We are constantly on the look-out for new web sites, blogs, and other pl
atforms that help communicate to and with the science community.
We’re happy to recommend this great site for everyone interested in knowing what’s happening in both the labs and the front office – click here to check this site out.
The good people at the University of Nottingham have put together one of the best Periodic Tables we’ve ever seen – with each element, there’s a video explanation – kudos to the people who put this together!
This one continues to demonstrate the broad scope of 
applications for Thin Layer Chromatography – and shows again that you never know where TLC will show up in the media.
GoodEveningWorld.com bills itself as an “Online Magazine covering Fashion, Beauty, Celebrity Buzz, Health Care, Pregnancy & Parenting, Love, Home and Relationships”
The site has just posted a comprehesive overview of smoking tobacco and includes this portion about detecting nicotine:
Diagnosis of Smoking (presence of nicotine)
Traces of nicotine can be found in urine for nearly 3 days after the last smoke, so a urine test can be carried out which gives qualitative results for nicotine.
Thin layer chromatography (TLC): In this test, mixtures are separated by using an absorbent material like aluminum oxide or silica on testing sheets.
To read the whole post, click here.
We were honored to be part of the 2009 Governor Ruth Ann Minner Biotechnology Scholarship Awards luncheon.
This year’s recipients ar pictured to the right along with Dr. 
Yidadi Yusibov, Executive Director for the Fraunhofer Center for Molecular Biotechnology.
(l-r) Mr. Nicholas Rohm of the University of Delaware, Ms. Mara Hyatt of Delaware Technical and Community College, Dr. Yusibov, and Mr. Tim Pierpont of Delaware State University.
The scholarship fund was started by the Fraunhofer Center for Molecular Biotechnology in 2006 for the purpose of encouraging Delaware students to consider studies and career opportunities in the growing field of biotechnology. It was named in honor of Governor Ruth Ann Minner for her support of and contributions to biotechnology in the State of Delaware. The scholarship is awarded to a student from the University of Delaware, Delaware State University and Delaware Technical and Community College who demonstrates a commitment to pursuing the highest standards of excellence, ethics and compassion in the biotech field.
Congratulations to this year’s recipients – we’re all looking forward to great work from you!
Award recipients recognized for Innovation, Service, and Excellence in Government
Members of Delaware’s bioscience community honored three industry leaders at the 
Delaware Bio Annual Awards Gala on Wednesday, April 29. We also celebrated the ten-year anniversary of AstraZeneca’s decision to locate its U.S. headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware.
Recipients of the 2009 Delaware Bio awards, which go to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the biosciences in Delaware are:
The keynote speaker for the evening was Delaware Governor Jack Markell and many in the room had stories to share about AstraZeneca’s decision to locate their U.S. headquarters in Delaware.
As you probably know, there’s this fun video that’s been making the rounds the past few months:
So the question now is, has John Cleese seen this?
Here’s the evidence that indicates he may have:
1) I sent a comment to his blog which needs to have approval before being published, after weeks of waiting, the submission is now posted – click here for exhibit A (scroll down to comment #12)
2) I just received a google alert showing that the video was added to the Cleese page on Funny or Die – click here for exhibit B (scroll down to the 9th video – feel free to give it a “funny” vote while you’re there)
So, what do you think? Have you seen or heard anything that indicates he (or any of the other members of Monty Python) have seen this video?
William Koskinen is a Soil Scientist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. His current research interests include soil chemistry/biochemistry with an emphasis in determination and quantification of the mechanisms and factors controlling the degradation, movement, and activity of pesticides and their metabolites in soil; and use this knowledge to increase pesticide efficacy in agricultural production systems and decrease the risk of ground and surface water contamination.
William Koskinen has been performing Thin Layer Chromatography separations for about 30 years – and he uses Analtech Thin Layer Chromatography Plates.