Research advances, a new feature in Journal of Chemical Engineering that brings information about innovations in current areas of research to high school and college science faculty with an intent to provide educators with timely descriptions of latest progress in research that can be integrated into existing courses to update course content and encourage an appreciation for research among students are presented. Hydrophobicity on/off switch, nitrate as a potential therapeutic agent, mollusks as farmers and clotting gene are the new developments focused in the July 2004 issue of the journal.