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The article offers information on the importance of digital technologies on agriculture. Topics include several components of digital technologies that could help farmers to yield guarantees in farming such as satellites and self-steering tractors, the book "Digital Agriculture: Improving Profitability" which focuses on the benefits of digital farming such as meeting food needs and improvement of financial performance, and the launch of the Agricultural Data Coalition (ADC).

The article focuses on research into medications derived from garden plant extracts which can be used in the treatment of dementia and brain aging diseases as of July 2013. It comments on research into alkaloid phytochemicals that can protect against dementia symptoms including the formation of tau protein filament tangles, amyloid plaque deposition and acetylcholine deficits. It mentions barriers to research into plant compounds including the expense of isolating and testing specific phytochemicals in plants.

The article features several science discoveries of 2010. Researchers in Germany reveal that spider silk strength depends mainly on the spider's silk gland's physiologic action in the direction of the hydrophilic regions. University of California researchers engineers the Escherichia coli bacteria to produce biodiesel fatty esters from glucose without other carbon sources. Paul Luckman and Manel Torres develop spray-on clothes which composes of fabric fibers, solvent, and polymer.

The article focuses on the new sensor technologies that can be used in precision agriculture. It says that a new root sensor, developed by the Sensors University Innovation Centre (SUIC) in Manchester, England sponsored by Syngenta AG, can monitor and record the nutrient and water uptake of plant roots based on tomography technology. Meanwhile, optical sensors that determines the nitrogen status of plants by measuring light reflectance changes in the crop canopy are already in the market.

The article focuses on the improvement of energy-saving materials' capabilities in the reduction of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of buildings. It notes the role of regulations and harmonised global standards in the progress of energy-efficient buildings. It cites that insulation foams save 2,400 tons of GHG emission in buildings globally. It explores the different energy-saving strategies and products of chemical firms Bayer MaterialScience AG, BASF AG, and Dow Building Solutions.

The article highlights major chemical discovery in 2009. Researchers at the Scripps Research Institute in California found that RNA replicators could mutate and evolve to produce new replicator pairs better adapted to their environment. Researchers from Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands have successfully joined long polymer chains to N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands. A new inhalable vaccine for measles is being developed by Robert Sievers from the University of Colorado.

The article provides updates on the possible benefits of the development of the second generation biofuels plants. It relates that this biofuels plants promise to be more sustainable and more greener. However, Bill Caesar, principal at consulting firm McKinsey, pertains that the consumption of sustainable biofuels is expected to require an estimated 40-45 meter hectare of land prior to the consumption that will triple from the 20-25 billion gallons per year to 65-70 billion gallons per year in 2020. Furthermore, Jimmie Powell of the Nature Conservancy in the U.S. stresses that by increasing the yield of biofuels, second generation technologies would help to lower the impact of global warming.

A personal narrative which explores the author's experience on Hurricane Katrina is presented. INSETS: Cotton picking ideas.;Wiping out aflatoxin.;Low allergy peanuts.;Banishing bedsores.

This article provides an outlook for the global chemical industry in 2008. According to the author, the forecast for the industry looks uncertain due to the threat of a U.S. recession. She highlights the impact of a weaker housing market and lower consumer confidence in the country. In Europe, the author references the observation that the weak U.S. dollar has been slow to manifest itself on the performance of the chemical industry. However, she indicates the projection that the prospects for the European chemical industry are sensitive to a number of serious downside risks.

The article focuses on the emergence of snow-making technologies. According to a report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), although snow-making technologies may be helpful, beyond a certain threshold temperature rise they will no longer be economically viable. For efficient snow-making, snowmakers must transform as much water as possible to snow. One way to improve the snow-making process is to add chemical additives. The most popular additive is Snomax, a naturally-occurring bacterial protein.

The article discusses the importance of chiral synthesis in the world's pharmaceutical industry. In 2006, 75% of the drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration were chiral, compared to 58% in 1996. Direct asymmetric methods are growing by 15-20% annually, 40% of drugs are made using the cheaper process of synthesizing racemic mixtures while biocatalysis is expected to grow to 20% by 2010. Experts foresee the use of less metals and new organo-catalysts in the future.

Presents news briefs on the chemical industry as of June 2004. Ruling of the Canadian Supreme Court on the patent infringement case filed by Monsanto against farmer Percy Schmeiser; Completion of establishing the world's first stem cell bank in Great Britain; Reason behind the loss of Martian probe Beagle 2.

The article presents several chemistry news briefs for 2012. Topics include a microbial fuel cell which can produce electricity from wastewater, the production of the Gaucher's disease drug taligluciferase alfa in transgenic carrots, and the first commercial biobutanol fuel production plant launched in Luverne, Minnesota by the renewable energy company Gevo.

The article discusses the need to improve the nutritional values of foods along with the efforts of addressing global food scarcity. It mentions that improvements in the area of genetic biodiversity will result to nutritionally-upgraded plants. It discusses the use of various methods to enhance the nutritional contents of plants including selective breeding, management techniques, and application of fertilisers.

Information about several papers discussed at the SCI meeting: 'Scanning the agricultural horizon to 2050' at agri-giant Syngenta's Jealott's Hill research station in November 2010 in Berlin, Germany is presented. Topics include world agricultural productivity, traditional breeding, and the need for farmer to increase productivity. The meeting featured Harald von Witzke, head of global public affairs crop protection Rainer von Mielecki, and David Turley.

The article offers information concerning the development of different variety of Brussels sprouts in Great Britain. Peter van der Toorn, head of R&D in the leafy vegetables section at agrochemicals company Syngenta AG mentions that the company's product has introduced a series of classic and mild tasting varieties. It also notes, however, that while the sweeter varieties of the vegetable appears to be appealing to the consumers, the company no longer has the bitter tasting sprouts.

The article reports on the anticipation of the success of the Glybera gene therapy by Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics (AMT). Chief executive officer (CEO) Jorn Aldag hopes for the company's first approved product in the Western world. Ark Therapeutics CEO Martyn Williams is also confident on the company's engineering for regulatory processes. Moreover, Steve Howe, gene therapy expert at the Institute of Child Health (ICH), claims the successful trial of gene therapy in cardiovascular diseases.

The article reports on the challenges of the proposed carbon capture and storage (CCS) in Great Britain. Shell Chemicals executive vice-president Ben van Beurden mentions that the real problem is how to integrate CCS in economically viable way. It states that the commercialization of CCS technologies are slow due to delays in securing funding. It notes that aside from the high costs and commercial feasibility of CCS, its imposition will also depend on the price of carbon.

The article offers information on the development of natural rubber latex (NRL) wherein an estimated 1-6% of the population in Great Britain is being sensitized, including the 17% of healthcare workers. It notes that life-threatening severe symptoms have inflicted individuals with type 1 latex allergy, stressing that avoidance is the only guarantee on possible adverse reactions. However, many medics still prefer the comfort and fit of NRL, specifically for delicate surgical procedures.

The article focuses on activated carbon and its properties which was the highlight of the meeting organized by the British Carbon Group in Southampton, England in April 2010. According to MAST Carbon International Ltd.'s Steve Tennison, activated carbon is the oldest nanoporous material that is used to adsorb smells as a medicine by the ancient Egyptians. On the other hand, activated carbon can be used for adsorption or chemical reactions and to develop new catalysis and medical applications.

The article discusses the importance of hybrid materials in various applications including aerospace, solar energy and civil engineering. These materials combine the properties of two or more different materials to create new ones with added functionalities. It states that lightweight materials for planes and cars can reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. It emphasizes that understanding the chemistry of hybrids is essential to design tailored materials for future applications.

The article features the Periodic Table of Videos, created by chemists Martyn Poliakoff and Pete Licence which has gained popularity due to its unique presentation of the elements found in the periodic table. It mentions that the table provides information that cannot be found elsewhere and has attracted young children, adults and even novel laureates. It affirms that the table attracts spectators because of the how each element has been arranged in a tableau along with its related artefacts.

The article focuses on the growth in global demand for food. It discusses the environmental impact of the green revolution of the 1960s. It is forecasted that by 2050 the agricultural productivity will have to be increased by 50 percent to meet the food demands of 9 billion people. However the agriculture will need to adopt more environmentally sustainable methods including transgenic crops, non-chemical methods and nanotechnology. New laws are being made to minimize use of chemicals.

The article explores developments on genetic engineering tools. It cites that Howard Jacob of Medical College of Wisconsin and Sangamo Biosciences Inc. have developed the zinc finger technology, which is based from zinc finger proteins (ZFP) and transcription factors (TF) to produce transgenic animals for commercial and research use. It notes that Cellectis SA's technology gives focus on meganucleases which snip DNA at the needed site. Therapeutic applicatons on the two technologies are stated.

The article discusses the studies of cosmetic companies to identify the genes responsible for skin aging and develop personalized cosmetics. It notes that L'Oreal SA uses transcriptomics and proteomics to produce molecular signatures while Clinique gains understanding of how skin ages. According to Cosmetic, Toiletry & Perfumery Association director general Chris Flower, the companies must be careful not to overstep the borderline between cosmetics and medicine.

The article discusses the effect of stem cell therapies on traditional pharmaceutical companies throughout the world. It examines the potential of these therapies to treat several diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, cancer and diabetes. It highlights the initiative of companies affected by patent expiries and dwindling pipelines to concentrate on regenerative medicine.

The article focuses on harnessing animals for human health products in New Zealand as it is believed to make transformation on the country's agricultural sector. This aims to maximize the traditional farming systems' productivity through improved knowledge of genetics and breeding of animals. Meanwhile, the reported process serves as a lucrative opportunity in the new revenue streams discovery and in adding traditional meat, wool and dairy industries in the country. Further, it aims to offer therapeutic proteins particularly in animals along with the proteins as therapeutics in diseases acquired both by animals and human beings.

The article reports on the studies conducted which assess the potential of polymers to be used as edible packages for foods in the U.S. These include the studies performed by Kathryn Uhrich and collegaues at Rutgers University in New Jersey which utilizes polymers from natural oils in cinnamon and cloves and Yanyun Zhao's chitosan polymer coatings. It reveals that the polymers have the ability to prolong the shelf-life of foods; prevents the build up of bacteria, such as the Gram negative bacteria, and contains vitamins and nutrients. In addition, edible polymers promote sustainable packaging of foods. INSET: In brief.

The article announces that swapping selected hydrogen atoms for deuterium could be a fast route to create safer and longer lasting drugs. According to the author, drug compounds incorporating deuterium isotope are more stable than their hydrogen equivalents. It cites that some deuterated drugs may be safer, longer lasting or more effective than analogues on the marketplace. Moreover, it points out that commercial drugs which contain isotopes could be on the marketplace in just four or five years.

The article focuses on the Christmas trees produced in Great Britain. According to the British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTA), about 8.5 million Christmas trees were bought in Great Britain in 2008 and roughly 50-60% of these were Nordmann fir. Nordmann fir's popularity is attributed to its superior needle retention ability against Norway spruce trees. Firs have waxy covering on their needle surfaces that helps minimize water loss, a key factor that determines the rate of needle shredding. However, grower Adrian Morgan argues that a Norway spruce can often do almost as well by keeping the base of the cut tree immersed in water. Guidelines on how to identify the most successful needle retainers are also provided.

The article offers information on the performance of the crude oil industry worldwide. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the demand for crude oil is forecasted to increase from 85 million (m) billion barrels per day (bbd/day) in 2005 to 115 m bbl/day by 2030. It was found that its existing suppliers are used up and of poorer quality and harder to extract and refine. Aside from its higher density, non-conventional crude contains a higher proportion of foreign matter, especially sulphur and metals, making it harder to process.

The article discusses developments on cars made up of natural materials. It mentions that Eco One, a car whose shell is made from hemp, tires are made from potatoes and brake pads from cashew nut shells, can achieve a top speed of up to 150 mph if given the right conditions and a favorable tailwind. In addition, researchers are planning to launch the first biodegradable Formula racing car whose components will be made and bolted together by hands using renewable and sustainable materials. Other cars that use natural materials include Henry Ford's 1940s' hemp car and the 1950s' East German cotton-bodied Trabi. Advantages of using natural materials are also discussed.

The article focuses on the performance-enhancing sportswear that are expected to be boosting athletes' capabilities in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. It states that one item of sportwear already gaining headlines is Speedo's LZR Racer swimsuit. The said swimsuit from Speedo is the first fully bonded or seamless bodysuit that is ultrasonically welded. Over in the track and field, however, Nike's "Flywire" shoe technology, which claims to be breaking new ground with the creation of paper-thin shoes, to be worn as part of the official China team kit. British Olympic and Paralympic teams, meanwhile, will be putting to the test the Powerweb compression technology. INSETS: Computer-designed seamless swimwear;Lunar cushioning.

The article focuses on E. ON's replica of 1930s house adjacent to the BASF house to address Great Britain's tough targets for improving the energy efficiency of new homes. It states that by 2016, all new build houses in Great Britain must be zero carbon emissions. However, while the energy efficiency of new houses has been steadily improving in recent years, total energy consumption by the country's domestic housing sector has continued to rise. It mentions that to get a better idea of how to improve the energy performance of Great Britain's ageing housing stock, researchers led by energy supplier E.ON are building their own reproduction of 1930s house adjacent to the BASF house at the University of Nottingham in England.

The article focuses on the booming market for natural or organic cosmetics and standards set up to regulate the industry. In Germany, industries association Bundesverband deutscher Industrie- und Handelsunternehmen e.V. (BDIH) started developing standards in 1996 and to date, a number of German and non-German firms have applied for BDIH certification. To be eligible, products may contain certain inorganic salts and other ingredients derived from hydrogenation and esterification reactions. According to Franziska Staubli, project manager of Swiss Import Promotion Programme, most natural raw materials used for cosmetics and pharmaceuticals come from plants collected from the wild. Their source are unknown and not traceable and collection of these plants are considered unsustainable.

The article focuses on a self-waxing system for skis developed by Peter Styring, a professor of chemical engineering and chemistry at the University of Sheffield in England. The idea for the system came to Styring while he was taking his daughter to the local ski slope. Considered as a way of continuously lubricating the ski bases, the waxing system is poised to enter the skiing scene in the 2008/2009. According to media reports, the system promises to significantly enhance the performances and speed of skiers.

The article reports on the first laboratory-made species of bacteria unofficially being called Mycoplasma laboratorium developed by researchers at the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI). Scientists expected that in the future, laboratory-made microorganisms will replace large-scale manufacturing chemical plants. JCVI researchers succeeded in making the synthetic chromosome of the microorganism by stripping back the genetic content of a living species of bacteria called Mycoplasma genitalium, which causes urinary tract infections. The ultimate goal of JCVI is to use the organism in making biofuels. INSETS: Weapons of Bio-error?;Rewriting the book.

The article discusses the functions of gut microbes in the human body. Gut microbes are said to affect the responses of the body to different foods, drinks and drugs. A study headed by Jeremy Nicholson and his team that far from being passive bystanders in the process of drug metabolism, bacteria can play a key role in sealing a drug's fate and safety. A separate study led by Jeffrey Gordon discovered that those who are obese get different species of bacteria that help the body be more efficient at extracting energy from food.

The article discusses the efforts of several researchers in search of the perfect crystals for inhaled therapies inspired by giant puffball mushrooms and ultrasound. According to the University of Bath pharmacology experts, most inhaled drugs are inefficient with only 15-20 percent particles getting delivered to the respiratory tract. They explain that being able to reproduce this effect would be big business for pharmaceutical companies. The emergence of this drug administration means that particle sizes could be engineered to target different regions of the respiratory tract and even other parts of the body that need treatment.

The article focuses on the efforts to develop alternative sun protection therapies against skin cancer. According to data from Cancer Research UK (CRUK), skin cancer cases in Great Britain for the past twenty five years have increased by 200 percent. The author states that using sunscreen can help lower the risk although safety is not guaranteed. Dimericine, a skin sun protection and repair system developed by U.S. firm AGI Dermatics, is in Phase II trials. Dimericine has a viral enzyme that locates DNA damaged by sunlight and signals other enzymes to replace it.

The article reports on the results of a survey conducted by the journal in May 2007 about climate change. Majority of respondents say the chemical industry should do more to address climate change. Almost all survey respondents reported a limited potential to further cut emissions by less than 20 percent. The survey also found that some readers are skeptical of the role of carbon dioxide in global warming.

The article focuses on the introduction of continuous processing (CP) into various manufacturing processes of the pharmaceutical industry. The author mentioned that the initial capital cost of starting up a new CP plant can be 25-40% cheaper than installing a traditional batch plant. It explained the manufacturing operations involving CP in Phoenix Chemicals. The author also noted that re-registration of drug processes is an obstacle in developing new CP routes for existing batch processes.

The article focuses on plastic glazings. It states that 4% of the total automobile glazings market could be achieved by plastic glazings by 2012. It mentions that Exatec, joint venture between GE Plastics and Bayer MaterialScience, is the leader in developing plastic glazings with its Exatec 900 system. It says that polycarbonates that make up plastic glazings reduce weight in automobiles.

The article focuses on the efforts to address abiotic plant stress posed by climate and environmental factors. Abiotic plant stress caused by environmental factors affects crop yields. According to a research, best-selling insecticides have protective effect against plant stress. Meanwhile, plant breeding is being considered as a research area for abiotic stress. Overview of projects designed to deal with plant stress is provided.

An interview with Stephanie Burns, chairman, chief executive officer (CEO) and president of Dow Corning, is presented. The executive acknowledges that the experience she gained from the litigation of the firm in mid-1990s has had a significant influence on her leadership style and approach to health and safety. According to Burns, she thought that being a researcher was the very highest level of profession one can reach. She predicts the importance of solar products including encapsulants.

The article discusses the market penetration of light emitting diode (LED) in Great Britain. LED is 10 times efficient and 100 times longer that ordinary tungsten filament light bulb. However, it failed to penetrate the market due to its cost. Demand for gallium nitride (GaN) is nevertheless growing fast with main applications as backlights for mobile phones and full color displays. Professor Colin Humpreys stated that growing of GaN on much cheaper silicon substrate will reduce the cost of LED. INSET: Gallium nitride LEDs.

The article reports on the need for feedstocks if the shift from fossil fuels to biofuels will continue. The big increases in biofuels production mean that more and more farmland is being consumed by non-food crops. Bringing the cost of biofuels down will be relying on new technology particularly by increasing the diversity of biomass which can be harnessed and exploited. The biggest technological challenge is to search a route for converting the unused fibrous to produce bioethanol.

The article discusses the effort of the bioinspired company NuLeaf Tech Inc. to develop a natural wastewater treatment solution that treat and recycle wastewater into a clean and usable water. It highlights the use of a microbial fuel cell (MFC) to treat wastewater and produce electricity. It also notes that the company uses wetlands soil to create artificial ecosystems.

The article discusses aspects of the development of bacteria communities called biofilms from medical devices to industry pipelines and bathrooms. It examines the efficacy of antibiotics to prevent biofilm formation and reduce microbial adaptation. It also cites the use of biofilm prevention technology to promote clean surface and disrupt bacterial communication.

The article reports on the introduction of a genetically-modified apple variant known as Artic apple that is impervious to browning in the U.S. markets.