Vol. 104 No. 4 (2008)

Nanotechnology focuses on the preparation and characterization of nanometric structures, and their use as novel functional materials. Nanotubes specially stand out in this field due to their applications in areas as wide as catalysis, electronics, pharmacology and transport. In this communication we describe the design, preparation, application and evolution of a new class of tubular structures constructed by molecular self-assembly of cyclic peptides, paying particular attention to α,γ-hybrids because of their ability to modulate their internal cavity and their selectivity in the formation of homo- and/or heterodimeric structures.

Archaeological Cultural Heritage is a legacy of our past. It is worth to be beholded and enjoyed for all of us and also be studied by the historians. After a buried object is discovered in the archaeological site it goes through the restoration and conservation intervention to clean and protect it to suffer not future degradations. These interventions are now including the use of laser instruments. This article explains the degradation and cleaning of different Cultural Heritage materials and also schemes the principles of lasers cleaning.

The understanding of the energy and electron transfer processes occurring in organic devices formed by two electroactive chemical species connected through a π-conjugated molecular wire, are stimulating concepts within the emergent science of molecular electronics. In this article we show the important development undergone by these electronic processes, as well as the concept and some examples of molecular wires of organic nature.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2008 has been awarded to Osamu Shimomura, Martin Chalfie and Roger Y. Tsien, by their respective scientific contributions, which have transformed a curiosity of Nature, such as the ability of a jelly fish to emit green light, into a powerful tool nowadays vastly used in biomedical and biotechnological research.

Non-covalent binding of small molecules to DNA can take place in the grooves, which can involve sequence-specific recognition, by insertion between the stacked base-pairs (intercalation) or through the formation of triplexes or quadruplexes structures. In addition, electrostatic interactions with phosphate groups can also occur. DNA binders range from simple metals to supramolecular entities resulting from a self-assembly process between organic ligands and metallic cations. Interactions between DNA and synthetic small molecules can alter the structure and functions (replication and/or transcription) of nucleic acids and constitute the basis for their use as tools in molecular biology and as antitumor drugs.

This paper summarized the technological advances in near infrared absorption spectrometry area and its applications on the alimentary technology and biofuels analysis.

The number of students which leave the ESO (Educación Secundaria Obligatoria - Compulsory Secondary Education) is gradually increasing. As a consequence, the number of registered in the scientific secondary education and the number of Bachelor of Science is decreasing. Demolab (Demonstrations at the laboratory) arises in 2004 with the aim to promote scientific studies among the 14−16 years old students. The marvellous welcome of the pilot stage of the program was the starting point for a set of activities greatly consolidates and is a referent at the moment in the educational staff of the Balearic Islands.

: This paper presents a brief review of recent research on medieval and early modern alchemy, chemistry and metallurgy, pursuing two main aims. Firstly, it is argued that historians who consider Renaissance alchemy and chemistry as separate or contrasting fields are committing anachronism and reproducing an interpretive error that is deeply ingrained in traditional literature. Secondly, some examples are presented, mostly emerging from the study of archaeological remains of laboratories, in order to illustrate the sophisticated experiments and knowledge of the pioneer scientists that are often disdained as obscure alchemists.

Biografías, historia de la química, catálisis, historiografía. Abstract: The first studies on catalysis in Spain were published in 1908. To commemorate this event, we report here what we have found in old documents, our encounters with the precursors of this new scientific field and their findings. We will witness the first steps not only in the catalysis field, but also in the foundation of new scientific institutions and scientific events, of paramount importance in the Spanish scientific development.

Miguel Julve, Premio Catalán-Sabatier 2008 de la Société Française de Chimie • José Ramón Galán-Mascarós recibe la Medalla Olivier Kahn 2008 • Acto de entrega de los VI Premios de Investigación Básica Lilly para alumnos de doctorado • Premios del concurso Ensaya 08 (Logroño, 14/11/2008) • Noticias de la European Association for Chemical and Molecular Sciences (EuCheMS) • 7th Spanish-Italian Symposium on Organic Chemistry (SISOC-7) (Oviedo, 7−10/9/2008) • V Simposio de Investigadores Jóvenes RSEQ Sigma-Aldrich (Santiago de Compostela, 10−12/11/2008) • Creación del grupo especializado de Jóvenes Investigadores Químicos (JIQ) de la RSEQ (Santiago de Compostela, 10/11/2008) • Oviedo,
capital de la Química (13/11/2008) • Publicado el libro Atomic Absorption Spectrometry: An Introduction
Noticias Científicas Relevantes 335−338