Heidolph & Brinkmann: Now Partners in North America
Heidolph, world renown for innovative and high quality lab equipment
for 65 years. Brinkmann, representing and supporting the best lab
equipment brands for 65 years. Together they provide superior laboratory
products, support and service to virtually all types of labs throughout
North America.
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News Detecting Explosives with Honeybees
Scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory have developed a method for training the common honey bee to detect the explosives used in bombs. Based on knowledge of bee biology, the new techniques could become a leading tool in the fight against the use of improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, which present a critical vulnerability for American military troops abroad and is an emerging danger for civilians worldwide.
By studying bee behavior and testing and improving on technologies already on the market, Los Alamos scientists developed methods to harness the honey bee's exceptional olfactory sense where the bees' natural reaction to nectar, a proboscis extension reflex (sticking out their tongue), could be used to record an unmistakable response to a scent. Using Pavlovian training techniques common to bee research, they trained bees to give a positive detection response, via the proboscis extension reflex, when they were exposed to vapors from TNT, C4, TATP explosives and propellants. continue
Digital Microscope Outperforms Conventional Microscopes
The Keyence VHX-500 Digital Video Microscope offers numerous technological
innovations. A depth-of-field 20x greater than conventional microscopes
combined with 3-D Image Composition creates sharp 3-D images at any
angle or magnification. Operation is simplified even for first-time users.
Halation Correction eliminates glare and reflections. The VHX-500 provides
real-time, on-screen measurements and 3-D Surface Profiling with color
topographic displays. The system’s 18 mega-pixel camera can be used
handheld for large target observation.
For More Information & Download Details, Click Here>>>
Chemist Finds New Uses for Germanium
Not since the use of germanium in the first transistor radios and the discovery of its crucial role in semiconductor research more than 50 years ago has the study of this element garnered so much attention.
This half-century rebound in popularity is thanks to a University of Houston scientist and his team’s research into a first-time, low-density synthetic form of this chemical element.
The usual form of germanium has the same structure as a diamond, and this new form has a beautiful and unique “cage” structure. That is, it has a crystal structure with an open framework having empty cages or cavities. Additionally, this new solid form of germanium is less dense and has the uncommon property of ice in that it floats in its own liquid. continue Lasers Shine Light on Chemical Reactions
Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory have been using a high-resolution laser technique to learn how molecules absorb light and fall apart during photodissociation reactions — chemical decomposition reactions triggered by light. Studying the atomic-level details of such reactions allows scientists to test and refine theories of chemical reactions, and may help them in their quest to use light to control reaction outcomes.
“Despite much research in this field, there remain many unanswered details at the frontier of our understanding about chemical bond-breaking following light absorption,” said chemist Greg Hall, leader of the Brookhaven research team. continue
NEW! White Paper on Best Practices for Managing Lab Chemical Inventory
ChemSW, Inc.’s latest white paper details best practices in chemical inventory management, providing insights to ensure system adoption and successful incorporation into lab processes. Reasons why systems fail and why they succeed are examined, as well as the true costs associated with chemical inventory management and cost savings that result when such a system is optimized for maximum effectiveness.
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Night of the Living Enzyme
Inactive enzymes entombed in tiny honeycomb-shaped holes in silica can spring to life, scientists at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have found.
The discovery came when they decided to salvage enzymes that had been in a refrigerator long past their expiration date. Enzymes are proteins that are not actually alive but come from living cells and perform chemical conversions.
To the research team's surprise, enzymes that should have fizzled months before perked right up when entrapped in a nanomaterial called functionalized mesoporous silica, or FMS. The result points the way for exploiting these enzyme traps in food processing, decontamination, biosensor design and any other pursuit that requires controlling catalysts and sustaining their activity. continue
The ”über-bulb” from BrandTech Scientific, Inc.
The BRAND macro pipette controller is a modern, ergonomic alternative to old-fashioned pipette bulbs and other manual aspiration devices. One
size accepts pipettes from 0.1 mL to 100 mL. Simple meniscus control
even for students, the relaxed grip also reduces strain in prolonged
pipetting operations. Supports pipetting to Class A tolerances, and is
fully autoclavable for sterile applications. Filter restricts over-
aspiration. Available in six bright colors from leading lab dealers,
it’s the über-bulb! Act Now! Buy 2, get one FREE!
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Find What You Need … Fast!
Looking for a balance, chiller, gas generator, lab washer, spectrophotometer, titrator, viscometer, or water purification system? Need it now? Visit www.LaboratoryEquipment.com, click on the “Buyers Guide” tab at the top of the page and type your keyword of choice in the Search window. Click on “Jump to results” for the Buyer’s Guide. Here you’ll find information on the technology you’re interested in, plus messages from vendors ready to meet your needs.
If your keyword is one of those highlighted in the box at the top of the Buyers Guide page, simply click on the word and go directly to the suppliers list. continue
The DryVap® System
Through the precise application of vacuum, heat and nitrogen sparge, Horizon
Technology’s DryVap® System gently and predictably evaporates all residual solvent from your compound so you can quickly move on to the next step, and accelerate your research.
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Editor's Choice
Raman Spectra Database with Application Subset Libraries
S.T. Japan’s 4000 Raman spectra database includes 3730 dispersive Raman spectra of high purity samples and 270 spectra of polymers, packaging materials and plasticizers. Most of the spectra were measured using a laser excitation wavelength of 488 nm, and some where measured at 532 nm. continue
Parallel Hydrogenation Workstation
Biotage’s Atlantis parallel hydrogenation workstation is a flexible, open-access system that offers one to six independent reactors in two volume-ranges of 100 mL and 1 L. Each reactor module features independent temperature, stirring and pressure control. continue
Chip-Based Viscosity Measurement Instruments
RheoSense’s line of chip-based viscosity measurement instruments provides precise and repeatable characterization of various liquids. Samples no longer need to be sent to an off-site lab for batch-to-batch consistency checks for accurate viscosity measurements. continue
