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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…

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…

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…

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 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…

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…

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…

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.…

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…

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…

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…

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:…

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…

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

Freshly caught fish is delicious. But after a day or two, that filet in your fridge smells a little fishier, thanks to a stinky molecule known as trimethylamine. Find out how to make fish taste and smell less fishy with this video. Learn…

If you’ve eaten food today that has at least one ingredient that was farmed, you probably owe some thanks to earthworms. How do these lowly invertebrates turn what humans find inedible into beloved compost? Earthworms have an extra enzyme…

You may have heard that tossing rice at weddings will harm wild birds. This video explains why that myth is not backed up by science, and proves it with chemistry. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society

Songbirds have a finite time period in which they must learn to sing. Humans, too, have a limited period to learn to communicate. Neuroscientist Sara Woolley studies the brain science and learning pathways of finches—songbirds who mate for…

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…

Deep in the Amazon rainforest, scientists have uncovered a family of chemicals that the poison dart frog uses to defend itself. This video explains how this tiny amphibian uses chemistry to create some of the most powerful toxins in the…

Most cats love catnip, but that’s not why this flowering plant produces its volatile oils. The scent of catnip is actually an application of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" strategy. Find out exactly what that means in this video.…

Did you know that seashells are made of basically the same stuff as chalk? So why is chalk crumbly but seashells are durable? This video explains that the secret is in the shells' biochemistry. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society

Surströmming—Swedish for sour herring—is legendary for its powerful odor. That malodorous scent is a result of the chemistry of preserving food. This video explores what might just be the world's smelliest food, with help from the people who…

The humble tardigrade can be found practically anywhere there is enough water for it to live, and quite a few places there isn’t. It can survive drying out, extreme heat and cold, and even exposure to a vacuum. This odd, ugly-cute organism's…

There are many different types of dog-food formulas on the market. Some are designed for weight loss, long shelf life, or making sure that your dog eats a balanced diet. This video explains the chemistry behind what’s being used to make the…

This video explores the wide range of chemical and physical behaviors different bird species use to make their plumage stand out or disappear. Credit: Reactions/American Chemical Society

Why do wasps become more aggressive after you kill a hive member? The answer is the same reason as why you should be wary of bees that smell like bananas. This short video uses chemistry to explain that statement. Credit:…

Dogs—they can be our best four-legged friends, and they’re the stars of many Internet videos. This video investigates the chemistry behind a dog’s amazing sense of smell, and why wet dogs stink. And have you ever noticed that dog food smells…

Intuitively, it would seem like fish living in the icy oceans around Antarctica should freeze to death. This video explains that these fish, called notothenioids, are highly adapted to their environment, thanks to antifreeze proteins in their…

Flamingos may be associated with tacky lawn ornaments in some circles, but this video is here to show you why these birds are one of the most hardcore animals on the planet. They survive where almost nothing else can. And how do they get to…

You may have heard that chocolate is high on the list of things that dogs should not be eating, but have you ever wondered why? One molecule, theobromine, is the central culprit to chocolate's toxicity to dogs. This video takes a closer look…

Diseases from mosquito bites kill hundreds of thousands of people every year worldwide. In 2015, another mosquito-borne illness began to make headlines: the once-rare Zika virus. The virus spread throughout Brazil, and the World Health…