From Punxsutawney Phil to Wireless Stations: Forecasting the Weather

February 2, 2012

It’s Groundhog Day! Dating back to the 1800s, Punxsutawney Phil has escaped from his burrow to observe the weather (and thus his shadow) and thereby determine if winter will continue or soon end. Phil could stay in the comfort of his burrow, away from the crowds watching his every move, if he had a weather instrument to tell him exactly what was going on outside.

For example, the Davis Instruments Vantage Vue® Wireless Station could let Phil know the barometric pressure, temperature, heat index, humidity, wind, rain rate, sunrise and sunset, forecast, and more. With a sleek but durable outdoor sensor array, the Vantage Vue’s Weather Center offers additional information on each weather variable for the current day as well as the last 25 days.

Similarly, the General Instruments Professional Wireless Weather Station monitors indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity conditions from a remote sensor up to 328 feet (100 meters) away from the display station. The station measures wind speed and direction, wind chill, rainfall amounts and barometric pressure, automatically sets to the US atomic clock, offers a 12- to 24-hour forecast, and much more.

With a weather station or wireless LCD console/receiver from Cole-Parmer, Phil could relax, away from the limelight, and bunker down in his burrow. His adoring fans could then use their own weather stations to make plans for the end of winter or just a few more weeks of it.

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What’s New? ColeParmer.com

November 2, 2011

This week Cole-Parmer released a new version of its ColeParmer.com web site with reorganized menus, enhanced filtering capabilities, and time-saving user functionality to streamline the shopping experience. It combines an enhanced search engine and navigation with premium features.

In redesigning the site, Director of Global Customer Experience and eBusiness Dave Trebacz said, “We listened to customers and re-evaluated every page. Our greatest challenge was keeping our own biases out of the way. Instead, we focused on customers’ needs.”

The New ColeParmer.com

Developing robust navigation that drives users to their destination faster required substantial changes. “We replaced the on-site search engine,” said Mike Mayer, Manager of Internet Development, “and added fly-out menus to quickly locate product categories and drill down to an item faster.”

Thousands of additional filters allow customers to choose the product characteristic most important to them and narrow their selection within seconds.  Quick views also enable shoppers to expand on product details without navigating further. Clear customer favorites—including Customer-Written Product Reviews, Product ratings and Q&As, and Live Chat—remain on the site.

To assist you in navigating the new site, several videos, along with detailed FAQs, are available. Take a test drive.

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Pumpkin Carving Contest at Cole-Parmer

October 31, 2011

Cole-Parmer associates take some time to celebrate the season and display their creativity by dressing up for Halloween and carving pumpkins.

Batgirl and her crew

Batgirl and her crew. Watch out for Bert and Ernie, they are a dynamic crime fighting duo too!

Finding Nemo Pumpkin

Customer Service put together an elaborate scene with Nemo. Can you find him?

Hawaiian Pumpkin

This pumpkin is headed for Hawaii. Can I join you?

Dragon Pumpkin

A Fire Breathing Dragon Pumpkin!

Pumpkin or Rorschach

That's either a squirrel carved in a Pumpkin or a Rorschach Test. Either way, good carving.

Sweet Pumpkin

That's a Sweet Pumpkin! It has no Equal!

Scary Cat Pumpkin

Scary Cat Pumpkin

Boo Pumpkin

You can't go wrong with the traditional ghost saying "Boo!"

Cole-Parmer would like to wish you and your family a safe and Happy Halloween.

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Join Us at the STOP Foodborne Illness Event—and Win a Prize!

October 21, 2011

STOP Foodborne Illness, a nonprofit, public health organization, is recognizing Food Day (Monday, October 24) by holding a special event at the John Hancock Center in Chicago. Cole-Parmer is a co-sponsor of the event, taking place from 7:00 am to 10:00 am local time. Guests stopping by will earn a chance to spin the Food Safety Trivia Wheel and win a prize! Prizes include food safety items, storage containers, gift certificates, a weekend stay at the Palmer House Hilton, and more.

STOP is dedicated to the prevention of illness and death from foodborne pathogens by advocating for sound public policy, building public awareness, and assisting those impacted by foodborne illness.

Food Day is designed to advocate for affordable and healthy food produced in a sustainable and humane way. According to FoodDay.org, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) are the Honorary Co-Chairs for Food Day 2011. The day is sponsored by the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Stop by and meet our Cole-Parmer representative at the event, taking place at the base of the John Hancock Center, 875 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago.

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Good Chemistry: Celebrating National Chemistry Week

October 19, 2011

This week (October 16-22) is National Chemistry Week, so we’re shining the spotlight on how chemistry affects our everyday lives. From pharmaceuticals to vitamins to cleansing agents, most of us encounter the wonders of chemistry daily. The batteries that power our electric toothbrushes, the food prepared for our breakfasts, the ink that appears on our newspapers are all chemical creations in action.

The American Chemical Society has designated the week’s theme as “Chemistry—Our Health, Our Future!” Museums, university chemistry departments, companies, and government agencies are celebrating the week with demonstrations and displays, environmental clean-ups, lectures, tours, chemistry walks, and more.

At the same time, 2011 has been named the International Year of Chemistry (IYC 2011), a globe-spanning recognition of the contributions of chemistry. It coincides with the 100th anniversary of the founding of the International Association of Chemical Societies. With a slate of activities taking place worldwide, the goals include sparking interest in young students, generating enthusiasm for the future of the science, and enhancing the appreciation of chemistry in meeting world needs. Earlier in the year, the game show Jeopardy! celebrated IYC 2011 with a dedicated chemistry category.

View chemical products from Cole-Parmer.

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Visit Cole-Parmer at WEFTEC ’11

October 13, 2011

Stop by booth #669 on October 17-19 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Cole-Parmer will be exhibiting at the Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC) and you can register for a chance to win an Apple® iPad®2!

Thermo Scientific Orion Star A100 MetersYou’ll also get to check out some of our latest water quality testing instruments and supplies. These include the new Thermo Scientific Orion Star A100 Meters—an excellent choice for environmental testing, water and wastewater treatment, quality control in food and beverage testing, and education. Affordable yet reliably effective, the meters feature a large LCD, simple button layout, and on-screen messages. Choose from units measuring pH, conductivity, or dissolved oxygen (DO).

Masterflex® L/S® Precision Variable-Speed Console DrivesThe new Masterflex® L/S® Precision Variable-Speed Console Drives offer precise speed control and rpm display, which is ideal for metering applications. Confirm speed setting at a glance on the three-digit LED. With thereversible motor, you can purge tubing before or after pumping and pump fluid in either direction. The LED also indicates motor direction. Stack two or four pump heads for increased flow rates and multichannel applications.

Oakton DO 2700 Benchtop Dissolved Oxygen Meter The Oakton DO 2700 Benchtop Dissolved Oxygen Meter is designed for optimal performance and versatility. This advanced research grade meter has BOD capability. The meter measures dissolved oxygen in mg/L, ppm, or % saturation with simultaneous temperature display in °F or °C. Large LCD features annunciators to aid in meter use and troubleshooting. It is encased in a compact housing which takes up a minimum of bench space.

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A Woman of Achievement: Physicist Maria Goeppert-Mayer

September 8, 2011

With September as Women of Achievement month, Cole-Parmer spotlights the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Theoretical Physics (1963): Maria Goeppert-Mayer.

Prior to the age of 53, most of Mayer’s scientific work was performed as a volunteer. Her first paid position was a part-time appointment at Argonne National Laboratory in suburban Chicago. Her role as senior researcher led her to develop the nuclear shell model of atomic nuclei, the work for which she was awarded the Nobel Prize.

The German-born Mayer came from a family of academics. She attended the University of Göttingen, the center of physics at the time. One of Mayer’s professors was Max Born, whose other students included Oppenheimer, Fermi, and von Neumann. After completing her doctoral dissertation, Mayer produced ten papers and a textbook, but could not garner a paid position. At the time of her award-winning discovery, researcher J.H.D. Jensen of Germany also arrived at the same structural conclusions and the two collaborated on the book Elementary Theory of Nuclear Shell Structure. Jensen, along with theoretician Eugene Wigner, shared the Nobel Prize for Physics with Goeppert-Mayer.

Eventually, Goeppert-Mayer was appointed professor at the University of California at San Diego. She died in San Diego in 1972. Goeppert-Mayer’s legacy as a female Nobel Laureate in Physics was preceded by Marie Curie (1903).

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About Winemaking, Fermentation, Émile Peynaud, and Bastille Day

July 14, 2011

In honor of Bastille Day, Cole-Parmer salutes French scientist Émile Peynaud, an enologist and researcher with a formidable legacy. A former professor at the University of Bordeaux, Peynaud is largely credited for revolutionizing winemaking.

Through hundreds of papers and consultations with wineries in France, Italy, Spain and the US, Peynaud shared his expertise in vinification practices. He advocated for a balance of acidity, tannins, fruit, and alcohol to produce flavorful wines. Though initially criticized, Peynaud advised winemakers to encourage and control malolactic fermentation. He also offered insights on the scientific processes of winemaking, including the timing of harvests, choosing the best grapes, controlling fermentation temperatures, and more. One colleague asserted that Peynaud’s work brought discipline to the winemaking process.

As comfortable in cellars as he was in the classroom, Peynaud’s legacy lives on through his influence in the industry, his books―and the appreciation of wine connoisseurs around the world. Mr. Peynaud passed away on July 18, 2004.

More about Fermentation

The fermentation process refers to the production of a large culture of a microorganism. Either the microorganism itself or the byproducts of the microorganism may be used for further manipulation and product development.

Cole-Parmer Antifoam and Carbon Dioxide Meters/Controllers

Successful fermentation processes require tight control of parameters such as aeration/dissolved oxygen (DO), carbon dioxide (CO2), pH, temperature, and foam. Accurate control is imperative to maximize cell growth and productivity.

For a selection guide to cell culture fermentation systems, read this.

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All About Food: Visit Cole-Parmer at IFT, June 11-14, Booth #8046

June 13, 2011
Cole-Parmer IFT 2001 Gift Pack

Cole-Parmer IFT 2001 Gift Pack

Not only is June National Dairy Month, but one of the largest food shows in the industry begins in just a few days. The Cole-Parmer booth at IFT® in New Orleans will feature efficient new products for food scientists and processors:

  • The breakthrough picoSpin™ Benchtop NMR Spectrometer from Cole-Parmer is the world’s first miniature NMR spectrometer. The 45-MHz picoSpin spectrometer is affordable, portable, and easy to use.
  •  The new Atago® Programmable Digital Refractometers with Touch Screen have a built-in thermomodule to ensure accuracy while also eliminating the need for a water bath circulator. Use this fully featured device to determine the refractive index of citrus, animal, or vegetable oils, and more. Take precise Brix measurements of fruit and concentrated juices, canned syrups, liquid sugars, and glucose with a Brix range of 0.00 to 100.00%.
  • The Oakton® Benchtop pH 700 Series Meters offer a compact footprint more than 40% smaller than similar benchtop meters―saving valuable space in the research lab. Visit the booth to see their oversized LCDs, with optimal visibility even at a distance. Instruments for food quality and safety testing will also be available, including viscometers, thermometers, and more.

What’s in it for you? Each day one raffle winner will receive a New Orleans Gift Pack valued at more than $200. The bags include a variety of “survive and thrive in New Orleans” items including a cooler, water bottle, gift certificate, and more. Register to win.

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How Scientific Equipment Delivers an Education―Literally

April 28, 2011

What happens to excess or obsolete equipment that sits too long on inventory shelves? For Cole-Parmer, it is converted into college scholarships for students in need.

“At least twice a year, we gather our outdated respirators, refrigerators, and balances, among many other technologies, and ship them to Educational Assistance Ltd. (EAL),” explained Maureen Ranieri, Supply Chain Operations Manager. “EAL is a nonprofit organization that works with colleges across the country to convert this equipment into student scholarships.”

Specifically, EAL places inventory donations from manufacturers, distributors, and retailers with accredited US colleges and universities within their network. “We create an online shopping forum for these schools to pick and choose the items they need,” said John Saban, Development Director, EAL. “Each item is assigned a monetary value. Schools within the program commit to placing the value of the items they choose into a scholarship for students who need assistance. We conduct periodic audits to confirm that the monies are funneled into these scholarships.”

Began by a businessman who benefited from a GI Bill when he was a student, the EAL program has provided more than 10,000 scholarships since its inception in 1982. Current EAL Executive Director Claudia Freed was one of the first scholarship recipients through the program.

“Generally, we network with small to mid-size colleges that have limited budgets for equipment and supplies,” said Saban. Elmhurst College, Lee University, Judson College, and Robert Morris University are just some of the schools within their network.

EAL receives inventory donations of not only scientific equipment, but also computers, welding and maintenance supplies, power and hand tools, and commodities from a range of companies.

“Those items we cannot place are sold in the secondary market, typically in Europe, Asia, or South America,” said Saban. “We appreciate all donations and everything is utilized.”

 Ranieri added: “Our most recent shipment to EAL included 37 items for a total value of $93,000.”

Yet, the real value may be found in the futures of the graduating students who were able to complete their degrees because of the assistance they received.

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Start Your Calendars: 2011 Fast Approaching

December 30, 2010

On the eve of the eve of the New Year, Cole-Parmer wishes all of our customers a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous 2011. As we launch into a brand spanking new year, here are a few up-and-coming events:

Cole-Parmer releases 2011/12 General Catalog

Look for this biggest-in-two-years catalog Cole-Parmer 2011/12 General Catalog(with more than 2,600 pages) in late February. Featuring a broad selection of fluid handling, industrial process, laboratory research, and electrochemistry products, the catalog also includes information about technical assistance, database tools, calibration services, and more. Choose from innovative technologies as well as time-tested favorites—from top brand names.

Cole-Parmer exhibits at the 2011 Pittcon® Conference & Expo in Atlanta, GA

The Georgia World Congress Center is the site for Pittcon 2011, the world’s largest annual conference and exposition for laboratory science. Look for the Cole-Parmer booth (#835), where you can view some of the latest products featured in the new 2011/12 General Catalog and meet with product managers, application specialists, and more. The event runs March 13-18.

Meet Cole-Parmer at INTERPHEX New York, March 29-31

Find your way to booth #2977 at the Jacob J. Javits Convention Center to view demonstrations specifically for the pharmaceutical and biomedical industries. We look forward to seeing you there!

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X-ray Day 115 Years Later: Measuring Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and X-ray Radiation

November 11, 2010
Radiation Alert Analog Detectors

Radiation Alert Analog Detectors

Did you know Monday, November 8, was X-ray Day? The X-ray was discovered in 1895, purely by accident. Wilhelm Röntgen, a German physicist, was experimenting with electron beams on a gas discharge tube. When the electron beam was on, a nearby fluorescent screen started to glow. Thus began the journey of a technology that is used in medical imaging, dentistry, astronomy, research, and even laser bursts.

Because X-rays pass through muscles and other soft tissue and stop at dense materials, doctors can identify broken bones and cancers growing in the body. Electromagnetic radiation is also used in communication systems and in neutron activation analysis, allowing the identification of elements in a material.

While radiation provides many benefits to the scientific world, high levels of radiation in the environment and in food handling can be hazardous.  Cole-Parmer offers Radiation Alert Analog Detectors to monitor radiation. These general-purpose detectors are available with uncompensated halogen-quenched sensors for measuring alpha, beta, gamma, and X-ray radiation; select meters have energy-compensated sensors for increased sensitivity to gamma and X-ray radiation.

All models are factory-calibrated to pulse generator and can be calibrated to ANSI standards by any certified lab. Anti-saturation circuit is good to at least 100 times the maximum reading in the highest range. No special probes are required.

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How Did Cole-Parmer Get into Harvard? Through the Science & Cooking Lecture Series and Course

October 14, 2010
Measuring the temperature of fruit-sugar mixture for fruit gelee candies

Measuring the temperature of fruit-sugar mixture for fruit gelee candies

This fall, the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) launched a Science & Cooking Lecture Series and Course. Featuring Harvard professors teaching alongside renowned chefs (including Ferran Adrià, José Andrés, and Wylie Dufresne), the course was designed to explore the relationship between science and food. Cole-Parmer donated laboratory equipment in support of the first-of-its-kind class, including thermometers, cooling and heating baths, balances, and waterproof pH pocket meters.

The equipment is used in the kitchen experimentation component of the course, which also features lectures and demonstrations. Covering topics including viscosity, emulsions, gelation, browning and oxidations, and more, the teaching team seeks to expand the boundaries of gastronomic science. For example, students study thermal energy as it applies to pressure cooking and steaming, learn the rheological properties of bread dough, and discern the effects of kinetics processes on the texture of food.

“Cooking provides an ideal framework to study a variety of complex phenomena―from basic chemistry to materials science to applied physics―through something familiar to all students: food,” said David A. Weitz, Mallinckrodt Professor of Physics and Applied Physics in SEAS and the Department of Physics at Harvard.

Chef Ferran Adrià’s own nonprofit Alícia foundation originally collaborated with the Harvard team to bring his vision of applying scientific principles to the art of cooking into a reality. Other sponsors include Whole Foods, Le Creuset, Mars Chocolate, José Andrés ThinkFood Group, and Esade Business School.

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Celebrating Women of Achievement Month

September 16, 2010

September is Women of Achievement month and a great opportunity to honor women who made significant scientific contributions to society and improved our way of life. Specifically, Cole-Parmer recognizes the scientific work and discoveries of Gertrude Belle Elion. 

Gertrude Belle Elion

Gertrude Belle Elion

Elion was a biochemist and pharmacologist who, in 1988, won the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine for her contributions to the discoveries of important drug treatments. Gertrude helped develop drug formulations which led to the creation of azidothymidine (AZT) a drug commonly used to treat AIDS.

Gertrude encountered many obstacles in her career, including being unable to obtain a graduate research position because of her gender. Nonetheless, she held several assistant positions in laboratories, and was eventually awarded an honorary Ph.D from Polytechnic University of New York in 1989 and a Doctor of Science (S.D.) degree from Harvard in 1998.

Elion’s innovative drug therapies noted the biochemical differences between normal human cells and pathogens, and found methods of killing pathogenic cells without harming normal human host cells.  Elion’s inventions include treatments for leukemia, organ transplants, malaria, meningitis, bacterial infections, and a multitude of other ailments. Her role in serving as a catalyst for breakthrough pharmaceutical research, by example, encourages more women to pursue science education. 

Cole-Parmer proudly recognizes both female and male researchers in laboratories and universities around the world. To support their efforts, we provide a wide selection of top-name laboratory equipment and supplies.

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Water, water, everywhere…

August 20, 2010

August is National Water Quality Month, and what better time to promote the benefits of pure water.  Water is essential to all living things, and a vital component in research laboratories.  We all know we should drink about eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day.  But, we should also ensure we have plenty of purified water in our laboratories for testing.  Tap water may be safe for drinking, but for complex laboratory procedures, tap water must be purified even further.

Impure water will dramatically affect your ability to obtain accurate results in the laboratory.  Pure water is essential in the modern laboratory for a vast number of applications including reagent preparation, high-purity rinsing, Atomic Absorption (AA), mass spectroscopy, chromatography, monoclonal antibody production, gel electrophoresis, and much more.

Thermo Scientific Barnstead EASYPure® RODI

Thermo Scientific Barnstead EASYPure® RODI

Cole-Parmer offers all the tools you need to ensure you have pure water in your laboratory, suitable for all your research needs.  Our  Thermo Scientific Barnstead EASYPure® RoDi produces water that exceeds ASTM & NCCLS Type 1 standards with resistivity up to 18.2 megohm-cm and < 5 parts per billion (ppb) Total Organic Carbon.  These systems are compact, and may be placed anywhere in your lab, and quickly and effectively purify your tap water.  The RoDi is the ideal system for < 15 liters per day for your most sensitive analytical procedures.  The system re-circulates water between the reservoir, the purification cartridges, and theUV lamp to ensure Type 1 water is continually available. Pre-treatment filter and reverse osmosis membrane initially improve water quality, while deionization, UV light, and a 0.2 micron final filter provides final polishing, organic oxidation, and removal of micro-particulates and bacteria.

For the research scientist, without purified water, Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner could have another meaning, perhaps

Water, water, everywhere,

Nor any drop for reagent preparation.

Well, we’ll stick to laboratory supplies, and leave the poetry to the professionals!

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