New section “records & challenges”

Abstract

… Which is the sweetest compound? … What is the longest carbon chain in a natural product? … How short is the shortest-pulse laser, and what impact did it have for chemists? Which record will your group be shooting for next? Watch out for the new Records & Challenges section and mail us yours! … How will these records be topped? The word “record” carries not only the meaning of archived information, but when used in the context of a “world record” it represents new levels of achievement. In talking about world records, one might have visions of an Olympic athlete crossing the finish line and celebrating the world's best time in the 100-meter dash, or perhaps a fearless pilot circling the globe on an exhausting journey for the longest single-engine flight to date. Now imagine yourself or one of your students in the lab, checking your group's latest data and finally confirming—after perhaps years of planning and hard work—that, yes, you have just indeed set a new world record in chemistry! Such an accomplishment would be a proud moment for any chemist, but it also carries significance for the whole community in that it pushes scientific achievement to new boundaries. But what are the current boundaries, and why are they significant? Which new records are we on the verge of achieving, and which ones are most worth breaking and re-breaking? … Which record will your group be shooting for next? Watch out for the new Records & Challenges section starting with the 1st issue of the 10th volume of The Chemical Record!