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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,…

For decades, the U.S. government issued a chemical shark repellent to pilots, sailors, and even astronauts to fend off potential shark attacks. The problem was, that substance did not actually work. This video explains why developing an…

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 animation explains the concept of biomes (major communities of organisms distributed over wide areas) and describes some of the biomes found around the world.

A figure skating performance often begins with a moment of quiet focus to mentally "upload" a routine, consisting of a linked series of complex movements—such as jumps and spins—that must be executed expertly and automatically. This video…

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

Thanksgiving is a holiday when many people look forward to a tasty home-cooked meal. According to neuroscientist Charles Zuker, not only is that sense of taste in the brain, but it is a matter of life and death. This video takes you on a…

Is there such a thing as love at first scent? Hundreds of spray-on pheromone products claim to put you on the fast track to romance, but can they really help humans land a mate? This video has the answers. [Credit: Reactions/American Chemical…

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:…

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.

It’s a sinister condition that affects millions of people: addiction. Whether it’s alcohol, drugs, food, or gambling, addiction can ruin lives. This video takes a look at the chemistry behind addiction. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical…

Cats: they are the subject of millions of videos and hundreds of memes. This video has answers to some of the biggest cat-related questions out there: Why does catnip make most cats go crazy? How does kitty litter clump? And what does it mean…

This video uncovers the chemistry behind the spine-tingling sense of fear. Watch as Abigail Marsh, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology at Georgetown University, highlights key brain chemicals and hormones involved in fear and the…

This video explains how certain neurotransmitters fuel lifelong pair bonds in prairie voles, which—along with humans—are the mammalian kingdom's leading monogamists. In the video, Abigail Marsh, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology at…

Poisonous snakes are dangerous, but what exactly makes their venom so powerful? The answer is chemistry. This video sheds some light on the proteins in snake venom, as well as its potential medical uses. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical…

What’s that stuff that collects in the corners of your eyes when you sleep? This video explains the chemistry of the film that protects your eyes. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society

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.

Online entrepreneurs may try to sell bottled human pheromones, but do these even exist? It's doubtful, according to this video. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society

Best-selling author Sam Kean debunks the myth of the Megalodon, the 50-foot super shark that, despite what you may have read, is long extinct. In this video, Kean unravels the myth by explaining how the element manganese holds the key.…

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 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.

Honey is great for drizzling over toast, stirring into tea, and many other uses. What most people don’t know is that during the trip from the flower in the field to the jar on your table, honey spends a lot of time in a bee’s gut. This video…

As the saying goes, you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. But can you? This video explains the chemistry behind why fruit flies love vinegar so much that some entomologists call them “vinegar flies.” Credit:…

More than 25 million people rely on Adderall™ and other similar drugs to help treat narcolepsy, depression and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). But how does amphetamine, the active ingredient in Adderall™, work? This video…

Whether or not you have anxiety, you've probably heard of Xanax®. This video uncovers the chemistry behind this popular and widely prescribed drug, and answers the question of how Xanax works in the body. Credit: Reactions/American…

Jellyfish seem serene, but the pain that comes from a run-in with their tentacles is anything but tranquil. You may have heard a certain rumor about how to treat a jellyfish sting to make the pain go away, but does that icky old-wives' tale…

Your smartphone addiction isn't helping you sleep. In fact, an obscure chemical reaction may be keeping you awake. This video looks at the process that connects your late-night texts to your lack of sleep. [Credit: Reactions/American Chemical…

This video reveals the chemical compounds that give skunk spray its horrendous odor and offers tips for what to do if you or your pet accidentally get sprayed. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society

Freshly caught fish is delicious. But after a day or two, that filet in your fridge smells a little fishier, thanks to a stinky molecule known as trimethylamine. Find out how to make fish taste and smell less fishy with this video. Learn…

If you’ve eaten food today that has at least one ingredient that was farmed, you probably owe some thanks to earthworms. How do these lowly invertebrates turn what humans find inedible into beloved compost? Earthworms have an extra enzyme…

Many people have done it, but few admit to it. This video explains why, from an environmental perspective, it is absolutely acceptable to urinate in the ocean. (Correction: At 1:50, the narration and text should read "250 gallons," not…

You may have heard that tossing rice at weddings will harm wild birds. This video explains why that myth is not backed up by science, and proves it with chemistry. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society

Neuroscientist Daphna Shohamy has found that teen brains are wired to learn. She thinks that studying teenagers can help us discover how everyone makes decisions based on experiences and memories. Shohamy’s research is showing that learning…

Songbirds have a finite time period in which they must learn to sing. Humans, too, have a limited period to learn to communicate. Neuroscientist Sara Woolley studies the brain science and learning pathways of finches—songbirds who mate for…

Deep in the Amazon rainforest, scientists have uncovered a family of chemicals that the poison dart frog uses to defend itself. This video explains how this tiny amphibian uses chemistry to create some of the most powerful toxins in the…

Most cats love catnip, but that’s not why this flowering plant produces its volatile oils. The scent of catnip is actually an application of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" strategy. Find out exactly what that means in this video.…

When days get shorter, darker, and colder, some people become gloomier. For people with seasonal affective disorder, the changing seasons can make them sadder than most, to the point of depression. Why does this happen? What can someone with…

Durian is known as the king of fruits in southeast Asia, but it’s also banned from many public spaces due to its powerful odor. This video explains the unique chemistry behind durian, and catches some participants at PBS Digital Studios…

Did you know that seashells are made of basically the same stuff as chalk? So why is chalk crumbly but seashells are durable? This video explains that the secret is in the shells' biochemistry. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society

Surströmming—Swedish for sour herring—is legendary for its powerful odor. That malodorous scent is a result of the chemistry of preserving food. This video explores what might just be the world's smelliest food, with help from the people who…

The humble tardigrade can be found practically anywhere there is enough water for it to live, and quite a few places there isn’t. It can survive drying out, extreme heat and cold, and even exposure to a vacuum. This odd, ugly-cute organism's…

This video takes a close look at what happens chemically in the brain and body just before a person dies. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society

Pond scum is usually just a nuisance, but under certain environmental conditions, blue-green algae (which are actually bacteria) can blossom into harmful algal blooms. These blooms can release all sorts of deadly poisons into the environment.…

There are many different types of dog-food formulas on the market. Some are designed for weight loss, long shelf life, or making sure that your dog eats a balanced diet. This video explains the chemistry behind what’s being used to make the…

This video explores the wide range of chemical and physical behaviors different bird species use to make their plumage stand out or disappear. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society

Synthetic drugs such as “bath salts,” “K2” or “Spice,” have made unsettling headlines lately, with reports of violent, erratic behavior and deaths after people have used these substances. Why are synthetic drugs so dangerous, and why aren’t…

Why do wasps become more aggressive after you kill a hive member? The answer is the same reason as why you should be wary of bees that smell like bananas. This short video uses chemistry to explain that statement. Credit:…

Whether it's rock, hip-hop, classical, or deep house, everyone has a favorite kind of music. But why do we love to throw on the headphones and get lost in the beat? It turns out that chemistry plays a big role in our favorite tunes. Watch…

Dogs—they can be our best four-legged friends, and they’re the stars of many Internet videos. This video investigates the chemistry behind a dog’s amazing sense of smell, and why wet dogs stink. And have you ever noticed that dog food smells…

You’re sitting in your favorite restaurant when a waiter walks by with a hot plate of your favorite food, and your mouth starts to water. Why? What causes drooling in the first place, and why do we only sometimes salivate? This video explains…

The mind-bending pain of a bare foot pressing down on a LEGO® brick is one of the worst known to humanity. How does something so innocent-looking create such an intense feeling? This video discusses nociception, and the chemistry of how these…

Intuitively, it would seem like fish living in the icy oceans around Antarctica should freeze to death. This video explains that these fish, called notothenioids, are highly adapted to their environment, thanks to antifreeze proteins in their…

Flamingos may be associated with tacky lawn ornaments in some circles, but this video is here to show you why these birds are one of the most hardcore animals on the planet. They survive where almost nothing else can. And how do they get to…

You may have heard that chocolate is high on the list of things that dogs should not be eating, but have you ever wondered why? One molecule, theobromine, is the central culprit to chocolate's toxicity to dogs. This video takes a closer look…

It’s supposed to help keep our bodies healthy in stressful situations, but the constant stress of our everyday lives means we’re getting overexposed to cortisol. In this video, Raychelle Burks, Ph.D. explains why too much cortisol is bad for…

Diseases from mosquito bites kill hundreds of thousands of people every year worldwide. In 2015, another mosquito-borne illness began to make headlines: the once-rare Zika virus. The virus spread throughout Brazil, and the World Health…