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The weather station in this project is quite basic, measuring only temperature, pressure, and humidity, but it may be easily expanded to measure other weather components, such as wind speed and rainfall. The design is based on using a series of…

Terrain maps are physical models that give you an at-a-glance overview of landforms. Architects, builders, and engineers often use these types of maps to provide context to proposed building designs. In this project, you'll create a layered…

In this project, you will build a small, vertical-axis wind turbine, or VAWT for short. VAWTs are not as efficient as their horizontal-axis cousins, but they are better suited to urban environments where wind can come from different…

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…

This animation shows how a barometer measures atmospheric pressure.

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

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:…

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 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.…

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…

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

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

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

Did you know that the ocean launches bacteria into the atmosphere? And that those bacteria can seed clouds and help make rain? Atmospheric chemist Kimberly Prather of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography drops some serious atmospheric…

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…

This video explains the chemistry and science behind how we know how old the Earth is. Geologists have deduced the age of the Earth thanks to a handful of radioactive elements. With radiometric dating, scientists can put an age on really old…

Winter weather often brings treacherous driving conditions. Road crews may spread rock salt all over the highways and byways, but why? This video breaks down the chemistry that keeps the roads safe when severe winter weather hits. [Credit:…

When food and water are scarce, many animals—especially mammals—go into hibernation. Climate change is affecting how some animals hibernate, causing certain squirrels, chipmunks, and bears to emerge from hibernation either much sooner or much…

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

This video explains much of what you need to know about snow and ice chemistry, such as how to get your car unstuck from ice and how artificial snow is made. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society

This video examines some novel proposals for combating climate change—including space mirrors, seeding the ocean with iron, and feeding cows seaweed. In reality, these ideas may or may not be feasible, but they are all supported by valid…

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…