Short Takes – 5-2-24

US says Russia used choking agents against Ukrainian troops, breaching chemical weapons ban. CNN.com article. Pull quote: “Chloropicrin was widely used as a chemical warfare agent in World War I, but is no longer authorized for military use, and is now mostly used in agriculture, according to the CDC. It irritates the lungs, eyes, and skin, and can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea lasting for weeks, according to the CDC.” Of course, the US reportedly used CS gas (riot control agent) in tunnels in Vietnam in the 60’s and 70’s, just saying…

China set to blast off to the far side of the moon—here's what it could discover. Phys.org article. Pull quote: “The mission is set for launch using a long March 5 rocket at the Wenchang satellite launch center in Hainan province on May 3. The spacecraft due to land on the moon is projected to weigh 3,200kg carrying scientific equipment from France, Italy and the European Space Agency.”

Chemical Engineer. USAJobs.gov CSB job posting. Summary: “This position is part of the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. The incumbent will be responsible for organizing, managing, and coordinating the investigation and analysis of major incidents involving the accidental release of a regulated substance or other extremely hazardous substance into the ambient air from a stationary source and writing, developing, and presenting reports with safety recommendations.” Position closes 5-13-24.

Physical Scientist. USAJobs.gov PHMSA job posting. Summary: “Position is located in the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety (OHMS), Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Department of Transportation (DOT). Serves as a national/international expert in packaging, operational control and classification of radioactive and nuclear material for the transportation of hazardous materials.  Assists in developing Federal policy and regulations for safe transportation of radioactive and nuclear materials by highway, air, rail, and water.” Position closes 5-22-24.

General Engineer (Project Coordinator). USAJobs.gov PHMS job posting. Summary: “The purpose of this position is to direct and manage projects relating to pipeline safety within an Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) Inspection Development and Support Office. The employee will assist in developing criteria to support and conduct system-wide Federal pipeline safety compliance inspections (Rule Implementation). Assist and manage a variety of projects and initiatives under the scope of the Inspection Development and Support Director.” Position closes 05/09/2024.

Lab automation gives me more time at the top of the mountain. ChemistryWorld.com article. The benefits of automation, even in science. Pull quote: “I have to say, though, that it’s not like I’ve stepped into a time machine to do everything the way it was done in the early 1980s. Back then, I packed all my own chromatography columns and eluted them by hand, filling the solvent from the top and cutting fractions from the bottom. Each of those fractions would then be checked by thin-layer chromatography (TLC), and I would not even want to guess how many TLCs I ran back then. But that’s all gone. Any organic chemistry lab that can afford to do it switched over years ago to chromatography machines that use pre-packed columns, collect their own fractions, and can be set to only do so when they detect something coming off the column. We, meanwhile, go off and do something else.”