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Chemistry & Industry Press Release for Issue 23 - Cover Date: Monday 3 December 2001

November 28, 2001

NEWS

Human Cloning -Don't Believe the Hype (p751)
Claims to have cloned a human embryo are overstated, according to experts. A six-celled embryo is not a clone, says Roslin expert Harry Griffin.

Is Animal Cloning Safe? (p751)
The claim by American Biotech Company that the production of 24 apparently healthy cloned cows is proof that cloning is safe are premature.

Statins- the new aspirin (p752)
Heart attacks could be reduced by a third if anti-cholesterol drugs were used more widely, a report has concluded. A study funded by the British Heart Foundation and the UK Medical Research has shown that if an extra 10 million high-risk people worldwide were to go on statin treatment, this would save about 50,000 lives a year

Atto-second Physics (p754)
The age of atto-physics is here with the development of an ultra-short laser pulse that will allow scientists to visualise the movement of electrons between molecules. An atto second is to a second what a second is to 32 billion years.

New Oxygen (p755)
Scientists have discovered a new form of oxygen that may well serve as the raw material for the next generation of rocket fuel. The new oxygen, which has 4 oxygen atoms, is thought to resemble a dumbell in which two O2 molecules are weakly linked.

BUSINESS

Bayer's Bad Luck Year (p756)
Call it bad luck, bad management or inadequate communication; Bayer just hasn't seemed to be able to get it right this year. After the company confidently parried an AGM challenge last April from a US institutional shareholder urging - once again - a spin-off of pharmaceuticals, it's been mostly a downhill slide for its image and its share price, if not its self-confidence.

FOR ALL NEWS AND BUSINESS ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT Marina Murphy T: +44 (0) 20 7598 1524; E: marina.murphy@soci.org

FEATURES
Energy is the biggest business in the world and the entire industry is on the verge of massive change. In this issue, Chemistry & Industry takes a wide-ranging look at issues affecting the industry.

Environment - a daunting challenge (p762)
Meeting human needs while managing carbon emissions. Donald Guertin, of the Atlantic Council of the United States, Washington DC offers up a critical reminder: although developed countries are attempting to bring down carbon dioxide emissions, in the developing world energy, and its associated pollution, plays an essential role in bringing the poorest people out of poverty.

Energy - Knowledge not petroleum (p765)
Oil and gas are still dominating the global energy market, nevertheless, key challenges lie ahead for the traditional energy industry. Claire Curran reports from the SCI Tennant Memorial Lecture given by Byron Grote, Chief Executive, BP Chemicals.

Renewables - Fuel cells - alternative energy?
Fuel cells have many advantages over traditional energy resources, however, R&D needs to concentrate on lowering costs and increasing power density. The Grove Fuel Cell Symposium investigates the role this alternative power source will have in the future, especially as we increasingly tune in to 'clean' energy sources.

FOR ALL FEATURES ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT Claire Curran
T: +44 (0) 20 7598 1527; E: claire.curran@soci.org

Society of Chemical Industry