Sunday, March 16

2 p.m. Central Time

Advance toward developing an oral pain reliever derived from debilitating snail venom

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Sunday, March 16, 2014, 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time

Scientists reported today they have created at least five new experimental substances — based on a tiny protein found in cone snail venom — that could someday lead to the development of safe and effective oral medications for treatment of chronic nerve pain. They say the substances could potentially be stronger than morphine, with fewer side effects and lower risk of abuse.

David Craik, Ph.D.University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

4:30 p.m. Central Time Honey is a new approach to fighting antibiotic resistance: How sweet it is!EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Sunday, March 16, 2014, 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time

Honey, that delectable condiment for breads and fruits, could be one sweet solution to the serious, ever-growing problem of bacterial resistance to antibiotics, researchers said here today. Medical professionals sometimes use honey successfully as a topical dressing, but it could play a larger role in fighting infections, the researchers predicted.

Susan M. Meschwitz, Ph.D. Salve Regina University

Monday, March 17

8:30 a.m. Central Time Major ‘third-hand smoke’ compound causes DNA damage — and potentially cancerEMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Sunday, March 16, 2014, 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time

Leftover cigarette smoke that clings to walls and furniture is a smelly nuisance, but now research suggests that it could pose a far more serious threat, especially to young children who put toys and other smoke-affected items into their mouths. Scientists reported today that one compound from this “third-hand smoke,” which forms when second-hand smoke reacts with indoor air, damages DNA and sticks to it in a way that could potentially cause cancer.

Bo Hang, Ph.D.Ahmed Chenna, Ph.D. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

9:30 a.m. Central TimeBetter-tasting reduced-fat desserts, dressings, sauces: Coming soon? EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Sunday, March 16, 2014, 3:15 p.m. Eastern Time

Adjusting the calcium level and acidity could be the key to developing new better-tasting, more eye-appealing and creamier reduced-fat sauces, desserts and salad dressings that could be on the market soon, researchers reported here today. To date, a major problem with removing fat from these accompaniments is that in addition to reducing calories, it can negatively affect the flavor, appearance and texture, they said.

Bicheng WuUniversity of Massachusetts, Amherst

10 a.m. Central Time

Rare and endangered elements

Rare and endangered elements are largely unseen by most of us, but they are essential to our smart phones, cars and other everyday products we have come to rely on. The problem is they often come from politically unstable areas or are limited in abundance. What happens when their supply runs dry?

David Constable, Ph.D.ACS Green Chemistry Institute

Jillian Buriak, Ph.D.University of Alberta

Karl Gschneidner, Jr., Ph.D.Ames Laboratory, Iowa State University

11 a.m. Central TimePotentially safer, greener alternative to BPA could come from papermaking wasteEMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Sunday, March 16, 2014, 5:45 p.m. Eastern Time

A waste product from making paper could yield a safer, greener alternative to the potentially harmful chemical BPA, now banned from baby bottles but still used in many plastics. Scientists made the BPA alternative from lignin, the compound that gives wood its strength, and they said here today that it could be ready for the market within five years.

Richard Wool, Ph.D. Kaleigh RenoUniversity of Delaware11:30 a.m. Central TimeHow the science of deer hunting can help patients with diabetes EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, March 17, 2014, 9:45 a.m. Eastern Time

Body odor is a deer hunter’s worst enemy, an alert to animals that an ominous presence is lurking, but the science behind suppressing it to give hunters an edge oddly enough could help researchers develop a life-saving device for diabetes patients. Researchers reported on this finding here today.

Shamitha DissanayakeMississippi State University1p.m. Central TimeHigh-tech materials purify water with sunlightEMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Sunday, March 16, 2014, 5:15 p.m. Eastern Time

Sunlight plus a common titanium pigment might be the secret recipe for ridding pharmaceuticals, pesticides and other potentially harmful pollutants from drinking water. Scientists combined several high-tech components to make an easy-to-use water purifier that could work with the world’s most basic form of energy, sunlight, in a boon for water purification in rural areas or developing countries. They discussed their study here today.

Anne Morrissey, Ph.D.Dublin City University2 p.m. Central TimeShale could be long-term home for problematic nuclear wasteEMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, March 17, 2014, 10 a.m. Eastern Time

Shale, the source of the United States’ current natural gas boom, could help solve another energy problem: what to do with radioactive waste from nuclear power plants. The unique properties of the sedimentary rock and related clay-rich rocks make it ideal for storing the potentially dangerous spent fuel for millennia, according to a geologist studying possible storage sites who made a presentation here today.

Chris Neuzil, Ph.D.U.S. Geological Survey3 p.m. Central TimeFighting antibiotic resistance with ‘molecular drill bits’EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, March 17, 2014, 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time

In response to drug-resistant “superbugs” that send millions of people to hospitals around the world, scientists are building tiny, “molecular drill bits” that kill bacteria by bursting through their protective cell walls. They presented some of the latest developments on these drill bits, better known to scientists as antimicrobial peptides here today.

Georges Belfort, Ph.D.Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

3:30 p.m. Central TimeKnowing whether food has spoiled without even opening the container (video)EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, March 17, 2014, 4 p.m. Eastern Time

A color-coded smart tag could tell consumers whether a carton of milk has turned sour or a can of green beans has spoiled without opening the containers, according to researchers. The tag, which would appear on the packaging, also could be used to determine if medications and other perishable products were still active or fresh, they said. A new video, illustrating how the tag works, is available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-Fpj9bdht4.

Chao Zhang, Ph.D. Ling-Dong Sun, Ph.D.Chun-Hua Yan, Ph.D.Peking University, Beijing, China

Tuesday, March 18

9 a.m. Central TimeToward ‘vanishing’ electronics and unlocking nanomaterials’ power potentialEMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, March 17, 2014, 5 p.m. Eastern Time

Brain sensors and electronic tags that dissolve. Boosting the potential of renewable energy sources. These are examples of the latest research from two pioneering scientists selected as this year’s Kavli lecturers presented here today.

John Rogers, Ph.D.University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Emily Weiss, Ph.D.Northwestern University

11:30 a.m. Central TimeAn end to animal testing for drug discovery?EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Tuesday, March 18, 2014, 11 a.m. Eastern Time

As some countries and companies roll out new rules to limit animal testing in pharmaceutical products designed for people, scientists are stepping in with a new way to test therapeutic drug candidates and determine drug safety and drug interactions — without using animals. The development of “chemosynthetic livers,” which could dramatically alter how drugs are made, was presented here today.

Mukund S. Chorghade, Ph.D.Empiriko Corporation

1:30 p.m. Central TimeThe precise reason for the health benefits of dark chocolate: mystery solvedEMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Tuesday, March 18, 2014, 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time

The health benefits of eating dark chocolate have been extolled for centuries, but the exact reason has remained a mystery –– until now. Researchers reported here today that certain bacteria in the stomach gobble the chocolate and ferment it into anti-inflammatory compounds that are good for the heart.

John Finley, Ph.D.Maria MooreLouisiana State University

2 p.m. Central TimeNew way to make biodiesel creates less waste from alligator, and likely other animal fatsEMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Monday, March 17, 2014, 9 p.m. Eastern TimeChicken fat, pork fat or beef fat –– none is the cornerstone of a healthful diet –– but animal fats, including those from alligators, could give an economical, ecofriendly boost to the biofuel industry, according to researchers who reported a new method for biofuel production here. Their report follows up on their earlier study on the potential use of gator fat as a source of biodiesel fuel.

August Gallo, Ph.D. University of Louisiana at Lafayette

3:30 p.m. Central TimeBuilding heart tissue that beatsEMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Tuesday, March 18, 2014, 2:45 p.m. Eastern TimeWhen a heart gets damaged, such as during a major heart attack, there’s no easy fix. But scientists working on a way to repair the vital organ have now engineered tissue that closely mimics natural heart muscle that beats, not only in a lab dish but also when implanted into animals. They presented their latest results here today.

Nasim Annabi, Ph.D.Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School

Wednesday, March 19

8:30 a.m. Central TimeNo-refrigeration, spray vaccine could curb diseases in remote areasEMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, March 19, 2014, 9:30 a.m. Eastern TimeA new kind of single-dose vaccine that comes in a nasal spray and doesn’t require refrigeration could dramatically alter the public health landscape — get more people vaccinated around the world and address the looming threats of emerging and re-emerging diseases. Researchers presented the latest design and testing of these “nanovaccines” here today.

Balaji Narasimhan, Ph.D. Iowa State University

9:30 a.m. Central TimeTexans are turning to a different kind of spirit — vodka — and saltier is betterEMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, March 19, 2014, 2:30 p.m. Eastern TimeTexans, known for enjoying local beers and Dr Pepper soft drinks, now have a growing beverage industry that would appeal to James Bond, who is well-known for enjoying a good martini. Distillers are producing at least 17 Texas vodkas, researchers reported here today, and the most popular are, surprisingly, those that are a bit salty.

Diana Mason, Ph.D.University of North Texas

Robyn FordDenton High School, Denton, Texas

10:30 a.m. Central TimeHarnessing everyday motion to power mobile devices (video)FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Imagine powering your cell phone by simply walking around your office or rubbing it with the palm of your hand. Rather than plugging it into the wall, you become the power source. Researchers here presented these commercial possibilities and a unique vision for green energy. To see a video of the team’s work, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVhJ4G-7na4.

Zhong Lin Wang, Ph.D.Georgia Institute of Technology

11:45 a.m. Central TimeNew method is a thousand times more sensitive to performance-enhancing drugsEMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: Tuesday, March 18, 2014, 8 p.m. Eastern Time

While the world’s best athletes competed during last month’s winter Olympics, doctors and scientists were waging a different battle behind the scenes to make sure no one had an unfair advantage from banned performance-enhancing drugs. Now, for the first time, researchers here have unveiled a new weapon — a test for doping compounds that is a thousand times more sensitive than those used today.

Daniel Armstrong, Ph.D.Hongyue Guo University of Texas at Arlington

*Instructions for joining chat room sessionsChat Room Sessions from the ACS National Meeting in Dallas The American Chemical Society (ACS) Office of Public Affairs is offering the news media the opportunity to join press briefings, whether covering the meeting onsite or from a remote location. This format will provide access for the increasing number of journalists who cover scientific meetings from their home bases during ACS’ 247th National Meeting March 16-20, in Dallas.   Borrowing the popular chat room concept from the Internet, we will provide news media with access to both real and virtual chat room sessions during the Dallas meeting.  Reporters attending the meeting can gather with scientists in an informal setting in our Press Briefing Room at the ACS Press Center, Room A122/A123, in the Dallas Convention Center. The scientists will summarize their research and field questions. Offsite reporters can enter a virtual version of this chat room over the Internet. In addition to seeing and hearing the real-world activity, offsite reporters can submit questions. Like hosts of a traditional chat room, we never know how many participants will join a session. Each session will proceed, regardless of attendance, so that digital transcripts can be made and posted online as a resource for individuals who are unable to attend. Chat room sessions begin Sunday, March 16, and continue during the week. Get a head start by registering at Ustream.tv, a live, interactive, online video site.

ACS’ Virtual Press Conference Room To register with Ustream.tv, go to www.ustream.tv/login-signup?ref=%2Fdashboard. It’s free and only takes a minute or two to sign up. To join the chat room during one of our sessions, visit www.ustream.tv/channel/acslive and click the “Login” button at the top right of the Ustream window. Ustream requires the latest version of Adobe Flash, which can be downloaded without charge here.

Use the built-in chat box to ask questions during the press conference (requires Ustream.tv registration).

Use the chat box to the right of the video window to submit questions to the researchers. To resolve connection problems, contact our newsroom: [email protected]. Recorded versions of the sessions will be available at www.ustream.tv/channel/acslive after the press conference is complete.  The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 161,000 members, ACS is the world’s largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.   To automatically receive news releases from the American Chemical Society, contact [email protected].