Chemistry

Chemistry

Study acid-base chemistry with at-home volcanoes

Baking soda volcanoes are a fun demonstration, and with a few tweaks they can be an experiment, too

Chemistry

How to recycle ‘nonrecyclable’ plastics

A new process can convert some nonrecyclable plastics into a type that now can be reused. That could greatly cut down on wastes sent to landfills.

Chemistry

Scientists Say: Plastic

Plastics are made of long polymer chains and can take on many shapes. Unfortunately, they stick around for a long time.

Chemistry

New solution for carbon dioxide: Turn it into ‘green’ fuel

Chemists have created a new way to convert carbon dioxide into ethanol. It might one day help remove excess CO2 — a greenhouse gas — from the air.

Chemistry

Build ice towers with bottled water and ice

Pour out liquid water into a solid ice tower. We outline the conditions you’ll need to turn this demonstration into a super-cool experiment.

Chemistry

Stinky success: Scientists identify the chemistry of B.O.

They turned up the enzyme in bacteria behind that underarm stench. Understanding how it works could pave the way to new types of deodorant.

Chemistry

Scientists say: Chemical

A chemical is anything made of two or more atoms bonded together in a fixed structure. Chemicals make up the world around us.

Animals

A single chemical may draw lonely locusts into a hungry swarm

Swarms of locusts can destroy crops. Scientists have discovered a chemical that might make locusts come together in huge hungry swarms.

Agriculture

Scientists Say: Carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are molecules with carbon, oxygen and hydrogen. Animals break down these chemicals in food to get energy.

Chemistry

Let’s learn about batteries

Many things in our lives rely on batteries. Here’s how scientists are working to make new ones — and make existing batteries safer.

Chemistry

Early dinosaurs may have laid soft-shelled eggs

Scientists for the first time have turned up evidence of fossils from soft-shelled dinosaur eggs. This has scientists rethinking how dinosaur eggs evolved.

Chemistry

Australian wildfires pumped smoke to record heights

Wildfires in Australia in late December and early January spurred an unusual smoke plume that still hasn’t fully dispersed.