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Green and sustainable chemistry

The Royal Society of Chemistry hosted a plenary lecture on green and sustainable chemistry, featuring speakers from industry and academia. Key highlights include collaborations between sectors, innovative technologies for reducing waste and consumption, and the importance of information infrastructure.

SourceRoyal Society of Chemistry·JournalGreen Chemistry·DateNov 25, 2003

Experts use technology to research the past

A new three-year project makes 500 mid-Victorian wood engraved illustrations available as a searchable digital web database. The database will include books published in 1862, featuring significant authors like Trollope, and provide insights into 19th-century cultural history and artistic styles.

New treatment to beat severe incontinence

Researchers have created a ring of muscle from the patient's own body and transplanted it to the bladder as a replacement sphincter. The new treatment uses an implanted electrical stimulator for a reliable method of passing urine only when needed, offering hope for millions suffering from severe stress incontinence.

Making 3-D chips a reality

Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are developing new interconnect technologies that enable three-dimensional circuit integration, promising improved performance and function. The technology uses damascene processing to bond wafers together face-to-face, reducing global travel distance and enabling faster signal transmission.

Minority women perceive IT as way to promised land

A recent study by Dr. Lynette Kvasny found that minority women view technology training as empowering, enabling them to connect with their children and overcome poverty and social alienation. They see IT skills as a means to transform and shape inner-city communities, rather than just advancing in the workplace.

Research to improve mine safety being developed

University of Alberta researchers are working on a project to remotely scan and analyze core samples, allowing geologists to determine the type and quality of rock without physically inspecting them. This technology has the potential to improve mine safety, accuracy, and production by reducing the need for human intervention.

Polymers promote nerve regeneration

Researchers have developed microscale channels to guide neuron growth in damaged nerves, a breakthrough that shows promise for treating nerve injuries. The technique uses biodegradable polymer films with microscopic patterns to direct nerve cell growth, with initial results showing rats regaining use of their legs after injury.

Researchers warn biotech advances could be misused by terrorists

Recent advances in aerosol technology, microbiology, and genetics pose a risk of misuse by terrorists, warns Johns Hopkins researcher Gigi Kwik. The 'Persephone effect' highlights how life sciences can be used for both good and evil, and the need for strict biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of biological weapons.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalBiosecurity and Bioterrorism Biodefense Strategy Practice and Science·DateDec 20, 2002

Databases can heal themselves on-the-fly

A new database technology developed by Dr. Peng Liu can detect single, multiple or simultaneous attacks, isolating malicious transactions while preserving benign ones. The software also repairs the database by containing corrupted data objects and undoing the effects of the attack, allowing for static and on-the-fly repairs.

SourcePenn State·JournalIEEE Transactions on Knowledge and Data Engineering·DateOct 30, 2002