Chemspy chemistry news and views

(Virginia Commonwealth University) An international team of researchers has discovered a new class of magnetic superhalogens -- a class of atomic clusters able to exhibit unusual stability at a specific size and composition, which may be used to advance materials science by allowing scientists to create a new class of salts with magnetic and super-oxidizing properties not previously found.

(University of Houston) Eliminating tens of thousands of manual lab experiments, University of Houston researchers are working toward a method to cut the development time of new antibiotics. A computerized modeling system they're developing will speed up the often decade-long process. Pharmacy professor Vincent Tam and engineering professor Michael Nikolaou are focusing on dosing regimens to reveal which ones are most likely to be effective in combating infection and which are not worth pursuing.

(Case Western Reserve University) Case Western Reserve University will receive $899,818 for research, in collaboration with an Ohio company, aimed at using mirrors to increase light intensity on flat-panel modules for solar photovoltaic energy systems. This technology should result in power gains, lower costs and improved system reliability. The funding is part of the state program's fiscal year 2011 Ohio Third Frontier Photovoltaics Program Awards.

(Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) Topics range from three-dimensional railway line planning to changes in rice cultivation and political communication in the online age/First group in new acoustics funding area established

(Louisiana Tech University) Brandon Moore, assistant professor of biological sciences at Louisiana Tech University, was selected as one of only ten 2011 Fellows from a distinguished pool of international candidates, representing a number of chemical and environmental science disciplines.