Latest science news from yours truly on SpectroscopyNOW.com
- Don’t get your kinases in a twist – New drugs that block kinase enzymes irreversibly could be used in cancer therapy as well as in studying how this class of enzymes functions. An informatics analysied has allowed molecular editing to produce novel leads.
- X-rays spot left and right handed chemicals – US scientists have made a catalyst that triggers the creation of chemical structures exhibiting a difficult-to-make form of chirality, or handedness, known as atropisomerism, they report in the journal Science. Single-crystal, heavy-atom X-ray analysis of the major product allowed the team to assign an absolute configuration and so demonstrate efficacy.
- Palm-sized magnet – German researchers have developed a light, permanent magnet that is suitable for NMR and fits in the palm of your hand. They say it could be used for portable, high-resolution NMR instruments for field studies of important chemicals.
- Nano cell for laser science – An international team of scientists have developed a new nano-cell for laser spectroscopy that opens up new ways to study absorption and fluorescence of metal vapours
- Six new planets discovered – A veritable menagerie of new planets discovered from ‘shrunken-Saturns’ to ‘bloated hot Jupiters’, as well a rare brown dwarf with 60 times the mass of Jupiter.
- First flaming June Alchemist – An old marine alkaloid may find new use in metastatic pancreatic cancer, bitter blockers could be just the thing for nasty-tasting Brussels sprouts, and lotus seed skins offer hope for a food waste product. Also in this week's Alchemist, screening crops for cyanide, gas reactions in crystal lattices, and an award for cellular insights.