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This animation explains how a material's chemical composition affects the wavelengths of light it absorbs and the color it displays.

Throughout the history of science, many major discoveries came accidentally. Sometimes they came from recognizing potential in an unexpected product or waste. Other times, discovery came out of pure desperation from a seemingly dead-end…

Chemistry research usually involves precise measurements and careful testing in order to get significant results. Sometimes, however, notable discoveries happen by accident. In this video on accidental discoveries, you will get to know the…

Unlike its name, Bicycle Day is not a holiday honoring your favorite two-wheeled, environmentally friendly vehicle. This holiday celebrates the day chemist Albert Hofmann first discovered the psychedelic effects of lysergic acid diethylamide,…

This animation explains how the control surfaces on an airplane's wing direct its flight and shows how movements of the ailerons, elevator, and rudder change the plane's flight path.

Is gluten good for you, or is gluten bad for you? This video breaks down the chemistry and science behind this controversial food ingredient. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society

This animation explains the difference between the alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays emitted by various radioactive materials.

This animation reviews ways in which certain medications function as treatments for specific viral infections.

People have turned to “vaping” with electronic cigarettes as an alternative to puffing on the real thing. But is the vapor they’re inhaling any safer than smoking a cigarette? This video examines what we know, and what we don’t know, about…

In nature, living things die, decompose, and eventually become nutrients for other life. Yet humans use embalming, coffin-based burial, or cremation in typical after-death practices, which may interfere with this “circle of life.” This video…

Have you ever wished you could hide under an invisibility cloak, like Harry Potter did? This video explores the science behind light, sight, and invisibility. Though we can’t make ourselves invisible yet, some promising research may light the…

Are you breathing air molecules that were once exhaled by Caesar, Joan of Arc, or Madame Curie? Why did Albert Einstein try to break into the refrigerator business? In this video, writer Sam Kean, author of science books "Caesar’s Last…

Helium has helped create revolutionary scientific innovations, and has industrial uses that simply cannot be replicated. Yet helium—a gas that defies gravity—is constantly being lost as it escapes Earth’s atmosphere into space. This video…

Vanilla is a flavor so common that some people use it as an adjective to describe something plain or ordinary. But watch out! This beloved, flavorful bean may soon become a rarity. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society

This video explores a vocation that involves the blending of art and chemistry. Blacksmiths forge (heat and shape) metals or alloys to make objects—such as sculptures and cutlery—and then temper (cool) the heated metals to optimize their…

This animation shows how a barometer measures atmospheric pressure.

Neuroengineer Nima Mesgarani is using a form of artificial intelligence called neural network modeling to develop improved hearing aids. If successful, hearing-impaired individuals will be better able to identify and focus on a speaker of…

When it’s time to vote on Election Day, how do you decide on a candidate? In this video, neuroscientist Michael Shadlen explains how our brains secretly do math in order to make decisions. Credit: Columbia University’s Zuckerman Institute

Some ice burns because it’s actually methane trapped in water. This video discusses the chemistry of methane hydrates as a source of energy and a climate change threat. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society

This animation explains the function of cam mechanisms and shows how cams produce desired physical movements in engines and other machines.

Toxin-producing strains of C. difficile bacteria can be a source of aggravated diarrhea, and—if unchecked—may ultimately lead to kidney failure and death. What’s worse is that antibiotics can make the situation even more life-threatening.…

An estimated 133 billion pounds of food gets thrown away every year in the United States. Understanding when your food goes bad is important to help reduce waste. Unfortunately, consumers can’t just check the expiration date on the packaging,…

Thanks to the demands of eco-conscious consumers, biodegradable and compostable plastics are cropping up everywhere. Are these green plastics the solution to our throwaway lifestyle? Well, it’s complicated, as this video explains. Credit:…

Some clothing makers try to harness the antibacterial power of silver to combat the smell of sweat from people's workouts. Now, some manufacturers are adding nanotechnology to the mix. This video asks: does it work? Credit:…

Opioids are powerful, yet highly addictive, painkillers. This video explores whether we will ever have as strong painkillers as opioids without the risks of addiction and overdose. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society

Every medicine we buy has an expiration date printed on it, but does that pill or tablet actually go bad? This video explains the chemistry of drug expiration dates. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society

Cryogenic freezing of a dead body is possible, but reanimating that body in the future is a different story. As you will see in this video, cells themselves can be reanimated after freezing, but bringing a human back to life is not so…

This animation shows how a cathode ray tube works and describes some of the basic science behind the control of electron beams.

This animation shows how a nuclear chain reaction works and explains how it is used in nuclear fission devices.

What do chameleons have to do with nanotechnology? You'll find out when you watch this video. These color-changing lizards are some of nature’s most interesting animals, all because they are masters of pigment and light. Explore the chemistry…

This animation shows how chaotic systems are unpredictable because of their extreme sensitivity to their initial conditions.

This video explores the extraordinary efforts by some individuals to make gunpowder during the American Revolutionary War. It also reviews the chemistry involved in synthesizing and combusting this explosive mixture. Credit:…

Researchers at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, popularly known as Virginia Tech, helped prove that lead levels were dangerously high in Flint, Michigan tap water, even when government officials denied the problem. This…

When temperatures fall along with snow, you know you're in the middle of winter. This video has seasonal advice on keeping your windshield fog-free, getting unstuck from the snow, and even how to make your own hand warmer. [Credit:…

People who shave share one concern—the threat of razor-sharp metal. Luckily, aerosol-based shaving cream packs the right chemistry to protect sensitive skin, thanks in part to surfactants. Watch this video to learn more about this fantastic…

This video explores well-known antics in three cartoons and asks the question: Does the chemistry check out? Find out whether slipping on a banana peel, gaining superhuman strength from eating spinach, and dissolving a Toon in solvent, are…

From the sizzle of the fuse to the boom and burst of colors, this video brings you all of the exciting sights and sounds of fireworks. The video features John A. Conkling, Ph.D., author of "The Chemistry of Pyrotechnics, Basic Principles and…

If you have ever tapped a phone screen to send a tweet, opted for bottled soda because it tastes better than plastic, or drooled over art glass in a gallery, then your life has been changed for the better by the transparent yet durable…

To fire up the grill or a gas stove, we often reach for a match. It turns out there’s a lot of chemistry going on to make those little wooden wonders work. The best way to find out about the chemistry of a burning match is to watch this…

This video explores the chemistry of, and pain response to, pepper spray. Watch for some important tips on what to do if you accidentally spray yourself with this debilitating substance. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society

This video tracks the formation of snowflakes from their origins in bits of dust in clouds that become droplets of water falling to Earth. As each snowflake rises and falls through warmer and cooler air, it develops its own distinctive shape.…

This video explores how experts use fertilizer and other materials—including water—to fight forest fires. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society

This video takes science to the skies and checks out the chemistry behind chemtrails, or—more accurately—contrails. It’s easy to look at the white trail behind a jet aircraft and imagine all manner of chemicals raining down from above.…

When winter holidays come around, feasts and festivities cause many people to gain weight. But did you know that freezing-cold weather during those winter months can actually help people lose weight? This video talks about fat, and whether or…

This animation explains the phenomenon of collision and shows the difference between elastic and inelastic collisions.

This animation explains how a compact disk stores recorded information.

Joe DeSimone cofounded a company called Carbon (formerly Carbon3D) to bring chemistry to bear on 3D printing. This video shows how Joe enabled the company to print at unprecedented speeds, and churn out materials that have never been printed…

This animation explains conservation of energy and shows how the total amount of kinetic and potential energy in an isolated system is constant.

This animation explains the phenomenon of conservation of momentum and shows how momentum is the product of mass and velocity and is conserved in collisions.

This animation describes several ways to make vaccines: with killed or inactivated pathogens, with live attentuated pathogens, with subunits of pathogens, and with recombinant DNA technology.

This animation explains continental drift and shows how continents on moving tectonic plates drift slowly across the Earth's surface.

On December 16, 1773, American colonists, frustrated and angry at Britain for imposing "taxation without representation," dumped more than 340 chests of British tea into Boston Harbor in Massachusettes. Dubbed "the Boston Tea Party," this…

This video explores the chemistry behind whether using cannabidiol (CBD)—a non-psychoactive compound produced by the marijuana plant—could make you fail a drug test. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society

Some science-fiction fans have already caught a glimpse of a world with super-powered humans secretly living among us, capable of physical feats far beyond the norm. Now, with the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system, are we looking at a future…

This animation explains what a cylcoid is and shows how the size of a cycloid relates to the size of the rolling circle that generates it.

This animation describes how a shock absorber minimizes the effect of shock on a mechanical system.

Lint from fleece and other synthetic fibers is getting washed down the drain and entering aquatic ecosystems. Washing your fleece and other favorite synthetic fabrics releases lint, which is no surprise to anyone who’s ever cleaned their…

April 22, 2015 was the 100th anniversary of the first large-scale use of chemical weapons in modern warfare. Some of the best minds in chemistry at that time, including a Nobel Prize winner, used their knowledge of science to build humanity’s…

Yes, you read that correctly. Comets may have helped seed life on Earth. Far out, right? Sarah Everts of C&EN has the chemical clues that back up this out-of-this-world hypothesis. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society

Could lead toxicity have produced behavioral changes in Ancient Rome’s population and caused the collapse of the Roman Empire? This video explores the use of lead by the ancient Romans, archaeological findings supporting high levels of lead…

This video explores how diseases may have spawned the folklore of vampires as far back as the 18th century. Pale skin, sensitivity to light, weakness, and other vampire-like characteristics are symptoms mostly related to rare blood disorders.…

Would you like a younger, more perfect-looking you? Young skin is firm and stretchy because of protein fibers, called collagen and elastin, in the tissue beneath the surface. As we age, environmental factors, such as smoking or ultraviolet…

How do astronauts survive the deadly radiation of deep space? NASA is still figuring out how to protect astronauts from cosmic radiation using plastic shielding and magnetic deflectors. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society

This video tackles the fad that never dies—low-carbohydrate diets. There's a lot of science that goes with the keto diet and cutting out carbs. Low-carb diets were a thing in the late 1990s and they are still a thing now. But why does this…

You may have seen them in late-night commercials or at your local pharmacy: little pills that claim to cure your cold, help you wake up, or maybe help you lose weight. Vitamin and mineral supplements are everywhere, generating billions of…

Dockage is any foreign material, such as weed seeds, stems, chaff, or straw, mixed in with a grain. Dockage testing provides a measure of grain quality. This video shows how the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Federal Grain Inspection…

What do you do when you have a bad cough? If you reach for the cough syrup, you're not alone. Every year, people spend billions of dollars on cough medicines. But do any of them actually work? This video explains the chemistry behind those…

It’s a legendary piece of playground lore: If you swallow a piece of gum, it stays stuck in your stomach for years and years. So was your elementary-school buddy right? This video looks at the mechanics and chemistry of digestion in order to…

Homeopathic remedies have been used for nearly 200 years, but science has progressed much over that time. That progress has shown us that the foundations of homeopathy are bunk. Watch this video to find out more about this unscientific…

Those who have diabetes have excessive levels of sugar glucose in their bloodstream. This video explores the various types of diabetes as well as the roles of sugar and obesity in leading to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Credit:…

This animation explains the Doppler shift and shows how the movement of a sound source relative to a listener raises or lowers the pitch.

Chemists have found potential drugs and other useful compounds in some truly bizarre places in nature. Who would have thought that blood from the Komodo dragon could have a secret inside of it that could possibly save your life? This video…

This animation shows how currents of molten iron in the Earth's outer core generate the planet's magnetic field.

This animation shows how earthquakes radiate from focus points on fault lines.

This animation explains echoes and shows how echoes occur when soundwaves bounce off objects.

This animation shows how the El Niño weather pattern arises from changes in atmospheric and oceanic flows.

This video explores some of the many things you could do with your body after you die, including embalming and burial, cremation, composting, and donation to a medical school, among others. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society

Centuries after the discovery of the simple microscope, biomedical engineer Elizabeth Hillman has developed a cutting-edge microscope that can “see” inside the brains of living organisms and create 3D movies that answer fundamental questions…

This video explores what ringworm is, how to avoid contracting the infection, and—if you do—how to get rid of it. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society

This video features five African-American chemists who changed the world. The video highlights the work of icons such as astronaut and chemical engineer Mae Jemison, the first woman of color to go into space, as well as Percy Julian, a…

Cute or not, these five venomous animals—slow loris, blue-ringed octopus, duck-billed platypus, box jellyfish, and pufferfish—could potentially kill you. This video explores the chemistry and physiological responses behind the toxins these…

From the dinner table to the human body, crystals are everywhere. This video highlights five scientific facts about this ubiquitous solid. [Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society (www.youtube.com/acsreactions)]

A bar of chocolate contains hundreds of compounds, many with beneficial properties. This video explores a list of five chemical facts about why chocolate, in moderation, may be good for you. [Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society…

We all want to be healthy, but some food myths can actually get in the way of good nutritional decisions. This video shatters one food myth that you may have heard: microwaving your food zaps its nutritional value. Watch to find out why that…

We all want to be healthy, but some food myths can actually get in the way of good nutritional decisions. Some people say that eating frozen vegetables means losing some nutritional value. But are those people right? [Credit:…

With all the hard hits and tough tackles in the sport of football come concerns about safety. In the U.S., every professional player is required to wear a helmet, but the helmets of today are a far cry from the leather creations from decades…

This animation shows how volcanic islands form over hot spots arising from deep within Earth's mantle.

This video presents four chemistry-rich facts about paper money. [Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society (www.youtube.com/acsreactions)]

This animation explains that fractals are self-similar geometrical objects at different scales and magnifications and shows how fractals can be generated by applying simple mathematical rules repetitively.

Battered and deep-fried chicken might be one of the world's most delicious foods. But what makes fried chicken so tasty? It all comes down to the chemistry of frying. In the video, learn how the delicate dance of fat at high temperatures…

This animation demonstrates how gears work and shows four different types.

In agriculture, grain grading is a mechanical process that sorts grain products, such as wheat or soybeans, by size and shape. This video demonstrates the use of sieving, or screening, techniques in grain grading. Credit: U.S. Department…

This video explains how graphene's remarkable properties come from the unique arrangement of its atoms. (Correction: The video's narration incorrectly states that Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov are chemists. Both Geim and Novoselov are…

This animation shows how all objects fall at the same rate of accelleration due to the force of gravity.

This animation explains harmonic motion damping and shows how an applied force can decrease a simple harmonic motion.

Four elements were added to the periodic table in 2016, completing the seventh row. However, these new elements are not naturally occurring. Scientists had to create them and overcome a number of challenges to do so. This video explains some…

When used properly, household cleaners are perfectly safe. If mixed together, however, the chemicals in household cleaners can quickly lead to disaster. This video shows how being wise about chemistry can prevent potential hazards during…

This animation describes a classic experiment conducted by two leading biologists in 1952, which demonstrated that DNA is the genetic material.

Nerve agents have a surprising history, and it’s just as morbid as you might expect. Although they were not invented as chemical weapons, nerve agents such as sarin have been in use since World War I, and unfortunately are still in use…

These days, more attention is being paid to the transgender community. A big part of gender transition is hormone replacement therapy, or HRT. This video talks about the chemistry of HRT, and what happens when the body undergoes major shifts…