Iron powder as an energy carrier
The contours of the future energy system haven’t yet been drawn with great precision. Solar and wind energies lie at its foundation. But these come with their problems: at times … Read more
Chemistry vs. bacteria, # 69. The future of pharma in 3 acts, no. 1. More of the same
What does the future of pharma look like? So far, our task was easy, a description of history. Now things become much more difficult. There is a multitude of subjects … Read more
Ten times as much solar energy
There are many reasons for use of more solar energy. Most importantly, the climate. Moreover, the world needs to scale down its use of gas and oil quickly. More solar … Read more
Chemistry vs. bacteria, # 68. Limits to healthcare
An urgent (but often forgotten) issue in our society is that of the limits to healthcare. Its costs have been on the rise for quite some time now – just … Read more
Against desertification
Each year, planet Earth loses 13 million hectares (32 million acres) of forest. Since 1960, more than half of all tropical forests have disappeared. Particularly because of logging in the … Read more
Chemistry vs. bacteria, # 67. Technological development, major changes
The most important factor continuously propelling and changing society is technological development. Karl Marx would have been delighted to see that present-day society is still characterized by the relationship between … Read more
Towards methane mitigation
Methane is a very powerful greenhouse gas. It has 82.5 times more warming potential than CO2 over a 20-year timespan. But fortunately, it lives shortly in the atmosphere: it degrades … Read more
Chemistry vs. bacteria, # 66. The evolutionary arms race
The ‘70s of the past century mark a turning point in the control of toxic microorganisms. Researchers then discover that we will never finally be able to control them. That … Read more
Chemistry vs. bacteria, # 65. Limits to human power
In 64 episodes, we painted a picture of mankind gradually getting the upper hand over infectious diseases with the aid of its chemical knowledge. And of the limits to this … Read more
Seaweed, a versatile crop
Seaweed has many applications. It is processed to food additives and mock meat products. It is used in additives in the food of chickens, pigs, cows, pets and horses. As … Read more
Chemistry vs. bacteria, # 64. Fungal infections
Fungi are the producers of our most important antibiotics. But they can also be a burden, even a threat at times. Here we will not go into relatively innocent and … Read more
Chemistry vs. bacteria, # 63. Modern vaccines
In our conflict with bacteria, we make much more use of tablets and powders than of vaccines. TBC treatment is an exception, all the more so because the tuberculosis bacterium … Read more
Chemistry vs. bacteria, # 62. Herbal medicine
From times immemorial, mankind has swallowed or applied herbs as medicines. Herbal medicine has now moved into the background, maybe even become obsolete. But problems like resistance revive this branch … Read more
A plant-based diet would have a major impact on climate change
A shift towards a plant-based diet could buy humanity a much needed pause in the growth of greenhouse gas emissions. The plant-based diet and global warming The effects of a … Read more
Chemistry vs. bacteria, # 61. Herbal antibiotics, cinnamon
Like garlic, cinnamon has a long history. It is figures in the history of trade and monopolies of spices. In the case of cinnamon, its use as a food additive … Read more
Are mutation rates constant? Evolution theory still in development
For a long time, biology held that mutation rates are random. Biologists assumed that mutations occur anywhere in the genome, in principle at the same rate everywhere. That some mutations … Read more
Chemistry vs. bacteria, # 60. Herbal antibiotics: garlic
From times immemorial, garlic has not just been looked upon as a food, but as a medicine as well. The well-known clove figures in each old medicinal text, as a … Read more
Chemistry vs. bacteria, # 59. Phytomedicines, what does actually work?
In popular writings, recommendations for the use of vegetal medicines abound, as a cure for whatever condition. Often, regulation is absent. To keep truth and fiction apart is almost an … Read more
Low-tech and its benefits for sustainability
Many proponents of sustainability adhere to the idea that the main path to sustainability lies in high-tech solutions. Like electric cars instead of the old ones, that guzzle fossil fuels. … Read more
Chemistry vs. bacteria, # 58. Natural medicines
In the search for new antibiotics, the so-called ‘natural’ medicines come into the picture again. Ousted (temporarily?) by the rise of chemistry, that laid the foundation for an entirely new … Read more
Market introduction of PHAs
PHAs (polyhydroxy alkanoates) are interesting but difficult plastics. Interesting because they are produced in a natural way. From sustainable or waste resources. By microorganisms and not at high temperatures. PHAs … Read more
Chemistry vs. antibiotics, # 57. Phage therapy, a promising alternative to antibiotics?
From being almost forgotten to being the most abundant kind of microorganisms: phages. Moreover, harmless to people. It is simple to contain a bacterial infection with phages, if one has … Read more
Chemistry vs. bacteria, # 56. Bacteriophages, almost forgotten, but….
There are no leaders in the world of microorganisms. All creatures have friends and enemies. Some of them are actual living organisms, others are at the intersection of living and … Read more
Chemistry vs. bacteria, # 55. Antibiotics and the intestinal flora
Right now, there is a lot of interest in all microorganisms in and on our bodies. Researchers have good look at the intestinal flora in particular. Recently, we wrote two … Read more
Fungi for healthy forests
Reforestation is an important instrument in the fight against climate change. Particularly in Europe, planting more trees would increase rainfall and reverse a drying trend. But do we know enough … Read more
Chemistry vs. bacteria, # 54. If chemistry and biotech join forces
One quarter of the recently developed new medicines are biomedicines. It still isn’t clear where this may lead us in terms of new antibiotics. But our insight into nature’s fundamental … Read more
Methane emissions cause concern
Almost three years ago, in 2019, we voiced our concern over increased methane emissions. Although then we saw a bright side to this problem: unlike CO2 emissions, methane (CH4) emissions … Read more
Chemistry vs. bacteria, # 53. If chemistry loses
After some time during a 100 year war, it may become unclear why and how it all started. Even the possible outcome may disappear out of sight. In the battle … Read more
Chemistry vs. bacteria, # 52. Prospect of new tools??
The serious search for new antibiotics starts only in 2015. Private and public initiatives collect funds for new research. Oxford University for instance, equips a new institute for research and … Read more
Defy death – will they ever succeed?
A number of powerful people has embarked on a mission to defy death. The most recent among these is Jeff Bezos, former CEO of Amazon and one of the five … Read more
Chemistry vs. bacteria, #51. The story of lefamulin, how not to proceed
In 2019, the American FDA approved just one antibiotic: lefamulin, a medicine against pneumonia. It is marketed under the name of Xenleta. The history of this medicine makes a telling … Read more
A Marshall plan for European solar PV production capacity
More European solar PV production capacity, a better alternative to the expensive, slow, risky and misguided path of nuclear energy. This article was first published on Renewable Carbon News of … Read more
Chemistry vs. bacteria, # 50. Resistance, a second look
Over the past few decades, our knowledge of bacterial mechanisms intended to circumvent antibiotics, has increased a lot. We know down to the atom where the antibiotics attack the organism; … Read more
Ban plastics? Back to science-based material policy
Gut feeling says plastics are bad for the environment – but are the alternatives really better? Originally published in Renewable Carbon News of the nova-Institute. Plastics, an environmental problem? In … Read more
Chemistry vs. bacteria, # 49. Further along trodden paths?
We can still contain the vast majority of infections with the existing collection of medicines. But we need to use them wisely. We also need to develop new medicines on … Read more
Chemistry vs. bacteria, # 48. The search for new antibiotics, 2000-2020
From the start of this century onwards, it becomes clear that we need to develop new antibiotics. Even though we still can handle most infections, using the inventory at hand. … Read more
Chemistry vs. bacteria, # 47. 21st century threats
Does the era of antibiotics come to an end? Do we have to prepare ourselves for a time when infections will once again be one of the main death causes? … Read more
Biological crop protection
Biological crop protection is on the rise. In many respects, biologicals are better than chemicals. Generally, they carry low risk for human health and for the environment. Not necessarily harmless … Read more
Chemistry vs. bacteria, #46. The decline of modern pharma in three acts. III: cholesterol
The development of cholesterol lowering medicines is dominated by theory. Once more, the leading thought is that people can unlearn bad habits, and that we can cure all diseases with … Read more
Microbes that eat plastic pollution
Plastic pollution is everywhere nowadays. Even in the remotest places on earth. A problem that we need to address urgently. But nature may be working hard to help us solve … Read more
Chemistry vs. bacteria, # 45. The decline of modern pharma in three acts. II: the empty promises of biotech
In the period 1980-2000, pharmaceutical research needs new impulses. The 1950 guidelines are brought to mind again: – we can cure diseases using the proper medicines – we can unlearn … Read more
The forest as a source of conflict
This month, Science magazine devoted a long article to the ‘forest fight’ that rages in Germany. The debate on how the nation should manage its trees. Storms and drought played … Read more
Chemistry vs. bacteria, # 44. The decline of modern pharma in three acts. I: 1980-2000
Thirty years after pharma found the way ahead, around 1980 its motor suddenly starts to falter. Interest in the medical profession comes to a low end in a number of … Read more
Solar parks, opportunities and problems
Solar energy is making a breakthrough. Solar panels become cheaper all the time. Therefore, structural problems, like their diluted electricity production, become less important. Even in a country with little … Read more
Chemistry vs. bacteria, # 43. Veterinary use
Veterinary use of antibiotics has become a major source of concern and annoyance. And this doesn’t even concern the use as a medicine. For that is dwarfed by the application … Read more
The myth of pristine nature
We often assume that ecosystems existed in a pristine state when Western researchers first encountered them. But new research now undermines this concept of pristine nature. Ever since mankind existed, … Read more
Chemistry vs. bacteria, # 42. Disputable applications
Of course, the successes of sulfas, pens, cefs and all comparable wonderful medicines inspired a lot of research into other applications. Primarily other kinds of infections have been researched a … Read more
RethinkX, an evaluation
The recent RethinkX project expects the ‘20s of this century to show revolutionary developments. Driven by stepwise changes in five key sectors of the economy: energy, transport, information, food and … Read more
Chemistry vs. bacteria. # 41, Sore throat, runny nose and other unfortunate conditions
Mankind uses antibiotics quite incompetently and irresponsibly. We run into the danger of losing the effectiveness of these great inventions in the treatment of life-threatening infections, through resistance. We even … Read more
RethinkX: the new Organizing System
In comparison to most utopian views, RethinkX devotes a lot of attention to the Organizing System required for the transition. It stresses that we cannot just rely on technological innovations. … Read more