Chemistry
- Chemistry
Scientists Say: Absorb and Adsorb
These words sound and look a lot alike. But crucial differences lie in how they soak up that spill.
- Chemistry
Some bacteria in wastewater can break down a common plastic
These microbes can break the carbon bonds that make PET plastics so hard to degrade. This type of plastic makes up almost one-third of plastic waste.
By Laura Allen - Tech
This teen engineer’s device sniffs out common food allergens
Inspired by his own severe food allergies, Thermo Fisher JIC finalist Samvith Mahadevan built a device to protect people from allergen exposure.
- Chemistry
Let’s learn about chocolate
Humans have been making chocolate for millennia. Now scientists are investigating how to make this tasty treat more abundant and nutritious.
- Chemistry
Behold the world’s thinnest pasta
Made from white flour and formic acid, the nanofibers average just 370 nanometers across. That’s two-hundredths the thickness of a human hair.
By Skyler Ware - Chemistry
Experiment: How to keep fruit slices fresh
Let’s explore why fruit tends to brown over time and how to keep it looking fresh.
- Tech
A lucky lab accident produces Spider-Man-like silk
Researchers found a way to mimic Spider-Man’s web shooters in real life. This is the first adhesive that can stick to and lift things from a distance.
- Archaeology
Let’s learn about radiocarbon dating
Through the power of radioactivity, carbon dating can reveal the age of many fossils and artifacts.
- Brain
Scientists Say: Dopamine
This brain chemical helps focus our attention and plan our path toward success.
- Chemistry
Teen chemist uncovers potentially harmful preservatives in pet food
Thermo Fisher JIC finalist Mackensey Wilson measured levels of a chemical called BHT in three pet food brands.
- Chemistry
Scientists Say: Rocket propellants
Rockets need more than fuel to get where they need to go — they also need oxidizers to burn that fuel. Together, these chemical combos are known as rocket propellants.
- Chemistry
Experiment: What makes ice melt fastest?
During the winter, you might have seen trucks spreading a mix of salt and sand on the roads to de-ice them. But how does that work? Let’s investigate.