The American Chemical Society’s Award-Winning Publication SPRING 2006 6 Madeleine Jacobs’ Page The ACS has introduced a new vision to mark the Society’s 130th anniversary and showcase the transforming power of chemistry. 29 Chemistry on Television The TV drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is not alone in pre- senting a sometimes-unrealistic portrait of science and scientists. 42 Polishing Medicine’s Images Chemists are helping physicians sharpen fuzzy images of internal organs with a new generation of contrast agents. And Don’t Miss… WASHBURN UNIVERSITY WASHBURN Refl ections from the “two-legged rat” generation of chemists, Science Strange but True Ben Franklin the surface chemist, plugging chemistry’s leaky T. rex’s speed is quick to grab your attention Ph.D. pipeline, analyzing travel among these vignettes about the anomalies agents, accumulating wealth for retirement, hot websites, and and curiosities of science page 36 more, inside. PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY chemistry.org/Chemistry CONTENTS FEATURES 29 Chemistry on Television 36 Strange but CSI’s often-unrealistic portrait of True Tales from forensic science gets a lot of attention. Science TV, however, sometimes blurs reality in King Kong’s death, portraying other scientists. Efforts are T. rex’s speed, mega afoot to refocus those images, which career networks, influence public perception of scientists and very long and their work. words are among by Becky Ham the ingredients for a collection of strange- but-true vignettes from a journalist and a physicist who WHAT’S IN THE LOGO? specialize in the anomalies and curiosities of science. 7-CHLORO-1,3-DIHYDRO-1-METHYL-5- by Bill Sones and Rich Sones PHENYL-2H-1,4-BENZODIAZEPIN-2-ONE C H CIN O 16 13 2 42 A New Age of Imaging Valium (diazepam) Agents is among the medi- Contrast agents have been unher- cal innovations that alded heroes in helping physicians emerged from work diagnose and treat diseases. of the “two-legged A new generation of these chemical rat” generation compounds sharpens otherwise fuzzy images of chemists. of internal organs, promising to sustain and See Ask the Lab enhance that rich heritage. Rat, page 52. by Patrick Young DEPARTMENTS 4 Global Perspectives: We (Should) 16 CareerView: Plugging a Leaky 48 Quick Read: Is Nanotechnology Have Nothing To Fear Pipeline Safe? Concerns about competing in the global economy Colleges and organizations like the ACS are trying Leaders from industry, academe, and environmental may be more widespread than anyone believes. to keep African-American and Hispanic chemistry groups agree on the need to understand the The United States, however, has much to gain from students in the career pipeline that leads to a Ph.D. potential risks of nanotechnology before the small global competition. BY CYNTHIA WASHAM technology makes a big splash. BY JOE ALPER BY RANDY WEDIN 20 Student Affiliates: Fostering 6 From the Desk of the Executive Undergraduate Research 51 Crossword ACS Student Affi liates chapters on college cam- Try the Chemistry crossword, and check out the Director puses around the country play an important role solution on page 47. What’s in a corporate or institutional vision in getting undergraduates interested in laboratory BY MARK S. LESNEY statement—that guiding image of an organization’s research. contribution to society that unites people in a BY RACHEL SMOLKIN 52 Ask the Lab Rat common goal? Institutional identities, inspiration, The death of a notable member of the “two-legged motivation, and much more. -*'& 22 Personal Travel: Travel Site rat” generation of chemists, when scientists were BY MADELEINE JACOBS 45:-& or Travel Agent? the guinea pigs, sparks a commentary about self- The old-fashioned travel agent may seem experimentation. 8 NewsBlast like a relic of the pre-WWW past. But travel agents BY A. K. A. MURIDAE Making sense of the narwhal’s tooth, catching a still have a lot to offer for certain kinds of travel comet with aerogel, King Coal’s new face, silence and travelers. 57 Inside ACS of the genes, cocoa’s health secret, Ben Franklin the BY ROBIN SUSSINGHAM A special section to keep members informed about surface chemist. the latest news and events unfolding at the world’s 25 Personal Finance: largest scientifi c organization. 11 Chem.WWW -*'& 45:-& Accumulating Wealth for Goodbye 404 error messages; the appeal of Heart Retirement and Heirs 64 For Closers: When Science Cut and Patent Watch; candid advice on digital Baby Boomers will live longer and more active Was Seen cameras; point, click, and eat; do-it-yourself digital lives than any other generation of retired people. Sorcery, not aerospace technology, drew crowds projects; complaint central; and more. These simple pointers can help ensure that you to the National Air and Space Museum last holiday BY KRISTIN KILI LAY accumulate enough wealth to sustain your lifestyle, season. It may have been one symptom of a enjoy those years, and pass that wealth on to the growing public inability to fathom modern next generation. science’s complexities, let alone sense the wonder that enthralled past generations. BY KERRY J. SCAFELLA BY JAMES F. RYAN form. Contents may not be reproduced in any All Rights Reserved. American Chemical Society. The Copyright 2006, 2 CHEMISTRY SPRING 2006 EDITORIAL Chemistry, published three times a year he old phrase “power behind the throne” refers to individuals, organizations, or for American Chemical Society members, technologies that are the real source of something very important. focuses on the science and people in chemistry. T In modern politics, it often means the low-profi le aide, adviser, lobbyist, or spouse Published by the Membership Division of who sets policy by infl uencing or manipulating a political leader. Things were a lot less ACS, a nonprofit scientific organization. subtle in medieval times, by the way, when this fi gure of speech originated. The conniver stood behind the throne and openly whispered right into the ear of an indecisive or STAFF dim-witted king. Michael Woods (ACS ’96) But “power behind” gets applied in other fi elds, wherever some hidden factor operates Editor behind the scenes without getting the recognition or credit that it so richly deserves. Denise Creech (ACS ’90) You can’t help but read Patrick Young’s article on imaging agents in this edition without Director, Membership Division thinking of chemistry’s role as an often-unheralded power for good in modern society. Alan L. Hutchins (ACS ’00) As Young points out, chemistry is the science behind millions of diagnostic tests done with Director, Marketing and Administration contrast agents, compounds that enhance the visibility of structures inside the body. Leigh Slayden Those tests save countless lives, improve the treatment of diseases, and reduce suffering. Assistant Director, Membership Activities Chemistry often is medicine’s anonymous philanthropist. People see the gift. It’s another Patricia A. Martin (ACS ’02) “marvel of modern medicine,” for instance, in the case of new diagnostic tests or medica- Manager, Member Retention tions. The public honors the physicians who use it. But few people connect the gift with the donors—chemists working behind the scenes in industry and academe. Lara A. Kadylak Managing Editor And chemistry often is the anonymous benefactor for much of the rest of modern science, from astronomy to zoology. All too often, chemistry fails to get the credit Susan Partridge Robinson for its role in technological advances, while taking the blame for the environmental Copy Editor consequences of technological progress. Becky Ham’s feature article in this edition points out that the fuzzy image is by no ADVISORY BOARD means limited to chemistry. The public sometimes gets a distorted image of other Joseph R. Peterson—Chair (ACS ’66) branches of science, and scientists in general, in popular television programming. University of Tennessee, Knoxville The ACS has pioneered a wide range of efforts to raise public awareness of chemistry’s Lisa Saunders Baugh (ACS ’90) contributions. Those initiatives began in 1919, when ACS started its News Service to ExxonMobil Research and Engineering help the news media inform the public about chemistry. ACS often is credited with being W. Edward Billups (ACS ’65) the fi rst scientifi c organization with a media relations department working to interpret Rice University science to the public. Henry N. Blount, III (ACS ’67) And ACS’s efforts continue today with a broad range of programs that are having a National Science Foundation positive impact on public perceptions of chemistry and chemists. Peter F. Gavin (ACS ’91) With great pleasure—and some regret—I am joining those exciting efforts as a staff Eli Lilly and Co. member at ACS headquarters in Washington, DC. Over the years, I’ve worked with ACS Melissa D. Hellman (ACS ’98) staff on freelance writing projects that ranged from brief news items to full-length books. Cubic Communications, Inc. I’ve gotten to know these individuals, and have admired and respected them as some of the very best in the business. I am honored to join them. Tina Leaym (ACS ’97) Dow Corning Corp. The regret? This transition will mean passing the editorship of Chemistry along to another individual. Editing Chemistry has been my favorite freelance project. I started in Melanie Lesko (ACS ’73) Texas A&M–Galveston 1996 as editor of Reaction Times, the college chemistry newspaper that combined with ACScope, a membership publication, to become Chemistry. I’ll always treasure memories Douglas C. Neckers (ACS ’59) as the fi rst editor of Chemistry—memories of working with writers, copy editors, graphic Bowling Green State University designers, and staff in the ACS Membership Division. Jim Schreck (ACS ’59) Throughout that period, I’ve benefi ted greatly from my own “power behind.” It came University of Northern Colorado from members of the Chemistry advisory board (CAB) who have worked hard with great James Visintainer (ACS ’80) creativity behind Chemistry’s scenes.