CAS - Science Connections


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The CAS - Science Connections series showcases the value of CAS databases in light of important general-interest, science, and technology news and highlights CAS database enhancements and editorial milestones.

Nobel Prize-Winning Chemistry Documented in the CAS Databases: On October 7, 2009, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry to three scientists "for studies of the structure and function of the ribosome". Much of their Nobel Prize-winning research is represented in the CAS databases, with more than 200 references to their journal articles since 1980. [October 9, 2009]
CAS Registers 50 Millionth Substance: On September 7, CAS Registry Number 1181081-51-5 was assigned to a novel arylmethylidene heterocycle. CAS REGISTRY, the most comprehensive and high-quality compendium of publicly disclosed chemical information, now includes 50 million organic and inorganic substances. [September 8, 2009]
The Cure for Cancer Starts with Research - Research Starts with CAS: In the sport of bicycle racing, the "peloton" is often comprised of members of the same team, strategically positioned around the team leader. The team's cycling specialists work together to help the team leader win the race. In the race to eradicate cancer, CAS plays an important role in the "cancer research peloton" by providing pathways to published research in the world's journal and patent literature. [August 24, 2009]
CAS REGISTRY^SM and Smithsonian Collections, Second to None: The Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History is world renowned for its collection of natural history specimens and human artifacts. Although the CAS REGISTRY database may not include "specimens" as visually impressive as the Museum, it is the centerpiece of CAS' content and is recognized as the global standard for chemical substance identification. [August 14, 2009]
Keeping Astronauts Cool and Coffee Hot with Reflective Surfaces and Vacuums: On July 20, 1969, the Eagle landing module became the first manned spacecraft to land on the moon. The success of NASA's Apollo 11 lunar mission depended on many unique technologies, one of which is the metallic silver and gold material covering the Eagle landing module. This light-weight, metallized plastic film was used to insulate the Eagle's crew and instrumentation from radiative heat transfer from the sun. [July 15, 2009]
Harnessing the Energy of Nuclear Fusion Reactions with Superconductors and Lasers: What do a six-ton superconductor and the world's largest laser have in common? Both are fundamental components in two very different approaches to harnessing the energy of nuclear fusion reactions. While it's too early to tell which will be the technology of choice in fusion power plants of the future, both technologies have the potential to provide abundant, clean, and safe electrical energy. [July 6, 2009]
The Not-So-New Chemical Element 112: Recent headlines tout that "a new element" will soon be added to the 140-year-old periodic table of chemical elements. However, the super heavy element known as ununbium (Uub), or element 112, is far from new. In fact, it has been among the elements found on standard periodic tables for several years and included in CAS REGISTRY since 1975. [June 24, 2009]
Glare-Reducing Sunglasses, Inspired at Summer Camp: You may not recognize the name, Edwin H. Land, or the synthetic sheet polarizer he invented, but you're probably familiar with the company he founded - the Polaroid Corporation. As the age of instant photography appears to be near its end, Land's summer camp-inspired invention of a synthetic sheet polarizer continues to live on, most notably as a popular glare-reducing feature in sunglass lenses. [June 3, 2009]
A New Use for a Feline Favorite: To help combat the onslaught of mosquitoes and other biting insects this summer, you can choose from several commercially available synthetic or "natural" insect repellents. While N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide, commonly known as DEET, is viewed as "the standard by which all other repellents are judged", the next big thing in insect control may come from a plant better known for its effect on cats. [May 14, 2009]
Drug Delivery Made Better with Grapefruit Juice?: Why is it important to avoid grapefruit juice with certain medications? The first clue came 20 years ago from a study that showed how drinking grapefruit juice could significantly elevate blood levels of the anti-hypertensive drug, felodipine. While this "grapefruit juice effect" is often perceived as a safety concern, a recent study highlights a novel strategy to exploit the effect for improved drug delivery. [May 4, 2009]
Volcanic Eruptions and the Role of Sulfur Dioxide in Climate Change: A series of severe volcanic eruptions recently shook Alaska's Mount Redoubt. The largest of the eruptions produced an ash plume that reached 50,000 feet above sea level and released a significant amount of sulfur dioxide into the earth's atmosphere. While there is obvious reason for alarm among local populations, sulfur dioxide from the Mount Redoubt eruption could also have more widespread impacts, particularly on the climate. [April 20, 2009]
The Cherry Blossom - More than Just a Pretty Flower: This spring, more than a million people are expected to visit Washington, DC, to see the brilliant display of blossoming cherry trees. A recent study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry suggests that "plum vinegar extract of cherry blossom" is a rich source of phenolic antioxidants that may impart health benefits. [April 2, 2009]
Presidential Keynote Address at ACS National Meeting Presented by Angela M. Belcher: Dr. Belcher's exceptional research in materials science is well represented in the CAS databases, with over 80 references to her journal articles and patents since 1994. Much of her research stems from early studies of abalone mollusk shells and the important observation that such biological systems can direct the assembly of inorganic substances into nanostructures. [March 20, 2009]
Single Amino Acid Substitutions Spell Trouble for the Latest Antiviral Drugs: Feeling achy, feverish, fatigued... do you have the flu? According to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there's a good chance you've been infected by an influenza A virus. Unfortunately, each flu season brings new strains of the influenza A virus, some of which have become highly resistant to existing antiviral drugs. [March 17, 2009]
Reprieve for High-Fructose Corn Syrup?: A 2004 article linked the consumption of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) to obesity. While the findings led to widespread public concern regarding the increasing prevalence of HFCS in food and beverages, only limited evidence has since been published to support or refute the correlation. For insights into the controversy, its history, and details about chemical substances related to high-fructose corn syrup, look to the CAS databases. [February 20, 2009]
Validating Darwin with Radiometric Dating: Radiometric dating supports the geologic "evolution" of the Grand Canyon and also validates a central tenet in a much different theory of evolution - a theory introduced by Charles Robert Darwin in his 1859 publication, On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life. [February 12, 2009]
Anti-inflammatory Activity of Aspirin - It's All About Salicylic Acid: While we've just begun to realize the importance of endogenous salicylic acid in humans, plant-derived or synthetic forms of salicylic acid have been used for centuries to treat pain, fever, and inflammation. However, we have yet to uncover all there is to know about its mechanism of action. Information in the CAS databases details what we have learned from the last few decades of research. [February 5, 2009]
De-icing Roads with De-sugared Sugar Beet Molasses: A shortage of road salt combined with rising prices has many communities looking for new ways to extend their salt supplies or to find alternative methods to de-ice roads. De-sugared sugar beet molasses, a waste product created when sugar beets are used to make commercial grade sugar, is one of the latest alternative de-icing agents being tested. [January 14, 2009]
A Novel Antimicrobial Drug from an Unlikely Source - The African Clawed Frog: A recent article suggests that the growing problem of antibiotic drug resistance may be addressed with a new drug that mimics our innate immune system. Pexiganan is a synthetic analog of magainin II, isolated from the skin of the African clawed frog and one of more than 1000 antimicrobial peptides identified in plants and animals. [January 6, 2009]