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This animation describes how the technique of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis is used to separate mixtures of proteins inside a gel.

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,…

Have you ever seen a foam cup appear to melt away in acetone? Foam cups, bowls, and containers are made of a lightweight but strong material called expanded polystyrene. How does acetone reduce this substance to a blob of goo? In this video,…

This animation shows how the hormone epinephrine causes liver cells to secrete glucose without crossing their cell membrane.

This animation explains how glucocorticoid hormones influence nutrient metabolism by altering gene expression in cells.

This animation explains how an electrical signal (action potential) stimulating skeletal muscle triggers changes that enable muscle contraction.

This animation explains how a specific group of proteins in blood and body fluids works with the immune system to kill bacteria and other foreign invaders in the body.

This animation shows how the presentation of antigens and the activation of helper T cells mobilize the immune system's production of antibodies.

This animation explains the difference between addition mutations, in which nucleotides are added to DNA sequences, and deletion mutations, in which nucleotides are lost.

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 shows how the contraction and relaxation of the diaphragm leads to pressure changes in the alveoli of the lungs during inhalation (inspiration) and exhalation (expiration).

This animation summarizes the molecular structure of amino acids, peptides, and proteins.

This animation shows how long polymer chains can be built from small molecules by the process of anionic polymerization.

This animation shows the different ways in which proteins are broken down and presented as antigens to the immune system.

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…

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 explains the phenomenon of attenuation, which turns off unneeded gene expression, using the example of the trp operon and tryptophan biosynthesis.

This animation demonstrates how B vitamin coenzymes must be present to enable some enzymes to function.