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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,…

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 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…

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…

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…

This animation shows how a barometer measures atmospheric pressure.

Anhydrous (water-free) ammonia is the most concentrated nitrogen fertilizer and—as a result—is a critical agricultural chemical for feeding the global human population. This and many other important uses for anhydrous ammonia require it to be…

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…

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…

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

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,…

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…

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

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.…

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…

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…

Who doesn’t love potatoes? This video offers tips for roasting delicious potatoes and along the way describes the chemistry behind achieving their best texture and consistency. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society