Category Archives: chemistry

Why bother with new technology?

Posted on December 10, 2006 by pm286

Kinasepro has blogged about discussions of new chemoinformatics technology (specifically CML (Chemical Markup Language) and InChI (chemical identifier)). Here’s the post and some correspondence. It’s basically about the introduction of new technology. Obviously I’m not neutral but I will try … Continue reading →

Posted in chemistry, open issues, XML | 5 Comments

What is a chemical compound? and what's a label

Posted on December 9, 2006 by pm286

Steve Bachrach poses an interesting question on the CHMINF-L list. I have omitted the citations and some other material – you can read the archive if necessary.   I have run into an interesting chemical problem that has led to … Continue reading →

Posted in chemistry | 4 Comments

Assessed by Robots and citation Quiz.

Posted on December 7, 2006 by pm286

Jim Downing delicioused me the following link from the UK HEFCE. We are now going to be assessed by robots. (Since I am promoting the concept of robot readers of journals I can hardly complain). Skim the following (which has … Continue reading →

Posted in chemistry, open issues | Leave a comment

Molecules? Does "Open Access" help or hinder Open Science?

Posted on December 1, 2006 by pm286

“Open Access” is often taken to imply certain rights. In fact it is more frequently a fuzzy term whose precise interpretation is unclear and sometimes even counterproductive to Open Science. (I accept this is a provocative statement, so read on…:-). … Continue reading →

Posted in chemistry, open issues | 8 Comments

Open Access in Physics and Chemistry, or, A Tale of Two Disciplines

Posted on November 30, 2006 by pm286

My most important reading is Peter Suber’s Open Access News an incredible wealth of high-quality reading. Here’s one from today … Heather Morrison, Open Access in Physics and Chemistry, or, A Tale of Two Disciplines, a presentation at the McGill … Continue reading →

Posted in chemistry, open issues | 3 Comments

Librarians speak out on Chemistry Publishing

Posted on November 28, 2006 by pm286

In a recent perspective in Chemical and Engineering news (the “magazine” of the American Chemical Society) speak their mind on the challenge faced by (and from) chemical publishers. The article is accessible but is copyrighted by the American Chemical Society … Continue reading →

Posted in chemistry, open issues | Leave a comment

Density and mystery

Posted on November 25, 2006 by pm286

Carsten Niehaus (of the Blue Obelisk) has posed a puzzle – it must be catching. It’s about finding the ordering of density of three liquids with only two weightings. I don’t know whether there is an answer… I suecpt the … Continue reading →

Posted in chemistry, puzzles | Leave a comment

Community peer-review? In chemistry???

Posted on November 19, 2006 by pm286

Why do scientists publish in scientific journals? Are they still necessary? This has been debated intensely in recent years, but the chemical blogosphere gives a recent twist to the subject. Even if you aren’t a chemist you should be able … Continue reading →

Posted in "virtual communities", chemistry, open issues | 7 Comments

Help! Where's the old Tenderbutton

Posted on November 19, 2006 by pm286

I have enthused about Dylan’s chemistry blog, Tenderbutton. Unfortunately for us, he closed down about a month ago. But I thought I would always be able to read the archives – they are wonderful record of chemistry as it happens … Continue reading →

Posted in chemistry, open issues | 7 Comments

(Chemical) Images in blogs

Posted on November 15, 2006 by pm286

I am following up a post where I suggested we could provide a service for drawing molecules in blogs. One problem is how to incorporate them into the post. (I’m still working on this post, so don’t believe it all) … Continue reading →

Posted in chemistry, general, programming for scientists | Leave a comment