Search Results

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

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,…

When you hear the name "Hubble," you might think of the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. But, decades before this telescope was built, Dr. Edwin Powell Hubble revolutionized the field of astronomy. This video looks at the life and work of…

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

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…

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

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…

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

There’s probably a box of it in your refrigerator or cupboard, and it has hundreds of uses: baking soda. This video contains tips on how to use this handy compound to de-skunk your dog, clean your kitchen, and supercharge your washing…

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

This video is all about pancake chemistry. Get a closer look at the compounds and science behind that perfect pancake for your morning breakfast. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society

This video is a home demonstration showing that the key to making better pizza is through a basic understanding of dough chemistry. Specifically, it helps to know the chemical reactions involved in fermentation and baking. You’ll find pro…

Do you know someone with red hair? Perhaps you have those fiery locks yourself. This video takes a close biochemical look into what makes redheads stand out from the crowd. It's not just the color of their hair. Credit: Reactions/American…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

Chemistry can let you taste food in an entirely new way. This video shows how you can actually taste raw garlic with your feet. No, your feet don't have any secret taste buds. It's all about the ability of chemicals to penetrate your skin.…

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 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 has easy, chemistry-fueled solutions for several everyday dilemmas, such as making bitter coffee taste better, plus other useful tips to improve your life. [Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society…

This video contains chemistry-fueled solutions for everyday problems, such as spotting rotten eggs, reviving soggy green vegetables, and fixing busted buttons. [Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society (www.youtube.com/acsreactions)]

This video brings chemistry to the kitchen, featuring science-backed tips to cook rice with fewer calories, get extra-juicy chicken when you don't have time to marinate, and keep sliced fruit from browning too quickly. Watch and learn how…

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…

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 examines the science behind the most misunderstood spice in the world: allspice. [Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society (www.youtube.com/acsreactions)]

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…

If you enjoy barbecues, you'll enjoy this video. It contains chemistry knowledge that will impress your guests, such as why red meat is red. You’ll also learn about the chemical reaction that changes raw meat into grilled brown deliciousness.…

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…

Pepper is one of the most common condiments in the world today, but it used to be more valuable than gold. This video examines how pepper's delectable chemistry made it a key player in the global spice trade. [Credit: Reactions/American…

Whether it’s plain cheese, deep-dish stacked with meats, or thin-crust veggie delight, there’s just something about pizza that makes it delicious. This video shows the chemistry that goes into every ingredient in pizza. It also describes a…

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…

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.…

Forget ketchup and mustard—sriracha might be the world's new favorite condiment. Beloved by millions for its unique spicy, garlicky, slightly sweet flavor, the chemistry of "rooster sauce" is the focus of this video. [Credit:…

White, green, oolong, and black teas all come from the same plant, but they are vastly different in flavor and color. This video explores the chemistry that happens in the tea leaves during production. 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

Have you ever needed to get rid of your chewing gum quickly, but spitting the gum out would cause a scene? Not sure you want to swallow the whole wad? Chemistry’s got your back. Find out why chocolate makes gum disappear. Credit:…

It’s one of the most popular beverages in the world, and many of us rely on it to stay awake every day. But not every cup of coffee is created equal. From the bean to the brew, science can help you get the perfect cup. This video goes on a…

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

This animation explains what a comet is and shows the different graphical distinctions of a comet with respect to its distance from the Sun

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.

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

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 what we can learn through the transits of exoplanets. It also tells us what we have learned from these transits with the help of the Hubble Space Telescope and which discoveries we can expect with the NASA/ESA/CSA James…

This video explains how to make your own glass cleaner, keep red wine from staining your carpet, and why saliva can also be a great cleaning product. [Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society (www.youtube.com/acsreactions)]

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

You may have heard it from your mom over and over again: "Eat your carrots, they'll help you see better!" Is it true? In this video, chemist Chad Jones, host of the Collapsed Wavefunction podcast, cracks the carrot case wide open. [Credit:…

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.…

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…

A common belief is that a compound in turkey known as tryptophan makes people especially drowsy after they've eaten it. This video debunks this myth. [Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society (www.youtube.com/acsreactions)]

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 explains how seasons depend on the Earth's orbit and explains how the Earth's orbital distance and axial tilt give rise to seasons.

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

This animation shows how eclipses occur when the Sun's rays are blocked.

This video walks you through the chemistry behind protein denaturing, making an egg bounce, and creating your own green eggs (minus the ham). Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society

Sports-drink commercials often mention electrolytes, but why do we need these chemicals, and what happens if we don’t have enough of them? Electrolytes are salts that help our cells move water around, and enable nerve impulses that keep our…

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:…

This animation depicts how the solar system formed from a spinning disk of interstellar gas.

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…

Some people enjoy eating meat, while others are vegetarian. The consumption of beef is growing, but cattle are significant contributors to greenhouse gases. What could possibly replace meat in the future? The artificial replacement could be…

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.

In this video, Richard Hartel, Ph.D., Professor of Food Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, boils a mixture of sugar, water and corn syrup at high temperatures to produce hard candy. He demonstrates how the molten liquid candy…

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…

Born in 1868, Henrietta Leavitt was an astronomer ahead of her time, whose work helped to revolutionize our understanding of the universe. While working at Harvard Observatory, Leavitt began to study stars of fluctuating brightness. This…

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…

To beat the heat, many people turn to air conditioning. That sweet, cool relief isn’t magic, it’s the science of heat transfer and the chemistry of refrigerants. This video explains the science and chemistry of air conditioning. Credit:…

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:…

Since ancient Greek times, philosophers and scientists have tried to figure out what an atom looks like. It wasn't until the 1980s that chemists could see individual atoms. In this video, bestselling author Sam Kean discusses the nearly…

If you’re in an automobile accident, you want to be sure the vehicle's airbags protect you. Airbags work because of chemistry, with some physics thrown in. This video explores the science of airbags. And remember, airbags are meant to work in…

A large snowstorm could produce trillions of tiny snowflakes. Through advances in crystallography, scientists have learned much about the structure of this form of precipitation. Although snowflakes all start out similarly, once they begin…

What's the difference between fluorescence and bioluminescence? This video illuminates the biochemical distinctions. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society

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…

Vegetables are full of essential vitamins and minerals, but how should you eat them to get the most nutritious value? Raw? Sauteed? Frozen? The answer is, it depends. Let this video help you navigate the ins and outs of cooking vegetables.…

Why does baking powder say “double acting” on the container? Is that better than single acting? This video explains the phrase, with chemistry. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society

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…

Have you ever wondered what makes a fluorescent color stand out so brightly from other colors? This video digs into what makes those colors pop, and highlights some of the brilliant applications of fluorescence coming out of nanotechnology.…

Do you ever wonder how milk becomes cheese? This video explores the chemistry and the microbes that go into this popular dairy product. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society

Do you have a sweet spot for sweets? The next time you are tempted to stuff your face with candy, ask yourself how much is too much. This video explores how many pieces of candy can kill you if eaten in one sitting. Credit:…

This video explores the chemistry behind how clouds develop and how they stay aloft in the sky, despite their tremendous weight. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society

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…

Immediately after the universe started with the big bang, the cosmos was dark. Only the first stars appearing millions of years later brought light. These first stars and their radiation drastically changed the universe during what is known…

Chocolate-chip cookies are nearly universally adored. People enjoy them in all sorts of textures, sizes, and tastes. So, how can you make a perfect cookie? By using science, of course. This video features Science News magazine's Bethany…

When Thanksgiving comes around, many people think about taking their turkey preparation to the next level. But before you whip out that deep fryer, you're going to want to watch this video. This video brings you the do's and don'ts of turkey…

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

New smartphones are slimmer and faster than ever. But like most new generations of smartphones, their battery has pretty much stayed the same over the years. Short of carrying an external battery all the time, is there any way to extend the…