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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…

This animation explains how the control surfaces on an airplane's wing direct its flight and shows how movements of the ailerons, elevator, and rudder change the plane's flight path.

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…

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

This animation explains the function of cam mechanisms and shows how cams produce desired physical movements in engines and other machines.

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:…

Some clothing makers try to harness the antibacterial power of silver to combat the smell of sweat from people's workouts. Now, some manufacturers are adding nanotechnology to the mix. This video asks: does it work? Credit:…

This animation shows how a cathode ray tube works and describes some of the basic science behind the control of electron beams.

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 video explores the extraordinary efforts by some individuals to make gunpowder during the American Revolutionary War. It also reviews the chemistry involved in synthesizing and combusting this explosive mixture. Credit:…

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…

From the sizzle of the fuse to the boom and burst of colors, this video brings you all of the exciting sights and sounds of fireworks. The video features John A. Conkling, Ph.D., author of "The Chemistry of Pyrotechnics, Basic Principles and…

If you have ever tapped a phone screen to send a tweet, opted for bottled soda because it tastes better than plastic, or drooled over art glass in a gallery, then your life has been changed for the better by the transparent yet durable…

To fire up the grill or a gas stove, we often reach for a match. It turns out there’s a lot of chemistry going on to make those little wooden wonders work. The best way to find out about the chemistry of a burning match is to watch this…

This video explores how experts use fertilizer and other materials—including water—to fight forest fires. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society

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.…

Joe DeSimone cofounded a company called Carbon (formerly Carbon3D) to bring chemistry to bear on 3D printing. This video shows how Joe enabled the company to print at unprecedented speeds, and churn out materials that have never been printed…

Lint from fleece and other synthetic fibers is getting washed down the drain and entering aquatic ecosystems. Washing your fleece and other favorite synthetic fabrics releases lint, which is no surprise to anyone who’s ever cleaned their…

April 22, 2015 was the 100th anniversary of the first large-scale use of chemical weapons in modern warfare. Some of the best minds in chemistry at that time, including a Nobel Prize winner, used their knowledge of science to build humanity’s…

It’s a legendary piece of playground lore: If you swallow a piece of gum, it stays stuck in your stomach for years and years. So was your elementary-school buddy right? This video looks at the mechanics and chemistry of digestion in order to…

This video features five African-American chemists who changed the world. The video highlights the work of icons such as astronaut and chemical engineer Mae Jemison, the first woman of color to go into space, as well as Percy Julian, a…

With all the hard hits and tough tackles in the sport of football come concerns about safety. In the U.S., every professional player is required to wear a helmet, but the helmets of today are a far cry from the leather creations from decades…

This video presents four chemistry-rich facts about paper money. [Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society (www.youtube.com/acsreactions)]

This animation demonstrates how gears work and shows four different types.

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…

Nerve agents have a surprising history, and it’s just as morbid as you might expect. Although they were not invented as chemical weapons, nerve agents such as sarin have been in use since World War I, and unfortunately are still in use…

This animation shows what happens when air molecules inside a balloon are heated.

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:…

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…

Blue jeans are among the most popular clothing items in the entire world. But how did Levi Strauss get his “workwear,” as he called it, so blue? Through chemistry, of course. This video looks at the chemistry of everyone’s favorite pair of…

Featuring Doane College Postdoctoral Fellow Raychelle Burks, Ph.D., this video looks at solid and liquid propellants and the “ride-able explosion” that is a rocket launch. [Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society…

Across the globe, people celebrate certain holidays with fireworks. In the U.S., the Fourth of July is an especially sparkly holiday. This video takes an up-close, slow-motion look at the chemistry of how sparklers work. Credit:…

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:…

How does animal hide become leather? The chemistry of tanning is still not fully understood, but the basic steps are thousands of years old. Watch this video to learn how leather is made. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society

What happens to plastic bottles when you recycle them? Do they get made into fresh bottles, or do they become something else? This video explains why it's easier to turn plastic bottles into T-shirts than it is to fully recycle the…

You may not realize it, but there's a lot of science in sports. In fact, sports balls owe their reliability to an unusual polymer found in rubber. This video explains the chemistry behind the football all-star’s best friend. Credit:…

Thomas Edison is undoubtedly one of the greatest inventors in history. This video goes behind the scenes at Thomas Edison National Historical Park to see how Edison's love of chemistry fueled his world-changing inventions. [Credit:…

Cast-iron cookware is a favorite tool for many professional chefs, having certain advantages over everyday aluminum pans. This video looks at why cast iron is so effective in the kitchen. Play a game of fact-or-fiction while watching this…

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…

Stanford University’s Zhenan Bao and her research team are developing electronics that could revolutionize wearable devices and prosthetics. In this video, Matt Davenport and Noel Waghorn get a glimpse behind the scenes at Stanford, and learn…

This animation shows how an aircraft jet engine produces propulsive thrust.

This animation shows how mechanical linkages work in machines.

If there’s one man in Hollywood who knows the value of chemistry, it’s Michael Bay. He’s taught society that, in the face of a half-baked plot and thin script, big-budget explosions can cause box office success. This video explains the…

This animation explains how motors convert electrical energy into mechanical energy.

This animation explains how a piston engine works and what a complete combustion cycle is.

This animation shows how light moving into a denser medium is both reflected and refracted.

This animation explains how a rotary engine works,

This video explores the chemistry and physics behind the disastrous explosion of the former Soviet Union’s Chernobyl Power Complex nuclear reactor 4 on April 26, 1986. The Chernobyl disaster was the only accident in the history of commercial…