Monthly Archives: January 2011

Periodic Table of the Stock Market

Posted on January 31, 2011 by Sharon Neufeldt

While researching investment choices for my new I’m-trying-to-be-a-responsible-adult Roth IRA, I eventually grew impatient with analyst predictions and just started searching for interesting ticker symbols.

Posted in Chemistry, Fun Stuff | 8 Comments

Study Suggests New HIV Therapy

Posted on January 26, 2011 by Sharon Neufeldt

Human bodies are naturally equipped with elaborate defense mechanisms to squelch intruding microorganisms. But some viruses, like HIV, are able to slip under the immune system radar and set up permanent residence in a human host. Exactly how this feat … Continue reading →

Posted in Viruses | 3 Comments

Salting the Roads – More Complicated Than It Sounds

Posted on January 24, 2011 by Sharon Neufeldt

I grew up in a HOT climate (below), where we didn’t have to deal with the kind of weather that we have right now in most of the country. Back home, occasional road signs near overpasses nonchalantly suggest that “Ice … Continue reading →

Posted in Chemicals Among Us, Chemistry, Current Events | 1 Comment

An Amoeba Is More Fiscally Responsible than Most Americans

Posted on January 21, 2011 by Sharon Neufeldt

A new study reveals that even – those squishy little single-celled organisms – know how to save up for a rainy day. Scientists at Rice University have discovered that some members of a like to save up food for when … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology | 3 Comments

Pandemic Disorder Threatens Public Health*

Posted on January 19, 2011 by Sharon Neufeldt

A widespread disorder affecting a staggering number of citizens in developed countries, including the U.S., has recently been brought into the spotlight.

Posted in Chemistry, Communication, Fun Stuff | Comments Off

My Beverage Tastes Better Because I’m a Chemist

Posted on January 17, 2011 by Sharon Neufeldt

I bought some ginger tea a little while back, but it turned out a little disappointing. Despite steeping the tea for longer than the prescribed 5–10 minutes, I could barely detect any of the characteristic spicy flavor that I was … Continue reading →

Posted in Amateur Research, Chemistry | 14 Comments

Performance Anxiety? Try Writing About It.

Posted on January 14, 2011 by Sharon Neufeldt

Choking under pressure can happen to the best of us. Students with test anxiety often perform below their abilities, and baseball pitchers can let ruin a perfect game.

Posted in Education, Psychology Stuff | 1 Comment

If Earth’s Spin Speeds Up We’ll All Get Fat and Uninhibited

Posted on January 12, 2011 by Sharon Neufeldt

Almost all plants and animals have an internal “clock” – called a circadian clock – that synchronizes our biological rhythms with Earth’s cycle of day and night. Conveniently, our biological clocks are best at synchronizing to a 24 hour day, … Continue reading →

Posted in Brain Stuff, Happiness, Physiology | 8 Comments

If James Cameron Did Chemistry

Posted on January 10, 2011 by Sharon Neufeldt

Chemistry has a lot of smart researchers, but no names or faces that the Average Joe would recognize. The field needs a hero but, as Chembark points out, what chemist has the time to be a spokesperson? Research in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Chemistry, Fun Stuff | 9 Comments

Finding an Alzheimer’s Drug From Scratch

Posted on January 7, 2011 by Sharon Neufeldt

Pharmaceutical companies sometimes get a bad rap, but most people don’t realize just how labor/money-intensive the process of drug discovery is. A recent paper offers a little glimpse at the process

Posted in Brain Stuff, Chemistry | 2 Comments

The Chemistry of Sweet

Posted on January 5, 2011 by Sharon Neufeldt

As a new year begins, so do new diet plans. Many diets encourage replacing sugar with artificial sweeteners as a way to cut calories. So what’s really in those pink, blue, and yellow sugar-substitute packets?

Posted in Chemicals Among Us, Chemistry | 5 Comments