”The criterion was excellence“

The 3rd Euchems Conference is an ideal platform for spotlighting chemistry as the key source of sustainable solutions to the mega‐topics and challenges facing all of us today: energy, food supplies, and resources in a healthy environment. Nachrichten aus der Chemie talked with Francois Diederich and Andreas Hirsch, chairs of the Scientific Committee.     

Rolle und Bedeutung der Chemie im Terrorismus

Terrorism is directed by terrorist organizations and terrorist individuals with different ways of carrying out acts of violence against the democratically established order with the aim of political or religious changes. The focus is still the increasing number of attacks with explosives, which is discussed in this article more detailed. Also incendiary bombs are a simple possibility of attack. A major potential risk is seen through the spreading of toxic chemicals (chemical warfare agents, products from industrial production). This is also the case of attacks with radioactive materials by help of explosives. The misuse of chemistry is dicussed also under consideration of potential terrorist attacks by biological and nuclear weapons. Then due to the responsibility of our scientific community we can better engage ourselves in the discussion about terrorism, threats through attacks and possible avoidance strategies.     

Aminosäuren und die Entstehung des Lebens. Spuren aus dem Weltraum

In order to better understand the origin of life on Earth the most recent chemical experiments are presented that successfully simulated the prebiotic genesis of amino acids. Surprisingly, laboratory samples of interstellar ice do not only contain classic amino acids but also diamino acids. Diamino acids are discussed to have triggered the appearance of the first genetic material, the peptide nucleic acid, on Earth. The European Rosetta‐mission that will pose a lander on a cometary surface hopefully will verify the outlined hypotheses on modern theories on the origin of life on Earth by analyzing cometary ice samples in situ.     

Die Mär vom Wasser mit Gedächtnis

Although repeatedly there are worrying cases, fraud in science is rather rare; however, probably there are a considerable number of unreported cases. Sooner or later blatant examples of unethical behavior are revealed by the controls in the system. The prevention of such situations requires compliance with strict ethical principles in the academia. An ethics education for all students and a commitment from scientists to observe ethical principles appears as an essential condition.