A few stories from this week's Chemical and Engineering News:
- Fascinating, unusual cover story about Sasol's takeover of a small Louisiana town by Rick Mullin.
- I am looking forward to thinking more about this National Academies report about communicating chemistry to the public. (article by Andrea Widener)
- Alex Scott covers BASF's internal/external competitions at their 150th anniversary celebrations - great stuff.
- Love this fun article by Craig Bettenhausen about laboratory services available to homebrewers.
- Educational article by Janet Pelley on toxic algae blooms.
That Sasol story is old news.
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ReplyDeleteThe Sasol story has me wondering - are there other cases out there where a large chemical company site swallowed up a small town?
On communicating chemistry...
ReplyDeleteI was surfing today and somebody I see there often asked me if there's a difference between the same compound "synthesized by nature" versus made in a lab. I think I failed somewhat miserably because I went straight into how like atoms are identical, as are like molecules regardless of their source. I don't know if it went over his head or I was just explaining poorly, but I think it was me. Point was if I pull some compound from a plant and synthesize it in a lab then they're the same thing exact. Should have just said it that way.
Sasol's buyout offer seems generous. If eminent domain was used, the people would have received less.
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