Graetzel's cells, which can be engineered into inexpensive, flexible sheets, could be used as coatings on glass windows to supply electric power to homes and businesses or as coatings on tents to supply power for soldiers in the field. The cells could be used in consumer applications within two to three years, the researcher says.
CONTACT:
Michael Graetzel, Ph.D.
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
Switzerland
Phone: 41-21-693-3112
Fax: 41-21-693-4111
e-mail: Michael.graetzel@epfl.ch
ARTICLE #3 EMBARGOED FOR: Sunday, Sept. 10, 5:30 p.m., EDT
'Conversation stoppers' fight deadly bacterial infections
NOTE: A press conference on this topic with call-in audio participation will be held at 10 a.m. Sept. 11. Reporters are asked to call five to ten minutes prior to the scheduled start time. Reporters will be asked to identify themselves, their affiliations and the topic of the briefing. Call 800-967-7140 (domestic); 719-457-2629 (international).
Bacterial infections are becoming more deadly worldwide due to increased resistance to antibiotics. Now Helen E. Blackwell and colleagues have developed a powerful strategy to fight these deadly infections: Instead of killing the bacteria directly, the scientists designed a group of compounds that can block the chemical signals that the bacteria use to communicate in an effort to stop their spread.
These compounds, small organic molecules that they call 'conversation stoppers,' could help deliver a powerful one-two punch to knock out deadly infections when combined with the killing power of antibiotics. In addition, these 'conversation stoppers' do not target bac
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Contact: Michael Woods
m_woods@acs.org
American Chemical Society
12-Sep-2006