The Column-06-22-2012

In 2008 the rostrum from an ancient warship was recovered from the Mediterranean Sea near Sicily.

The 23rd analytica, the International Trade Fair for Laboratory Technology, Analysis and Biotechnology, concluded in Munich, Germany, at the end of April with more than 30 000 visitors.

Frog legs are a well known delicacy of both French and Cantonese cuisine.

The western US and British Columbia are currently experiencing an infestation of bark beetles that are a potentially destructive force in forest ecosystems.

The protein Bowman-Birk Protease Inhibitor (BBI) is present in soybeans and demonstrates strong cancer chemoprotective properties.

Access to a comprehensive source of certified reference materials in various forms - powders and solutions - is vital for clinical and forensic laboratories, to ensure the correct identification of substances and the accuracy of results, and there is an increasing customer demand for ISO Guide 34:2009 certification. Jenny Button, Product Specialist, LGC Standards, UK, discusses certified reference materials and the importance of ISO Guide 34 to both manufacturers and end-users.

Incognito expresses his concern about the diminishing supplies of helium and its rising cost.

Human beings have long consumed mind altering drugs to attain a euphoric high. These illegal drugs are obtained directly from natural substances including plants or they are chemically synthesized. Monitoring consumption of abused drugs is important in workplace settings, crime scene investigations, forensic toxicology and other related areas.