at the nanoscale.
  • Carbon dating early Buddhist texts
    ANSTO carbon dating tests of rare manuscripts dubbed the 'Dead Sea Scrolls of Buddhism' have confirmed the priceless texts are from the first and fifth centuries AD and could be the missing link in Buddhist history.
  • Improvement in poultry quality
    A test has been developed that can assess the robustness of the immune system in poultry by the Eureka E! 2692 molecular tests project.
  • Laser to break specific molecular bonds
    A team of researchers has achieved a long-sought scientific goal: using laser light to break specific molecular bonds.
  • Researchers create metal memory foam
    In the world of commercial materials, lighter and cheaper is usually better — especially when those attributes are coupled with superior strength and special properties, such as a recently developed material's ability to remember its original shape after it has been deformed by a physical or magnetic force.
  • Gene patent study misleading
    A report in Science journal relating to gene patenting claimed: "Nearly a fifth of all human genes have been patented, a study has found, leading to fears that research into diseases such as breast cancer, diabetes and obesity could be stifled."
  • Help for forensics with full-colour fingerprints
    In the future, forensic investigators may take full-colour fingerprints using new technology developed by a University of Toronto-led team of international researchers.
  • Investigating the molecular structure of foods
    Under an agreement signed between the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and CSIRO, scientists will seek to determine the molecular structure of the foods we eat.
  • 60-year-old Australian concept builds world confidence in technology
    Sixty years ago this month, Australia developed a system of ensuring laboratory competence that has now been adopted by more than 70 countries.
  • Funding boost for banana research
    A $5.1 million Queensland University of Technology research project that aims to improve the health of East Africans will be stepped up after a massive funding boost.
  • Funding for industry-focused research
    The Australian government will provide $60 million over five years to 217 industry-focused research projects through the Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Projects funding scheme.
© 2010 Westwick-Farrow Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Get your FREE membership today - CLICK HERE  |  Log-in