Nerdy Science Blog

A recent publication in the latest issue of Trends in Analytical Chemistry showed that Spanish euro contained highest traces of cocaine in Europe.  This study was carried out by chemists at University of Valencia.  The same method was also used to detect the presence of cocaine on bank notes worldwide.  However cocaine is found on nearly all the notes in circulation, one of the researchers, Miguel de la Guardia, believes that this is due to cross contamination between bank notes, and the counting machines.

(news [paper])

Malaysia’s Ministry of Science and Technology and Innovations (MOSTI) has allocated RM4 billion fund for science and technology research.  The research works involve food production, agriculture and bio-fuel industry.  However not all fund will go into research and development, part of the fund will be used for commercialisation projects.  MOSTI Deputy Minister, Fadillah Yusof said that the fund will be given to private and public institutions, and private researchers.

(news)